by Sonia Parin
The detective emerged from the house and headed toward the stables. Noticing them, he stopped until Evie and Caro caught up with him.
Evie asked, “Detective. Have there been any new developments?”
“Not as such, certainly not what you hope to hear, Lady Woodridge. A couple of the cars have been tampered with. It must have happened during the night. I’ve had a long chat with the stable hands and no one heard or saw anything.”
“Tampered with? In what way?”
“One has a leak. Another one had all the engine oil drained out of it.”
She looked toward the house. “It looks like someone wishes us all to stay here.”
“Are you about to suspect Sir Richard?” Caro asked. Or one of his household staff, Evie thought. According to Sir Richard, they were all overjoyed to have people staying at the house.
“I’m sure Sir Richard had nothing to do with it.”
“Are they repairing the vehicles?” Evie asked.
“They’re doing the best they can. A mechanic has been called in from the village but he hasn’t arrived yet.” The detective brushed his hand along his neck. “I believe we might all have to remain here for a while longer.”
Evie studied him for a moment. “Detective. If I didn’t know better, I would suspect you of forcing everyone’s hand.”
Glancing at Evie, he gave her an innocent look. “Do you really believe I would be desperate enough to do that?”
“Yes, and I’m only sorry I didn’t think of it myself.” Evie looked toward the stables. “I trust you’ve kept yourself busy this morning.”
The detective nodded. “I had a few telephone calls to make and I’ve been actively observing everyone. I suppose I still live in hope someone will put a foot wrong.”
“So, you’ll know if everyone stayed within the grounds of Warwick Hall,” she said.
“Why do you ask?”
Evie told him about Isabel changing her mind and insisting she had not been aware of saying Lorenzo had been killed.
“You think someone visited her and issued a warning?” he asked.
“You must admit it sounds suspicious.” Evie nodded. “Isabel had been so adamant…” Evie shrugged. “Then again, she had just suffered a tremendous shock. I had hoped she would be able to provide us with more detailed information.”
A spark of an idea had Evie smiling.
“I can tell you are entertaining an idea. Would you care to share?” the detective invited.
“I’m not sure I should.”
“Oh, no,” Caro exclaimed. “Please, don’t keep us in suspense.”
“It’s not exactly a brilliant idea and I’m sure you will all disapprove… But, here goes. We could use Isabel as bait.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Warwick Hall library
“Miss Fitzpatrick felt fatigued and has retired for a rest,” Sir Richard said when Evie found him in the library.
“You are most kind to continue to allow us to stay, Sir Richard. This must be a dreadful inconvenience.”
“Nonsense. This is all proving to be quite entertaining. I’m overjoyed to see your friend so determined to move on. She spoke at great length about her husband, expressing the strongest sentiments for him. She tells me he would have wanted her to celebrate his life rather than dwell on her loss. I find her attitude truly admirable and quite remarkable for someone so young.” He uncrossed his legs and made a move to get up only to sit back again. “You know, she mentioned going to Tuscany and how she is not accustomed to traveling alone. I wonder if you might advise me on something. I would like to offer my assistance and accompany her on her travels. Do you think she would be amenable to the idea?”
Evie had no doubt that had been Isabel’s intention all along. She never did or said anything without reason. Which made her wonder why she had thought Evie had perished with the Titanic.
“Isabel would be delighted.”
“You don’t think it would be inappropriate. She is, after all, insisting on reinstating herself as a Miss.”
Evie suspected that wouldn’t be for long. “Not at all.”
He gave a pensive nod. “I have sent a telegram to her family. They are already well on their way and I wished to set their minds at ease.” Sir Richard checked his watch and got up. “Would you like me to ring for some tea? I’m told the others have congregated in the drawing room for morning refreshments. I’m on my way over to join them.”
“Thank you. I’ll go along in a short while. But before you go, I wonder if you might be able to help me.”
“Ask away,” Sir Richard invited.
“Would you be able to find out if anyone organized to send a letter?”
“Certainly. My butler, Wilson, will know.” He turned to leave only to stop. “I’m curious… Is this related to the investigation?”
Evie gave a small nod and hoped Sir Richard would be satisfied with that.
He mirrored her nod and left the library to join the others for morning tea.
Evie felt compelled to think Isabel’s altered version of what she’d said did not spring out from out of nowhere. Someone had put pressure on her…
Indulging in a few moments of quiet, she closed her eyes and hoped to refresh her thoughts but Isabel’s changed attitude continued to plague her.
Sir Richard had suggested everything had started at Halton House.
What if it had?
While Evie would prefer to avoid any association to illegal activities that would in any way bring disrepute to the name of Woodridge, she had to be realistic and trust she could deal with the aftermath.
Evie sat back and stared into empty space. According to Phillipa, during the first round of interviews, the detective had been keen to know what Lorenzo had talked about during his brief stay at Halton House.
“All along, the detective has been harboring suspicions and trying to find a connection to the car rally group,” Evie murmured.
As Phillipa had been present during Isabel and Lorenzo’s chat with everyone, Evie had tried to place everyone who had been in the drawing room at Halton House.
