“It doesn’t matter,” I said, even though it did. “If he started the Moonrot by killing my parents, then hopefully he knows how to stop it.” I double-checked Uncle James’s itinerary on my phone. “My uncle comes into town tomorrow. I can confront him then.”
“Do you want me there?”
I found I did. Reaching up, I pulled a rose petal from her hair. “Yes. Can you whip up some of that truth serum you used on me when we first met?”
“I can.”
The serenade continued, and the world outside danced in calm snow, but inside the carriage turmoil churned inside me, and Lizzy was my only anchor. “It’s time that we found out the truth.”
After the carriage came back from its tour around Rosing Park, I was semi-ready for the chaos I’d left behind. I exchanged a glance of dread with Lizzy and opened the door.
Mrs. Trent was on me first. “You propose to my daughter and have the gumption to run off with someone elsetwo minutes later?”
“It’s fine, Mother. I’m sure there’s an explanation.” Rosalie gave me an angry glare, which I probably deserved.
I held up my hands. “I gave my word to my sister that Lizzy and I would take the carriage ride. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to Georgiana.”
Mrs. Trent’s face flushed red, but I ignored her and walked up to where Georgiana, Henry, Anne, and Ernesto were standing together looking flabbergasted. “Will you come with me alone?” I said to Georgiana.
She nodded. I turned to Anne. “Will you drive Lizzy home?”
“Sure.” Anne took Ernesto’s hand and tugged him along with her as they ushered Lizzy to their car. They most likely loved an excuse to escape the tension, and I definitely couldn’t leave Lizzy alone with my aunt and the Trents.
“Don’t worry,” Henry said, “I can handle the Trents and… Lady Catherine.” He grimaced like he wasn’t sure he’d be up for all that.
“We won’t be gone long.” I grasped my sister’s hand and pulled her into the house to a side room that I realized too late was the traditional “Celebration Room” at Rosings. A room spelled to commemorate accomplishments.
A giant sign hung in the air with miniature hearts and fireworks exploding in tiny pops out of it. “Future Mr. & Mrs. Lovebirds: Happy Marriage, Rosalie and Prince Fitzwilliam!”
The wedding march started playing on the old stereo in the corner. Waffles paddled into the room after us and barked a few times, tail wagging as she tried to jump and catch the disappearing magic between her jaws even though she was nowhere near reaching it.
“Darcy,whatis going on?” Georgiana turned to face me. “Why did you propose to Rosalie Trent of all people?”
This wasn’t how I wanted to tell her, but she deserved an explanation, and only she held the answers to the questions I had to ask. “Her mother had vital information about who might have killed our parents, and she wouldn’t tell me unless I agreed to propose to Rosalie.”
The color drained from Georgiana’s face. “Killed?” she whispered. “What do you mean, killed?”
The room continued to celebrate, releasing confetti that disappeared when it hit the floor, giving Waffles a new challenge of attempting to catch it and leaving her confused when it disappeared a moment later.
I watched the little dog, trying to form my words. “Mom and Dad didn’t die in a car crash. The coroner’s report confirms that they died before that, and I’m convinced someone killed them.”
“Since when?”
I grimaced. “I’ve suspected it for a while now.”
Hurt flashed across her features. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“I… I wanted to have all the information before telling you. I’m sorry, Georgiana.”
She sat on a chair, putting her face in her hands and breathing. After a moment, she sat up and fixed me with a determined stare. “Why are you telling me now? Do you know who it is?”
“No… I mean, maybe.” I took a deep breath. “The night that you found out that Mom and Dad had died, Uncle James was with you, right?”
“Yes, he was.”
I felt a wave of relief. Perhaps Lizzy was right. Perhaps there was a logical explanation for everything, and Uncle was only the next step to finding out what really happened. “How long had he been with you before you received the news?”
“I don’t know, like a few minutes.”
