by Sonia Parin
If she hadn’t been such a coward, she would have stayed at Halton House and welcomed Isabel…
Evie shook the thought away and focused on the road ahead. “I’m afraid I’m not really succeeding since I am now obsessing about barging in on an unsuspecting soul. Poor Sir Richard doesn’t know what he’s in for.”
“He invited you.”
“That’s beside the point. I’m sure he felt obligated to offer me shelter. Anyhow, as I was saying, others before me have made a habit of being a guest.”
Tom laughed. “You want to spend your life on the run, making a nuisance of yourself?”
“Yes, but what would I do with you? If I introduced you as my bodyguard, I would become the laughing stock in all the counties in England. Evangeline Halton, Countess of Woodridge, thinks herself a cut above everyone.” Also, it would seem odd to travel with someone intent on keeping her safe. Although… gentlemen traveled with their valets and titled ladies were invariably accompanied by their maids.
“Considering how cash poor some of the landed gentry seem to be these days, they would be right to think you’re acting all superior.”
“Speaking of which… Sort of. I think the dowagers are dispossessing me from the inside out.”
“Pardon?”
“Caro told me they raided the attics and took away quite a few pieces of furniture.”
“Did you ask them about it?”
“Of course not. You know as well as I do, there is simply no point in asking outright what they are up to.”
“But it doesn’t stop you from forming your own suspicions. What makes you think they would want to, as you say, dispossess you?”
“Even after all these years, I still feel somewhat of an outsider. They were both mistresses of Halton House and now they are living in the dower house. Some might view that as a step down.” As the Countess of Woodridge, Evie retained the right to live at Halton House. However, if she were to marry again…
Evie tilted her head. She had never given it any thought because it almost went without saying, she would never marry again. Recently, Henrietta had told her it would be perfectly normal for Evie to want to move on. In any case, if she did marry again, she would lose her title and Halton House.
How did she feel about that?
Tom frowned. “You think they resent you?”
“That’s probably going too far,” Evie said.
“What if they are only trying to make use of furniture that would otherwise take up space in the attic? It must get very dusty there.”
“The dower house is already crammed full of odds and ends.” Evie tapped her chin in thought. “They both have their own money and also receive an adequate amount from the estate to cover living expenses but what if it’s not enough and they are now trying to raise funds by selling valuable furniture? I’ve heard some peers are reduced to disposing of art works and such to pay for the upkeep of their large estates.”
Tom laughed. “You might want to take inventory or put new locks on the doors at Halton House. Although, it might be too late. Who knows what awaits you on your return. They might have cleaned you out.”
Evie closed her eyes and entertained the thought. Would the staff go about their business as if nothing had happened? Caro had said the footmen had been employed to load up the furniture. She got on well with her staff but she might have missed signs of dissent and… dissatisfaction. Her staff could be aiding and abetting the dowagers…
“What can the dowagers be getting up to?” Evie whispered. She imagined Henrietta defending her actions by saying she only had Evie’s best interest at heart. “I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.”
Turning, she checked on the roadsters behind them. Tom had requested they all drive at a sedate pace. Evie thought she’d also heard him issuing instructions to be on their best behavior.
“I do hope they remember their manners.” Evie gasped and straightened. “I have been so overwhelmed by the accident and preoccupied with the aftermath, I forgot about our flat tire. We need to find out who is responsible. Do you have any ideas?”
“Not really.”
“I think we should try to find out if there is a prankster among them. Phillipa should be able to help us out.”
“Who made the suggestion we drive out ahead of everyone?” Tom asked.
“That would be Sara. Then Charlie jumped onboard with the idea. Remember, we thought there might be a wager involved.” And that, Evie thought, would give Charlie motive to drive a nail through their tire to slow them down. Would he do something so reckless?
Evie gasped and pressed her hand against her mouth.
“What?” Tom asked.
She couldn’t say it.
What if Sara… No. Impossible.
Although, she had been the one to suggest they leave ahead of everyone else.
“I think the dowagers might be trying to kill me.”
Tom tipped his head back and laughed. “Are you trying to lighten the mood?”
“Yes, I suppose I am. Is there any chance you might have driven over a nail?”
“It’s possible,” Tom said.
But highly unlikely, Evie thought.
“That must be the house up ahead,” Tom said.
“Oh my… It’s more imposing than I imagined it would be.” Warwick Hall sat on a slight slope with a lush green lawn stretching out before it. The Jacobean style house had columns with elaborate carvings, pilasters and round-arch arcades. Admiring the turrets and mullioned windows, Evie changed her mind and thought it had a touch of Elizabethan architecture.
Sir Richard Warwick welcomed everyone and showed them through to a high-ceilinged drawing room decorated with coats of arms.
“There have been many knights in our family going back to William the Conqueror. One of them was gifted this land and house for his chivalry on the battle field. I always think I must be a disappointment to my ancestors. I can shoot but I would not be able to wield a sword to save my life. Also, a bad heart prevented me from serving.” Smiling, he clasped his hands and rubbed them together. “The household is thrilled to have such a large party. They haven’t seen this many people in over a year.”
