by Shéa MacLeod
Her braying laugh echoed across the pool. “What a lot of stuff and nonsense. As if I would ever spy for anyone.”
“You were ordered to collect some information from Harry deVane, so you wangled an invitation to his house party. He felt bad for you, so he went along with it. Once you were in, you thought you had it made, until someone broke in and stole the information first.”
“You’re mad!”
“Afraid your contact would be angry, you lured him here to Wit’s End and killed him. And then you tried to kill me when you thought I was too close to the truth.”
She snorted. “You have lost your mind.”
This wasn’t going at all to plan. “I have proof.”
She crossed her arms. “Show me then.”
“The liniment you wear. I smelled it the night I was attacked. My attacker was wearing it just as you are wearing it now. It was you who tried to strangle me.”
She shrugged. “What of it? I may use it occasionally, but it’s my sister who makes it. It proves nothing.”
“It proves she needs to be silenced,” a new voice broke in.
We both whirled to find Amelia Kettington standing behind us, the expression on her face slightly mad.
“Whatever are you going on about, Amelia?” Ethel snapped.
“She knows.” Amelia pointed at me. “She must be stopped.”
She charged toward me. I was so astonished by her speed, I hadn’t time to brace myself or get out of the way. Before I could so much as bat an eyelash, she shoved me, and I went flying back into the water.
I landed hard, my head submerged, water surging into mouth and nostrils. I pushed up gasping for air, but Amelia was on top of me. She shoved my head down, forcing me below water again. I clawed at her, surprised by her strength as she wrapped her hands around my throat. I held my breath, desperately struggling against her. The edges of my vision went black. This was it.
And then she was gone, and I was up choking and trying to suck in air. I squinted against the water in my eyes to find Ethel Kettington with her arms around her sister’s waist, desperately trying to restrain her. I wasn’t sure she’d be able to. Amelia fought like a wild cat, screaming words no lady should know, let alone speak.
At that moment, Hale appeared, quickly took stock, and managed to assist Ethel in restraining her sister. Meanwhile, I clambered out of the pond, no doubt covered in gross, slimy things and with magnificent bruises to add to my growing collection.
“Ophelia!” Hale called.
“I’m alright.” I waved him off. “Just keep her restrained. And someone needs to call the police.”
“Already done,” Aunt Butty said, panting slightly as she hustled toward us. “I had Jarvis ring them when I realized what you were about.”
“Sister, I cannot believe you did this,” Ethel said, clearly shaken. “Why? Why would you do this?”
“I did what I had to,” Amelia snapped, “since you clearly would not. I’m only sorry I didn’t finish what I started.”
In the distance a siren wailed.
Chapter 18
“Good gosh, I’d have never imagined one of the Kettington sisters as a spy and murderer,” Chaz said over a glass of champagne.
It was the Saturday after Amelia Kettington had been arrested and we were all gathered in the ballroom at Wit’s End. Harry had decided to go ahead with the party and it was no astonishment that several invitees who’d previously made excuses suddenly found themselves able to attend. Scandal does draw a crowd.
“Poor Ethel,” Aunty Butty said, “she must be simply aghast.”
“But why did she do it? Amelia, I mean,” Miss Semple asked. She had been right behind Aunt Butty on her charge down the lawn and had seen everything, so we’d had to clue her in.
“Amelia always played the sweet innocent sister,” I said. “That was her role, if you will. Ethel was always so vocal about her dissatisfaction in life that Amelia felt she’d nothing to say. I think early on, she was probably just fine with the way things were. They’d a cozy home, enough money they could live—albeit simply—without too much worry, and they didn’t have to prance around the village and make appearances. No one expected anything of them. She could do what she liked, which was to sit at home knitting or reading.”
“Well, something must have changed that,” Chaz said, downing his champagne and snagging a glass off the tray of a passing waiter. In the background, couples whirled around the ballroom as Hale and his band, newly arrived from Paris via London, played a lively jazz tune.
“That something was Ethel,” I said. “All that dissatisfaction eventually rubbed off and Amelia started wondering what life would have been like if they still had their money, their home. She was especially upset that her sister was so unhappy. I don’t think she ever really understood that Ethel is the sort of person that derives pleasure from being unhappy.”
“Known a few of those in my lifetime,” Aunt Butty muttered.
“I’ve an aunt like that,” Miss Semple agreed. “Ghastly. But go on, Ophelia.”
