A Homicide at Halloween: A 1920's Murder Mystery (Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates Book 11) by Emily Queen

Author:Emily Queen [Queen, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

ROSEMARY GLANCED AROUND at the rest of the guests, sensing their shared unease, and was relieved when Max suggested, “Perhaps we would be wise to retreat to the lounge, a safe distance from Lady Davenport’s chambers.”

“Indeed,” Mr. Barkley said, straightening with sudden purpose. “I think we could all use some liquid fortification. Something stronger than punch.” A knowing sigh rippled around the group—there was no surprise there.

Lord Davenport finally tore his eyes away from where his wife had disappeared behind the hedges and nodded in agreement. “Right so,” he said, once more the genial host.

With Mr. Barkley at his heels, Lord Davenport led the group across the lawn. Rosemary lingered behind the rest, her mind racing with the implications of what had just transpired while her eyes roved the castle gardens admiringly. If the situation with Max took a tiny portion of her innermost thoughts, she wouldn’t allow more than that small amount of distraction.

Something along the hedge caught her attention and gave her pause. Upon further inspection, Rosemary detected a small opening in the foliage, barely visible but seeming to beckon to her. Curious, she stepped forward and peered through the gap to discover an old stone fountain nestled in a corner. Murky water filled the basin, and the intricately carved figures depicting Greek gods and goddesses no longer spouted crystal clear streams into its depths, but it was still beautiful.

The sound of voices, muffled but unmistakable, carried over from the other side of the hedgerow’s dense foliage, and Rosemary quickly stepped back into the shadows as two figures came into view.

Thomas stood in a secluded recess near one of the castle’s many entrances and spoke in hushed tones with Mr. Miller, the old caretaker who she suddenly realized had remained absent since welcoming the guests the previous afternoon.

Low and urgent, Thomas’s voice was laced with worry. “We both know how important it is to keep this secret, no matter the cost.” He trailed off, and when Mr. Miller replied, he spoke so quietly she couldn’t make out his response.

Rosemary crept closer, straining her ears and trying not to make a sound. When a twig snapped beneath her feet, Thomas froze for a moment before looking furtively around. She didn’t know whether to run, expose herself, or stay still, but before she could truly panic, a loud crash sounded from inside the castle.

Both men leaped at the sound, and Thomas muttered something unintelligible before they turned and rushed inside.

Relieved, Rosemary hurried back through the hedges and into the castle where her fellow guests had disappeared, bursting into the entrance hall and skidding to a halt just as Thomas and Mr. Miller arrived from the other direction. She surveyed the room before her and felt a pang of irritation when she saw that Max hadn’t even noticed her absence. He stood next to Professor Jones, staring at something in the center of the room.

Gobsmacked by the carnage that lay before her, Rosemary’s eyes widened, and her irritation ebbed. At the center of the chaos stood Humphrey, his mischievous eyes flashing defiantly.

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