Murder at the Hunt Ball : A 1920s Historical Cozy Mystery

by Sonia Parin

  As Millicent talked, Evie found herself wondering if she actually breathed.

  “Now, where is the hat Caro said you should wear today? I have a feeling you will be going out so I should have one ready for you. I know she has a system in place here and I don’t want to disrupt it. Although, if you ask me, I would put all the light-colored clothes on the right and the darker shades on the left. That would make selecting them a lot easier.”

  “I would suggest it but, as you said, Caro has a system and I don’t dare disrupt it.”

  “Maybe if she plays a bigger role in your investigations, I will step in and do her job. That way, I could introduce my system which, of course, she will reorganize at the first opportunity but I could always rearranged things again and soon enough she will tire of changing things back.”

  “That sounds like a solid plan, Millicent. Now, I think I’m all set to face the day. Thank you. I’ll make sure to tell Caro you did a splendid job.”

  “Oh, you mustn’t do that, milady. She’ll think you’re being critical of her work and, after what happened last night, we must be considerate of her sensibilities.”

  “Oh, if you say so.”

  “Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to mention what a fine job I did.”

  Giving Millicent a reassuring smile, Evie made her escape. Along the way, she bumped into Tom.

  “Where’s the fire?” he asked.

  “I believe I’m about to be introduced to a new routine. In any case, I’m in a bit of a daze. If I sound slightly distracted at breakfast, just click your fingers. Hopefully, I’ll snap out of it.”

  Tom gave her a knowing smile. “Let me guess. Millicent looked after you this morning.”

  Evie nodded. “On the bright side, Caro appears to be on the mend. Oh, and I’m wearing a suspect.”

  “Pardon?”

  “My skirt is Marjorie. Or is it my blouse? Heavens, never mind.”

  They walked down to the morning room and found Lotte already enjoying her breakfast.

  “I see you have decided to continue on as my cousin, Ophelia,” Evie observed as she studied Lotte’s Bohemian looking blouse decorated with large blocks of orange and blue.

  “I thought it would be easier, in case someone drops by unexpectedly.”

  Glancing at the selection of dishes on offer, Evie frowned. “Someone? Are you expecting someone from Hillsboro Lodge? Why would they come here?”

  “You never know.”

  Looking toward the windows and the dismal looking day beyond, Evie said, “The only visitors we’re likely to get are Henrietta and Sara but they spent the night here.”

  A footman standing nearby shook his head. “Begging your pardon, my lady. Lady Henrietta left late last night. She woke up Edmonds and told him to drive her and Lady Sara back to the dower house.”

  “Did she give a reason?”

  “She said something about needing to speak with her spy.”

  Evie huffed out a breath. She couldn’t believe Henrietta had woken Edmonds up. Worse, she had put herself and Sara in possible danger.

  Taking her place at the table, she tried to shake off her frustration.

  “I’m willing to bet the detective will come by this morning,” Tom offered as he sat down to enjoy his bacon and eggs.”

  “I do hope he telephones before he comes. Surely a man in his position can’t afford to waste time. Caro might not be up to it. According to Millicent, Caro hasn’t been able to recall anything new. If she had remembered something of significance, she would have informed us.”

  “You actually sound concerned by the prospect of a visit from the detective,” Lotte said.

  Evie felt unprepared to deal with the detective. “If you must know, he still puzzles me. I can’t make heads or tails of his behavior.” Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to distract herself with her breakfast but found her thoughts fixated on Henrietta’s middle of the night exodus. Discreetly, she rubbed her fingers along the thumping pulse on her temple.

  Edgar walked in and cast his critical eye over the trays of food. Satisfied with what he saw, he took his place in a corner.

  “Good morning, Edgar.”

  Her butler inclined his head and greeted everyone.

  Evie didn’t see the point of asking if anyone had telephoned, but knowing Caro had taken her breakfast with everyone else downstairs, she asked, “How did you find Caro this morning?”

