by Sonia Parin
No one seemed surprised.
“Is anyone concerned about the suddenness of his death?” Lexie murmured.
Ellsworth gave a small shrug. “Bound to happen sometime. Now’s as good a time as any.”
She waited to hear what other platitude he came up with but he seemed content to move on to the refreshments phase of the morning.
Lexie lifted an eyebrow.
Ellsworth shrugged. “You never know. One of us might be next.” He poured himself a drink. “This might soften the blow.”
“You think there’ll be another death?”
“Taxes, death and… death duties are the only certainties in life. Bound to be.”
“Why would you say that?”
He looked around the room. “I get the feeling we’ve been gathered like lambs to the slaughter.”
Strange conclusion, but before she could think about it, Bertie St James came up to her.
“I guess skeet shooting is out of the question today. It wouldn’t do to have all those guns going off.”
A murmur rose and fell around the room.
Skeet shooting.
That sounded like fun. She wouldn’t mind trying it…
Lexie strode over to a window and nudged it open. A light breeze flowed in dispersing the fog that had begun to settle in her mind.
She watched Eloise St James take a tentative sip of her drink and then down the contents in one gulp. At this rate, Lexie thought they’d be staggering around clearing the way for her to pay the library another visit without fear of being interrupted.
Taffy approached her, a tray in hand. “Champagne. Or perhaps something stronger?”
“Thank you, Taffy. I’m not much of a drinker.”
“Are you sure?” Taffy asked.
Lexie looked over Taffy’s shoulder and saw Bertie St James lift a glass to her health. Ellsworth James strode across the room and also lifted his glass as if in a toast. Now she saw a parade of them crossing her line of vision, lifting their glasses…
She felt something prod her mind and tried to steel against it. “Perhaps some champagne would do me good.” She had no intention of drinking it, but she didn’t want to appear too obvious about needing to keep a clear head or… having the willpower to say no.
She glanced around the room.
Someone thought they had her under their control.
The suspicion faded as quickly as it had appeared.
Lexie smiled and thought how wonderful it felt to be in this house…
Lexie
“Yes?”
You’re fading. Get a hold of yourself.
Easier said than done when she didn’t know what she was up against.
She held the glass against her lips and inhaled.
Henrietta Smithson-Wight hadn’t strayed far from the drinks cart. Lexie approached her and introduce herself. The woman had already consumed three glasses of champagne and had just been handed another one.
Mirabelle would approve of her floral dress and court shoes. A single strand of pearls adorned her neck. She was a head shorter than Lexie and had soft eyes that spoke of gentleness and sensitivity, hence the screaming at the sight of Henry’s body slumped over his desk, Lexie thought.
“I remember you,” she said. “Last night. You were in the library. Why?”
Okay, she’d underestimated her and maybe she should have waited until she’d had enough champagne to make her slur her words.
“I’m a restless sleeper and serious reader.”
“A likely story.” Henrietta looked around and waved at someone.
Frowning, Lexie saw she’d signaled Reginald.
You’re in trouble now.
“Hey, no sneaking up on me unless you have a sparkly idea.”
What did you say to her?
“Alexandra, I hope you weren’t too upset by last night,” Reginald said.
Huh? Had he forgotten about dismissing her? She hoped Cat was paying attention. Was this the real Reginald? And if he was, who or what had taken possession of him last night?
“It took some doing, but I finally managed to get to sleep,” Lexie said.
“Reginald, I…” Henrietta wavered.
Lexie watched her expression shift from astute to docile. From trying to think what she’d been about to say to completely forgetting about it and smiling because… it was such a wonderful day.
Lexie felt a pinprick on her arm. “Ouch.”
Sorry. It’s me. I figured I had to do something before you faded into happy la-la-land again.
With too many people standing near her, Lexie couldn’t say anything so she growled under her breath.
Taffy cleared his throat.
Everyone fell silent.
“Lunch will be served in half an hour.”
A gong echoed throughout the house.
Taffy withdrew and the conversation resumed.
“A game of cards is just the thing we need to wile away a few hours. Perhaps someone will grace us with their musical talents and play the piano,” Bertie St James suggested and drained his glass almost as if he didn’t quite believe what he’d just suggested.
Lexie focused on stepping away from the gathering. She actually had to tell one foot to move at a time. When she cleared the room, she scooped in a breath and swayed on the spot.
“There is something in the air,” she managed to say as she staggered toward the stairs.
“I’ve got you,” Cat said.
Lexie felt a hand on her back. “Do not let go.” She made it to her room and scrambled toward the window. “Oh, hell. It was stifling in there. Except that at the time, I didn’t realize it. I was just going with the flow. Did you see what happened to Henrietta? One moment she was suspicious of me and the next she was oh… quite possibly drunk.”
“Yes. What else did you notice?”
“Evangeline, the rightful heir… heiress wasn’t present. Can you sense her?”
