“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 andleaving 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, andthe 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 loweredhis 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 euroswas 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.
