Katherine took a deep breath before glancing around as if someone might be listening. For all she knew, Mary might be hiding right now listening to everything she said. She leaned forward, gesturing for Billy to come closer. “Did you happen to see Mary before you came in here?”
Billy nodded, scowling for a moment. Mary was not the most well-regarded maid in the house, and she was also known to treat Billy and the other houseboys badly on occasion. “Yes, ma’am, she was helping peel potatoes in the kitchen,” he said, then grinned. “I was able to sneak by without the cook seeing me, though.”
Katherine shook her head, smiling back slightly at the young man’s cheek. She normally would have laughed along with him, but it had been an entirely too difficult day for that. “Good. She caught me listening at the vent downstairs and I know she’s soft on Eustice. I am sure she’ll run to him the first chance she gets to tell him I was listening to what they were saying.”
“Good thing he was drinking, then!” Billy crowed, then hushed himself as Katherine smacked his arm.
“Would you be quiet! I just asked you if someone was listening and you start screaming like a banshee.”
Billy slapped his hands over his mouth and flinched, then both of them froze as they listened intently to the silence of the greenhouse. After a few moments, they looked at each other, and Katherine smacked him lightly again before whispering. “He wasn’t drunk. His uncle punched him!”
Billy smiled hugely but kept his voice down. “Boy, I wish I could have seen that! There’s no one that deserves it more.” Billy paused, then looked down at his hands. “I know he hits you, Miss Katherine. I wish I could do something to stop it.”
Katherine gave him a hug, thankful they were alone. It was improper for someone of her station to even talk to the staff beyond a certain polite level, and hugging would have been viewed as scandalous, but she didn’t care as she listened to the earnest young man. “Thank you, Billy. I wish something could be done, too, but there’s more afoot than just my husband treating me the way he does.”
“More?” Billy said, his brows wrinkling in concern. “What’s going on, ma’am.”
She looked intently into his clear, blue eyes. “I think they killed my father.”
“Oh, boy,” Billy whispered, his eyes wide. “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” Katherine said, “but I need to talk to my grandfather as soon as possible.”
Chapter 6
“Did you find out where Grandfather is?” Katherine asked anxiously when Billy came back into the greenhouse.
“Yes, ma’am,” Billy said after closing the door quietly. “He’s in the library and it looked like Mr. Malcom was taking him a big glass of whiskey.”
Katherine frowned. Her grandfather never drank since he didn’t like how it made him feel with his medicine. “That’s not good, Billy. James knows better than to let him drink that. I have to get to him as soon as possible but I don’t want to be seen.”
“Why not?” Billy asked. “Mary is still busy with the potatoes.”
“Because I don’t know if there are any more people that will tell Eustice what we’re going to talk about. Even if they don’t mean to, people talk. I need to get to the library without anyone knowing.”
“That’s not going to be easy, ma’am.”
“I know,” Katherine said, biting her lip. There were servants’ halls, but she was more likely to run into one of the staff there than in the main house. Then she had an idea. “Billy! Why not push me in one of the linen carts?! That can work.”
Billy grimaced and looked behind him as if someone might be standing there before turning back to Katherine. “I don’t ever push linen carts, Miss Katherine. Won’t that cause suspicion?”
“Maybe, but if anyone asks, just tell them Mr. Malcom sent you to get some linens. By the time they find out it’s a lie, I’ll be done.”
“Okay, if you say so,” Billy said. “Let me go get one. I’ll be right back.”
Katherine was forced to wait once again, tapping her foot in worry. She retreated back further into the greenhouse and waited. Despite how confident she had sounded when she’d sent Billy off, she wasn’t at all certain this would work. Biting her lip, she thought furiously of a better plan but nothing came to mind.
When the door opened once again, Katherine held her breath as she peered through the leaves but she hadn’t needed to worry. She could see Billy’s head peeking through the open door, looking around quizzically. Stepping out, she smiled and waved, making her way quickly over to the doorway and the linen cart beyond.
