The Sleuthing Starlet Mysteries

by Bianca Blythe

  “It wasn’t three whole years,” Veronica said slowly. “And I had a roof over my head—mostly. And I worked. I entertained people.”

  The dowager duchess shrugged. “Clearly your life has improved. Though I think it would be good to destroy whatever documents Horace had. You might want to also see if you can pay off that inspector. I’ve never much cared for scandals, and I really don’t have the patience for them at my advanced age.”

  “But how did you manage to recover from that?” Lady Audrey asked.

  “It’s not important,” Edmund said quickly.

  “But it seems impressive,” Mrs. Ardingley said. “I must admit to being curious too.”

  Edmund raked his hand through his hair. “She doesn’t want to talk about it.”

  “Look. I entered a beauty queen competition. First prize was a screen test for Hollywood. And I won. That’s all. Utterly uninteresting.”

  “And the criminal record?”

  “Was for stealing clothes from a local department store,” the dowager duchess said.

  “It worked,” Veronica said. “I had to look nice and I did.”

  “That’s amazing,” Cora breathed.

  The others seemed similarly awed.

  Veronica shrugged. “It was the start of this dreadful depression. You had to do what you had to do.”

  “Still. It’s a motive for murder. Father wanted to destroy you for having the gall to marry into the family,” Mr. Ardingley said. “I imagine the new duchess wouldn’t want that sort of thing to get out now.”

  The mood was broken.

  “I thought we were friends, Rhys,” Veronica said.

  “My father died. And apparently somebody killed him. That matters to me.”

  “I didn’t do it,” she said softly.

  “Where were you when he died?” he asked.

  “In my room.”

  “Did anyone see you?”

  Veronica shook her head.

  “I think the police are likely to see you as the most likely suspect too.”

  “But I didn’t—”

  “So you said.” Mr. Ardingley rose and left the room.

  “I’ll follow him,” Mrs. Ardingley moved her hands to her wheelchair.

  “I’ll send a footman to assist you up the stairs,” Wexley said.

  Mrs. Ardingley nodded.

  Murmurs of excuses to go drifted through the room, and it soon emptied.

  Cora swallowed hard.

  If only she hadn’t informed every one of her suspicions that it was a murder.

  Now her dearest friend was in trouble, and it was all her fault.

  She reminded herself that the police would sort everything out.

  Perhaps the village constable didn’t exude competence, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t solve the case.

  Except he’d likely never had to investigate a murder. The village didn’t seem large enough to have them often.

  And he’s not even here.

  Perhaps Cora could discover who the murderer was herself. She would need to speak with Edmund. He knew everyone more than Veronica did, and perhaps she would be able to discover other motives.

  They needed to speak in private.

  Cora found Edmund in the drawing room with Lady Audrey.

  “I believe the snow has finished, Edmund,” Cora said. “Would you perhaps show me around outside?”

  Edmund blinked.

  “I mean, there’s nothing else to do now.”

  “Shakespeare is not that interesting?” He sighed. “I suppose I could show you the barn. We have some skis and snowshoes there.”

  “Splendid,” she said.

  She was not going to spend the day inside, not when there was a chance she could help Veronica and make sure that the duke’s murderer would not remain free.

  “Would you like me to join you?” Lady Audrey asked. “Edmund is not the best skier.”

  “No need,” Cora said quickly.

  “Well, do enjoy yourselves.”

  Cora followed Edmund to the foyer, and a footman brought them their winter garments.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Cora’s relief at not having Lady Audrey with them soon gave way to discomfort. Edmund’s demeanor met all the minimums for politeness, but he made no attempt at friendliness.

  She followed Edmund outside, and frigid wind prickled her skin. “It’s cold.”

  “Indeed.”

  Cora had met other gentleman callers of Veronica’s of course. Most of them had been movie stars, though some had gained entry to the finest establishments because of their bulging bank accounts, rather than because of any talent or even because of the good looks that so often substituted for talent in Hollywood. She missed their cocky enthusiasm for the future and gleeful embrace of the present.

  Though she had known there would be snow-covered fields and had even looked forward to them, the cold had seemed an abstract concept. In Los Angeles, a chilly day had meant a sweater. It certainly hadn’t meant three sweaters, an overcoat, some excellent boots, thick socks, and a woolen hat would still make her feel underdressed and cold and miserable.

  Edmund led the way to the barn. The snow drifts were not as large on this side of the manor house, though her boots sank nearly all the way through the snow, and the flat stone barn on the next hill seemed unimaginably distant.

  “Tell me more about your father,” Cora said.

  “You met him.”

  “I didn’t have the pleasure of his company for very long.”

  “No.”

  “You must miss him,” she said.

  “It hasn’t been that long.” Edmund lengthened his strides over the snow.

  “I suppose that’s true.” Cora scrambled after him, her breath coming out in smoky puffs. “Do you spend much time in the country?”

  “I try to avoid it,” Edmund said. “Mayfair exceeds this place in charm.”

  “But you made an exception.”

  “Yes. Everyone goes home for Christmastime, and Lord knows this is pleasant enough, if one can avoid the people inside.”

  “Whom would you want to avoid?”