“Well,” I took a sip of my own champagne. I’d have preferred a cocktail. “Ethel admitted she was approached several months ago by a man calling himself Barker and purporting to be from some big manufacturing firm in America who wanted to spy on one of Harry deVane’s businesses. He promised to pay a good deal of money, but she found the idea of spying distasteful and turned him down. Amelia decided then and there that since her sister was so unhappy with their circumstances, yet refused to do anything about it, she would. So she went after Barker and volunteered.”
“Was there ever a German spy?” Chaz asked.
I laughed. “Actually, no. It really was just a case of industrial espionage. One of Harry’s American competitors wanted information on his businesses. Simple as that.”
“That explains the break-in,” Miss Semple said. I hadn’t told them the truth about that.
“American. Don’t suppose that Mathew Breverman had anything to do with it? I see he’s not here tonight,” Chaz said.
“Actually, yes,” I said. “Harry finally admitted to Detective Inspector Willis that he had invited Breverman because he planned to try and get information about Breverman’s business from him. When the company documents went missing, he didn’t want Breverman to know, so he lied about it. He had no idea Breverman was behind the theft. Willis dragged Breverman off to jail this afternoon.”
“Banner day for him,” Aunt Butty said dryly.
“What about Chamberlain’s visit?” Chaz asked. “And the papers you found burned in the grate?”
“Apparently, it really was a total coincidence and nothing whatsoever to do with the theft.” I had promised Harry I wouldn’t tell anyone that he’d burned the documents Neville Chamberlain had brought just to be safe. He wouldn’t tell me what was in the documents, and I was guessing maybe it really did have something to do with Germany.
“But why did Amelia Kettington murder that man?” Miss Semple asked.
“Her handler, Barker? Because she was angry. He refused to pay her.” Because Binky had got there first and swiped the documents. “So she lured him to the house, claiming she had found further information, and killed him.”
“And, like you said, she thought you were close to discovering the truth, so she tried to kill you,” Chaz said. “Surprisingly strong, that woman. Hale said he had a devil of a time restraining her, even with Ethel’s help.”
“What will happen to her now?” Miss Semple asked.
“I imagine she’ll go to prison where she belongs,” Aunt Butty said tartly. “They may hang her.”
“Or lock her up in Bedlam,” I murmured. She had seemed rather deranged at the end.
“I, for one, am relieved it’s over,” Chaz said.
“Agreed. Shall we dance?” Miss Semple asked, threading her arm through Chaz’s.
“Sounds delightful,” he said gallantly, draining his glass before escorting her on to the dance floor.
; “Ophelia, there you are.” Varant appeared at my side. “I wanted to let you know, Maddie was released and she’s upstairs getting some rest.”
“Thank goodness. Thank you, Var—Peter. It means a great deal to me that you helped her.”
He gave me a meaningful look. “I’m glad.”
“Speaking of rest,” Aunt Butty said, “I think we should get away for a bit, don’t you, Ophelia?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m getting itchy feet. I think we need an adventure.”
I stared at her aghast. “This wasn’t an adventure?”
“No, dear. This is Devon.” She patted my cheek. “Think about it.” She sauntered away to rope Harry into a dance.
“Care to dance, Ophelia?” Varant’s eyes were dark and alluring as he led me to the dance floor, but it was Hale who I watched as the clock ticked toward midnight.
IT WAS LATE, THE PARTY winding down, many of the locals having taken their leave to find their own beds. The musicians were done for the night, but someone had put on the gramophone and Al Bowlly crooned “Love Is the Sweetest Thing.”
Moonlight beckoned so I stepped onto the veranda, inhaling the scent of roses and lavender. Above, the stars twinkled, and a night bird called, its haunting song echoing across the lawn.
“I was waiting for you.” A shadow detached from other shadows and Hale stepped toward me.
I moved out of the sightline of anyone watching from within the house. “I wondered where you’d got to.”
He reached out and pulled me against him, wrapping me close and leaning down to kiss me. His kiss was everything.
He finally pulled away. “For a moment, I thought I’d lost you. That woman—”
“Pish posh,” I said airily. “I had everything under control.” More or less.
He gave me a look that spoke volumes.
“All right, perhaps not that under control. Thank you for playing the gallant knight.”
He grinned. “Any time. Just perhaps keep your duels with old ladies to a minimum.”
“Not promising anything, but I’ll try.” I sighed and leaned against him. I’d no idea where this was going, but for now I was in the moment. And I meant to enjoy every bit of it. “Where are you off to next?” Because I’d no doubt he would be off. He was a musician. It was what he did.
