House Party Murder Rap: 1920s Historical Cozy Mystery (An Evie Parker Mystery)

by Sonia Parin

“Drive on, please,” Evie said. “We need to head back to King’s Cross Station.” And she would have to practice some patience.

  Evie fiddled with her small handbag. She opened it and closed it several times. Finally, she drew out a small book.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tom leaning in and trying to read the title on the cover.

  “It’s a new book… by a new author.” She showed him the cover. “F. Scott Fitzgerald. I picked it up before we left New York.” She settled down to read. Ten minutes later, she remained on the same page. Her eyes drifted to the top of the page. She must have read the name Amory Blaine a dozen times and each time she forgot she’d read it and every time she read it, she whispered, “Who is Amory Blaine?”

  Finally, the taxi stopped outside the station.

  “I’ll check the times for the next train,” Tom said, sounding almost relieved as he hurried on ahead.

  Evie followed him at a sedate pace and met him at the station entrance.

  “We’re in luck. We only have ten minutes to wait until the next train.”

  “Meanwhile, you can tell me what you found out from the chauffeur.” She watched him chew the inside of his lip. Evie tilted her head. “Tom, does my small talk bother you?”

  He shoved his hands inside his pockets. “Not exactly.”

  “So, it does… somewhat.”

  “I wouldn’t go so far as to say that.”

  “Would you say you find it annoying?”

  “No. It’s… quaint. But, since you mention it, when you whisper something, do you actually require a response? Because, if you do, I have no idea who Amory Blaine is.”

  “Oh, that… No, I don’t require a response.” Evie perked up. “Now, can you tell me what you found out from the chauffeur?”

  Tom raked his fingers through his hair.

  “Yes, I feel I should apologize. Sometimes, my mind wanders and… Well, I do go off topic a bit. I wonder if I picked the trait up from Charlotte?” Seeing him frowning, she smiled. “I did it again. Please continue.”

  “Alexander Fleshling.”

  Evie gasped. “No! Bicky’s heir?”

  “Yes. It’s his London house.”

  “What could Penelope have been doing there?” she asked as they reached the platform. Half an hour later, as the train rocked and started on its journey, Evie still hadn’t managed to answer the question. “I fear the worst,” Evie said.

  “And what might that be?” Tom asked.

  “I always try to see the best side of people, but in order to make sense of this situation, I might have to abandon the practice and start thinking the worst.”

  The Great War had shaken everyone’s lives and opened their eyes to the grimmer side of life, but somehow, people had found a way to move on.

  Evie liked to think she had been lost in the darkness and now she had found her way to the light again. However, the events of the last couple of days had awoken something inside her. Suddenly, she understood Bicky’s cynicism.

  “Someone is being motivated by self-interest,” Evie murmured. “When I first told Bicky about the incident on the road, he asked who stood to inherit. I’ve been so side-tracked I forgot to check up on my young charge.” Then again, he was surrounded by family retainers; with some claiming several generations of faithful service.

  “Seth Halton?”

  “Yes.” Evie held up her hand. “Before you jump to conclusions, I am once again being side-tracked. At the time, I wondered if someone new had come into Seth’s life, someone who might be trying to influence him.”

  “Isn’t Seth Halton only seven years old?” Tom asked.

  “Yes, and I feel guilty. I should be showing a greater interest in him.” She supposed Elizabeth hadn’t been the only one to go into deep mourning. Tilting her head, she added, “You are clearly well informed. Is there anything you don’t know about me?” Once again, her hand went up. “No, don’t answer that. It might make life awkward between us.”

  The edge of Tom’s lip kicked up. “You were saying…?”

  “Oh, yes. Self-interest. Bicky has been on the right track all along. Who stands to benefit? That’s what we should have been asking all along, but the answer might not be as obvious as it seems.”

  “If I had to guess, I’d say Penelope, Lady Hammond, stands to benefit the most.”

  “Yes, I’d have to agree.”

  His jaw muscle twitched. “I took a wild stab but you sound quite sure. Care to share your thoughts?”

