by Sonia Parin
“I think that’s called a masquerade ball and, in answer to your question, it’s just a ball to celebrate the end of the foxhunting season.”
“So it’s an annual event.”
As they walked toward the entrance, she glanced at him. “Are you trying to picture the future to come?”
“I might have to. Otherwise, it’ll just keep catching me by surprise.”
Walking in, they saw guests milling about the great hall with its massive stone fireplace, paneled walls, an impressive chandelier, dozens of candles, as well as massive paintings of horses and hunting scenes. A lively jazz tune wafted from the adjoining ballroom. Despite the formal setting, the mood for the evening appeared to be relaxed.
Glancing over her shoulder, Evie wondered what Sara and Henrietta would make of it all. She saw them walk across the graveled entrance and step inside, their eyes bright with excitement.
Greeting them, the butler helped Evie out of her coat. As she thanked him, Sterling Wright approached them and welcomed them.
“Lady Woodridge, I’m sure you’re accustomed to a receiving line. I’m afraid I’ve broken with protocol and adopted a more relaxed approach.”
Evie noticed the butler lifting his imperious nose. No doubt there would be some talk of it downstairs.
Smiling, Evie looked for Marjorie Devon but did not see her.
“She’s around somewhere,” Sterling explained. “Most likely dancing. She organized the band to start playing even before the first guest arrived.”
While Sterling Wright moved on to greet more guests, Henrietta and the others joined them.
“Mingle and observe,” Evie whispered.
Henrietta and Sara passed on the message to Caro, Toodles and Lotte who were already busy looking around.
They had a simple strategy. They would move around and watch how Marjorie Devon interacted with everyone. Lotte had said they needed to pay particular attention to anyone she might appear to be avoiding.
Moving along the great hall, Evie and Tom smiled and nodded, greeting everyone as they continued walking until they reached the end of the hall. They stood there watching the others spreading out and doing just as they had planned.
Caro looked elegant in a smoky gray ensemble with matching headband. She accepted a drink and proceeded to work her way from one group to the other.
“Furtive glances,” Caro had suggested earlier, “We must be on the lookout for those and spare no one.”
Hearing her, Tom had laughed. “The net widens. Let’s hope there isn’t a crime committed. Can you imagine what it would take to round up all these suspects?”
At first, Henrietta and Sara worked together talking with one person and then another while Toodles went her own way.
Evie watched her granny put her strategy into place by positioning herself so she could eavesdrop on people’s conversations.
Meanwhile, Lotte had headed straight for the ballroom.
“Ready?” Tom asked.
“Instead of working our way around, I think we should start with letting people come to us,” Evie suggested. “And use this vantage point to keep an eye on everyone here. There’s no hurry. Lotte is taking care of the ballroom.”
Tom looked around the great hall. “The entrance halls in these large houses still mystify me. I fail to see why they are so large when the owners seem to spend so little time in them.”
Evie followed his gaze. “I know what you mean. The great hall at Halton House only comes alive during celebrations. Mostly, during Christmas when we put the tree and decorations up.” She saw Twiggy Lloyd and his wife heading toward the ballroom. Looking around the hall again, she added, “When the houses were first erected, the halls were used by the entire household. Both the owners and servants used to eat there. Then, a couple of hundred years ago, the eating arrangements changed and now we all eat in separate spaces.”
“Well, that answers that.”
When a footman approached with a tray of drinks, Evie scooped in a breath.
“We should abstain but it would look too obvious. If you hear me slur my words, please take the glass away from me.”
“Ditto.”
They were approached by a couple who recognized them from the foxhunt. Evie repeated their names three times and, a moment later, found she couldn’t remember them so she mentally thought of them as Mrs. Red for her gown, and Mr. Pearl Tie Pin.
Smiling at something Mrs. Red Dress said, Evie took the opportunity to let her gaze wander across the hall. The couple had only recently been introduced to Sterling Wright, so Evie assumed they would have nothing whatsoever to do with sending threatening letters to his fiancée.
Joined by another couple, Evie named the woman Mauve, for her dress, and her husband, Crooked Tie. Halfway through the conversation, which focused on an approaching storm, Mrs. Red Dress and her husband, Mr. Pearl Tie Pin, responded to the tune of their favorite dance music and excused themselves.
All the while, Evie’s gaze bounced around from side to side, group to group and then back to Sterling Wright. He hovered near the entrance greeting his guests. Despite the ball being in full swing, there continued to be an endless stream of people arriving. Evie recognized some but not all the guests.
Subjecting everyone to a skating scrutiny, Evie didn’t sense any suspicious behavior. Smiling to herself, she wondered when she had begun thinking of herself as an expert in defining behavior.
People’s gazes wavered, drifted, focused, and then continued on around the hall and, Evie noticed, always returned to Sterling Wright.
Did she find that unusual? No because she had been doing precisely that. As the host, it made sense for him to be the point of everyone’s attention.
The next couple who approached them were also concerned about the approaching storm, expected to reach the area the next day. When another couple expressed the same concerns, Evie decided the weather had become a safe talking point for anyone who’d otherwise have nothing else to say because they feared saying something that might offend.