But the mental image she’d drawn couldn’t provide her with what she really needed.
Phillipa might have seen something and not realized it. Perhaps a hand gesture or someone signaling with their eyes… Exchanging a look with Lorenzo.
“Our dear detective must think Lorenzo knew someone within the car rally group,” she whispered. Someone who had then gone on to betray him.
As much as she felt she needed some quiet time, Evie wished she hadn’t encouraged Caro to stay in the stable yard with Tom. She could have tossed around some ideas with her.
Looking around the library, Evie decided she needed to make a list. Equipping herself with pen, paper, and the copy of Burke’s Peerage, she settled down in a comfortable chair by the window where she could occasionally look up and rest her eyes on the scenery.
She had already found a few names in Burke’s Peerage but there were some others she hadn’t finished investigating.
Lord Alexander Saunders.
From memory, he stood to inherit a dukedom, which made him a first-born son. Frowning, Evie tried to remember who had shared that information with her.
“Caro.” And she’d found out about Alexander’s background from… “Lark Wainscot?” Yes, Evie remembered Caro had then asked if she could be an heiress. Frowning, Evie tried to remember the details of that conversation. Had Caro said Alexander stood to inherit?
After half an hour, she conceded defeat. “I can’t find anything.” Setting the book down, she looked out the French doors to the garden beyond.
She saw a couple of people stride by on their way to the drawing room, including Caro who stopped to make a few hand gestures signaling she needed a cup of tea.
Lark Wainscot and Edward Spencer emerged from the woods and they too made their way to the drawing room.
She resumed her search and, this time, focused on Edward Spencer. Siftin
g through her memory, she thought Caro had mentioned he had a title but he didn’t stand to inherit. Why didn’t he use the title?
“An Earl’s third son. He could definitely use extra money.”
Looking at her list, two names stood out.
Batty and Edward.
One needed money to restore the estate he would eventually inherit and the other needed money simply to survive because with two other brothers ahead of him, he didn’t stand a chance of inheriting.
She underlined the names and wrote, “Motivation. They would both be driven by need but what would compel one of them to commit murder?”
More need, she thought and then added, “Greed.”
Tom had alluded to the possibility of Lorenzo invading someone’s territory to traffic his own cocaine…
She then wrote down Lord Alexander Saunders’ name.
She hadn’t been able to find his name in Burke’s Peerage…
Why would he pretend to have a title?
Looking around her, she huffed out a breath. “The detective has spoken with everyone, Evie. It’s his job to find the culprit. And, until he does, he is going to keep us all here.”
Evie surged to her feet and made her way to the stables where she found Edmonds tinkering with the cars.
He removed his cap. “Milady.”
“Where’s Tom?”
“He went inside in search of you.”
“Have you made any progress with the vehicles?”
He slanted his eyes one way and then the other, possibly to make sure no one could hear him. “We are doing our best to… assist the detective.”
Meaning, he and Tom were stalling for time.
“Didn’t the detective send out for a mechanic from the village?” Evie asked.
Edmonds grinned. “He did, milady. I guess the mechanic must be busy.”
In other words, the mechanic wouldn’t be coming any time soon.
When Edmonds continued to grin, Evie said, “There’s something you’re not telling me but you wish to tell me because you find it ever so amusing.”
He once again looked around to make sure no one could hear him.
“As a matter of fact, milady…” He leaned in and whispered, “There is nothing wrong with the cars. The detective only asked me to make it look as though there is so I spilled some motor oil and temporarily removed a few essential pieces.”
“It seems the detective is more devious than I gave him credit for.” Evie tapped her chin. “Edmonds. Caro told me you heard noises in the night at Halton House.”
“Yes, milady. But I didn’t see anything or anyone.”
“Did you see Lorenzo Bianchi and his wife arrive at Halton House?”
“Yes, milady. When they went inside, I had a closer look at his car. A real beauty. I would have loved to look at the engine but I didn’t dare.”
“Did you happen to see them leave?”
He nodded. “I had a view of the entrance, milady.”
“When they left, were they alone?”
When he hesitated, Evie wondered if he had understood the question. “Did anyone walk out with them?”
Edmonds smiled. “I believe so, milady.”
“A man or a woman?”
“Both. There were several people to see them off.” Edmonds brushed his hand across his chin. “Now that I think about it, as they got in the car, someone else approached the driver. A woman. They had a brief chat and then she stepped back.”
It’s done.
Had Caro heard the woman saying that after Isabel and Lorenzo had left?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Evie knocked on Isabel’s door. Not wanting to get caught up in conversation in the drawing room, she’d had to hunt down a maid to direct her to Isabel’s room.
When she didn’t hear a response, she tried again, eased the door open and slipped inside.
She found Isabel curled up on a chaise lounge, gazing out of the window.
“Oh, I thought I heard a knock. So lovely of you to come and see me. Sit. Make yourself comfortable. I hope the others don’t think I’m being rude. I suppose they’ll understand. Oh, heavens. What they must think of me. I’ve been wondering if I should go down and force myself to be the life of the party. Richard tells me they are all quite lively. Then again, I saw them at your house so I’ve seen it all with my own eyes. Although, they were captivated by Lorenzo so I might have seen a toned-down version of them.”