  “My lady, I hope you don’t think I am speaking out of turn, but I fear I am not at all pleased about Caro taking such risks.”

  “In other words, you disapprove.” A wave of relief swept through her. Feeling the tension that had built around her shoulders ease away, Evie jumped at the opportunity to lighten the moment. “What if I told you I am about to officially become a lady detective?”

  Edgar paled. “My lady? Surely you jest.”

  “Surely not. I wouldn’t do that to you, Edgar. Perhaps under different circumstances, but not today.”

  Staring straight ahead, he gave it some thought. “I would be inclined to worry about the risks involved and perhaps even disapprove. However, since it’s not my place to hold such opinions, I would offer all the support I could to ensure you succeed in your venture.”

  “You would?”

  Edgar swallowed. “Most likely. Yes… Yes, I’m sure I would.”

  Evie smiled. “But will you?”

  “Countess, you are torturing Edgar.”

  Evie gave Tom a brisk smile. “I think Edgar is worried I’ll enlist Millicent’s assistance.”

  Edgar groaned and swayed slightly.

  Tom leaned in and whispered, “Are you mad? You know Edgar is likely to pack up and leave and take Millicent with him. What’s come over you?”

  “Oh, very well,” Evie whispered. “Edgar, I do hope you realize I’m only teasing.”

  “Of course, it’s perfectly understandable, my lady. In any case, I doubt Millicent would be of any help. She has many fine qualities but acting is not one of them. If ever you are in desperate need of her assistance, I will have to give her some helpful instructions.”

  That took Evie by surprise and made her wonder if Edgar had actually felt left out. “That’s very generous of you, Edgar. Thank you.” However, Evie couldn’t help feeling she had been put on notice. In future, she would need to tread with care when enlisting the assistance of any of the servants. When Tom nudged her, she felt compelled to add, “I promise I will try to discourage Millicent from participating in our investigations.”

  “That would be much appreciated, my lady.” Edgar cleared his throat. “However, it would also be totally unnecessary as we would all be only too happy to assist in any way we can.”

  Evie smiled brightly. “I knew you’d come around.”

  Tom nearly choked on his coffee. “Are you keeping track of the number of associates you’re acquiring?”

  “I consider myself quite fortunate to be surrounded by wonderfully helpful people.” Turning to Lotte, Evie changed the subject and asked, “Do you think Sterling Wright will retain your services now that George Stevens is dead? I’m assuming he had a hand in writing the letters. Even if he didn’t strike me as the type to put anything in writing.”

  “I have no idea. Assuming Sterling Wright didn’t recognize me last night, he probably expects me to be staying at the cottage. Perhaps he’s tried to contact me there.”

  The clock on the mantle struck the hour and they all looked up.

  “It’s almost as if we are all waiting for something to happen,” Tom said. “Again.”

  Moments later, the door opened and a footman entered. He relayed a message to Edgar who then made the announcement.

  “Detective Inspector Evans, my lady. He is waiting in the library.”

  Dabbing the edge of her lip with a serviette, Evie braced herself for the encounter while Tom surged to his feet and drew Evie’s chair back.

  “He might not wish to see us all,” Lotte said, “but it might be a good idea for me
to hover nearby.”

  “Yes, please. I have no idea what to expect from him and that worries me.”

  “Would you prefer a more predictable detective?” Tom asked.

  “Yes, that would be comforting. But I believe you are about to tell me a predictable detective would warn me to steer clear of the investigation. Then again, he wouldn’t have the opportunity because I have been nothing but an innocent bystander.” Evie glanced at Tom.

  Adjusting his tie, he smiled at Evie. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Before she could answer, he added, “Of course, I support your version of the truth.”

  “I see it as a simple statement of fact. I agreed to join Lotte’s efforts to uncover the author of a series of threatening letters. The rest is circumstantial.”

