With a Little Bit of Blood

by D. E. Ireland

  Lily began to moan and slowly move her arms.

  Philippe crouched down and took her pulse. “I do not see blood. Unless a bone is broken, I think she will be good.”

  “Lily is anything but good,” Freddy said with disgust. He looked up at Eliza. “I heard what she said to you. How she killed Pentwater and Madame Evangeline.”

  Higgins and Philippe exchanged startled glances. “But did not the jealous husband kill Evangeline?” Philippe asked.

  Freddy stood. “No. Lily did. I heard her confess, and all because she wanted that cross Eliza is wearing.” He stabbed a finger at it. “Apparently, Lily planned to sell it to Sir Anthony or the count because of some legend connected to it. I don’t know. It all sounds mad to me.”

  “How did you hear this?” Higgins asked.

  “I fell off my horse during the hunt and Eliza came after me to help,” he said. “Lily hadn’t even noticed I was gone. When I rode back to rejoin the hunt, I saw Lily and waved to get her attention. I thought she’d come looking for me, but she rode right past. So I followed.” He glanced at Eliza. “Once I reached the trees where I’d left you, I realized something was wrong. I heard Lily say terrible things. Things I would never have believed possible.”

  “I thought I saw a horse and rider among the trees,” Eliza said. “That was you all along.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t want to let Lily know I was there, not until I heard every evil thing she confessed.” Freddy looked miserable. “You were right. She was Pentwater’s mistress. And worse.” Another moan sounded from Lily. “Far worse.”

  “What’s happened?” Lily cried out. “Where’s my horse?”

  “Probably near the village by now,” Higgins said in a wry voice. “He’s that fast.”

  “Did I fall?” She bolted upright. “What are all of you doing here?”

  “Listening to tales of your murderous crimes,” Higgins answered.

  Lily shot an angry look at Eliza. “I don’t know what she’s been saying about me, but it’s not true. She’s jealous about me and Freddy. She’ll do anything to keep us apart, even make up stories about how I killed people.”

  “Does Monsieur Freddy also make up these stories?” Philippe’s expression had turned icy. “He tells us how he hides among the trees and hears you confess to the murders of Madame Evangeline and the American businessman. You are most despicable. To take the life of such a dear woman as Madame.”

  “I did no such thing! What a ridiculous story. Freddy’s lying.” Wincing, Lily rose to her feet. No one helped her. “So is Eliza.”

  “I haven’t had a chance to explain anything yet,” Eliza said. “But I will now. Freddy heard you confess to the murders of both Evangeline and Pentwater.” She stroked the gold cross. “With two witnesses, no one will be buying this from you now.”

  Lily’s wary expression turned fearful. She looked at Philippe, then Higgins. “Don’t you see? Freddy and Eliza are trying to frame me for murder. They’re the ones who want that cross. And they’ve set me up as their patsy. You can’t believe them. You can’t!”

  Freddy swore under his breath. “What a fool I was to imagine you loved me.”

  “I’m innocent!” With a frantic cry, Lily sprinted toward Eliza’s mare. Philippe and Freddy quickly caught her. Each man held firmly onto her arms.

  “How will we get her back to Banfield Manor?” Eliza asked, watching Lily struggle against them to break free.

  “Colin and the local constables should be here soon,” Higgins told her. “Before Philippe and I left, we instructed Baxter to ring Chief Constable Brakefield.” He looked past her. “Indeed, I believe I spot several motorcars now.”

  The others turned their attention to the three vehicles in the distance. “Damn all of you!” Lily cried. “I hope you all die terrible deaths!”

  Freddy tightened his grip. “I hope you spend the rest of your life in prison.”

  Higgins believed this was the first time he’d ever agreed with Freddy. But Eliza gave a startled cry. “What’s wrong?” he asked her in alarm.

  She pointed and said in a hushed voice. “Look.”

  A breeze blew the leaves of a nearby downy willow bush, revealing the white tip of a plush orange and black tail. The fox stood still, half hidden, as if listening to the baying hounds in the distance.

  “Who cares about the stupid fox?” Lily spat. “Let me go!”

  Eliza ignored her and made a shooing motion to the fox. “Run away, it’s your chance to escape. Go!”