  “Give me a moment. I need to think about the ideas taking shape in my mind.” Evie closed her eyes…

  ***

  “Evie.”

  Her eyes fluttered open and she scrambled to sit up. “I didn’t. Please tell me I didn’t fall asleep.”

  “You closed your eyes,” Tom said. “About an hour ago. At first, I didn’t wish to interrupt your thinking process, but then it became obvious you had fallen asleep and it would have been too cruel to wake you up.”

  Evie straightened. “Oh, I beg your pardon. I guess all the excitement tired me out.” She looked out the window.

  “We’re nearly there,” he said.

  Evie’s eyes widened. She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Oh, no. It’s gone. I had a thought.” She tapped her forehead. “It came to me and then I woke up and… Now it’s gone.”

  “Don’t worry. It will come to you.”

  She sat back and tried to tease her mind into revealing the thoughts that had surged to the surface. “This has nothing to do with what I’m trying to remember.”

  “Go on.”

  “Well, in case I forget, as I’m sure I will. Would you please remind me to check on Seth Halton? He is in safe hands, but it wouldn’t hurt to check. We need to pay him a visit and see how he is getting on. I receive regular reports but when Bicky asked who stood to inherit, I couldn’t help wondering if someone new had come into Seth’s life.”

  “Yes, you mentioned that before you trailed off and fell asleep. So, you think someone new has come into his life and might be trying to influence him?” Tom asked.

  “Yes, perhaps I should consider spending more time at Woodridge House.” At some point, she would need to realize no amount of time would suffice to make her memories fade.

  She felt the train slowing down and saw the station appear. At one end, the station master kept a watchful eye on the platform. Porters hurried about. A chauffeur stood at attention. The times she had traveled to Yarborough by train, she had been met at the station by a Yarborough Manor chauffeur and she’d also had Caro to organize everything for her. Her arrival had always been filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing a friendly face. Now…

  “I have the strangest feeling. Almost like the calm before the storm,” she murmured.

  To Evie’s surprise, they drove back to Yarborough Manor in silence. However, as they drove through the village, Evie remembered Penelope’s telegram. Would they have discovered anything worth their while?

  “Alexander Fleshling must have sent the telegram,” she mused.

  “Are you about to suggest we sneak into Lady Hammond’s bedchamber to look for it?”

  “Not we. One of us, but not both of us. Someone should make sure she doesn’t go upstairs while the other one searches her room.”

  “If he did send the telegram,” Tom said, “I doubt he will have used his real name. Even if we manage to connect her to Alexander, what will that prove?”

  “Collusion,” Evie declared. “They’re in on something… together.” She would have to speak with Bicky and tackle the difficult subject of his wife. If Clara had asked him for a divorce, he might have refused…

  Evie shook her head. Clara would most definitely have asked for a divorce and he would most certainly have refused and that might have driven Clara to take drastic steps.

  Tom cleared his throat. “Earlier, you felt sure Penelope wouldn’t risk anything getting in the way of the title. She must know her husband is having an affair an
d yet she chooses to turn a blind eye to it.”

  “I was just playing around with the idea of Clara pushing for a divorce and taking matters into her own hands.” Evie tapped her chin in thought. “Yes, and that’s why she’s having an affair with Lord Hammond. They are both determined and have decided to kill two birds with one affair.”

  Tom turned his focus to the winding road but Evie could sense him tossing the ideas around. When the road straightened, he said, “What would you do in Lady Hammond’s place?”

  Evie’s unladylike snort made her laugh. “My apologies. I just entertained two images in my mind and one of them involved tar and feathers. If I had to wear Penelope’s shoes… I would definitely not lower myself to my spouse’s despicable level.”

  “So, you would maintain your moral high ground.”

  “Absolutely. My reputation would need to remain above reproach. It’s a woman’s lot in life but a necessary one. We always seem to be held to higher accountability.”

  “It doesn’t seem to be bothering the Duchess.”

  “You have no idea how much I am struggling to understand her reasoning. She would have, if not killed, then maimed someone in order to win the coveted title. Why would she throw it all away now?”

