Chapter 6 #2
“Oh, no. Not in the house. Don’t worry.” I waved his concern away. “Well, let me know if you need anything. Dinner is at seven as usual.”
He touched his hand to his heart, closed his eyes, and nodded. “That’s a relief. Spending the night with a dead body in the house sounds awfully macabre.”
“Well, he’s an interesting character,” Henry said after Bradford left the room.
“You think so? I thought the conversation was exceptionally dull. We learned nothing.” I drew back the lace curtains to assess the snow burying Pemberley. We had to have at least three feet. It did make for a cozy scene with all of our Christmas decorations. Though having a murder was anything but.
Dan still sat in the corner but didn’t say a word. He was probably hoping I would forget he was there and not send him away. I glanced at him, and he quickly turned his attention back to his phone. “Dan, you’re free to share any thoughts you have as well.”
Dan looked back up. “I really couldn’t say, Miss Georgiana. Mysterious events.”
“Your cousin almost doesn’t seem real. I guess it must be a high-fae thing. He reminds me of one of Tolkien’s elves or something,” Henry said. “Well, I guess that’s not too strange. You and your brother do as well.”
I smiled and couldn’t help but tease. “Well, I can’t divulge any secrets. But I wonder if any fae acted in those films they made? The audience would be none the wiser.”
Henry scrunched up his nose in thought. “Really?”
I shrugged. “I think I’d better call the next guest… or guests.”
The next names I tried were Mr. and Mrs. Milo Longfield.
They were lowborn fae from Texas and claimed to be touring this part of the country.
I didn’t like terms like high or lowborn fae, but it was how they’d described themselves.
Though I wasn't old enough to be an acting princess, when I did come into power, I would encourage more equality among our people.
Several minutes after I called them down, a couple near the older end of middle age shuffled into the parlor.
The wife, whose first name I hadn’t yet learned, spoke first. She was plump, with closely cropped graying hair and rosy cheeks.
“We’re so sorry to impose on you, Ms. Valemont.
We appreciate your graciousness in allowing us to take refuge in your home. What a lovely estate it is.”
“We’re pleased to have you stay. We wouldn’t send anyone out into this storm, Mrs. Longfield.
” I smiled, and stood, giving me time to shake each of their hands and release a touch of soothing magic.
Marshmallow did not find the need to hop off my lap, so he flopped awkwardly to the side and onto Henry.
“Please let me know if there’s anything that you want.
We’ll have dinner served at 7:00 in the dining hall.
Hopefully, the roads will be cleared by mid-morning tomorrow.
It’s always hard to know when an extreme storm rolls in.
Our staff can provide toothbrushes and pajamas or anything else you’ll need to be comfortable overnight. ”
It was, in all honesty, very uncomfortable to have people forced to spend the night in our home. But we were always prepared just in case, and good manners mandated warmth and hospitality in all circumstances.
“You can call me Susan. You’re very gracious. We’re honored indeed,” Mrs. Longfield gushed. Her short graying curls wobbled as she nodded her head. "Isn't this room cozy. The whole house is like a Christmas fairytale. It even smells like Christmas in the bathrooms."
“Oh, yes. Suzy was just telling me she doesn’t think we’ve even been in a hotel nicer than Pemberley, and we’ve traveled all throughout Europe.
This place is truly a hidden treasure.” Milo Longfield was just as ingratiating as his wife.
He was also a bit portly and with graying hair, but he had a darker complexion than Susan, and a large bushy mustache.
Finagling the art of a polite yet useful conversation about murder without making any accusations outright was tricky. Though I suspected the Longfields were incapable of any crime worse than flattery, I had to be sure.
“I’m so glad you’re comfortable, and I trust you’ll let us know if you need anything. Unfortunately, we’ve had a death on the property this afternoon, and we’re trying to get to the bottom of it.”
“Oh no!” Susan Longfield gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. “You’ve had a death? It sounds mysterious.”
Henry shifted next to me on the sofa, eyeing Susan curiously.
“Yes, that’s it exactly. A young man was shot, and it may not have been accidental. Unfortunately, the police have no hope of getting here today. So we’re trying to gather any information we can for them. You didn’t see anything strange or suspicious this afternoon, did you?” I asked.
