Three Carols of Cozy Christmas Murder

by Carolyn L. Dean

  Katherine scowled at the dark red metal of the car. She still didn’t like the contraptions, but it had been a gift from a family friend. The man had established a custom factory in Boston just the year before in 1899 and was fast friends with her grandfather. Whereas she was wary of automobiles, her grandfather had embraced them, collecting several types of both the early electric tourers and the newer gasoline powered cars that he seemed to like. At least this model had fairly comfortable seats, but she still detested whenever it hit even the least bump or barrier.

  “Sir, ma’am,” Ben said, tipping his hat as he parked the wheelchair next to the vehicle. “Will we be heading directly to the house?” he asked.

  Katherine nodded and was thankful for the man’s quiet nature when he simply nodded, lifting her grandfather and placing him into the comfortable, red padded seats of the car. He had a slight lisp due to a broken jaw at one time in his life, and it made him self-conscious. Still, Katherine noted his gaze following Daniel and Eustice’s car slowly moving away from the graveyard with a disapproving glance.

  After lifting her grandfather into the high seats, he assisted Katherine with her own climb, waiting patiently as she gathered her skirts. When she had settled herself, he went to the front and started the car before climbing into the driver’s seat. With a loud, smoky roar, they slowly moved away from her father’s final resting place.

  Chapter 3

  Katherine had to angle her umbrella as they moved through the streets on the outskirts of Boston. The snow in December had been heavy, but today it seemed to come down with a vengeance as if in response to her father’s death. Despite the loud sound of the motorcar, she could still hear the patter of snow hitting the fabric.

  It was not a pleasant trip. Several times, they skidded on the slick snow and every time Katherine could feel herself flush as she felt the car lose control. She was just thankful that Ben was taking the longer way back to the house to avoid any slopes or hills, but he still had to get out several times to push the car out of a large drift or a pothole in the road.

  Still, about an hour after leaving the cemetery, they came to within sight of the large estate that belonged to her family. She scowled when she saw her uncle’s car sitting before the massive Victorian, watching as it began to move off toward the large outbuilding they used to store their cars.

  Daniel had his own expansive home, but Eustice and Katherine lived in her grandfather’s house. Despite their marriage, Eustice also had his own small brownstone in town where he spent much of his time. Still, it wasn’t out of place for them to be here, but Katherine still wished they hadn’t come. Eustice would be one of the last people she would turn to for consolation.

  “I wish they hadn’t come,” her grandfather said beside her. She could feel the weight of the day in his words as he looked sadly toward his home. “I am so angry at them, but I just don’t have the energy to deal with them today.”

  “I know, grandfather,” Katherine said, squeezing his hand. “I can’t believe what they did at the funeral but I would be lying if I said I was surprised. I know it’s not my place, but can’t you just send them away?”

  Her grandfather turned his rheumy eyes to her and shook his head. “No. Daniel probably wants to discuss the partnership and it will anger him if I put him off.” He paused, giving Katherine a knowing glance before looking away. “Or Eustice. He might take his anger out on you and I won’t be the cause of that.”

  Katherine swallowed and looked away herself, not wishing to acknowledge her well-known secret. Her feelings were mixed, not wishing to cause her grandfather more trouble, but deeply grateful for his consideration. They remained silent after passing through the gates and up the road to their front door.

  Ben pulled the car up, going slowly as they moved toward the stairs that led to the grand door, but skidded despite his care. They didn’t hit anything, but he still tipped his hat in apology before getting down and carrying the wheelchair up the stairs. He returned, grunting gently as he lifted her grandfather up and carried him to the waiting chair before returning back to the car. As he approached, Katherine stood and held her hand out for Ben to assist her descent. As she stepped down, she felt the snow crunch beneath her. The staff kept the front steps clear of snow, but it would have been too much work to clear the large flagstone driveway. Katherine didn’t mind. She had always been an active woman, and the snow was not a great obstacle to her.

  As they entered, their head butler, James Malcom moved forward to help to take their coats. His dark hair had turned to white many years before, but his dark eyes held a warmth as he spoke. “Sir, you have guests waiting in the smoking room,” he said to Katherine’s grandfather. “I’ve just come from making them comfortable. Should I say you will be attending them immediately?”

  Her grandfather breathed deeply but nodded his head. “Yes. Have they asked for anything?”

  James paused and cleared his throat, “Yes, sir. They asked for the private reserve, sir. I’ve already provided them with their drinks.”

  Katherine watched her grandfather glare at James for a few moments before he finally nodded. He was a good man and had always treated the staff well. “Very good, James. Thank you. Can you take me to the washroom and then tell Daniel and Eustice I will be along shortly?”

  Katherine flushed with curiosity, wishing for the thousandth time that her place allowed her to attend her grandfather but she knew that was not wise. It would just antagonize Daniel and Eustice, and she had already decided she would avoid them as much as possible. Putting her hand up to her cheek, the pain reminded her that but she had other ways to find out what they would be talking about.

  She gave her grandfather a hug before James wheeled him off and then moved toward the stairs. “I’ll be upstairs in my room, grandfather. Please let me know if you need anything.”