“Help me pull out the sheets,” Billy said, already reaching down and lifting out a pile of fabric and handing it to Katherine. She felt bad about piling the clean sheets on the dirty ground of the greenhouse but quickly pushed the thought out of her mind.
After they had mostly emptied the deep cart, Katherine climbed in as carefully as she could. It was not easy with the layers of her dress and the wheels on the cart, but with Billy’s help she managed to get in with a minimum of trouble. Billy then covered her with several sheets and a moment later, she felt the cart begin to move.
Despite not being able to see, she could mentally track where they were in the large Victorian house. Despite her fear, they passed only a few staff who didn’t say anything as they squeezed by the large cart and Billy didn’t say anything to them in turn. Despite this, Katherine held her breath when each one passed, not wanting to give even the smallest hint that she was there.
“Almost there,” Billy whispered. “We’re just about to the door that’s closest to the library.”
“Thank you so much, Billy,” Katherine whispered back. “When we get there, stay outside the door and knock if anyone comes close.”
“Okay, Miss Katherine,” Billy said then grunted as he moved to open the door so he could push the cart out into the main hallway. Katherine could hear the cart move from the hard floor onto the carpet before coming to a halt. She was just about to push the sheet covering her off when she heard the library door open.
“Mr. Carrington?” Came the confused voice of James Malcom. “What are you doing here with a linen cart? You don’t generally work in the house.”
Katherine froze and she could almost feel Billy’s panic. Their story to get by any staff had revolved around telling them that Billy was following the orders of the head butler. They hadn’t thought about confronting the man himself.
“Uh… um-“ Billy started, clearly rattled at the presence of the aged man.
“Out with it, boy!” Mr. Malcom snapped. He wasn’t normally short with the staff, but the events of the day must have gotten the butler out of sorts.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Billy yelped. “Mrs. Margaret asked me to bring the linens to some of the back rooms since some of the maids are busy peeling potatoes. I just stopped to…uh, scratch my leg, sir. Sorry for blocking the door.”
There was a stony silence for several moments. Any second, Katherine expected her sheet to be pulled back and exposed to the stern gaze of Mr. Malcom, but it didn’t happen. Instead, she heard a considering grunt from the man. “Very well, Mr. Carrington, be about your business then but in the future, don’t stop in front of the doors. I can scarcely imagine the trouble you might be in if you happened to catch young Katherine. Or worse, Daniel Clark.”
Katherine grimaced as the cart began to move again, her stomach sinking as they moved further away from their goal. “He’s still watching us and your grandfather was just behind him. I think he was taking him out of the library,” Billy whispered under his breath. “What do I do?”
Katherine thought furiously. They had gotten lucky until running into James, but now the old man was likely suspicious. Now she was going to lose her chance to talk to her grandfather, at least for the moment. “Just keep going, Billy. I’ll have to find grandfather later.
Billy moved the cart down the hall and then turned toward one of the dining rooms, sliding inside without
further incident. He carefully helped Katherine out of the cart but he looked down at his feet the whole time.
“I’m sorry, Miss Katherine,” Billy said sadly. “I tried my best.”
“I know, Billy. It was a risk and you did your best. I just hope you don’t get into trouble, but keep all of this to yourself. No talking to any of your friends about it.”
“Yes, ma’am. I wouldn’t have said anything, anyway.” Billy paused for a moment, then finally looked up at Katherine. “Do you think they really killed your father? If they did that, they might try to kill Mr. Moore, or even you.”
Katherine swallowed, her own fear rising as Billy said the words. The same thoughts had occurred to her, but hearing them out loud seemed to add another level of terror. “I know, Billy. I don’t know what they have planned, but I don’t think it’s good. I’m going to try to talk to grandfather tonight. I have to, before Eustice comes back.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Billy asked.