  “Are you thinking out loud or do you wish to hear my opinion?” Tom asked.

  “If you have something to share, by all means, share it.”

  “As I’ve said before, I am still a wildcatter at heart. The Duchess would put everything on the line only if she had more to gain.”

  “More of what?”

  “Money.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Her kingdom for a horse.

  Yarborough Manor

  “Sage green?” Caro asked.

  Evie gave her a distracted nod. They’d arrived in time for a late afternoon tea but Evie had been too tired to join in so she’d retired to her room for a rest. If Tom had heard any worthwhile news, he had clearly chosen to wait until Evie went down to tell her.

  “Did you enjoy your day out, milady?”

  Evie nodded. “Yes, but it wore me out.” Straightening, Evie asked, “Is Lady Hammond’s maid any better at conversing with the other staff members these days. I know you’ve said she tends to keep to herself, but I wonder if you’ve worked your charm on her.”

  “I’ve tried but Miss Shard is even quieter than usual.”

  “Do you think you might try again? I get the feeling Lady Hammond’s marriage is facing difficult times. If that’s the case, I’d like to tread with care.” Or rather, she’d like to have solid confirmation. An affair did not necessarily signal the end of a marriage.

  “More marital problems… There must be some sort of epidemic going around,” Caro murmured.

  “Will you ask?”

  “Yes, milady. I shouldn’t have any trouble finding Miss Shard.”

  “Oh, you sound sure.”

  Caro nodded. “She has spent the afternoon in the kitchen doing some mending. Soon after arriving from the station, Lady Hammond dismissed Miss Shard and took to her bed complaining of a headache.”

  “Oh, I hope Lady Penelope feels well enough to join us.”

  “I’m not sure she will. Her headache appears to be quite severe.”

  Evie stared at her reflection. Had Penelope discovered something upsetting during her visit to London? Perhaps she had only suspected her husband had been having an affair and she finally had confirmation of it.

  What if Alexander Fleshling had put her onto her husband’s affair? More and more, Evie suspected the telegram had been from him. For all she knew, Penelope might have made her way to the Criterion and seen her husband with the Duchess with her own eyes. But why would Alexander Fleshling involve her?

  “Is something wrong, milady?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  Caro signaled to the wedge between Evie’s eyebrows and, smiling, she said, “If the wind changes, you will remain like that forever.”

  “I wonder… Could you go and see how Lady Hammond is faring? You can say I’m concerned about her. And, while you’re at it, could you look around her room for a piece of paper? Well, not exactly a piece paper. A telegram, to be exact.”

  Moments later, Evie strode down the stairs. Half way down, she stopped and, looking up, she wondered if perhaps she should look in on Penelope.

  It couldn’t be easy on her.

  Penelope’s behavior had always been beyond reproach. She would, no doubt, see her husband’s affair as reflecting badly on her. It wouldn’t hurt to offer assurances…

  Then again, she might not welcome the intrusion. Poor woman, Evie thought and thanked her lucky stars she had found a decent man who’d only had eyes for her.

  Thinking Penelope would most likely prefer to be left alone, Evie strode down to the drawing room. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the other guests, she went to sit next to Bicky.

  “Was your trip fruitful?” he asked. “Tom mentioned you’d gone to London.”

  She glanced over at Tom but he was deep in conversation with Mark Harper, Viscount Maison and Lady Gloriana.

  “Did Tom say anything else?” Evie asked.

  “No, he left that up to you, which I found rather enigmatic. Then I realized the subject needed to be tackled by you because it required some delicacy. I hope I’m wrong.”

  Evie took a deep swallow. “W-we followed a hunch and went to the Criterion.” She held his gaze for a moment as she tried to gather her courage. “I’m so sorry, Bicky.”

  His smile faltered. “You saw Clara.”

  “Yes.” She placed her hand on his.

  He nodded. “I take it she wasn’t alone.”

  Evie gave a slow shake of her head. “Has she spoken to you about…”

  “Divorce?” Bicky laughed. “It’s been her favorite topic of conversation for over a year now.”