  The animal didn’t have to be told twice. It vanished, rustling the bush’s leaves.

  “Well, this is what I call a successful hunt.” Eliza appeared delighted. “The killer was caught, not the fox.”

  “Agreed. The fox lives to see another day.” Higgins winked. “And so do you.”

  Eliza waved her riding crop at the approaching police and smiled. “Tally-ho!”

  25

  Eliza wiped away tears after she hugged Clara and Richard goodbye. She wasn’t sad about leaving the Ashmores. And the tears were certainly not over Freddy, who returned to London two days ago. Eliza wept over saying farewell to Percy. A noisy farewell, too, given how his fellow peacocks and peahens shrieked as Eliza embraced the bird one last time.

  “I didn’t realize you minded so awfully about leaving Percy here.” Richard handed her a handkerchief. “We’ll take good care of him.”

  She blew her nose. “I know. Percy will be much happier with his fellow peacocks. And all this space to run around in. It’s only that he reminds me of a pet canary I had years ago. Little Petey died of the cold one winter when I didn’t have enough money for coal.”

  Higgins leaned against the blue roadster parked in the drive. “Don’t let her go on about Petey. The waterworks will get worse. She still refuses to get rid of his empty birdcage.”

  Clara patted Eliza on the shoulder. “We’re only a short train ride from London. You can come for a visit whenever you like.”

  Her mood brightened. “And now that I’ve learned how to drive a motorcar, I can borrow Professor Higgins’s roadster. After all, I’ll be driving us home today.”

  Colin Ramsey, who stood next to Higgins, frowned. “At the risk of starting another argument, that’s a bad idea. Let’s not forget the Professor still wears a plaster cast on his arm from a motoring accident.”

  “Due to sabotage, not my driving abilities.”

  Ramsey ignored Higgins’s protest. “I’m not convinced Eliza is ready to drive forty miles by herself back to London.”

  “She won’t be alone. I’m riding with her. Although I am tempted to take the wheel.” He nodded at his arm. “By Jupiter, but I’m weary of this fool cast. Once I arrive home, I shall insist Dr. Bettancourt remove it.”

  “You are not driving with one hand,” Eliza said, “and I don’t know why you’d be so uncertain of my abilities, Colin. You and Richard spent the past week teaching me.” She pulled on her brown leather gloves. “Both of you remarked that I was an excellent driver.”

  Richard chuckled. “She has us there.”

  Indeed, whenever Eliza hadn’t been occupied with giving testimony to the police about Lily Marlowe’s crimes, she drove about the estate and along the adjacent country lanes. She’d even persuaded Richard to let her drive his red Stutz Bearcat a time or two. After some initial nervousness, Eliza found herself enjoying the experience. No wonder Higgins made such a fuss about his roadster.

  Eliza fastened the brass buttons on her duster coat and then joined Higgins and Colin by the cars. It had been over a week since the fox hunt, more than enough time to ring up Whiteleys department store and order a motoring costume. Colin had been a dear about delivering it during one of his trips to Banfield Manor. Because he’d been involved in the murder investigation, he had an official reason to come to Kent. Although Chief Constable Brakefield had grown suspicious of the Scotland Yard detective’s near constant presence. Especially since Colin spent far more time with Eliza than the co
nstabulary detectives.

  Not that resolving this case was difficult. In addition to Lily’s confession in front of two witnesses, the bottle of chloral hydrate sleeping drops had been found in Lily’s cosmetic case. Charlie Kenton testified to seeing Lily in Pentwater’s bed, and Freddy confirmed that he was not with Lily every minute on the foggy morning of the shoot. One of the loaders at the hunt also recalled seeing Lily Marlowe striding through the woods, gun in hand, shortly after the fatal shot was fired. And she had come from the direction where Pentwater lay dead.

  They’d phoned Jack to let him know what had unfolded. Eliza sensed his disappointment about missing all the danger and excitement. He also thought Lily’s trial would be a magnet for the press, and her conviction all but certain. Eliza was relieved justice would be done, not so much because of Dwight Pentwater. But poor Madame Evangeline did not deserve to die. Nor did Zoltan Batur deserve to spend another day in jail, awaiting trial for a crime he did not commit. A grudging Brakefield finally agreed with Colin and released Batur.

