Accomplished in Murder (Accomplished Mysteries, Book 1) by Dara England

Author:Dara England [England, Dara]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2011-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

On seeing him up close, Drucilla was surprised how greatly Lord Litchfield resembled his youngest son. They shared the same build, handsome features, and dark hair and eyes. Only the elder man’s face was lightly marked with lines around the eyes and mouth and his hair was streaked with silver at the temples. He also lacked the glint of amusement that lit his son’s eyes.

“Father, I don’t believe you’ve met our guest yet,” Southorn said. “Allow me to present Miss Drucilla Winterbourne. Miss Winterbourne, my father Lord Litchfield.”

She became aware the older man was studying her critically. Refusing to shrink before him, she met his direct gaze with a challenging look of her own.

She thought she caught a hint of approval flickering behind his eyes but then it was gone. Aloud, he merely observed, “Yours is an unusual profile, Miss Winterbourne. You must sit for me sometime.”

It had more the ring of a command than a request.

“My father is a very skilled painter,” Southorn explained, at her baffled look.

“Hardly skilled.” Lord Litchfield waved the praise scornfully aside. “But I’ve dabbled for some years and am a capable amateur.”

Despite his words, Drucilla suspected anything at which the Master of Blackridge had been “dabbling” for years he would be more than proficient in. However, she kept the thought to herself. “I should be happy to pose for you, sir. It will be my first such portrait since I was a child.”

He nodded as if he had never had any doubt of her acquiescence and changed the subject.

“I regret your visit to Blackridge House must come at such a gloomy time. You would have found us a much livelier household when my poor daughter-in-law was still alive.”

Drucilla nodded in understanding and a sober mood overtook the conversation.

Lord Litchfield seemed to shake it off. “Well, I’m on my way out to meet Coles. Do not let me keep you young people.”

“Coles?” Drucilla asked when he had gone.

“Overseer of the estate. Father thinks a lot of him and he keeps things running smoothly around here.”

“I see. His Lordship seemed much affected by the loss of Celeste. I suppose she brightened the house.”

“Do not be fooled by his declarations of grief. This entire situation could not have played out better for him if he had orchestrated it himself.”

She stared. “What a shocking thing to say.”

“Yes, isn’t it? But come; don’t tell me you’re one of those young ladies who thinks if a thing is unpleasant it shouldn’t be said?”

“That depends, I suppose, on how much truth is in the unpleasant statement.”

“You doubt my word? How suspicious you are, Miss Winterbourne.”

“Not suspicious, just not as cynical as you. Why should your father be glad Celeste is dead?”

“For the same reason anyone is glad to see a terrible fate befall someone else. Because he has something to profit from it. You can be sure father is already mentally lining up potential brides to take Celeste’s place as soon as the necessary mourning period has passed. And why

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