Tom leaned in and whispered, “Do you see anything interesting?”
“Not really but I’m learning a great deal about observing. It’s rather difficult. All I have to do is look. But my mind keeps interfering with ridiculous thoughts.”
Tom sighed. “Your library contains some books on Eastern philosophy and something called meditation. You might need to practice quietening your mind.”
Evie gave him a worried look.
“What? Did I say something strange?”
“Not strange. Merely unexpected. This is where I say there is much to learn about you, Mr. Winchester.”
Caro emerged from the ballroom and sought them out. However, instead of heading straight for them, she wove her way around, smiling and chatting briefly with the guests she encountered along the way.
“You do that extremely well, Cousin Carolina,” Evie said when Caro finally reached them. “You’re like a butterfly in a flower garden, fleeting about. I hadn’t even realized you’d stepped inside the ballroom.”
“This is hard work. I have been keeping the conversations brief, especially after encountering a couple of people who recognized me but couldn’t quite place me.” Accepting a glass of champagne, Caro lifted the glass to her lips but did not drink. “I thought you might want to know Mr. George Stevens arrived an hour ago and has spent all this time dancing with his wife.”
So, the couple who had arrived just before them had not been George Stevens and his companion. “What does he look like?” Evie asked.
Caro tilted her head in thought. “He’s not what we expected. He’s clean-shaven with light brown thinning hair, spectacles and delicate features.”
“What about his wife? What color dress is she wearing?”
“Purple with light blue trim.” Caro took a small sip of her champagne. “Marjorie Devon is wearing Mrs. Green’s pink creation. She hasn’t stopped dancing either.”
“Who is she dancing with?”
“Every man she can get to dance with her. She’s already worn out a couple of them. And, no, she hasn’t danced with George Stevens. In fact, I couldn’t help noticing she has kept her distance. It’s too obvious for it to be a coincidence. I might even go so far as to say they are playing a cat and mouse game. Whenever George Stevens comes close to her, she performs a quick step away from him, even if it isn’t part of the dance routine.”
Tom took Evie’s champagne glass and, catching the attention of a footman, he set their glasses on a tray. “Shall we move to the dance floor?”
Hesitating, Evie took a deep swallow. “The ballroom?”
“That’s where all the action seems to be.”
Evie glanced around the hall. Henrietta and Sara were nowhere to be seen so she assumed they were in the ballroom. “But the others are already there. Wouldn’t it be better if we stay here and keep an eye on…” She floundered.
Taking her hand, Tom led her into the ballroom. “A spin around for credibility,” he suggested.
Evie looked over her shoulder and took mental images of everyone standing in the hall. “I… I don’t spin very well.” She loved music and she enjoyed watching people dancing but, right now, her mind was filled with other thoughts. “It’s a foxtrot. Maybe we should sit this one out.” Too many steps mingling with too many thoughts were bound to end in embarrassment.
“Nonsense. This is just the type of dance that can get us to our target quickly.” He frowned. “What’s wrong? Am I about to learn something about you that I didn’t know before?” Slipping his hand along the small of her back, Tom swept her onto the dance floor. “Follow the rhythm of the music.”
Evie looked one way and the other trying to place everyone. “I’ll try.” She kept up with Tom, while at the same time trying to keep Marjorie in sight. In the process, she missed several steps. If Tom noticed, he didn’t say anything.
“Where did she go?”
Tom swung her around. “Over my left shoulder now.”
Evie searched the couples dancing until she found Marjorie Devon. She also spotted a few familiar faces including Matthew and Pamela Prentiss and Twiggy Lloyd and his wife. She identified George Stevens—the only man she could see wearing glasses. Keeping track of him, she noticed him guiding his wife toward Marjorie. Caro had been right. He certainly didn’t look like a criminal. In fact, he reminded her of a clerk working in an office, albeit one dressed in formal clothes.
The music ended and before Tom could drag her into the next dance, she pulled him away from the dance floor.
“Let’s sit this one out. There are many things I can juggle but not dancing and thinking.”
“Can you imagine what Lotte will do if she hears about that?”
“She’ll probably make me practice for hours on end. Let’s keep it to ourselves, shall we?” Turning, she looked for Marjorie. “Oh, where is she?”
“Actually, where’s George Stevens?”
Chapter 13
Missing in action
“Where’s Lotte?”
The band started playing another piece and everyone converged on the dance floor. Everyone except Marjorie Devon and George Stevens. They still hadn’t returned.
Evie swung around trying to place the other couples she’d seen. “Where is Matthew Prentiss?” She’d seen Matthew Prentiss and his wife, Pamela, among the throng of people swirling around the dance floor. Had they taken a break?
“I don’t know, I’m searching for Twiggy and Helena Lloyd.” Taking her hand, Tom led the way around the ballroom. “They were all here a moment ago.”
They wove their way back to where they had started.
“Perhaps they went out to the hall,” Tom suggested.
Declining an offer of more champagne, they left the ballroom and headed back to the great hall. The same people who had been there before were still there, clearly intent on conversing rather than dancing. However, the people they had noticed missing were still missing.
