Death of an Aristocrat by Anya Wylde

Author:Anya Wylde [Wylde, Anya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Lucy

The dinner party was in full swing. Lucy, Elizabeth and Master Willoughby watched the guests arrive from the nursery window. Carriages rolled up to Gopshall Manor, and finely dressed people clambered out, eager to learn the facts of the murder.

Some hurried in, heads bent, eyes pinned to the ground. Some alighted from the carriage, took a moment to cast a judgmental eye on the manor before strolling indoors, while the rest tiptoed in; hats pulled low, eyes darting hither-thither like badly disguised detectives.

“That young lady forgot her breeches,” Master Willoughby observed.

Lucy smacked his head. “She is wearing a dress, the skirt of which is a touch sheer.”

“A touch?” Elizabeth muttered under her breath. “From where I am standing, the boy is right.”

“Another carriage,” Lucy cried. “Oh, look, that poor young lady was caught in the rain. I hope someone gives her a new gown quickly.”

“It didn’t rain today,” Master Willoughby observed.

Elizabeth grinned. “It’s the latest fashion.”

“What?” Lucy’s eyebrows rose in horror. “To arrive dripping like a river rat to a dinner party is fashionable?”

“She will ruin the cushions,” Elizabeth mused.

“She will catch a cold and die,” Master Willoughby commented thoughtfully.

Just then, the wind changed, from north to east, and a sense of danger engulfed the girls.

The door flew open, and Lady Willoughby walked in wearing a gorgeous green and pink silk gown. Her golden ringlets shone in the light of the setting sun, and her eyes sparkled like an icy green pond.

Lady Willoughby glanced at Elizabeth’s hand, resting on Master Willoughby’s shoulder and scowled.

Elizabeth bit her lip and backed away.

“Johnny,” Lady Willoughby hugged her stepson. “I told you to stay away from them.” She dropped her voice, “They are witches in disguise.”

Master Willoughby rolled his eyes and winked at Lucy.

Lucy grinned and stuck her tongue out at Lady Willoughby’s back.

“Get out, Miss Trotter,” Lady Willoughby said quietly. “And take your friend with you.”

The odd tone in her voice sent a chill down Lucy’s spine. She grasped Elizabeth’s hand and quickly left the room.

“She hates us,” Elizabeth muttered as they walked down the corridor towards the hidden servant’s staircase.

Lucy swallowed nervously. “She can’t even bear to look at you or say your name these days. I thought she disliked me far more.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly and straightened her shoulders. “Forget her and let’s focus on our next task.”

Lucy gave a sharp nod. “I am ready.”

The grandfather clock in the hallway began to chime, and the girls sprinted down the stairs, tiptoed down the hall and came to a stop outside the study, before it had finished ringing the eighth bell.

The merry music of the orchestra beating through the house further muffled the sounds of their actions.

Lucy stuck her ear to the door while Elizabeth tried to peer under the doorway for any sign of human life.

The sound of someone banging away at the piano made it hard for them to hear properly. Lucy glanced at Elizabeth and raised her brow.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and gave a firm nod.

Lucy smiled, turned the handle and snuck inside.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.