Mr. Withers cut into his own chicken. “My goodness, we are surrounded by experts in poison.” He popped the bite into his mouth, his eyes closing in pleasure. “Delicious.”
Miss Walker stiffened. “Your sister and I had many long talks about the tonics and poultices we could make from our gardens. Lady Perrin was especially adept at herbalism. She made a lovely tonic for my father’s gout.”
Lady Mary sighed. “So our options are endless. We can leave the type of poison used for the magistrate to discover.”
The scents of red wine and garlic teased Katherine’s nose. She looked at her plate. “Mushrooms can be deadly, as well,can’t they?” She speared one rounded hood and chewed on her bottom lip. Nothing seemed safe.
“I think Perrin would have noticed chopped up bits of mushroom in his wine.” Lady Mary patted her ivory hair. “I believe thecoq au vinis safe.” And putting word to action, she put a bite in her mouth, her eyes closing. “Heavenly.”
Everyone watched her, waiting to see if she collapsed.
Lady Mary arched an eyebrow. “Unless you all plan on starving, I suggest we go on thinking Perrin was the intended target and the killer has no reason to harm the rest of us. However, if you are too fearful, I am more than happy to be the sole recipient of Cook Clem’s efforts. This meal was worth the wait.”
After a couple of moments, the rest of the guests joined Lady Mary and Mr. Withers in partaking of the food. Though if they’d been poisoned, no one would have known until it was too late. After dinner, despite the entreaties of Miss Walker to remain in the sitting room for entertainment, everyone made their excuses and went to bed.
And hoped the servants wouldn’t find them all dead in their beds the next morning.
Chapter Nine
Lady Mary
Ithought Ihad bested my foe. That my cunning plan would keep his attention off me and where it belonged.
I’d thought wrong.
“Go away, you infernal beast.” I snapped my skirts out of reach of Southey’s teeth. “Go find someone who will appreciate your company.” I stepped into my bedroom.
He wriggled inside before I could close the door.
I stepped outside.
He followed.
We did a little dance, hopping back and forth over the threshold, the little nuisance faster than my attempts to shut him out. “Jane? Jane!” I slapped my thigh. Where was the woman? She was always around to give me her unwanted opinion but never when I needed her. And if I wanted a decent night’s sleep, I needed to rid myself of this dog.
“This won’t do.” Keeping my head held high, I marched down the hall, holding my single candle aloft. I turned a corner and headed for the doors to the ballroom. That room was large, running the length of the house on the back side. Floor-to-ceiling windows ran along the far wall, large mirrors along the opposite. It was apparently being used to store furniture, ghostly white-draped tables and chairs cluttering the parquet floor.
Of course, Perrin would use his ballroom as storage. I wondered when the last time was he had done anything so merryas hold a dance within his walls. But it looked a good place to hide.
Or a good place for a dog to get lost in.
A flash of lightning illuminated the room, strange shapes dancing in the mirrors’ reflections. The windows shook with the thunder, and Southey whined, pressing into my leg.
“That one was close.” I blinked, my eyes seeing only gray dancing spots until the candle came back into focus. “But there’s nothing to be frightened of, silly dog. It’s only a storm.” And I was speaking to an animal. Who was the silly one?
“Right then.” I pretended to hold something in my hand. I waved my arm back and forth, getting the dog’s attention, then pretended to throw the imaginary object. “Fetch.”
The terrier sprinted off, nails scraping on the floor, and I made my escape, closing the door behind me. “Ha.” It was a small victory, but at this moment any success was welcome. Besides, it was Southey’s own fault. I had instructed a maid to give the dog a large bone, one it should have taken him several days to devour. Days where he was happily chewing and I was left in peace. But the beast had decided to forego that pleasure in order to aggravate me.
Several loud yips broke the quiet. It could only have been my overactive imagination that made them sound accusatory.
I started down the hall, the barking seeming to get louder the farther I went. I paused at the junction in the hallway. I’d chosen the wrong room to imprison the animal. His barks echoed. Pretty soon someone would come to investigate. And then there would be questions.Who would leave a dog in the ballroom? What kind of person would abandon an animal?
The next bark was a veritable howl. I hadn’t realized terriers could make such a forlorn sound. I swallowed, the back of my throat going thick.
“Fiend seize it.” I stalked back and flung open the door. Southey barreled out, dancing about my feet. “I was going to tell a servant where you were.” Eventually. “Now let’s go find Jane.”
We turned down the hall, blessed silence once more reigning. At the junction, I started to turn left when movement slowed my feet. A shadow detached from the wall, flickered, disappeared.