“No. But that doesn’t mean anything. She could still be asleep. In any case, I don’t really have that much control over what I see in the house. My senses do improve when I’m with you.”
“Does that mean you want me to go hunt her down?”
“It would help. You still have access to the house so you should be free to roam about.”
“Give me a minute. I need to clear my head and…” she looked down at herself. “Honestly, why do I keep wearing these clothes?” She tore off the tailored pants and silk blouse and pulled on her jeans and t-shirt.
“Any thoughts on what’s been happening?” Cat asked.
Lexie shook her head. “Last night I could have sworn Reginald was behind everything but now… I’m not so sure. He didn’t seem himself just now. I think we’re all falling under the influence of this house. What’s Mirabelle up to?”
“She’s looking into the history of the seal. What prompted it to be placed and by whom.”
Lexie bit the edge of her lip. “I get the feeling we’re running out of time here.”
“Keep your mind clear of all worry. Don’t let it take over otherwise it’ll turn against you and you’ll become your worst enemy. We’ll get to the bottom of all this.”
“Reginald seems to have forgotten about sending me away.”
“That’s one less battle you have to fight. In any case, Mirabelle says we have a written contract with Henry and no one has the power to void it. Honor must be maintained at all cost.”
“Otherwise… where’s the trust?”
“Exactly.”
“Just now he appeared to be under the same control I keep falling prey to. What if the Reginald I saw last night in the library was the inky black fog moving around in corporeal form?”
“It’s possible.”
Lexie tugged her boots on and rose to her feet. “Right. I’m ready to go sniffing around.” She was about to open the door when the luncheon gong resonated throughout the house.
“Oh, lunch… I must change.” She strode toward the wardrobe a
nd selected a Dior ensemble.
“Lexie?”
“It’s lunchtime, Cat. Mustn’t keep the others waiting.”
Lexie. Did you just tune me out? You can’t do that…
Lexie turned around. “Did someone say something?” She gave a brisk smile and returned to the wardrobe to find a Dior scarf to match her dress.
“Has anyone seen…”
Lexie set her fork down and looked up at Bertie St James who sat back, his mouth gaping open.
“I’d swear I’d been about to say something.” Bertie frowned. “For the life of me, I can’t remember what it was.”
“That’s what you get when you drink on an empty stomach,” Reginald suggested.
“I tend to agree with you,” his sister Eloise piped in while their mother, Eleanor, nodded in agreement.
Forks and knives were set into motion again. Small nibbles were chewed at leisure. No one had much to say and whenever someone tried to speak, Taffy appeared with an announcement, either about the weather turning, or about the weather improving and that resulted in a seesaw of moods that shifted from reserved disappointment to bursts of excitement.
A tiny pin dug into her elbow.
“Ouch. Stop that,” Lexie said under her breath.
We can’t allow you to be dragged in too deeply. Try to remain alert. Has Evangeline appeared?
Lexie gave a small shake of her head. “Where’s Evangeline?” The words cannoned out of her as if someone had shoved them out.
Everyone’s gaze sprung up.
A few eyebrows were raised.
Within seconds, everyone appeared to forget what Lexie had asked.
“This sauce is delectable. My congratulations to the chef,” Henrietta exclaimed.
Prompted by the remark, they all savored the sauce and one by one, they each announced how marvelous it was.
“This sauce is delectable,” Lexie said, “My congratulations to the chef.” As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth she frowned. Hadn’t someone already said that? She held the thought in her mind and then someone spoke up.
“This sauce is delectable…”
They all savored the sauce and agreed.
One by one, they took turns until the words blended into each other and they were all chanting how delectable the sauce was, all sounding like a chorus in a Greek tragedy.
Do you need me to prick you again?
Lexie mentally swatted at the words she heard piercing her thoughts. How rude, couldn’t they tell she was in the middle of expressing her delight at how scrumptious this sauce—
“Prick me, prick me. Ouch.” She sprung back on her chair, swung her legs to the side and managed to pull herself away from the circle of mindless chanting.
“Is everything to your satisfaction, Miss Alexandra?” Taffy asked.
She looked up and straightened. “Taffy. Yes. Everything is—”
No. Don’t fall into that trap. Fight it. Fight it.
Every time someone broached a sensitive subject, Taffy appeared. Coincidence? Lexie smiled up at him. He had been extremely accommodating, providing for her every need, anticipating her every need. A gold nugget of a butler.
She heard Cat threatening to prick her again.
“Actually, Taffy. I’m afraid the food might be off. Possibly poisoned. You’re likely to have a lawsuit in your hands.”
Taffy seemed horror struck. He spluttered and in a moment of panic, called for the plates to be removed.
The dining room exploded into a hive of activity. Lexie took advantage of the confusion and left by a side door.
Once in the foyer, she looked around to see if anyone stood within hearing. “Cat, are you there?”
Nothing.
She tried again.
“Yes. You don’t have to holler. Here I am,” Catherine said.
“What took you so long? Were you putting your pins away?”
