Chapter 5
Dan hesitantly left us on our own in the parlor, though he’d left the door wide open and was probably within listening distance.
We’d kept the curtains open, and the setting sun cut between the storm clouds on the horizon, casting an amber hue against the walls.
The Christmas tree in the corner glowed with streams of sunlight spilling through the branches, leaving geometric shadows on the wall.
“I think everyone’s afraid I might be dangerous,” Henry muttered. “I promise I’m not. But I'm not so sure I rank high enough to be hanging out with the fae princess.”
I laughed and hopped up to see if Dan was still in the hallway. “Of course you’re not dangerous. If Darcy were really suspicious of you, he wouldn't let you out of his sight. Your family and ours go way back, so he's not really worried.”
Henry followed me and glanced out the door. No sign of Dan. “Well, I’m glad they’re protective of you.”
I leaned my back against the doorframe, and my lips tightened into a firm line. “Darcy’s more than protective. Since our parents’ deaths, he sometimes borders on paranoia. We can’t seem too much like we’re looking into things on our own, or he'll have a panic attack.”
“I don’t want to make him mad…” Henry hesitated. “He’s very influential.”
“Mad?” I raised an eyebrow. I’d never thought of Darcy as angry about things. Sure, he could be a little broody, serious, and anxious. But he was kind, and I don’t think he ever seemed mad. Not at me, anyway.
“Isn’t that what you mean?”
“No, he just worries too much. Don’t be scared of Darcy.” I waved Henry’s concern away, and leaned close to the window, hoping to absorb the last rays of sunlight. “I think we should go check Zac’s body one more time to see if we missed anything.”
“You want to go inspect the corpse?” Henry’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you not afraid of anything, Georgiana?”
I paused for a moment. “Not of poor Zac. I’m more afraid of missing something important and leaving someone dangerous roaming the house.
Our staff are like family, and I’m protective of them.
We can go out through the back kitchens so we’re not parading through the house in snow clothes and alerting Darcy.
There are always extra coats and things in the mudroom. ”
“Okay, but if your brother finds out, I’m saying you gave me no choice.” Henry grinned and stood up. I’d never noticed how wide his smile was before. He was also taller than I recalled. A hint of butterflies I hadn't felt since Wickham fluttered in my stomach. Oh, dear.
The sitting rooms in the front of the house lined the left side of the great hall and had different themes.
Currently, each room had garlands and a tree for the holidays.
The one we were in was for social visits.
The next was for business, followed by the music room.
The main art gallery was off the foyer on the opposite wing of the house, and I was confident that’s where Darcy had brought Lizzy.
Since the kitchens were closer to us at the very end of the left wing of the house, we wouldn’t have any problems. We just needed to make it to the end of the hall and down a small flight of wide spiral stairs.
As a child, I’d spent hours running up and down the hall when the weather kept me indoors.
I used to pretend that the limestone stairs were a secret passage to another world, or make up games on the black and white chessboard floor because the kitchens were so warm and cozy compared to the rest of the stone and marble house.
Mom always told me Pemberley's heart was in the kitchens.
“This way.” I guided Henry along the hallway, checking a few times no one was watching us, though I knew Dan could be very stealthy.
Down in the kitchen, Rose, also known as the best cook in the world, was already preparing supper even though it wasn’t quite four o’clock.
She had Christmas carols playing through a set of speakers on the counter, and little wreathes attached to each cupboard.
Herbs for some sort of soup and rising roll dough seasoned the air. “Rose, it smells heavenly in here, as usual. Oh… I hope someone let you know. There will probably be a few extra guests tonight. They’re trapped here because of the storm.”
“Don’t you worry, love. I know all about it.” Rose turned around to face me, and her eyes widened when she noticed Henry beside me. “Who’s this you’ve got with you?”
“This is Henry. He’s an old friend from Paris, and we used to play together as children. Poor guy’s stuck here with everyone else.”
Henry reached out to shake Rose’s flour-covered hand. “Lovely to meet you.”
“Oh, from Paris? Well, if you’re going to be trapped in a snowstorm, there are certainly worse places.
We’ll take good care of you.” Rose’s cheeks glowed.
In the windowsill, I caught sight of my mini-rose bush.
I called the plant Rosie and recently moved it down to the kitchens with Rose.
The two seemed like a good pair. My little dachshund, Waffles, also loved the kitchens and Rose.
She was curled up near the fireplace, on a rug in the corner.
“It’s my pleasure. Thank you,” Henry responded, taking her hand and bowing his head. He hadn’t forgotten all the etiquette classes we’d had at school. “Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Lovely.” Rose gave me a knowing look, and I’m sure I blushed.
“This way.” I pulled on Henry’s sleeve. We passed through the kitchen to the mudroom, where the household received packages and many staff members came and went throughout the day. Extra coats, boots, umbrellas, and galoshes cluttered the spare hooks and shelves.
We’d have to use them since I’d left our other things in the main hall coatroom in order not to draw unwanted attention.
I reached to grab a dark burgundy jacket that looked like it was Henry’s size and realized it was sopping wet.
Inspection revealed a scarf, hat, and gloves in the pockets.
I pulled them out and laid them flat to dry.
“Someone’s been careless in here. If I hadn’t found these, they would have ended up moldy and ruined. ”
“They must’ve been in a hurry,” Henry observed. "And just recently worn."
“Yes… I wonder why though.” I frowned and found a nice dry coat for Henry. “You can use this. I’m sure some of Darcy’s things will fit.”