  Once her grandfather and James had moved out of sight, she quickened her pace, ascending the stairs and walking down the hallway. She moved past her doors and entered a small, access closet down the hall. Her goal was a narrow stairway that circled downward toward the kitchen but her real goal was the basement further down.

  She reached down, pushing the button that powered the pendant lights hanging from the ceiling of the cellar. They were not nearly of the same quality as those through the living areas of the Victorian, but they suited her purpose, allowing her to move quickly through the corridors toward the boiler room. There, she moved up to a vent that she had found as a little girl allowing her to hear what was said in the smoking room.

  Leaning close, she listened to the tinny voices of Daniel and Eustice. The men were making idle conversation, speaking of the latest coal mines being opened up north and how to get the best prices. Settling in to wait, she was thankful for the warmth provided by the basement room but hoped her grandfather wouldn’t be long. Though comfortable now, the layers of her dress would make staying here too long an uncomfortable experience but she knew overhearing this conversation would be worth the trouble. At least, that’s what she hoped.

  Chapter 4

  “Daniel, Eustice,” said the voice of her grandfather. It was somewhat muffled, but clear enough for Katherine to hear what was being said. “I can’t say that this is good timing. I just put my son into the ground and don’t really feel up for discussing business. I’m sure you must have noticed since you were there and threw flowers into the hole before his family.”

  “Come now, Arrah, he was my business partner and practically a brother,” Daniel’s voice echoed. He had a powerful voice, and it carried easily to Katherine’s ears. “My sincerest apologies for proceeding out of line. I was overcome with grief at his loss. However, as to why I am here, we all know business waits for no man. There are important matters we need to discuss.”

  “What could be so important,” Arrah asked in a cold tone. “There are no negotiations pending, and we’re just about done with the Portland order. I’ve taken the past week to review current activities and
while being a bit behind, we can still meet it. I’ve not been out of the business for so long that things could have changed so much.”

  There was a pause followed by the clinking of ice in a glass. “Yes, the Portland order will still make the shipping date,” Daniel said. “We will have to send a man with it to finish some of the final work on site, but otherwise that won’t be a problem. I’m sure we can find an engineer that wishes to relocate to the western states looking for a new start.”

  “I may know a man. A young man that has recently completed his schooling but his father was a brilliant engineer. If the boy is anything like his father, he will be able to complete what we need and I know his father has said the boy wants to head west. So, if not about upcoming orders, what is this about, then?” Arrah asked. Katherine could tell her grandfather was angry but was struggling to control himself. She remembered her conversation from earlier, knowing her grandfather was trying to protect her but wishing it wasn’t necessary.

  The next voice that spoke was one Katherine knew all too well, and despised. She could almost picture the sneer on Eustice’s face as he spoke. “Mr. Moore. No disrespect intended, but your son is dead, and you are of failing health. We want to buy you out so that the business does not fail. Your only heir is my wife, so I will inherit one way or the other. We simply don’t wish to wait.”

  Katherine gasped, bracing her hand against the wall at the shock of what Eustice had said. While wealthy themselves, the Clarks had always been the secondary partners in the Moore family business. She knew they had great ambitions, but she had no idea they would try to push her family out of their own company.

  “Eustice,” Daniel said, clearly unimpressed with his nephew’s outburst. “There is a pace to these things. Blurting out our wishes like an urchin grasping at a piece of bread is not the way to complete our desires. However, Arrah, he is correct. We are deeply concerned. Can you say with confidence that you will keep up with the demands of the company?”

  “I was running this company before we made you a partner, Mr. Clark,” Arrah ground out, his anger no longer hidden. “I won’t have any issues keeping up with its demands. Now, let me make something else clear. You won’t inherit the company, Eustice. Katherine will.”

  Katherine heard a chair scrape across the floor. “Katherine?” Eustice growled. “How dare you! A woman’s place is not in charge of your fortune, Mr. Moore. Clearly your mind is addled!”

  “I dare, sir!” Arrah responded coldly. “It is my family, and my fortune and I will do with it as I please. You shall just have to get used to listening to a woman.”

  “If she lives long enough,” Eustice answered in a low, dangerous tone. “Your son wasn’t so lucky. Who’s to say she won’t suffer a similar-“

  “Eustice!” Daniel thundered just before Katherine heard the sound of a fist hitting flesh and a crash.

  For a moment, Katherine thought that Eustice might have attacked her grandfather but Arrah’s voice erupted not a moment later. “Stop this at once! What is the meaning of this?!”

  A moment later, she heard the doors open. “Sir! What is going on?” James asked.

  “Nothing is going on,” Daniel said calmly, “except for my nephew being an idiot. I’m very sorry, Arrah. I’m afraid the day’s activities have affected Eustice more than I thought.”

  There was a groan, followed by the sound of what Katherine guessed was Eustice being lifted by someone. She guessed it was most likely James because she couldn’t imagine Daniel stooping to help someone.

  “Very well, Daniel,” her grandfather said. “I think that it may be wise to leave with him. I have much to think on.”