  He frowned, and warmth cascaded over Cora’s cheeks, despite the air’s frigidity.

  “If you were your father, whom would you have wanted to avoid?”

  “Are you asking me whom do I think killed my father?”

  “Hypothetically.”

  “I think it was an accident,” he said.

  “Tell me more about your mother. Was she close to your father? I mean, obviously they had you—” Cora gave an awkward laugh, but the tips of Edmund’s lips plunged into a deeper frown.

  “They were no different than any married couple,” Edmund said stiffly.

  “She’s not English, is she?”

  “She’s from Czechoslovakia,” Edmund said. “At least that’s what it’s called now.”

  Cora did not inquire whether he referred to the country’s comparable youth or whether he was hinting that Germans might, as some feared, invade it.

  “How did she and your father meet?” Cora asked.

  “In London.”

  “Why did they marry?”

  “He probably thought she was pretty. He was rich, and he liked that she was the daughter of a count.” He smirked. “Though in the end he outranked his father-in-law.”

  “And why did she marry him?”

  Edmund frowned. “Would you prefer to be going on a walk with my mother?”

  “Er—no,” Cora said quickly. “I was simply making conversation. Not very good conversation, I’m afraid.”

  He nodded. “Likely that’s because you’re used to someone giving you scripts to read out loud in advance.”

  “Er—yes.” Cora’s face warmed. No doubt it was the color of one of Veronica’s more dramatic lipsticks. “What sort of business activities was your father involved in?”

  “My brother Rhys would say unsavory ones.”

  “And you would say?”

&nb
sp; “Well, he helped people. If somebody wanted something, even something their governments might not be allowed to let them do, Father would find a way to assist them.”

  “Oh,” Cora said, not entirely understanding.

  “I suppose it’s possible that someone outside might have been angry with Father,” Edmund mused.

  “What had he been working on?”

  “He met mostly with Germans this decade. They’re upset that they’re not allowed to develop their army as much as they would like, but fortunately Father was able to cut through some of that international red tape. He helped them in the past work out ways to manufacture different parts at different factories so that no regulators grew suspicious. He’s quite open-minded, after all. He did marry a Central European. And obviously what is the point of developing one’s army if other countries are only going to complain and build theirs stronger?”

  “He arranged this with favorable interest rates for himself, I imagine?”

  “Naturally.” Edmund beamed. “He was very clever.”

  “I can see that some others might feel differently.”

  “Yes. People are prone to grumble when they see Germans rebuilding their army, even though Hitler has assured people multiple times that he just desires peace. It’s all simple prejudice of course. The last king was far more favorable to Germans. More enlightened.”

  “Was that the king who was never crowned?”

  “Yes,” Edmund said curtly. “A tainted past is not something Englishmen can forgive.”

  Cora jerked her head toward him. What did Edmund make of Veronica? She might not have been a divorcée, but Veronica’s scandalous past must cause the man pain.

  “Quite a few of your countrymen are helping Germany,” Edmund said, changing the conversation to the more neutral topic of arms transactions. “Some people will always make money in arms production. Why not my father?”

  “And is Signor Palombi involved in these business dealings?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would he have had a reason to be upset with your father?”

  “Nonsense.” Edmund pushed open a door of the barn. “Signor Palombi is Italian. Italians are quite accepting of the German desire to secure their position. Mussolini is an ally.”

  Cora half imagined that they would be confronted by a row of hungry looking horses and cows, but she followed Edmund into a small room. The livestock must be on the other side, and instead there were neatly lined up snowshoes, skis, and skates. On the other side of the wall was summer athletic equipment: a boat, some actual badminton and tennis rackets, not the type that went on feet, and variously shaped balls for all manner of activities that she was sure included plenty of unknown rules.

  Edmund took her cursory exclamations of wonder with the disinterest Cora’s murmurs probably deserved. “Do you want to use anything?”

  The idea of strapping something that resembled tennis rackets onto her feet was not the most appealing of suggestions, especially when a murderer might be on the loose.

  “Oh, perhaps not,” Cora said.

  “You just wanted to see them?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes.” Cora scrutinized them. “They—er—look similar to the American sort. I—er—just wanted to check.”

  “Then I will return to the manor house,” Edmund said.

  “I’ll come with you,” Cora said quickly.

  Upon reentering the manor house, she considered the fact that there had been no great revelations.

  “I’ll see if I can find Veronica,” Edmund said.

  “Of course,” Cora said quickly, and she was almost relieved when he went up the stairs.

  Footsteps approached her. “It’s the cowgirl.”

  Cora turned toward the man’s voice.

  Randolph stood at the entrance to the foyer, munching on a roll.

  The light flickered from the stained-glass windows ahead, giving him an angelic appearance that Cora hoped very much he deserved.

  “You’re seeming very quiet,” he said, narrowing the distance between them.

  “Sorry,” she said quickly. “It’s the murder. It’s—”

  “Upsetting?”

  “Indeed.”

  “Just leave it be,” he said. “Enjoy England. Perhaps we can take a walk together?”

  It would be easy to give in.

  But she knew so little about him and so shook her head. “I’m just going to enjoy my time here.”

