Crowned and Dangerous (A Royal Spyness Mystery) (23 page)

“That’s obvious, isn’t it?” he said. “Mr. Roach was getting ready to send it to an auction. He had me take it down and polish it so it looked good.” This time there was a definite smirk.

“Ah, I see,” she said. “Well, thank you, you’ve been most helpful. I won’t trouble you any longer. So I presume you’ll go back to America when this is all over?”

“Maybe.”

“Well, please don’t think of going anywhere in the near future,” she said, holding the photograph carefully with the handkerchief around it. “You will be needed as a witness at the trial.”

“I know that. It would be much better if the lord guy pleaded guilty right now and we didn’t have to go through all the nonsense of a trial.”

“Fortunately for Lord Kilhenny, he has many important friends who are going to make sure that justice is done for him,” she said, giving him a brisk nod. “Good afternoon to you, Mr. Riley.”

Twilight fell swiftly as we walked back through the woods. The rooks were cawing as they came to roost in the big oak trees and their raucous noise drowned out any stirrings in the undergrowth. But even though I could hear no human voices, I had a horrible feeling of eyes on me. I glanced over my shoulder but saw nothing. No branches moved in the undergrowth. But I was still completely sure that someone was watching me.

T
UESDAY
, D
ECEMBER
4

B
ACK
TO
M
OUNTJOY
.

We made it back to the door in the wall without incident. Darcy and his father greeted us with obvious relief, and a touch of respect as I recounted Zou Zou’s brilliant performance.

“You should have gone on the stage,” Darcy said. “You and Georgie’s mother. You’d have made a fine pair.”

She laughed. “I’ve often found a few acting skills to be useful in life,” she said. “Fortunately I’ve never needed to live by the sweat of my brow.”

“Lucky for you,” Lord Kilhenny said. “Some of us have had to struggle to keep our heads above water and haven’t always succeeded.”

“But life is not always fair, is it?” she said. “I did not know where I should go or how I should live when they killed my husband and burned my home. But I learned to make a new life for myself. That is what one has to do. Pull oneself up by the bootstraps and start over.”

“Of course, it helps if you have a nice large Swiss bank account,” Darcy pointed out.

She laughed then. “Yes, that does help.” She looked at Darcy. “What did you find at the post office?”

“Nothing. The postmistress said that no letters had come for Mr. Roach from America.”

“It’s quite possible that he had a postbox in Kildare or Dublin and his man picked up letters there,” Lord Kilhenny pointed out.

“Of course. Another thing for the Garda to check on,” I said. “If they are willing to do so.”

“It’s getting dark,” Darcy said. “I should drive you back to Dublin.”

“I have a wonderful idea,” Zou Zou said brightly. “Why don’t we all pile into the Rolls and I’ll treat us to a slap-up dinner at the Shelbourne. The food at luncheon really was rather good, wouldn’t you say?” She looked directly at Lord Kilhenny. “You need cheering up.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to count me out,” he said. “I’m not allowed to leave the immediate area without permission. You go and enjoy yourselves. Mrs. McNalley has brought in some food for me. I’ll muddle through.”

“Absolutely not,” Zou Zou said. “Then we’ll all stay. The shops won’t have closed yet. We can pop into the village and rummage up something passable to eat, I’m sure. Although I doubt if we can find a decent champagne.”

“No,” Lord Kilhenny said firmly. “If you don’t mind I’d rather be alone. It’s not easy being sociable at the moment and I am completely devoid of small talk. I can manage.”

“If that’s what you really want,” Zou Zou said.

“It’s for the best at the moment,” he said, and I wondered if he was trying to be kind and didn’t want us to be associated with him.

“I’ll be back later, Father,” Darcy said. “Then we can eat together.”

“No, you have a good meal with Her Highness,” Lord Kilhenny said. “Really, I’d rather be alone.”

“I wonder if he means it,” Zou Zou said as we drove off in the Rolls, “or if he’s just being thoughtful, realizing he’s not good company at the moment.”

“I don’t ever remember my father being the thoughtful type,” Darcy said.

“Oh, I’m sure that under that gruff exterior there beats a warm and generous heart,” she said, making Darcy laugh.

“You really do see the silver lining in every situation, don’t you?” he asked.

“It’s easier than being swallowed up in the dark clouds,” she said.

“Darcy’s father was invited to Great-Aunt Oona’s last night and refused to come,” I said.

“Great-Aunt Oona. What a delicious name. I have to meet her, Darcy. Why don’t we drop off Georgie on our way to Dublin and I can stop in and say hello. Then we can broach the subject of my staying there as well.”

“I’ve been thinking about that and I really don’t think you’d be comfortable, Alexandra,” he said. I noticed he was using her formal name to emphasize the point. “You might think you can take simplicity, but this is taking something close to chaos. And I also think they’d feel embarrassed at having such a distinguished guest when they no longer have servants or the lifestyle to make you comfortable. Frankly I’d be happier if you went back to London.”