  Clara rubbed her hands along her arms. “Even though the day is sunny, it seems like November is already here. I feel the chill through my tweeds.”

  Richard hugged her to him. “I’ll keep you warm, my darling.”

  While Higgins seemed scornful of the giddy newlyweds’ exchange, Eliza noticed that Colin watched the young couple with interest. Maybe he was thinking the same thing, that he might say that to her one day. However, she was in no hurry to wed. Freddy’s unexpected betrayal had left her cautious about romance. A man needed to win her complete trust before she allowed him into her life; even a man with wavy brown hair, a mischievous smile, and a dark-eyed gaze that often made her blush.

  “Eliza, would you prefer if I rode with you?” Colin asked, clearly hopeful.

  “Hold on,” Higgins protested. “I’ve waited weeks to enjoy my motorcar. If you think I’m riding back to London inside one of the oversized touring cars that Scotland Yard sent while you and Eliza go flying over the roads—”

  “Don’t worry,” Eliza interrupted. “I promised I’d chauffeur you back to London today, and I shall. Although I plan to drive Colin some day soon.”

  Higgins grinned. “She’ll probably drive you quite mad, too.”

  Colin’s eyebrows lifted, as if anticipating the experience. Eliza felt a rush of pleasure, and not just at the prospect of getting behind the wheel.

  “Are you certain everything is fine at Wimpole Street?” Richard asked.

  “Mrs. Pearce rang me up yesterday,” Higgins told him. “The repairs on the kitchen have been completed. In fact, the entire staff has already returned.”

  “Colonel Pickering is back home, too.” Eliza beamed at the prospect. “I can’t wait to see his face when we arrive home.”

  “And you have all your luggage?” Clara looked at the two touring cars, both piled high with suitcases and trunks. Two footmen, one of them Charlie, had loaded the vehicles.

  The butler, who had overseen the process, cleared his throat. “Everything has been brought down, my lady.”

  “Thank you, Baxter,” Clara said.

  Colin raised an eyebrow at Eliza. “I didn’t think it possible for one woman to have so many clothes. Are there any dresses left at Whiteleys and Selfridges?”

  Eliza couldn’t help but feel pride at the remark. A year ago, she had owned little more than one skirt, a shawl, and two blouses. “I do have a lovely wardrobe.”

  Shaking his head in amusement, Colin signaled the drivers of the vehicles sent from the Yard. The men began to crank the motors. Colin busied himself with Higgins’s roadster, turning on the ignition and then cranking it a half dozen times.

  Clara ran down the steps to hug Eliza once again. “I will miss you. And I hope you don’t think all my house parties will be like this one.”

  “I hope not,” Higgins said as he got into the passenger seat. “Although I will admit that I was never bored.”

  “It’s a shame about the dead bodies,” Eliza said, “but the county will be talking about the fox hunt for years. After all, how many times does an aeroplane buzz right over the riders?”

  “We had to cancel the hunt ball because of all the police swarming about.” Clara bit her lip. “And no one caught the fox.”

  “Instead, we caught a famous cinema actress who murdered two people. And at your very first house party, too.” Eliza winked at her. “Let the other local squires top that!”

  Clara smiled. “What will I do without you?”

  “Enjoy time alone with Richard,” Eliza said. “Especially since the count and countess have gone back to Austria.”

  The two young women exchanged happy looks. The von Weisingers left yesterday in high dudgeon. The count paid scant attention to Lily’s arrest. All that mattered was that he had seen Eliza wearing the cross of Charlemagne at the hunt. He’d demanded she sell it to him – and at the price he set. Arrogant behavior even for him. When Count Rudolf learned the cross had been given to the police, he flew into what Higgins termed a Teutonic tantrum.

  “I told Richard that we’d best not see his sister or her husband for several years,” Clara sniffed. “They behaved badly the entire house party. Rudolf was quite beastly about the cross, carrying on about how it was meant to belong to him and the Kaiser.”

  “If you ask me, he’s a little cracked,” Eliza said. “At least the countess convinced him to leave. I think she’s happy the cross is no longer up for sale.”