Katherine shook her head. “No, I think I can do this myself. Besides, I don’t think you could talk your way out of it if they caught you in the main house in the middle of the night. But keep your eyes open. If you see anything odd, let me know right away. Our lives might depend on it.”
“Yes, Miss Katherine, I won’t let you down.”
Chapter 7
Katherine took dinner in her room. None of the staff questioned it, since most of the house was also in mourning for the loss of her father and she left most of the food on the plate. Her stomach was turning from what she’d overheard earlier that day, but she managed to avoid getting sick.
She sat in front of her fireplace afterward, pretending to read until she heard a knock on the door. “Come,” she said, glancing over her shoulder nervously.
She half expected to see Eustice come storming through the door and dread filled her, but instead the large form of the head maid peeked in. “Sorry to bother you, Miss Katherine, but I came to get your dishes, myself.”
Margaret moved into the room and toward the table followed by the sound of the plates and other items being gathered. Katherine watched the kindly steel-gray haired woman out of the corner of her eyes. Margaret kept looking over at her with a concerned frown, obviously wanting to say something. Katherine smiled to herself, loving the woman who had practically raised her but knowing she would have to prompt the woman.
“Margaret, you know I hate it when you have something to say but don’t tell me,” Katherine said with a small smile.
Margaret visibly started with a small yelp, then put the tray of dishes down. She turned with a furious blush on her face and curtsied to Katherine. “Sorry, Miss Katherine,” Margaret said. “I’m just worried about you, is all. It doesn’t look like you’ve hardly touched your food. Can I get you anything? Something to help you sleep? I know it’s been a difficult day
“Thank you, Margaret, but no thank you. It’s been an exhausting day and I suspect I won’t have any trouble sleeping,” Katherine said, smiling softly. Despite her plans for later that evening, she felt the exhaustion tugging at her and knew she didn’t have to fake appearing that way.
“Are you ready to go to bed now, ma’am? I can turn the sheets for you, if you wish?”
“Not yet,” Katherine said, holding her book up. “I’m going to read for a bit more and I’ll turn my own sheets, tonight. Please tell the staff not to bother me, if you could?”
Margaret curtsied once again. “Yes, Miss Katherine. I’ll do as you ask.” She then collected the tray and slowly retreated from the room. Katherine knew Margaret didn’t want to leave her alone, but when the door closed, Katherine breathed a sigh of relief and let the book fall into her lap.
It was already dark, and Katherine knew she needed to wait for a few more hours until it was safe to sneak into her grandfather’s room. As the minutes ticked by, she became more exhausted and bored on top of it. Still, she quietly crept to her door and opened it, peeking out into the mostly-darkened hallway. There was only one lone light on at the end of the hallway which cast most everything into thick shadow, but it felt perfect for her late-night venture.
Slowly and as quietly as possible, she crept across the carpet and moved toward the wing where her grandfather’s rooms were located. It was not far, but the illusion that it took three times as long haunted her for every foot she covered.
When she reached the door, she paused and listened. She doubted her grandfather was still awake, but she wanted to make sure no one else was in the room before opening the door. Except for the sound of silence or snoring, she heard a dull thump and a barely-heard moan. Suddenly, the thought that her grandfather might be suffering from the whiskey on top of his medicine flashed through her head. He’d collapsed before, and while it had alarmed her, it had passed and the doctors had said it was just a fainting spell.
Throwing open the door, she paused at the sudden flash of cold that struck her. It was freezing in her grandfather’s room and the winter wind was howling through the open doors on his balcony. “Grandfather?” she called, looking toward the billowing drapes and worried he might be outside in a fit of despair, but she didn’t see the old man’s frail form outside. Instead, she heard a sudden scuffle from the bed followed by a strained gasp.
A man stood there. It was difficult to tell what he looked like standing in the dark room, but she could make his form out as he suddenly bolted for the open door of the balcony. Katherine couldn’t help it, she let out a piercing scream, terrified at the presence. Still, despite her fear she raced over to the bed and reached out to the writhing form of her grandfather.
