Death at a Paris Hotel: An utterly gripping and unputdownable cozy murder mystery (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 22) by Verity Bright

Author:Verity Bright [Bright, Verity]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2025-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

27

Chateau Archambault was every inch the fairy-tale castle Eleanor had gazed dreamily at in storybooks as a child. Its enchanting cream stone turrets and towers called to her inner Rapunzel. Its romantic corner balconies further stirring her already captivated Juliet. Inside the four-storey mansion, however, she was finding the vast echoing halls and scantily furnished rooms with faded wall tapestries rather soulless. Though she was also struggling to shake off the feeling, the souls of those passed were watching wherever she went.

She mentally chided herself for giving in to her over-fanciful imagination after the two recent murders. Instead, she dragged her focus back to their host, Le Comte, who was waiting to lead her courteously in to dinner.

In truth, she was itching to ask him a raft of questions. Not that she necessarily suspected him of anything untoward just because he knew Delorme. She imagined most people of money or wealth in Paris knew a man like Delorme in one way or another. But Le Comte was a hard man to read. And he did have rather unpredictable mood swings. She’d overheard him twice already haranguing a bewildered member of staff as if he’d caught them stealing the silver.

But he had welcomed her earlier telephone call. She had explained they had shuffled some of their honeymoon plans around to take him up on his gracious offer. And, on their arrival, he’d received them warmly into his chateau.

‘It really is too kind of you, Monsieur le Comte,’ she said, arranging the folds of her amethyst silk evening gown.

He smiled. ‘The pleasure is all mine. Though please forgive us dining in the family salon. We are only four and either of the banqueting halls would feel like I was entertaining you in one of the barns.’

Four, Ellie? That means Odette isn’t coming. Dash it!

She’d hoped to talk to her, too. Remembering Odette’s remark about Le Comte rarely entertaining at Chateau Archambault, she wondered when those banqueting halls had last been used.

‘It’s positively charming,’ she said, admiring the duck-egg blue of the flock wallpaper, matching drapes and upholstery.

‘Mr Seldon, please.’ Le Comte gestured at the chair next to Eleanor. Then to the one opposite, as he cocked his aristocratic chin in Clifford’s direction. ‘And your… secretary is welcome too, Lady Swift.’

Clifford had agreed to go along with the ruse as she wanted him next to her, as extra eyes and ears, not stuck in the servants’ quarters. Besides, with the expert hand with which he officiated over her affairs, including her financial accounts, he genuinely fulfilled the role of a private aide, and so much more besides. And as he hadn’t made it up to Eiffel’s ‘secret’ apartment, Le Comte would be none the wiser.

Gladstone gave up trying to scrabble his portly form up onto the seat beside her, sitting down instead and licking his lips at the delicious aromas coming from the serving table.

‘Good job we didn’t bring Tomkins, too!’ Seldon murmured.

Eleanor hid a smile. She had conceded to Clifford’s concern that Le Comte was clearly a powerful man in the area.

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