  “I still don’t understand all the fuss about a plain gold cross, even if there is some silly legend that goes along with it.”

  Eliza sighed. “I guess the legend’s not silly to those who believe in it.”

  One such believer stormed out of the house at that moment. Sir Anthony paused on the front steps and glowered at the assembled group. “The servants have brought our bags down to the foyer,” he informed the butler. “And my chauffeur is bringing the Rolls around.”

  Baxter nodded. “Charlie and Albert will see to it.” The two footmen hurried into the house. Charlie threw Eliza a quick smile as he went past.

  “Leaving already?” Richard asked. “We’d hoped you might stay for luncheon.”

  “Due to an overzealous police investigation, my wife and I have already stayed far longer than we intended.” Sir Anthony directed his resentful answer to Colin Ramsey.

  “I feel the same.” He put on his Trilby hat.

  Eliza thought it gave Colin a jaunty air. “We do, too.”

  “We’ll see you back in London,” Higgins told the detective and slipped on his goggles. “Assuming Eliza ever stops chattering.”

  When Sir Anthony’s Rolls drove up behind the other vehicles, Colin climbed into one of the touring cars. “Be careful, Eliza!” he yelled as he drove past. “Don’t go too fast!”

  “I shall miss you and the Professor. Philippe, too,” Clara added. “I was sorry to see him and Nathalie fly away.”

  “I miss that aeroplane of his.” Higgins said. “I’d give serious thought to buying one if I owned as much property as Richard. A one-seater, of course.”

  “Don’t even blooming think about it.” Eliza shot him a warning look.

  Richard glanced back at the manor house. Sir Anthony had been joined by Annabel, who looked most regal this morning in a gold wool walking suit. “Hurry with your goodbyes to Eliza. If we ignore Sir Anthony and his wife, my mother is sure to hear about it.”

  “He’s right,” Eliza said. “We must leave or we’ll run out of petrol.”

  “I was about to remind you,” Higgins grumbled.

  Clara gave her another quick hug. “Freddy feels awful about everything that happened.”

  “I know he does. And I’ve accepted his apology.” Eliza frowned. “But things can never be the same between us.”

  “I thought so.” She grabbed Eliza’s hands. “But we shall remain friends.”

  “Forever.” Eliza nodded at the Dennison couple, who had now been joined by Richard.
“But you still have guests to attend to.”

  “And another house party to preside over in a week.” Clara took a deep breath. “At least this guest list is filled with Richard’s friends from university, which means it should be fun. As long as none of them are bent on murder.”

  Sir Anthony raised his arm. “Professor Higgins, I spoke to Chief Constable Brakefield this morning. He said the police have returned the cross to you. Since it was in the roadster when you purchased it, that legally makes it your property.”

  “Get in,” Higgins hissed at Eliza.

  She hurried to the other side of the roadster. Sir Anthony reached the car before she slipped on her goggles. “See here, Higgins, you have no need of the cross,” he said.

  “Sorry, I cannot hear you over the motor.” Higgins gestured at his ears.

  “I wish to buy the cross,” Sir Anthony said in a louder voice. “Name your price. But I expect it to be within reason. After all, I do not want it for myself.”

  “I am not selling the cross,” Higgins told him. “To anyone.”

  Sir Anthony leaned against the roadster, now trembling slightly from the motor. His extravagant moustache seemed to tremble as well, but from emotion. “Then be a patriot and give the cross of Charlemagne to me. I’ll hand it over to Prime Minister Asquith. Or His Majesty.”

  “Blimey,” Eliza muttered as she donned her wide motoring hat and veil.

  “Again, I am not selling the cross. Nor am I giving it to you or King George.” Higgins voice turned angry. “Haven’t enough people died over the legend of the cross? Someone needs to behave rationally in this matter.”

  “Rationally? How can you speak of rational behavior when the fate of the world hangs in the balance?”

  Eliza noticed that the Ashmores and Annabel appeared nervous about the turn in the conversation. She also noticed none of them chose to be part of it.

  “We are heading to war,” Sir Anthony went on. “A war certain to drag all of Europe into it. A decent Englishman should want to make sure his country came out victorious. Unless you fancy being dictated to by the Kaiser!”