Tales from Charleton House: Charleton House Mystery Shorts (The Charleton House Mysteries Book 8) by Kate P Adams

Author:Kate P Adams [Adams, Kate P]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-25T20:00:00+00:00

* * *

Chelsea was ready to sit down and take a break, but the next person to walk through the door put paid to that idea.

‘What are the chances you have something strong and entirely unsuitable for children?’

Distracted by the flat cap he was now wearing, Chelsea took a minute to realise what Mark was talking about. He looked as if he should be delivering newspapers and wearing short trousers. She also couldn’t help noticing that his moustache had little wisps of white fluff stuck to it, remnants of the Father Christmas outfit before Bill had relieved him of his festive duties.

‘There might be an open half bottle of wine, but I don’t know if it will be any good.’

‘I really don’t care if it tastes like petrol, I need something to deaden the memory of a hundred screaming little people, all jacked up on sugar, running towards me. I made the near fatal error of standing in the doorway while they all watched my sexy Santa wave from the roof. Once he vanished, I was suddenly the only object between them and the New Gallery where his grotto had been set up. I’m surprised I didn’t end up in the same condition as Frank. How is he, anyway? Able to name his attacker yet?’

Joe shook his head. ‘We have an officer at the hospital and they’ll let us know when he regains consciousness.’

After hunting in the storeroom, Chelsea found the half-empty bottle of white wine in the fridge. She had no idea how long it had been there. Mark looked longingly at the large glass that Chelsea placed in front of him.

‘Ta, much appreciated. Was much damage done?’

Joe listed some of the displaced objects that had been immediately identified.

‘Old Admiral Tom, eh? Well, it seems rather appropriate.’

Chelsea’s confusion must have been written on her face as, after Mark had glanced up at her, he explained.

‘Lord Admiral Thomas Fitzwilliam-Scott. He was the 2nd Duke’s youngest brother and a bit of a black sheep in some ways. He rose rapidly through the ranks of the Royal Navy, but as far as I can tell, he drank his way around the world. At Charleton House, he’s most famous for a Christmas bash he threw in 1701. The Duke and his family were away for Christmas and the Admiral decided to hold a four-day party.

‘On Christmas Day, he had one of the courtyard fountains filled with 1,000 litres of punch. Cups of the stuff were served by a little boy who floated around the fountain on a boat. Things eventually got messy when a group of guests – led by the Admiral – pulled off their shoes and stockings and climbed into the fountain, almost drowning the little boy. After that, they went on a rampage – a couple of them completely starkers – around the house, damaging a number of precious objects and a couple of paintings, including one of the Admiral’s father, who he’d never got on particularly well with. So it does seem that what happened tonight is a particularly appropriate display of karma.

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