Henry nodded and donned a pair of tall black boots with a coat and a red and white striped scarf. Wind whistled through the back doors, and the temperature dropped as we approached them. When I pulled one of the doors open, a gust of snow blew inside, nearly knocking me down.
“Whoa, let me help you with that.” Henry grabbed the door and held it steady so we could get out, then he pulled it closed.
Despite the stone breezeway, the stables never looked farther away. Over two feet of snow covered the walkway, and it showed no sign of slowing down. “Yeah, your little sports car isn’t going anywhere in this.”
“Nope. Sorry you’re stuck with me for the time being.” Henry grinned and shook his head.
He was too attractive for his own good. "So, I get to keep you for the time being?"
"You do." Then he offered me his arm as we stomped through the snowdrifts.
I used my keycard to unlock the doors. Our stable hand had taken the afternoon off, so the place was quiet aside from the horses shifting in their stalls.
Near a side wall, next to stacks of hay, lay Zac's body. We lifted the sheet we'd draped over him earlier. Zac’s facial expression was neutral, and his eyes were closed since Darcy had lowered his lids earlier. He wore a heavy coat with an obvious hole where he’d been shot.
"Oh, poor Zac. What have you gotten yourself into?" I shook my head. "Surreal, isn't it?"
“It's a tragedy. We need to be careful not to tamper with any evidence.” Henry stood a few feet behind me. “I know that’s illegal.”
“Yep.” I shrugged and pulled off my wool mittens to replace them with a pair of sterile latex gloves I’d snagged from the kitchen. “They’ll never know we were here. I handed Henry my phone and unlocked the screen. Will you take pictures?”
“Of course.” He took my phone. I kneeled over Zac.
As was fae tradition, I placed a leaf on his forehead.
I cupped my gloved hand over it and offered an ancient prayer to help guide his soul to heaven.
Then, I carefully checked his pockets. Not much luck.
His phone was there, but I couldn’t unlock it, and I’m sure I’d be in trouble if I took that.
I hesitated before checking the pocket near the gunshot wound because it was coated with blood.
I pulled a gallon-size plastic bag from the pocket. A huge wad of money in the form of euros was rolled up inside. I held it up for Henry to take a photo, then tucked it back in his pocket.
“Well, that’s got to have something to do with his death.” Henry whistled softly.
“Most likely.” I sat back on my heels. “I didn’t see any evidence of drugs on him. Maybe he was going to pay someone… or maybe someone paid him. We need to check later and see if anyone comes to take the money. If someone knows about it, they could be the killer.”
“Good thinking. Do you have security cameras around here?” Henry asked, looking around the wooden stable.
“We do, and you can be sure our security team has scoured them already. It’s too bad we don’t have them out in the forest where he was shot, though.
There's also a back entrance without a camera.” I frowned and stood up.
Then I removed the gloves, turning them inside out as I learned to do in my science classes.
Henry rubbed his arms. “That might solve the case then, right? If someone knows about the money and we catch them out here searching for it.”
“Maybe. Well, only if they know where Zac ended up, and if the outdoor cameras aren’t too covered in snow.” I shuddered, thinking about the murderer possibly being inside my home.
We trudged back to the house and hung up the winter clothes. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and my injured ankle still ached. I sat down on a bench and leaned forward on my elbows.
“Are you all right?” Henry asked as he slid on his loafers. “I’m not sure you’ve recovered from your injuries entirely.”
I wanted to keep investigating, but in all honesty, I wasn’t feeling too hot. And seeing Zac’s dead body stressed me out more than I realized. I needed a breather.
“I’m sure it will take a few more days to recover. But I’m just a little sore. Are you hungry?” I asked Henry, remembering that all the school athletes seemed to have a hollow leg.
“Usually.” He nodded matter-of-factly. I couldn't imagine being hungry all the time. “You should take it easy, Georgiana. I know all about fae healers and things, but I still can’t believe a fracture could heal in minutes, even if it was minor.”
“It’s not too bad, but you’re right. It will take some time to fully heal." I didn't realize until then that I was limping out of the coatroom. As I turned to see if Henry was following, I slipped. Before I fell, he caught me, lifting off my feet momentarily.
For a moment he stood there, holding me as if I weighed nothing. Then he set me back down onto my feet, taking care that I didn't slip again. "Careful there."
Henry was stronger than I expected, not the same little boy I'd played with as a child. "That's the second time you've stopped me from falling today. Thank you."
"I should make it my full-time job." He offered me his arm to keep me stable. "It would certainly be more fun than working at a lab."
"Probably more dangerous too," I realized I was flirting as I spoke. So I stopped, unsure I should cross that line with Henry.
The kitchen was empty when we entered. A cozy fireplace glowed in the far corner, where Waffles still slumbered.
“You can warm up here,” I said as I took the inside-out plastic gloves and tossed them into the flames before washing my hands. They let off a brief burnt plastic smell, which was soon covered by baking food.
"My little princess has finally found her true love," Rosie, the little plant's, observation echoed through my mind as I passed her sitting on the counter. I wasn't quick to disagree.
"Good thing I'm the only person who understands you." I touched one of her red little buds. Miniature roses were notoriously romantic. As I washed my hands, Rose, the cook, returned to the kitchen with a basket of root vegetables.
“Oh, no! Is something burning?” She looked around, lifting pot lids and checking the oven.
Apparently, the burnt plastic smell from the gloves lingered longer than I’d expected.