Seeing Caro, Evie headed straight for her. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she asked, “Have you seen Marjorie?”
“Yes, she came through a moment ago.”
Relief swept through Evie. “Where did she go?”
“Upstairs. Lotte followed at a discreet distance.”
Evie asked about the others but Caro hadn’t seen them.
Nodding, Caro said, “I’ve been doing my best to keep track of people.”
“You’re definitely doing a better job of it. We’ve lost everyone.” Turning, Evie searched for Sterling and found him chatting with a group of guests. “That’s one less person to worry about,” she murmured.
Tom nudged her. “I think Henrietta and Sara are still in the ballroom but I don’t see Toodles.”
“Let’s hope she followed someone.” Belatedly, she wished they had set some firm rules about taking precautions.
Asking Caro to remain in the hall, Evie led the way toward the dining room. They found a few guests milling about the table which had been set up with large platters of food.
“No sign of Toodles and still no sign of the others.”
“Outside?” Tom asked.
“Why would anyone go outside? It’s too cold.”
“One of the drawing rooms?”
They moved from room to room and ended up in the library. Walking straight toward the welcoming fire, Evie tried to clear her head.
“Is it time to worry?” Evie stared at the empty room. Where had they all disappeared to?
“I’m sure there’s a simple explanation. This is a party and… unusual things happen.”
Finding no comfort in the explanation, Evie asked, “Such as?”
Tom looked around the library. “It’s a large house. With so many guests, some of them might have decided to go exploring.”
“Some of them? You mean, the ones we’d been keeping an eye on.”
“Yes, that is strange.”
“And why now? What did we miss? Who made the first move? Did someone leave the ballroom first and did the others follow?”
Tom walked up to a window. Shifting the curtain aside, he looked outside. “Are you thinking out loud? I hope you are because I don’t have any answers for you.”
“They’re not going to miraculously appear so I guess we should continue searching for them.”
Heading back to the hall, she breathed a sigh of relief. When she spoke, the words nearly caught in her throat. “I see Henrietta and Sara. I know they remained in the ballroom. It’s just a relief to see them safe and sound.”
Tom pointed to the far end. “And there’s Toodles.”
As if by silent consensus, they all turned to look at Evie and Tom.
“They’re just as surprised to see us.” Evie turned and looked toward the stairs. “Lotte is still missing.”
“No.” Tom nudged his head toward the ballroom.
Lotte stood at the doorway looking around. Seeing Tom and Evie, she walked toward them, along the way accepting a glass of champagne.
Sounding slightly out of breath, she said, “I lost Marjorie Devon.”
“But you followed her upstairs.” How could everyone disappear so suddenly?
“Yes, I did follow her, and I saw her go inside her room.” Lotte adjusted her monocle. “I lingered out of sight. She finally came out and headed down the servants’ staircase. That’s when I lost her.”
Henrietta, Sara and Toodles joined them in time to hear Lotte’s account.
Before Evie could ask where they had disappeared to, Henrietta said, “When the music finished, we noticed the Prentiss couple making their way out of the ballroom so we followed at a discreet distance. When I saw Matthew Prentiss looking over his shoulder, we stopped to admire some paintings. That happened a couple of times and finally we lost sight of them. We thought they went inside one of the drawing rooms. But when we stepped inside, they were gone. Sara rushed to the window but she didn’t see anyone.”
“Good heavens,” Evie exclaimed
. “Tom and I thought you were both in the ballroom. You mean to say you were missing too?”
Henrietta looked puzzled. “No, we knew where we were all along.”
Glancing over Sara’s shoulder, Evie saw Matthew Prentiss and his wife, Pamela, emerging from the ballroom. They stopped to take drinks from a footman and then joined a group of people. Evie breathed a sigh of relief. “I see two of them.”
The others followed her gaze.
“This is interesting,” Tom murmured. “There’s Twiggy Lloyd and his wife.”
“Yes, and his cheeks are red.” Sending her gaze skating around the hall, she saw Sterling Wright emerging through a side door and looking quite stern. “And there’s someone I hadn’t noticed missing. He must have slipped out when we weren’t looking.” She followed the direction of Sterling’s gaze. It led her straight to Twiggy Lloyd.
Had they been arguing again?
Evie searched for the others. “Who else did we notice missing?”
“George Stevens.” Tom checked his watch. “How much time do you think we spent searching for them?”
Evie couldn’t really say.
“Half an hour?” Tom suggested. “Did anyone notice the time?”
No one had.
“What now?” Toodles asked. “Do we try to find out where they went?”
“Even if they’re willing to tell you, there’s no way to confirm what they say,” Lotte mused. “There are still some other people missing. Marjorie and George Stevens.” She turned to leave only to stop when she saw Marjorie Devon standing with her husband.
“Is she wearing a different dress?” Evie asked. “I’m sure I saw her wearing a pink dress.”
“That’s the blue dress she brought with her,” Caro said.
Evie turned and gasped. She had actually lost sight of Caro but she’d been standing next to her all along.
Caro continued, “I remember she tried it on and wanted some adjustments made to it.”
Why had she changed her gown? Had she spilled something on her pink dress?