“I’d hate to admit it, but I was swaying to the chanting. Whatever has taken hold of everyone in that house is potent enough to reach me.”
“Liar. You were just having fun at my expense. Admit it.”
“Would I do that?”
“Yes.” Looking around her, Lexie took a chance and headed for the library. “Where has Mirabelle gone hunting for information? Timbuktu? What is taking her so long?”
“She’s had to go into the inner sanctum of the Mackenzie archive chamber.”
“Where’s that?”
“You’ll be shown, in due course.”
“You don’t think you can trust me?”
“Our entire history is stored there.”
“Let me guess, this is your area 51 no go zone?”
“We simply guard it. Only a few of us know how to access it.”
“Well, there you go. If anything happens to the ‘few’ what happens to the rest of us? You need to share… spread the love.”
“Take it up with Mirabelle.”
Lexie looked over her shoulder to make sure no one had followed and then eased the door to the library open.
She wished she hadn’t.
In fact, she wished she’d stayed in the dining room singing the sauce’s praises for the rest of the day… or even eternity…
Chapter Nine
Lexie tried to retreat out of the library but the tiny step she took alerted the inky black fog to her presence and the door behind her slammed shut.
Okay. Someone meant business.
The inky black fog rose to a tremendous height and came to hover in front of her.
“Hello.” She gave a small wave of her hand.
“Who are you talking to?” Cat asked. “I can’t sense anyone.”
“That’s interesting. I wish I could say the same, but I can’t. Now that I’m inside the library, I can sense and see the you know what presence.”
“Which one?”
“You know… the one and only.”
“Oh… I see,” Cat whispered. “And does it still feel malevolent?”
“Yep.”
“What’s it doing?”
“Looking at me.”
“How can you tell?”
“It sort of formed itself into the shape of a person. When I came in, it turned toward me. I think it might be trying to gauge what I know and that’s put me in panic mode. On the one hand, if I don’t know anything… it might decide to dispose of me and on the other hand, if it realizes just how much I do know, it might decide to choke the information out of me. I think this is called a stalemate. Any suggestions?”
“Hang tight. I’m going to get Mirabelle.”
“You’re leaving me. Now?”
The inky black fog appeared to grow in height. Now that she thought about it, it looked like a cloaked person.
It tilted its head from side to side.
Lexie focused on emptying her mind. Maybe if she stood still long enough it might decide she wasn’t worth the trouble.
It moved again and this time it looked as if it was sniffing her.
Mirabelle. Hurry. Please.
Relax. I’m here. Don’t panic. In fact, laugh.
“Laugh? That’s the best you can come up with?” Lexie gave a nervous chuckle.
The inky black fog shrunk away.
Now think happy thoughts.
Happy thoughts?
Sun shining. Flowers blooming.
A playground. Children laughing.
Jonathan O’Connor.
Jonathan?
Yes. Jonathan. She always had fun with him. He made her laugh…
The fog shrunk away again.
“Oh. I think you’re onto something.” Lexie laughed. Again, it moved. Lexie focused on laughter rising from deep inside her. She pictured it swirling and gathering momentum until it spilled out of her.
Hysterical laughter filled the library. To her surprise, the fog dissipated and disappeared.
“I have no idea what just happened.”
“Is it still there?” Mirabelle asked.
�
�No, it’s gone away. Whatever I did worked. Care to explain your theory?”
“Laughter. Joy. Happiness. It trumps everything. If you’d held on to worry and fear for your safety, you would have fed it and it would have taken hold of you.”
Lexie felt her legs wobble. “I know it’s not solid but I’ve seen what it did to Henry.”
“Only him?”
“Yes.”
She sensed Mirabelle humming as she thought. “Has Evangeline surfaced?”
“Not yet. I haven’t had a chance to go searching for her.”
“First the book. I need you to memorize that last page.”
Lexie propelled herself toward the fireplace and shifted the painting.
“Good, it’s still there,” Mirabelle said.
“Okay. I see Henry’s name but it’s faded.”
“That’s because he’s gone.”
“Sorry to say there’s only a list of names. The heirs.” She scanned the list. They were all still there. That had to be a good sign.
“And the words for the seal?”
“Nope.”
“Just as I feared.”
“Yes?” Lexie prompted.
“The heir has to write his or her name and then the words will appear.”
“Is that the trick you used to get me to speak the words?”
“It’s a standard safety measure against powerful words falling into the wrong hands.”
“So now I have to find Evangeline.”
“Yes. And you have to get her to co-operate.”
“Into doing what?”
“Sharing the seal with you.”
“She’s not going to do that. It’ll mean losing whatever power they have over the house and…” A thought occurred. “The seal was put in place to prevent three Mackenzies from gathering together in the house. Why?”
“It’s a long story. Just promise her we’ll put things right for her.”
“And what makes you think I can persuade her? I couldn’t persuade you to stay away from me.”
“Put the book back and go look for her. Now.”