  The detective had come alone. He’d matched his dark gray suit with a royal blue tie. It seemed he made a habit of taking care of his appearance. In the daylight, he looked no older than thirty. His meticulous attention to detail included a pristine white handkerchief tucked into his breast pocket with such precision, Evie suspected he had used a ruler.

  “Lady Woodridge, my apologies for bursting in on you unannounced.”

  “Good morning, Inspector Evans. We were actually hoping you’d come.” Evie willed him to spill the beans and share all the information he had gathered. If only she had the power to influence him, she thought. She gestured to a group of chairs by the fireplace.

  As Evie sat down, Tom went to stand by the fireplace and the detective sat opposite her.

  “I wanted to ask your permission to speak with Lady Carolina Thwaites,” he said.

  Evie didn’t need to look at Tom to know his eyebrows had hitched up just as hers had.

  The detective gave her a small smile which he partly hid when he looked down at his shiny shoes. “I assume you wish to keep up with the pretense.”

  “It would simplify matters. Otherwise, I fear I might have some explaining to do to Sterling Wright. I did, after all, introduce Caro as my cousin.”

  His smile widened. “Thrice removed. Yes, thank you for sharing that with me.”

  Understanding dawned. She had provided the detective with a night’s worth of entertainment. That, Evie knew, wouldn’t be the first time.

  “In any case, you don’t need my permission to speak with… Cousin Carolina.” She turned and found Edgar at the door. “Edgar, could you please send for Lady Carolina?”

  The edge of his lip twitched. “And if I cannot locate Lady Carolina? Should I presume your lady’s maid can find her?”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tom’s chest rise up and down in quick succession as if he could barely contain his laughter. “I’m sure someone knows where Lady Carolina can be found. Thank you, Edgar.”

  Edgar’s eyes brimmed with amusement when he bowed his head and left the room.

  “This is a very interesting household, my lady.”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Shifting to the edge of her chair, she said, “I suppose you’ll want to speak to… my cousin in private.”

  “Not at all. Feel free to stay. This is not an interrogation. I’m only after whatever she might have remembered.”

  “Have there been any new developments?” she asked not really expecting him to answer.

  “As a matter of fact, yes. We now have confirmation the syringe contained a toxic substance, strong enough to kill.”

  “Poison?”

  He nodded.

  “Is it safe to assume George Stevens meant to use it on Mighty Warrior?”

  “It’s the only explanation we can come up with,” he said.

  “Does he have any associates you can question?” Evie asked even as she realized she might be pushing her luck.

  “It will take some work to fish them out.” Frowning, he asked, “Did you happen to hear anything at the ball about George Stevens and the host, Sterling Wright?”

  Evie glanced over at Tom. “We only know what Sterling Wright told us. Considering how much George Stevens wanted to buy the horse back, it’s difficult to understand why he would try to kill Mighty Warrior. Unless he realized he wouldn’t get his way and if he couldn’t have the horse, no one else could.”

  The detective studied her for a moment. “I can see why Inspector O’Neill holds you in high regard.”

  “I see. You have been in contact with him.”

  “He’s been my mentor for a number of years. In fact, he is responsible for guiding me toward this profession.”

  The door to the library opened and Caro walked in dressed as Lady Carolina Thwaites.

  The detective jumped to his feet. He took several deep swallows and after a lengthy moment, he said, “Thank you for making time for me, Lady Carolina.”

  Evie saw Caro’s gaze slide over to her and would have sworn Caro offered a silent apology for the ruse. It surprised Evie. From the start, Caro had been only too happy to play the role and had appeared to be quite comfortable in it.

  “I would have spoken with you last night,” the detective continued, “but, under the circumstances, I thought it would be best to wait, at least until today. If you need more time…”

  “No, I’ll do my best to help.” Caro took the chair next to Evie and related everything she could remember. “I’m afraid I still can’t say if the person I followed was a man or a woman. In any case, I lost sight of them.”