“What a shame. So awful when a young person dies. Let’s piece together the last few hours, shall we, Suzy?” Milo Longfield rubbed his scruffy chin. “We lunched in town and arrived here around 1:00 p.m. You’ll see our rover parked out front in the guest area.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Longfield said, primly folding her hands in her lap. “We took the rover because we knew there are often storms in New England. But not even that can make it through this squall.”
“You thought ahead better than I did with my little sports car,” Henry said.
“I don’t think the weather report indicated anything more than light snow today.
So you couldn’t have known.” I glanced at Henry, then turned my attention back to the Longfields.
“You arrived here around one o’clock, then.
Did you start your gallery tour right away, or did you visit the gardens first? ”
“Well, we walked about the garden for a little while. You know, over on the south end with all the holiday decorations.” Susan’s head bobbed up and down. “I think they’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen and so tastefully arranged.”
“No,” Milo interrupted his wife. “We didn’t go straight to the gardens. We stopped by the main hall where visitors check in.”
Susan furrowed her brow at her husband. “No, remember we parked and walked around the side of the house where they’ve got the Christmas display. I think there was a gardener out there on a four-wheeler.”
“I don’t remember anyone on a four-wheeler,” Milo huffed back. “But maybe you’re right. I’m not quite sure.”
“Well, I’m sure.” Susan sounded like she was correcting a child. "You need to get your hearing checked."
Maybe I should have laid the soothing magic on a bit thicker. Bickering couples made me uncomfortable, though it was mildly amusing. “All right, so you saw the Christmas garden and maybe checked in first? Or right afterward? Then to the gallery?”
“Yes, that sounds right. We visited the garden, then we checked in and toured the gallery. There was a gardener out there on a four-wheeler. Then inside, I believe another guest was exploring the statuary hall, and a young man was leaving the property.” Susan looked at Henry. “Could it have been you?”
Henry’s cheeks flushed. “No, not unless it was a bit later. I didn’t arrive until after 2:00 p.m. I wanted to see some of the older collection.”
“We have security cameras inside the house, so we can see who it was. But if Henry didn’t arrive until 2:00, perhaps it was just another guest that Susan saw.
I’m more concerned about what happened outside,” I explained.
“We had planned no work in the yards or gardens today. Do you think you can tell me what this gardener looked like?”
“No, not at all.” Susan shook her head. “He, or I suppose it could have been a she, was at the opposite end of the Christmas garden and completely bundled up in a big coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. I doubt I’d be able to tell who they were even from a few feet away with all the winter clothes they wore. ”
“Do you remember the colors?” I asked, wondering about the sopping wet coat in the mudroom.
“Oh, dark, I think. Grays and blacks,” she answered. “Whoever it was rode away quickly. They were at the opposite end of the garden.”
“Well, I’m wondering why I didn’t see this fellow you seem to remember so well,” Milo grumbled.
Susan rolled her eyes. “Dear, you didn’t notice when I cut five inches off my hair and bleached it. Unless you’re interested in seeing something, you just don’t.”
Milo looked chagrined. “Well, if something’s important…”
“It was important to me, dear,” Susan stated flatly and ran her fingers through the hair by her temple.
I couldn’t stand much more of their silly passive aggression toward each other. “Well, thank you for sharing. Please let me know if there’s anything you need at all. Dinner is in the main dining hall at seven o’clock.”
I stood, gently taking Henry by the elbow and guiding him out of the sitting room, leaving Mr. and Mrs. Longfield to figure out their own issues. Dan silently followed us.
“Dan, I think we’ll take a brief break from interviews. We’re fine on our own. Thank you.” I dismissed him.
Dan looked annoyed, but muttered, “Of course,” and left us alone.
When we were far enough down the hall that the bickering couple wouldn’t hear us, Henry let out a laugh. “They remind me of my grandparents.”
I smiled. “Cute, but pretty uncomfortable. I think I want to check the security cameras for the time the Longfields arrived. I don’t think Zac ever came into the house.
But it’s worth checking. Whoever was on the four-wheeler would have been leaving with enough time to make it to the embankment where I heard the gunshot. ”
“Good idea.”
Again, I noticed a dimple on his right cheek. Butterflies rushed through my stomach, and I tried to shove them away. The last time I’d felt that way was with George Wickham, and that had been a monumental mistake. I increased the space between us, hoping to avoid another heartache.