  “No investigating?”

  “Naturally not,” she said, feigning affront. “That would be foolish. And besides, perhaps the duke wasn’t even murdered after all.”

  “That’s not what you said last night.”

  “Last night I was sleepy,” she said. “My mind is clearer now. More—”

  “Well-teaed?”

  She tossed her hair. “I’ll just go upstairs.”

  “So early in the day?”

  “Yes,” she said and ascended the steps before he could ask her more questions.

  She wouldn’t be able to find out anything if she spent time on walks with him, likely marveling at the splendor of the icy gables and turrets of the manor house.

  She moved over the corridor, glancing at the paintings and sculptures that decorated it.

  “Miss Clarke,” Mrs. Ardingley called out, and Cora jumped. “You are wandering the upstairs alone. Did going outdoors with my brother-in-law exhaust you so much you felt compelled to take a nap? I didn’t know he was such a fast skier.”

  “We didn’t do any skiing.” Cora shifted her legs over the carpet, absentmindedly noticing the thick pile and wondering if Mrs. Ardingley found the multitude of carpets irritating.

  “Yet you still desire a nap?” Mrs. Ardingley smirked.

  “I-I was actually hoping to see the maid.”

  It was the first excuse she thought of, but it seemed absolutely the wrong thing to say. Mrs. Ardingley’s expression shifted at once

  “Such concern for fashion,” Mrs. Ardingley said, and Cora knew she didn’t mean the words as a compliment. “You should ask her to press your black clothes and remind her to do your hair in a style with some sobriety.”

  Cora touched her hair, conscious of her loose locks.

  “Curls are not somber,” Mrs. Ardingley said firmly. She set her teeth into a thin line, and her hands moved to the sides of her wheelchair. In the next moment, she rolled away.

  Cora remembered to be polite and hastened after her. “I could help you.”

  Mrs. Ardingley turned her head sharply. “Of course. You can do many things, can’t you?”

  Cora’s cheeks warmed.

  “Acting and walking,” Mrs. Ardingley continued. “Though I heard lately you haven’t been good at the former, even though you’ve been doing it for all your life.”

  Heat continued to spread over Cora’s face.

  “Don’t mind me,” Mrs. Ardingley said. “No one does. I’m an invalid. I can be ignored.”

  “I don’t want to ignore you.”

  Mrs. Ardingley’s lips sneered, and other actors might be impressed with the malice she displayed. “You do.”

  The wheels rattled over the hardwood floors, and Mrs. Ardingley was hardly impeded by the occasional Oriental carpet, presumably priceless, that dotted the floors. Mrs. Ardingley might be in a wheelchair, but she was strong.

  Strong enough to kill someone.

  “Where were you when the late duke died?” Cora asked.

  Mrs. Ardingley smirked. “I suppose I should feel flattered that you think I could have anything to do with the murder.” She gestured to the wheelchair. “This keeps me away from following any impulse to murder people.”

  “How long have you been in the chair?”

  “Since Easter.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “So am I.” She shrugged. “Not that I was the best match for him anyway.”

  “You’re in the same circles as him.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

&nbs
p; Mrs. Ardingley fixed accusing eyes on Cora. “And you shouldn’t pretend you don’t know what I mean.”

  Cora needed to change the subject.

  She did know.

  Of course she knew.

  It was obvious to anyone, even if Cora’s time in Hollywood would have made her more conscious.

  Mrs. Ardingley’s nose was too large, and her chin too defined. Her brows were bushy, something she could have changed with relative ease, but perhaps she’d given up on any attempt to mimic basic fashion. Her hair was thick, but rather than appearing luxurious, the strands seemed frizzy.

  “He thought I had money,” Mrs. Ardingley said. “A reasonable assumption. But then twenty-nine happened, and I lost the use of my bank accounts.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Mrs. Ardingley shrugged. “I shouldn’t complain. It’s less of a struggle than any of the village boys went through in the last war. But Rhys expected more. I don’t blame him.”

  “He told me he was the first born son of his father.”

  “He would have made a delightful duke,” Mrs. Ardingley said. “So good at galas.”

  “Do you think anyone wanted your father-in-law dead?” Cora asked.

  Mrs. Ardingley pursed her lips together and for a moment Cora thought she might leave all together. “No, naturally not. At least...”

  “At least?”

  “Most of my father-in-law’s enemies tended to be somewhat abstract. Corporations. Governments. Not people. But your friend had a reason. I find her a more likely killer. Edmund and Veronica’s room was near the duke’s. They had a lovely view of the garden. It would have been easier for her to slip in there than anyone else. Of course Signor Palombi is a stranger too, but why would an Italian businessman want to kill someone who supported Italy’s chief ally?”

  “Did you hear your father-in-law scream?”

  “My ears aren’t gone yet,” Mrs. Ardingley said. “I did.”

  “And then you—”

  “I stayed in my room. It’s not like I could do anything,” she stressed.

  “Were you alone?”

  She glanced at her watch and tucked the blanket that covered her legs more firmly about her. “I was alone. Rhys was in the drawing room, I believe.”

  “He was,” Cora confirmed.