Ghastly Mistake by Byrd Nash

Author:Byrd Nash
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rook and Castle Press

She must have been waiting for us, for we were immediately greeted by Valentina when we arrived at Hartwood.

“Elinor, congratulations on your marriage to my brother.” Her hands sought mine, and she gave them a squeeze, kissing me on each cheek. Her face was pale with shadows under the eyes, but she still kept the upright carriage and grace of a noblewoman.

Before I could respond, she moved swiftly to her brother.

“Tristan.” She kissed him also and clasped his upper shoulders in a brief hug.

While it was a grand foyer, the space was becoming small with everyone crowding in. Tristan’s two lawyers were apparently known to Valentina as she greeted them by name; de Windt and his clerk, the latter holding a wooden traveling writing desk which contained paper and ink; and standing behind us, stiffly at attention, were two Crown enforcers (thankfully, not Jacques Moreau). Four others had been left outside to guard all the exits.

Valentina invited us all to adjourn to the sitting room, the place where the Duchess de Chambaux had once interrogated me about my intentions. The room with the painting on the wall concealing a hidden passage, which probably had been used to remove me after Dr. Armand Devereaux had been struck from behind. And which had allowed Anne-Marie’s escape.

We found other guests already here: Lady Maryegold Talleyrand, Dr. Devereaux himself, and Charlotte. Charlotte was standing near a table loaded with coffee, tea, and sandwiches. She was filling a plate and gave me a nod. I wasn’t sure what Valentina was expecting, but she evidently thought we all needed to be fed.

More greetings were exchanged, and since our marriage announcement had been published in the gossip section of the newspaper, everyone also offered congratulations on our recent union. I wasn’t sure anyone was sincere, but I nodded and shook hands.

The footmen brought extra chairs and when his back was turned to the others, Ruben gave me a wink. Tristan placed me between the Van Heerdens while he remained standing. De Windt took a seat next to Lady Talleyrand and Valentina. Dr. Devereaux rose from his seat to stand next to Charlotte, who urged him to take a sandwich from her plate.

A chair in the middle was left empty.

Tristan began to lay out his case.

“Last week, Elinor was in this room with Dr. Devereaux when they were attacked.”

Dr. Devereaux nodded, giving me an apologetic look. “It was mid-morning, and Lady Fontaine and His Grace were not at home. Madame Chalamet, I mean Lady Elinor Fontaine, and I were discussing my work.”

Tristan interjected. “Yes, I was already at the Parliament building. Valentina?”

“I had a meeting with a few ladies to discuss an upcoming party.” De Windt looked away from her steely gaze.

“So would it be around ten that you paid your call?” Devereaux nodded. “Several things were happening at once. Lord and Lady Bridoux were accosted at the park and shot. At my home, Dr. Devereaux was attacked, and Elinor abducted. When did Lady Josephine Baudelaire die, Dr. LaRue?”

“When I examined her, she was already in a state of decay.

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