Each alarming slice summoning a sick groan from the now-frightened crowd.
But even when that occurred, Harry managed to call out, over the clash of metal as he parried, “Don’t worry, Kat. Bit rusty, it appears. But I was rather proficient at this back at school. Got a trophy or two around here somewhere.”
Then Sawyer – in what seemed an impossible move for someone who indulged in intoxicants as much as he did – leapt onto one of the banqueting tables, giving him the advantage of height over Harry, who now was mostly ducking and swerving.
Until: “All right, enough of this,” Harry said, holding his position, as if to make himself a target.
And when Sawyer then took aim with a great stomach-churning slice – Harry simply stepped aside.
Sawyer, off-balance, teetered at the table’s edge as Harry’s own sabre now shot up, catching the hilt of Sawyer’s sword and simply flipping it away into the air.
That movement, adding just enough push that Sawyer fell to the floor, landing hard.
Where Harry placed the tip of his sword at the base of the prone man’s skull.
“Not bad, Sawyer. But fancy moves? All that cinema stuff? Not terribly useful in a real duel.”
Then – incongruously – a bell from outside.
Sawyer moved his arms as if about to get up.
“Oh, please don’t,” Harry said. “Just a few minutes more.”
The bell of the police car – for Kat knew that’s what it was – stopped. And, in moments, Sergeant Timms walked into the ballroom.
Cleared his throat.
And said: “Now, um – will someone please explain to me what in Heaven’s name is going on here!”
20. Tea for Three
Kat took a sip of the tea, exactly as she liked it with two sugars and a squeeze of lemon.
Just a day after the weekend party that had delivered so much more entertainment than Lavinia could possibly have hoped for, Kat and Harry were back at the manor for tea and – to be sure – questions.
Harry’s face was catching the sun, though the smell of fall was already in the air.
“I say, Lavinia,” said Harry, “has this weekend at all put you off big parties?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Harry. You can’t say – murder notwithstanding – it all wasn’t rather thrilling. I still,” she turned and looked at Kat, “do have a few questions, though.”
Kat smiled. “Ask away. Not sure we even now understand everything.”
“Good then. So – to the rest of the story? How did Palmer set up Carmody to be killed?”
Kat nodded. “We think he suggested that – for fun – they swap masks, in the spirit of the party and all that.”
“Ah, I see. And he just slipped the invitation into a new envelope?”
Harry leaned forward. “That’s the brilliance of it, Aunt Lavinia. Palmer used a death threat against himself to bump off a chap who was about to ruin him. Dashed clever. Nearly got away with it. Would have too – if he’d managed to remove the invitation from Carmody’s room before I got there.”
“I see,” Lavinia said. She took a bite of cookie. “I think. But will Palmer go to jail?”
Kat looked to Harry for that one.
“Ah, good question. Passing the note, swapping the mask, all that. One could make a case that he was a conspirator in murder. But I suspect a good solicitor will get him off.”
“I do hope not,” Lavinia said.
“Either way, he will be ruined, in disgrace. No worries about that.”
“And Celine? I mean, we go back such a long way. And such a lovely voice.”
Kat reached out and touched Lavinia’s hand. The more she spent time with Harry’s aunt, the more she liked her.
“She will be in trouble, since she must at some point have figured out what was happening and then kept quiet. But her only overt action if you will, was warning Palmer. Think at the very least, she may want to go abroad for some time. That is, if she is not charged.”
“Maybe Australia? One hears so many people do that these days. Me, I couldn’t ever. I mean, those kangaroos? What on earth kind of animal is that?”
Kat laughed.
But then Lavinia tilted her head.
“One more question. Then we can just enjoy the sun and talk about… I don’t know, the latest book you’ve read?”
“Fire away,” Harry said.
“Bravo you two… but now what? No projects at the Dower House? Whatever will you do?”
“Always things needed at the Woman’s Voluntary Service,” Kat said. “Nicola’s doing amazing work for the women of the area.”
Lavinia smiled as if she had a secret. “She is incredible. But is that enough, after all—?”
And Harry stood up as if looking into the distance.
“Well you see, Lavinia, you know we went to Littlehampton—”
“Indeed,” said Lavinia. “The fish were delicious. I’ve had McLeod put in a regular order.”
“Jolly good,” said Harry. “Anyway, while we were there, I saw the old boat.”
“Your father’s yacht. Yes. She was a beauty.”
Harry nodded. “Been in drydock a long time, but the yard has looked after her pretty well. And I’m thinking, well wouldn’t that be a great project for Kat and me? Get her fixed up, take her out to sea before the autumn sets in. Maybe you could join us on board for a sundowner one evening?”
Kat saw Lavinia hesitate as if thinking the proposition over, or perhaps thinking about other things. But then – the warmest of smiles.
“Now that’s a splendid idea. Just like the old days. I’ll even help.”
“Good!” Harry said. “Now where’s the champagne when you need it? I should summon Benton.”
But Kat looked at her husband, and said: “Harry – Sir Harry – I think tea is just fine for now.”
And he nodded back at her, sat down, with Kat thinking, Wherever will that sailboat take us?
Time will tell.
END
Mydworth Mysteries Episode 5
Mydworth’s Excelsior Radio Company is world-famous for its expensive radio-phonographs. But suddenly the Excelsior delivery lorries start being hijacked, and the very future of the company is in doubt. Is this just about stolen radios – or is there something more secret and dangerous going on? When Harry and Kat are brought in to help, they decide to go undercover to solve the crimes and soon discover there are many more secrets to this mystery than meets the eye...
Deadly Cargo
MYDWORTH MYSTERIES
by Matthew Costello & Neil Richards
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Mydworth Mysteries--Murder wore a Mask Page 11
