Murder on a Frosty Night: A gripping and addictive historical cozy murder mystery by Verity Bright

Author:Verity Bright [Bright, Verity]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2025-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

25

As a particularly hectic jig came to a close, Mrs Butters insisted Quilter have a refreshment break. Gladstone decided he also needed a break, but of another sort, as he pawed at the door.

‘I’ll take him out,’ Eleanor said as Seldon rose. ‘We won’t be long. It’s properly dark by now, so no one will see us. You catch your breath for round three!’

Quickly she shepherded Gladstone down to the kitchen. Slipping into her coat, she helped the wriggly bulldog into his and clicked his lead on. Checking she had a torch in her pocket, she unlocked the door and peered out. The snow had almost stopped. Coast clear, she stepped out into a magical moonlight night.

‘Come on, Gladstone, we want to be back having fun as quickly as possible!’

The only problem was, there was no path, only a thick, pristine blanket of snow over everything. However, the white-topped gravestones poking through showed her where the path should be and they set off, Gladstone shouldering his way through the powdery snow. Once clear of the churchyard, she started towards the nearest trees on the edge of the wood.

Suddenly the bulldog stopped. He stood stiffly, head raised, eyes alert.

Eleanor crouched down beside him. ‘What have you seen or smelt, boy?’

Unease crept up her spine. Snow dropped off a clump of trees further into the woods.

There’s no wind and it can’t be melting, Ellie, it’s freezing. Birds?

Another clump fell from a tree slightly further away. Then another.

Someone’s there, Ellie.

Her head told her to turn around and make for the safety of the vicarage, but her heart…

Her head won.

Having retreated to the churchyard and then the vicarage, she halted. She was certain someone was behind her. She spun around. At the edge of the woods stood the woman they’d almost run down in the Rolls. From a distance, she seemed to be about Eleanor’s height and build, although the long, black cloak she still wore made it hard to be sure. Her features were difficult to make out as well, as they were partly hidden by the cloak’s oversized hood. She could make out her piercing eyes, though. She was staring at Eleanor, but… differently. Almost… beseechingly? As Eleanor’s hand reached for the kitchen door, the woman stepped back into the woods and… vanished.

Before she could turn the handle, the door swung open.

‘Your ladyship,’ Polly said, giggling. ‘You’re missing the dancing! Mrs T⁠—’

Eleanor thrust Gladstone’s lead into the surprised girl’s hand. ‘Polly. Tell Hugh I’m fine. I… I have to go somewhere. I can’t explain, but tell him I’ll be back soon and to save the last dance for me!’

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