When Isabel finally stopped to draw breath, Evie snatched the opportunity to say, “I wanted to ask you about your visit to Halton House.”
Isabel gave her a brisk smile. “Oh, you mustn’t worry about me thinking you were rude not to be there. I promise I won’t tell a soul. Although, Emily Post made it plainly clear. It is rude for a hostess to be out when guests arrive. Perhaps you missed that chapter…”
Belatedly, Evie realized Isabel might have put two and two together and realized she had avoided the encounter on purpose.
“Do you remember anyone approaching Lorenzo to have a private word with him?”
“Let me think. He had such a larger than life personality, everyone wanted to be around him. You would think I’d be jealous, especially when women flocked around him but I knew he only had eyes for me.”
Evie persevered. “Do you remember a woman approaching him as you were leaving?”
Isabel stretched her arms out. “Heavens. Everyone came out to wave us off. For a moment, I thought they might form a guard of honor and then run alongside the motor car.”
Evie leaned forward. “Think, Isabel. This is important.”
“There might have been. I’m not sure…”
Why would Isabel choose to be evasive? “How did you know we had headed out this way?”
“Lorenzo asked, of course.” Isabel pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Heavens. You are full of questions today and I’m afraid I’m not myself, not yet. That’s why I retired to my room...”
Realizing she wouldn’t get anything out of Isabel, Evie got up and strode to the window. She had to find a way… Ask the right questions. Or threaten her…
“There are penalties for withholding information from the police.”
***
It did not surprise Evie to discover Isabel did not respond well to threats. Certainly not empty threats from Evie. But someone had issued a warning to Isabel. A threat serious enough to secure Isabel’s silence.
Evie found Caro in the drawing room sipping a cup of tea and seated next to Tom. A brief glance established everyone else’s presence.
“I’m going to have to put myself on a slimming diet,” Caro said as she helped herself to another piece of cake. “Sir Warwick’s cook makes the most delectable cakes. I can’t stop eating them.”
“Is this all you’ve been doing? Eating and drinking tea?” Evie helped herself to a cup and sat next to Caro.
“Tom and I have been comparing notes and have both noticed everyone casting glances our way. I think they’re onto us. Meaning, they suspect that we suspect.”
Evie lowered her voice and told them about her conversation with Edmonds.
Nodding, Caro said, “I remember seeing the motor car driving off. I’d been looking out of your bedroom window and…” Caro gasped. “Now that I think about it, I think I saw someone lingering by the front steps. A woman. Yes, a woman. She wore a skirt.”
“Can you recall anything about the color of her clothes or her hair? Anything that might help to identify her?”
“Give me a moment. It will come to me, I’m sure.” Caro looked around the drawing room. “Everyone seems to be favoring a combination of black and white today.” She tapped her chin. “Beige. As in, a day out boating or playing lawn tennis. Does that help?”
“Yes, thank you.” Now, Evie had to remember who had been wearing what at Halton House on the morning she and Tom had trekked out.
“We could search everyone’s luggage,” Caro suggested. “Tom could be a lookout and warn us if someone
comes.”
Evie nodded. “Yes, fabulous idea. Where’s the detective?”
“I believe he went into the village to consult with the local constabulary,” Tom said.
“Why do I suddenly feel we have been set up as bait?” Evie murmured. Left alone to stir things up, she thought.
“Whatever happened to using Isabel as bait?” Caro asked.
“I…” Evie couldn’t remember. Had she been sidetracked?
“I suppose it didn’t feel right.” Caro set her tea and cake down. “We should avoid attracting attention so I will go up first. If I linger, I’m afraid I won’t be able to tear myself away from that cake.”
“I suppose the detective is convinced one of the car rally group is responsible,” Evie whispered.
“He hasn’t exactly shared his reasoning,” Tom explained, “but I believe you’re right. He’s onto something. I think he has some detectives asking questions in town about people’s backgrounds.”
“Where in town?”
“He mentioned the Automobile Club. He wanted to know if any of the car rally group went there.”
Evie’s cup rattled on its saucer. “Has he sent someone out to Halton House?” She could have spared him the trouble. “Someone did approach Lorenzo. I just spoke with Isabel and I am more certain than ever someone has tried to silence her. She never misses an opportunity to prattle on and yet, when I asked about the people they came into contact with, she clammed up.”
“So, you think she’s hiding something.”
Evie nodded. “Edmonds saw a woman approach Lorenzo before he left Halton House and Caro just said she witnessed it from the upstairs room. Yes, absolutely. She is hiding something. I’ll even go so far as to suggest she is afraid.”
Sir Richard approached them.
“Lady Woodridge. I have asked my butler about any messages sent out and he told me he delivered one to the hospital. Unfortunately, the envelope had been left in the entrance hall table. So, he is not able to tell us the identity of the sender. I hope that is of some help to you.”
“Thank you, Sir Richard. That is most helpful.”
“I shall make further inquiries with the staff. Someone might have seen a guest carrying an envelope.”