Evie hesitated. She didn’t feel comfortable asking for details and, thankfully, she didn’t have to.
“My wife passed on and I’m afraid I haven’t been very good company. I have two sons but they have both traveled abroad to seek their fortunes.”
Offering her condolences for the loss of his wife, Evie then asked, “I presume one of your sons will return to take over from you when the time comes.”
“Oh, yes. Absolutely. But he’s in no hurry. At the moment, he’s intent on learning as much as he can about the banking industry. My other son has a keen interest in agriculture. At times, I think they have conspired to make me incredibly proud of them.”
Evie sensed a few of the bright young things shifting and clearing their throats. In their place, she would feel uncomfortable knowing others were taking such grown-up steps to ensure they would contribute to the upkeep of their inheritance as well as to the next generation.
“I suppose you should all like to change for dinner,” Sir Richard said. “My butler, Wilson, will show you through to your rooms.”
They all strode up the intricately carved staircase stopping along the way to admire the armors on display.
“These must have cost a pretty penny in their time,” Evie mused. “We have several on display and some are in the attic.”
Tom chuckled. “I just pictured Lady Henrietta absconding with one.”
“We shouldn’t laugh. What if they have developed some sort of affliction?”
“Such as?”
“Kleptomania.” Evie shuddered. “Heavens, I said it in jest but now I have to wonder. I’ve been expanding my reading and I came across a book citing a couple of French psychiatrists.” Glancing at Tom, she saw his eyebrows quirk up. “Yes, I am still continuing with my study of Sigmund Freud. Anyhow, from memory, k
leptomania is a type of impulse control disorder. Sufferers of this affliction steal items of trivial value and then feel dreadfully guilty about it.”
“And you think both dowagers suffer from this affliction?”
“It seems unlikely. Perhaps they are only playing with me.” But why? Did they need to draw attention to themselves? Reaching the landing, Evie stopped. “I think I have just found another reason to feel guilty. I should be home taking care of them. This could be their cry for help. And here I am, galivanting around the countryside.”
Cupping her elbow and leading Evie up the stairs, Tom asked, “What are the symptoms?”
“Symptoms? Of my guilt or their kleptomania? My shoulders are rather tense…so my guilt is still plaguing me. As for the kleptomania. Let’s see, there’s a feeling of pleasure, relief or gratification while stealing. I can imagine they must have had fun going up to the attics while I was away in town. I actually asked Henrietta about one of the items she took. A vase. She had it on display in her drawing room.”
“And?”
“She dismissed it with a wave of her hand and said it had been in the family for a long time. She also expressed surprise because I hadn’t noticed it before… or because I had noticed it.” Evie gasped. “She lied to me.”
“And what do your books say about that?”
“Henrietta is flaunting her act of rebellion in my face. Oh, heavens. And now, I’ve left Sara in charge of the house and she’s the one who encouraged us to join the car rally group. She wanted me out of the house… Who knows what I’ll be going back to…”
The butler, Wilson, gestured to the right of the hallway. “This is your room, Lady Woodridge, and Mr. Winchester is across the hall. I hope that is satisfactory.”
Without giving it much thought, Evie nodded. She strode into her room and removed her coat. Setting it down, she explored the elegantly appointed room with its four-poster bed and views of the surrounding countryside.
The maid must have been busy while Sir Richard had entertained them in the drawing room.
Her clothes had been unpacked and a light green evening dress spread out on the bed. Nudging a door open, she sighed with relief when she saw a boudoir complete with bathtub. What she wouldn’t give to sink into a comforting bath, but it would have to wait until tomorrow.
A light knock at the door preceded the maid’s entrance. She introduced herself as Pearl. “I’ll be assisting you this evening.”
“Oh, marvelous. I thought I would have to manage by myself.” Not that it would have been a problem, Evie thought, since Caro had chosen the gowns which required the least assistance. “Sir Richard said he’d been widowed for a year. Does he still keep a full complement of staff?”
“He does indeed, milady. He doesn’t have the heart to let anyone go. And he keeps wanting to get back into the swing of things but, these days, he tends to keep to himself in the library. We’re all very excited about your visit…”
Evie’s guilt over Isabel’s accident lifted ever so slightly. Although, now she couldn’t help seeing herself as a source of amusement and entertainment.
Caro had told her the staff always looked forward to house parties with great anticipation as the guests tended to provide them with amusing tales.
“We heard about the accident, milady. Did you witness it?”
Evie shuddered. “I did.” In that brief second, her mind filled with images of the roadster careening toward her. What if it had swerved the other way? “A close call,” she mused.
“Did you know the driver?”
“I met him briefly and… I know his wife.” Evie sat down on the edge of the bed.
They had visited the hospital and had tried to see Isabel but the doctor had given her something to make her sleep. As soon as the detective arrived and she answered all his questions, she would ask Tom to drive to the hospital again. Isabel would need someone familiar around her and....
“Oh, heavens.”
“Is everything all right, milady?”