  “Is that when you found yourself outside?” he asked, his voice gentling with each word.

  Caro nodded.

  “How long do you think you were there for?”

  “I couldn’t really say. We were all so fixated with keeping track of everyone. I’m sure I must have looked at a clock along the way, but I simply can’t bring the image to mind.” Caro looked up, her brows furrowing. She looked quite puzzled and then she brightened. “Now that I think about it, I stood outside and I didn’t feel cold, but I’m usually quick to feel it. So it couldn’t have been that long. Perhaps five minutes.”

  The detective took out his notebook and made a note.

  Caro worried the edge of her lip. “I think I must have noticed the cold and decided to turn back and go inside. The way my mind works, I probably thought I could stand by a window and look out.” Her eyes widened. “Yes, as I turned away, I heard someone approaching. They walked with determination and… that’s when it happened. They knocked me out cold.”

  “It sounds as if you definitely got in someone’s way,” he said. “You are a remarkable woman for even attempting such a task.”

  Caro gave him a bright smile.

  Evie’s gaze bounced between them. They were both taking deep swallows and just looking at each other. The moment stretched to the point that Evie felt like an intruder.

  Caro brushed her fingers along her cheek. “I remember waking up and feeling dazed.”

  “That’s perfectly understandable. It must have been quite a blow.” The detective winced. “Do you think it felt like a small fist or a large fist?”

  “It felt… solid and determined.”

  Evie wondered if a woman would be so confident as to deliver a solid blow. Perhaps if they thought they had a lot to lose by being recognized. She’d met many women determined enough to get what they wanted but she’d never seen one being physically violent.

  Evie curled her fingers into the palm of her hand.

  Could she throw a punch?

  She certainly knew how to do it. Her male cousins had shown her and Tom had given her some instructions. Yes, she believed herself capable of it. In fact, if she came face to face with the person who had punched Caro, Evie knew she would not hesitate to serve a solid, reciprocal punch. It would be justified.

  Saying he didn’t wish to overexert Caro, the detective thanked them for their time, told them he would most likely be in touch again and excused himself and left.

  Chapter 19

  Thrills and spills

  The library

  Halton House

  “I th
ink I disappointed him,” Caro said, her voice soft and pensive.

  “Nonsense,” Evie assured her. “You told him what you knew.” Unfortunately, the detective had left before she and Tom could ask more questions about the investigation.

  “He sounds… nice. Don’t you think he sounds nice?” Caro asked.

  “He does.”

  “And… he dresses well. I mean… he doesn’t look scruffy.” Caro nodded. “He has a gentle voice.”

  Evie glanced at Tom. “Yes, he has an interesting approach to his questioning.”

  Caro continued to look pensive. “I wonder how effective the tactic is with criminals.”

  “I doubt he uses the same tone with them,” Evie whispered.

  “Do you think he’s harsh? I can’t imagine him being harsh.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that, Caro. How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Colorful. My bruise started changing color. Oh, heavens. Do you think he noticed? Of course, he did, but he was too polite to look directly at my bruise.” After a moment of silent introspection, Caro jumped to her feet. “I should go check on Millicent. Who knows what she’s doing to your wardrobe.”

  Evie watched her leave and found herself gaping.

  “Interesting,” Tom mused.

  “Yes, interesting.” Evie looked up at Tom. “I wonder, are we finding the same thing interesting?”

  He gave a small nod. “The moment Caro walked in, the detective’s tone softened, then he only had eyes for Caro.”

  Evie nodded. “I can’t remember the last time I felt invisible.”

  Tom agreed. “Me too.”

  “We’ll have to find out everything we can about the detective.”

  Tom laughed. “Seriously? Are you playing matchmaker? I mean… There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “You saw what I saw and it happened right in the middle of an investigation. I think this is what’s referred to as a blessing in disguise. It would help to know his first name. However…” Evie was interrupted by the door opening and Henrietta and Sara walking in.