  “I apologize for the brutality of this meeting, both verbal and physical. I don’t usually like to stoop to such measures, but Eustice was out of line and clearly not in his right mind,” Daniel said, his voice beginning to fade indicating the man was leaving the smoking room. “That being said, please consider your position carefully, Arrah. You and your granddaughter would benefit from a fair price, and chances are without the stress of leading the business, your health and years would benefit greatly.”

  Her grandfather didn’t answer, and she heard the doors to the room close, followed by silence. She could only imagine him staring into the fireplace, contemplating what had been said. Katherine was shocked and terrified. Could it be that her father had been killed? Eustice had practically come out and said it in his anger, but what could they do?

  She didn’t know, and turned to return to her rooms but saw a form standing in the hallway, causing her to yelp in surprise. After a moment, the figure coalesced into one of the younger maids. A dark-haired, pretty woman named Mary. However, it caused Katherine’s blood to run cold. She had long suspected that Mary was one of the many young women that Eustice had dallied with behind her back. She didn’t care so much about that, but how loyal was the woman to Eustice? Either way, she wondered how much the girl had heard and what she might tell the man if given the chance.

  “Excuse me, ma’am,” Mary said, bobbing and looking down at her feet. “I was just on my way to the laundry room. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Katherine looked at the woman coldly but decided there was nothing to be done, so she pushed past. “Be about your business,” she said, then moved toward the stairwell. She was terrified, and didn’t want Mary to see the fear on her face.

  Chapter 5

  Katherine fled up the stairs, but did not ascend to her rooms. Instead, she made her way through the kitchen toward the hallway that led to the enclosed greenhouse. As she opened the door, the strong scent of growing plants assailed her, making her breath in deeply. The interior of the greenhouse was large, spread two stories above and deep enough to make seeing the far glass walls difficult due to all of the plants.

  It was one of Katherine’s favorite places, despite the chill of November, it was only a little less warm than the boiler rooms she had just fled from. Steeped in elaborate iron works that curved and twined around the windows, it usually made Katherine feel as if she’d stepped into a fairy world but today she was too distracted. Pushing past several large, bushy plants, she made her way toward her favorite bench that lay in the flower section, sitting heavily down on the stone and trembling.

  Could the Clarks have killed her father?

  She pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees, shivering despite the heat. Her eyes strayed beyond the large flowering bushes, staring at the glass and the snow beyond. It was coming down, if anything, heavier than earlier that day. Watching random flakes as they fell, she eventually let her eyes lose focus as she tried to recall anything that might have pointed toward such a crime.

  Slowly, she wound her way back through her memories like an ancient hedge maze, pulling things half-remembered and analyzing them as best she could. She had never understood, or cared, why their family had taken the Clarks on as partners because at first, they had been distant and uncaring to her as a young girl. Her marriage had been arranged to Eustice, several years her senior and though she had not appreciated it, she had complied because she loved her father so much. However, as time moved forward, she recounted several instances of dissatisfaction and even anger with the Clarks.

  It was in their third year of marriage that Eustice first hit her. She suspected that was also when he had started straying from her bed, but after being hit, she had been thankful for his lack of interest and frequent absences. Still, he didn’t stay away enough, and she realized she had been preoccupied with her own terror to realize how bad things had gotten between her father and the Clarks.

  She silently cursed the stoicism of men as tears stained her dress. From the way her grandfather had spoken, he, too, had been caught by surprise by Eustice’s almost confession. Could she have spotted their duplicity when her father and grandfather had been caught by surprise? She didn’t know, but she vowed to never be in a position of ignorance again if she could help it.

  The sound of brush moving
caused her to tense and look up toward the noise. “Ma’am?” came a young voice, cracking halfway through the word. “Miss Katherine? Are you okay?”

  Katherine relaxed, knowing the voice but hurriedly wiping her face with part of her skirt. She knew the staff would be upset at her for dirtying the recently-cleaned fabric, but didn’t care. “Yes, Billy,” she said, trying to hide the fact she was just weeping but failing. “Yes, I am okay.”

  She watched as a red-haired boy of sixteen moved into view and smiled hesitantly. Billy Carrington was one of the house boys, working in the stables and outbuildings around the massive Victorian mansion. He’d come into their employ several years ago at the age of ten and befriended Katherine despite being ten years her junior. Despite the age difference, he was good at listening to Katherine’s occasional troubles.

  “It’s been a difficult day, hasn’t it, Miss Katherine?” Billy asked. “I can go if you want, but I wanted to see if you needed anything? I can probably get Mrs. Malcom to make you a tonic if you want?”

  Katherine was tempted for only a moment but finally shook her head. After Eustice had blurted out what he had, she knew that sleeping right now would be disastrous. She needed to talk to her grandfather. “No, Billy, no tonic, but can you tell me if Daniel and Eustice have left the house?”

  Billy nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I watched from the kitchen window. Why was Mr. Malcom carrying your husband? He looked like he’d been drinking too much, and the elder Mr. Clark was awfully mad. They drove off faster than a banker with a penny.”