In the faint light from the hallway, she searched desperately for any sign of damage or blood while avoiding her grandfather’s flailing arms. He was breathing heavily, but she couldn’t tell if he was hurt. Grunting in frustration, she moved back to the door and pushed the button that turned on the electric lights in his room before rushing back to the distressed man.
“Grandfather!” Katherine called, pulling the large down pillow off of his head. He’d dislodged it somewhat, but it was still blocking his vision. When the light reached him, he blinked and jerked before patting his chest. “Grandfather, it’s me, Katherine! Are you hurt?”
Her grandfather finally looked at Katherine, his eyes finally focusing on her face. “Why is it so cold in here?” he asked. “Hurt? No, I’m not hurt, but it felt like someone was sitting on me. I couldn’t breathe!”
Katherine looked at the pillow for a moment, putting two and two together. “Grandfather,” she hissed softly. “A man was in here. He was holding the pillow over you. I think he was trying to kill you.”
Her grandfather froze as his eyes widened, then he looked toward the open door that the cold wind was blowing through. “Good lord,” he muttered before turning back to Katherine and staring at her for a long moment. Katherine shivered. She’d never seen her grandfather look afraid before. “We have to talk.”
Chapter 8
“Sir! What happened!?” James said as he came running up to the room in a nightshirt. “I heard a scream and why is the balcony open?” He didn’t wait for an answer, striding over to shut the doors. When he did, he paused and looked down at the doorknobs. “My lord, sir, the lock has been broken.”
Her grandfather began to push himself up as James looked outside. There was already snow blowing inside, though it was only a scattering at the moment. A moment later, the butler closed the doors and dragged a heavy chair over to keep the wind from blowing them open again.
“James, shut the door to the room and keep any of the staff out,” her grandfather said with a wheeze.
“Yes, sir,” James said, fear and concern flickering across his face. He turned to the door but paused, glancing back. “What’s going on, sir? Should I call the constabulary?”
“Yes, ring the constables and have them come over right away. I don’t think they’ll find anything since whoever it was has gotten away,” her grandfather paused, then looke
d at Katherine. “Did you see who it was at all?”
“No, grandfather,” Katherine said. “It was dark and hid the man’s face.”
“I don’t think it matters,” her grandfather muttered to himself as he glanced toward the broken outer doors. Katherine only heard it because she was standing so close. They both watched as James turned toward the hallway, holding his hands up to several other staff members that had arrived as he stepped out and closed the door.
After the butler had left, her grandfather took her hands and held them between his trembling fingers. “Katherine, you’re in grave danger.”
Katherine looked away, ashamed of what she was going to say next but knowing he needed to hear it. She had known about the vent to the smoking room since she was a little girl and had listened often to what was said in that men’s private room and she didn’t know how he would react to knowing the truth. “I…I know. I came here tonight to talk to you about it.”
She watched his eyes narrow as he frowned. “You know? How can you know? Katherine, this isn’t a game. This is a matter of life and death.”
“Grandfather, I overheard the conversation between you and the Clarks. I heard what Eustice said.” She paused, her lips trembling as she forced herself to say what she knew in her heart was true. “They killed my father. Now they are trying to kill you.”
Her Grandfather frowned, for a moment making Katherine worried he was going to get angry at her, but his dry chuckle told her that wasn’t going to happen. “Clever girl. Was it the vent in the basement? Your father did the same thing. I felt it was a good way for him to learn the business, at least in part, but I didn’t know you knew about it.” He patted her hand, smiling up at her. “So you heard the whole conversation including what I said about them never having our business?”
“Yes, sir,” Katherine said. “Just before Eustice said what he’d said.” She clenched her fist, almost trembling in her anger. The man that she’d married was a beast, but she’d never considered he might be capable of murder.
Three Carols of Cozy Christmas Murder Page 11