Evie looked up. “Oh, yes. I just remembered something.” Or, rather, something had just occurred to her. Isabel would need time to heal and a place to do it in...
She couldn’t see any way around it.
Isabel would have to recuperate at Halton House.
Chapter Nine
Always thank your host twice – Emily Post
The dining room, Warwick Hall
Evie raised her glass of wine. “My compliments to your cook. It could not have been easy to put together a delectable meal at such short notice, Sir Richard.”
“Oh, please call me Richard. These days, peers are either allowing such formalities to lapse or holding on to them with a death grip as everything else crumbles around them. I say we need to move on and keep up with the times.”
For someone who kept to himself, Sir Richard certainly had a lot to say. Evie had the feeling he wouldn’t be a widower for much longer. His affable manner alone would be enough to attract someone new into his life. His distinguished good looks would also help…
“I hope you have all found your quarters acceptable.”
Everyone expressed their gratitude and offered assurances. As Evie sat back to allow a footman to clear her plate, she remembered what the butler had said to her.
After he’d directed Tom to the room opposite Evie’s, he’d said he’d hoped that would be satisfactory. Why wouldn’t it be? Leaning slightly forward, Evie glanced at Tom. He sat next to Marjorie at the other end of the table. After watching him for several minutes, she noticed their conversation flowed with ease.
Nothing wrong with his affability either, Evie thought.
Glancing around the dining room, she saw the butler casting his keen eye over the table.
Evie’s thoughts returned to the butler’s earlier remark… Had he meant to imply she was having some sort of liaison with Tom?
House parties were notorious for such goings on. Not that she had ever partaken of the activity…
As she returned her attention to her meal, she saw the butler approach Sir Richard. A moment later, Sir Richard cleared his throat and excused himself.
“I wonder what that’s about?” Batty asked.
An unexpected visitor, Evie thought. In her experience, butlers did not interrupt for any other reason. Not even if there was a fire in the kitchen. And the host would certainly never leave the table unless he absolutely had to, and only because no one else could attend to a matter...
Taking a sip of her wine, she exchanged a few raised eyebrow gestures with Phillipa who sat across the table from her.
Wearing a black and white striped dress, her young friend looked surprisingly staid. She even wore a headband adorned with a black feather. Unique sat two places down from her. She had stayed in character, wearing a man’s coattails with a wide belt and some sort of skirt underneath.
Sir Richard’s return to the dining room drew everyone’s attention to him.
“It would seem we have an extra guest,” Batty murmured.
Stepping aside, Sir Richard gestured to a man who stood at the door. “This is Detective Inspector O’Neill from Scotland Yard.”
The butler jumped into action setting a dinner place at the table for the detective… right next to Evie.
“Lady Woodridge.”
Evie inclined her head. “Detective. I want to say it is lovely to meet you again, but the circumstances make it rather awkward.”
“Indeed.”
Evie smiled. “Please say you are surprised to find me here.”
The detective settled into his chair. “When Sir Richard mentioned you were one of the guests, I must admit I felt surprise at the coincidence. And, as you well know, I’m not overly fond of coincidences. However, given the circumstances, I believe this can work in our favor. You already know what to expect and I hope to be able to secure your assistance.”
High praise indeed, Evie thought. “I must say, I am surprised a Scotland Yard detective has traveled all this w
ay. Surely this is only a car accident. Something that could be dealt with by the local constabulary.”
“And yet here I am.”
“Which begs the question…”
“I believe you are acquainted with Mrs. Bianchi,” he said.
Evie explained her friendship with Isabel, leaving out most of her personal opinions about the relationship, something the detective had no trouble picking up on.
“I sense there is much you are leaving out.”
“I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions, detective.” And hope that he would in turn answer some of her questions. Why had a Scotland Yard detective been sent to investigate a motor car accident? Why had he asked about Isabel? Did Isabel’s prominent family have something to do with his involvement?
They would have been informed of the accident and she wouldn’t be surprised if the Ambassador himself had become involved, ensuring the matter received the utmost attention.
He glanced around the table. “This is quite an interesting… Well… words fail me.”
“Menagerie?” Evie suggested. “They are all rather colorful and somewhat wild.”
“I would have settled for group of people but menagerie describes them perfectly. Friends of yours?” he asked.
How could she answer that?
“Well… they landed on my doorstep and I couldn’t turn them away.”
“Did you try?”
Smiling, she nodded. “I would have but they were looking for Phillipa Brady. You remember Phillipa.”
“Yes, how could I forget. Does she still believe Scotland Yard is in Scotland?”
“No, we have managed to set her straight.” When Evie told the inspector about Phillipa getting lost, he laughed.
“Does she not know north from south?”
“I’m sure she does, but she is from Australia and from what she tells us everything appears to be on the reverse side down there.”
“You jest.”
“Yes, of course.” She hadn’t had the opportunity to ask how Phillipa had managed to get lost, but she suspected it had something to do with being sidetracked. Keeping her voice lowered to a murmur, Evie pointed out the other guests and shared her limited knowledge of them.