  Lowering her voice, she asked, “Is it worth holding on?” Her gaze dropped to his arm.

  “You think she had something to do with this.”

  Evie couldn’t help but admire the calm resignation in his voice. “I suspect she might be in collusion with…” She drew in a breath and wished she’d rehearsed what she had to say to him. “We saw her with Hammond.” Lord Hammond, Viscount Hammond, heir to the Earl of Remington. How could he do this to Penelope? The scandal would follow him until the end of days.

  To her surprise, Bicky didn’t bat an eyelash.

  “Did you know?” she asked.

  “She made a point of telling me.” He stole a furtive glance across the room. “Penelope is in denial. I’ve tried to speak to her about it but she won’t hear a bad word said against her husband.”

  Evie supposed Penelope had far too much to lose. “Frankly, I’m surprised. You know what she’s like when things don’t go her way. I would have expected her to make a fuss.”

  “As strange as it might sound, I’m sorry for Hammond,” Bicky said. “I’m afraid Clara has sunk her claws into him only because she needs someone to help her drive the message home. Of course, she couldn’t carry on with anyone lower than a soon to be Earl.”

  “Doesn’t she realize what it will cost her?”

  “Not her fortune,” Bicky said. “The dowry is all tied up but her uncle died without issue and left her everything. That’s when she made up her mind to ask for a divorce.”

  “It must be a veritable fortune for her to walk away from all this,” Evie remarked.

  “It is. Back in the 1850s, her uncle took his Grand Tour money and set himself up as a pastoralist in Australia. He thought he’d make his fortune in sheep. Would you believe it? He struck gold right on his property.”

  “I’m guessing he found more than a few nuggets.”

  Bicky snorted. “I’ve tried to put it into perspective. He did very well indeed with one of the biggest gold finds in the area. In fact, everyone seems to have done well out of the venture. Did you know, the gold exported to Britain from Australia in the 1850s paid all her for
eign debts?”

  “Golly!” Regardless, Evie couldn’t quite understand how Clara would face the consequences of a divorce. Especially within their circle, Evie thought. Everyone had moved with the times, facing a great many changes which appeared to crop up at a rate of knots, but most people still disapproved.

  “Drink?” Bicky offered as he accepted a glass from Larkin.

  “No, thank you. I should keep a clear head.” She waited for Larkin to move away before saying, “I’ve been wondering if Clara would try something…”

  Bicky laughed. “You mean, try to kill me?”

  “Well, yes. But now I’m not so sure. Until now, I thought she only had her social standing to worry about losing, but now you say there’s a vast fortune involved. She wouldn’t want to risk losing that.”

  “I suppose money does corrupt.” He raised his glass and gestured toward Tom. “It doesn’t seem to have affected Tom Winchester.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, he’s gone from nothing to everything and yet it didn’t stop him from volunteering in the war.”

  It hadn’t stopped Bicky either. “Yes, I suppose he doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty.” Evie glanced at Tom and silently congratulated him on a job well done. He certainly had done well, selling everyone a credible story about himself.

  “Bicky, as a friend, I feel I should urge you to consider walking away. Let her go. She can’t be worth the trouble.”

  Bicky looked over her shoulder and said, “I believe your maid is trying to attract your attention.”

  Turning, Evie saw Caro peering at her from the doorway. “Excuse me, please.” She rushed toward her. “Did you find something?”

  “Yes, milady. Miss Shard was busy in the kitchen mending. She looked quite upset but she wouldn’t tell me why. Anyhow, I took the opportunity to go into Lady Penelope’s bedchamber. I died a thousand deaths when I saw her lying on the bed, but when she didn’t stir, I took a chance to look around.” She dug inside her pocket and produced a piece of paper. “I found this on her dresser.”

  “Thank you, Caro. You’re a treasure.” Taking the note, Evie returned to sit beside Bicky and read the telegram. “Noon. Today. Glad you changed your mind.” Evie looked up. “It’s not signed.”