Murder in Belgravia by Strauss Lee

Author:Strauss, Lee [Strauss, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Historical, Crime
ISBN: 9781774091579
Amazon: B08NTXCYNJ
Goodreads: 56067194
Publisher: La Plume Press
Published: 2021-06-06T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The Ritz Hotel was a luxurious choice for a wedding night. Ginger was reluctant to interrupt Felicia and Charles, but this new development demanded it. Fortunately, the couple wasn’t in a private or embarrassing situation—they were having a cosy luncheon at one of the tables in the restaurant. The concierge had been kind enough to direct Ginger and Basil to the newlyweds.

“Ginger!” Felicia said when she spotted them. Wearing a royal-blue crepe day frock with a matching tie-collar, inverted shoulder tucks, and a bold multi-coloured print on the bodice, Felicia blushed like a new bride under her blue and white cloche hat.

“Oh, how lovely! You’re just in time for dessert! We’ve ordered apricot tarts. We’ll order for you as well.” She squeezed Charles’ hand. “Isn’t this fabulous, Charles? Ginger and Basil have come to celebrate with us.”

Ginger glanced Basil’s way before taking the empty chair across from the couple.

“Please don’t order on our account,” Ginger said.

Felicia frowned. “Oh dear. Don’t tell me you’ve come with bad news. I just can’t bear it. Can’t we have at least one day of joy?”

“I’m dreadfully sorry, darling,” Ginger said. “But a man has died.”

“Oh, I know,” Felicia returned with a pout. “Charles told me the dreadful news. Forgive me for being a pill.”

“You have a right to expect happiness when you get married,” Ginger said. “I’m sorry things are turning out this way.”

Felicia huffed in defeat. “Can’t be helped.”

“What have you discovered?” Charles asked. “Have you found the culprit?”

“Not yet,” Basil said. “But we have found the murder weapon.”

“Well, that’s great news,” Felicia said. “Who does it belong to? That person must be the killer.”

Ginger swallowed. “It was found in your study, Charles.”

“What?” Charles stiffened. “I don’t keep any weapons in my study!”

Felicia blanched. “Someone placed it there,” she said, “to frame Charles!”

“That’s not all of it, I’m afraid,” Basil said.

Charles groaned. “Don’t tell me it’s one of my guns.”

Basil caught his eye. “Why would you say that?”

“Because if it weren’t, you’d just tell us, instead of all this cloak and dagger.”

“Very well,” Basil said. “The serial number belongs to your registered service pistol.”

“Charles!” Felicia cried. “How can this be?”

“I assure you, I don’t know,” he said. “My service pistol went missing before I could surrender it to the British government. Someone has got hold of it and intends to frame me.”

“It’s what we believe as well,” Ginger said, though a nudge by Basil’s knee informed her she shouldn’t have spoken for him. “However,” she continued, “we need to work out who would want to both kill Jean-Claude Beaulieu and frame you.”

“Agreed,” Charles said. “Who are your prime suspects?”

“I’m afraid they’re all friends of yours,” Basil said. “Guests you invited to the wedding.”

“I presumed so,” Charles said. “Webster and Dubois.”

“Also, Miss Ward,” Basil said. “And we can’t rule out Mr. Hughes.”

“Charles,” Ginger started, “can you think of any reason why someone, particularly any of these people, would want to harm Mr. Beaulieu?”

Charles ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it to one side.

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