The Earl of Redditch and Frederick were arguing furiously, and in the background Mr Silbermann sat on a tall-backed chair surveying them sardonically.
'You dare pledge my credit when you know my father would not give you a penny when he was alive!' the Earl was shouting.
'How else are Amelia and I and the children to live? He promised me a legacy, and if he didn't keep his promise it's up to you to redeem it!' Frederick shouted back.
'You lie! He'd not leave you a penny piece!'
Luke looked round the room. Amelia was standing behind her husband, while Bella and her mother sat in chairs near the window. Bella started up and took a step forward when she saw Luke, but no one else paid any attention to him. He moved towards her, then turned as there were sounds of an altercation in the hall. Willie, clutching something to his chest, was struggling to get past the large figure of the constable.
'Mr Peters, I need to ask you some questions,' the constable said a trifle breathlessly. 'I missed you at your aunt's house.'
'Mama, Mama,' Willie squealed, holding up his trophy, which Luke could now see was a straggly grey wig. 'Pug took this from your room, and look what's inside it, a packet of powdered sugar!'
Amelia suddenly went white and stepped past Frederick to snatch at Willie. He laughed, dropped the wig and shook out some of the white powder into his hand. Then, grinning up at his mother, he bent towards it. Amelia screamed and lunged towards him.
'Willie! Don't! That's poison! It'll kill you!'
Both the constable and Luke swung round to face her. She was clutching the boy, forcing his hand away from his mouth, and sobbing hysterically.
'Poison?' the constable said slowly.
'Cyanide?' Luke asked. The pieces of the puzzle came together. 'It was you, the old woman in the kitchen, asking for sewing work. You wore that wig. You came the day before too. You must have been waiting for an opportunity to put that in his chocolate.'
'I think you'd better come with me, madam,' the constable began, but Amelia wasn't listening.
'He deserved it!' she screeched. 'He was a mean old devil, who'd rather have seen his family begging on the streets than help them with money he wouldn't even miss!'
They watched, appalled, and she gave a shriek of laughter. 'But you'll not send me to the gallows!' she added, and before anyone knew what she intended, she snatched the packet from Willie's hand and shook the contents into her mouth.
When her body had been removed, her mother put to bed, still hysterical, and Frederick had taken Willie upstairs too, the Earl and constable left. Luke turned to Bella, who had not moved from the chair in the window, where she had collapsed as the truth dawned.
'I came to ask you to come to America with me,' he said slowly. 'There's a ship leaving tomorrow, and I've passages booked for us and my sister.'
Bella shook her head. 'If you hadn't been so persistent, it wouldn't have happened. I loved Amelia for what she once was, and even now, when she was bitter and angry. But for you my sister would still be alive, and who would have been hurt by that?'
'Then – it's all over?'
She nodded. 'I can't marry you now, Luke. You must see that.'
'You still have me,' a quiet voice put in, and Luke jumped. He'd completely forgotten Mr Silbermann, who hadn't stirred from his seat during all the commotion. 'I can take care of you.'
Bella cast Luke a haunted look, then walked slowly across the room.
'Don't you mind?' she asked. 'My sister was a murderess.'
'It's you I want, not your family. What do you say?'
Luke swallowed hard, and walked from the room.
***
THE END
Marina Oliver has written over 80 novels, all are now available as Ebooks.
For the latest information please see Marina's web site:
http://www.marina-oliver.net
More Novels by Marina
A Cut Above the Rest
The second Dodie Fanshaw mystery
Which characters dared to write the author out of the script?
When Dodie Fanshaw went to stay with her daughter Elena in Markenlea, she had been expecting a peaceful, sedate village on the banks of the River Thames. But then a mermaid clambers out of the river and into Elena's garden.
Well, not a mermaid exactly, a mysterious, sopping-wet girl. Bizarre and intriguing though she is, it's only when Dodie and Elena call on Elena's neighbour, best-selling novelist Rick Wilbraham, that the real story unfolds. There they find Anna, Rick's girlfriend, hysterically clinging on to Rick's lifeless body.
Soon Rick's pleasant riverside garden fills up with his neighbours, ex-lovers, his publisher and agent, and Dodie can't help herself getting involved in this close-knit village.
*
Riding for a Fall
The third Dodie Fanshaw mystery
When Dodie Fanshaw goes to stay with her old friend Christine, she soon realises there are tensions, both in the family living at the Manor and the one where Elena is organising daughter Rebecca's wedding.
John, the young brother of Robert who owns the Manor, hates his Uncle Michael, Robert's Trustee, and because he wants to be a detective gains a reputation as a snooper.
Then there is a tragic death, but was it the right victim?
Plenty of people have both motive and opportunity and Dodie is determined to discover the truth.
*
The Garden Prize
Melanie is determined to win the Garden Prize for her dead father's garden, which was his great joy.
She resigns her London job as a florist to run The Old Grange guest house for a year, so that the garden can be judged on the three weeks the village gardens open to visitors.
Her former boss Michael offers her a partnership and marriage, her sister Angela wants her to sell the house quickly, and unknown vandals attack her garden.
A guest, Paul Hunt, is sympathetic and helpful, but he is mysterious. Can she trust him?
*
My Lord Tremaine
When their father, the Rector, dies Elinor and her elder sister Jane Darwen are left with very little money.
But Jane is betrothed to wealthy Edmund, Viscount Tremaine. When Napoleon escapes from Elba Edmund returns to his regiment.
After Waterloo news arrives of Edmund's death and his cousin William inherits the title, and soon marries Jane.
Meanwhile Gervaas, helping to bury the dead, finds a live body but the man has lost his memory.
*
Passionate Campaign
London 1906. Livvy faces several battles. Patients will not accept her as a 'proper' doctor. Politicians will not grant votes to women.
Livvy is ejected from a 1906 election meeting for daring to ask the candidate, Sir James Dunstone, if he supports votes for women. Meeting him socially she is both attracted to him and frustrated by his patronising views of women's abilities.
She can never marry Sir James while their beliefs are so different. He thinks letting women vote is wrong and would never consider allowing a wife to work.
Sir James is surprised to discover Livvy is a qualified doctor, and horrified she risks infection by treating poor people living near the docks. Though he comes to admire her mind and to enjoy discussing many political issues with her there seems no way their views can ever be reconciled. Can there be any meeting between their minds?
***
A Murdered Earl Page 22