“Back to Paris for a bit. The Hot Club de France has asked us to play for them. Then down to Nice. There’s a club there run by an American ex-pat. We’ll be there for a least a couple months.”
“Sounds marvelous. I do hope you have a wonderful time.”
“I’d have a better time if you were with me.”
That he felt that way, and was willing to admit it, warmed the very cockles of my heart. “Well, you never know. Mayhap Father Christmas will come early.”
Later that night I barged into Aunt Butty’s room, startling her half to death. “Aunt, you’re right. Let’s go on an adventure.”
She lifted a brow as she set aside her novel. “Do you have a particular place in mind?”
I grinned. “I might...”
The End
Coming in Summer of 2018
Lady Rample and the Silver Screen
Lady Rample Mysteries - Book Three
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About Shéa MacLeod
Shéa MacLeod is the author of the bestselling paranormal series, Sunwalker Saga, as well as the award nominated cozy mystery series Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries. She has dreamed of writing novels since before she could hold a crayon. She totally blames her mother.
She resides in the leafy green hills outside Portland, Oregon where she indulges in her fondness for strong coffee, Ancient Aliens reruns, lemon curd, and dragons. She can usually be found at her desk dreaming of ways to kill people (or vampires). Fictionally speaking, of course.
Other books by Shéa MacLeod
Lady Rample Mysteries
Lady Rample Steps Out
Lady Rample Spies a Clue
Lady Rample and the Silver Screen (coming summer 2018)
Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries
The Corpse in the Cabana
The Stiff in the Study
The Poison in the Pudding
The Body in the Bathtub
The Venom in the Valentine
The Remains in the Rectory
The Death in the Drink
Notting Hill Diaries
To Kiss A Prince
Kissing Frogs
Kiss Me, Chloe
Kiss Me, Stupid
Kissing Mr. Darcy
Cupcake Goddess Novelettes
Be Careful What You Wish For
Nothing Tastes As Good
Soulfully Sweet
A Stich in Time
Dragon Wars
Dragon Warrior
Dragon Lord
Dragon Goddess
Green Witch
Dragon Corps
Dragon Mage
Dragon’s Angel
Dragon Queen – Coming Soon
Dragon Wars- Three Complete Novels Boxed Set
Sunwalker Saga
Kissed by Darkness
Kissed by Fire
Kissed by Smoke
Kissed by Moonlight
Kissed by Ice
Kissed by Blood
Kissed by Destiny
Sunwalker Saga: Soulshifter Trilogy
Fearless
Haunted
Soulshifter
Sunwalker Saga: Witchblood
Spellwalker
Deathwalker
Mistwalker
Omicron ZX
Omicron Zed-X
A Rage of Angels
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Also by Shéa MacLeod
Cupcake Goddess
Be Careful What You Wish For
Nothing Tastes As Good
Soulfully Sweet
A Stitch In Time (A Cupcake Goddess Novelette)
Dragon Wars
Dragon Warrior
Dragon Lord
Dragon Goddess
Green Witch
Dragon Corps
Dragon Mage
Dragon's Angel
Dragon Wars Boxed Sets
Dragon Wars - Three Complete Novels Boxed Set
Dragon Wars 2: Three Complete Novels Boxed Set
Lady Rample Mysteries
Lady Rample Steps Out
Lady Rample Spies A Clue
Lady Rample and the Silver Screen
Notting Hill Diaries
To Kiss A Prince
Kissing Frogs
Kiss Me, Chloe
Kiss Me, Stupid
Kissing Mr. Darcy
Omicron ZX
A Rage of Angels
Omicron ZX - Prequel
Omicron Zed-X
Sunwalker Saga
Kissed by Blood
Kissed by Destiny
Sunwalker Saga: Soulshifter Trilogy
Haunted
Soulshifter
Fearless
Sunwalker Saga: Wi
tchblood
Spellwalker
Deathwalker
Mistwalker
Dreamwalker
Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries
The Corpse in the Cabana
The Stiff in the Study
The Poison in the Pudding
The Body in the Bathtub
The Venom in the Valentine
The Remains in the Rectory
The Death in the Drink
Write Novels Fast
Write Novels Fast: Writing Faster With Art Journaling
Write Novels Fast: Down and Dirty Draft
Standalone
Ride the Dragon: A Paranormal/Science Fiction Boxed Set
Angel's Fall
Watch for more at Shéa MacLeod’s site.