“You don’t think I’m of any use to you? After my brilliant performance with Mickey today?” She sounded shocked and hurt. “I can’t believe you’d say that, Darcy.”

“I think you’re wonderful, Zou Zou. But I’m asking myself if there’s anything you could do that we can’t. I don’t want to keep you here, wasting your time and spending your money.”

“But I’m enjoying myself. It’s thrilling. And I won’t rest until we’ve proved your father innocent and given him back his castle.”

“I don’t see how that is going to happen,” Darcy said. “Even if he is proven innocent, the property will pass to Mr. Roach’s heirs. He was the rightful owner, whoever he really was.”

“You never know,” Zou Zou said. “That’s one of the enjoyable things about life. You never know what will happen next. That’s why I feel so sorry for those poor people who go to an office or a bank on the eight thirty train every morning. They know exactly what will happen for the next twenty years, apart from a holiday in Folkestone or Margate. God, I’d shoot myself.”

We were driving through the village. I spotted my American reporter, talking and smoking with two men outside the Harp, and I wondered how long they’d be prepared to stay here if the time dragged on before the trial. As we left the village behind I thought I saw someone running after us. These reporters were certainly keen, but so far so good. As yet they hadn’t twigged to who I was. It was quite dark now and lights twinkled here and there in the blackness of the countryside.

“Come on, Darcy. Don’t be such a spoilsport. You can at least introduce me to your aunt and uncle,” Zou Zou said. “I’m dying to meet your relatives, even if they are batty.”

Darcy sighed. “Very well. But please don’t suggest that you stay with them.”

“Of course not. We’ll only pop in to say hello when you deliver Georgie.”

I was beginning to feel uncomfortable about this. Zou Zou was a lovely person. She was fun; she was generous. But why was she so keen to drop me off with Darcy’s great-aunt and then have Darcy drive her on to Dublin without me? Old insecurities resurfaced. I was quite sure that she and Darcy had been . . . well, more than friends . . . at one stage. I’ve noticed that one can tell from the way two people look at each other whether they’ve shared a bed or not. Did she want him back? Did she see me as a challenge? And would
he bother to drive all the way back to Kilhenny at night when it would be so much easier to stay with her rather than pick her up in the morning?

I glanced across at him, thinking how handsome he was and how unbelievable that he’d chosen someone like me. I suppose I still couldn’t quite believe it. I knew I should trust him. I reminded myself firmly that he had asked me to marry him, out of all the women in his life. But his manner of living had been so different from mine. I knew bed hopping was a favorite sport of my class, but I didn’t want to share him. I didn’t want to worry when he didn’t come home. That was no way to live.

We turned off the road and bumped up the driveway to Mountjoy.

“Good God—you know, it is rather a monstrosity.” Zou Zou gave a delighted chuckle. “You’re living in a house of horrors, Georgie. Great-Aunt Oona is not a witch in her spare time, is she, Darcy?”

“Who knows? I wouldn’t be at all surprised.” Darcy opened the car door for her, then led her up to the house. As I followed him into the hallway we were greeted by the pack of dogs, jumping up, tails wagging. Oona appeared from the kitchen, wearing an apron.

“I wondered when we’d see you again,” she said. “I hope you haven’t come to dinner tonight, Darcy, because we’ve just curried the remains of the duck and there is only enough for three.” She broke off as Zou Zou stepped into the light. “Hello, what’s this? Another one? Who are you?” she demanded.

Darcy took Zou Zou’s arm. “Aunt Oona, this is another friend from London. Her Highness Princess Zamanska. Zou Zou, may I present my great-aunt Oona.”

Zou Zou came forward, avoiding dogs and holding out her hand. “How do you do? I popped over from London as soon as I heard to see if I could be of any help to Darcy’s father. Forgive the intrusion, but I simply had to meet you.”

Oona looked startled, not sure how to respond to this.

“Another friend from London? Are you planning a harem, Darcy?” she demanded.

“This one really is a friend from London, I assure you,” Darcy said. “Old chums. We were just on our way back to Dublin. She’s staying at the Shelbourne.”

“Where else?” Oona said. “Well, I suppose you had better come through and have a glass of sherry. If I’d known you were coming I’d have had Treadwell bake some cheese straws. He’s become a dab hand at baking.”

“Aunt Oona, I really think we should be getting along. I have to drive into Dublin and back tonight,” Darcy said.

“Don’t be such a fuddy-duddy, Darcy,” Zou Zou said. “I remember many times when you went home at three in the morning and thought nothing of it. And I think a glass of sherry is exactly what is needed. Buck us all up.”

“Jolly good. Come on, then. This way,” Oona said. “Clear off, dogs. Go on. Out of the way.” She tried to clear a dog-free path down the hallway, not too successfully.

“Treadwell is your cook?” Zou Zou asked as she picked her way over boots and past dogs to follow Oona into the sitting room. This time there was no cat on a chair but several new piles of books, the
Times
, with a crossword half done, and a dozen eggs in a basket.

“Treadwell used to be the family butler at Kilhenny,” Oona said. “When the castle was sold, we took him in. He’s become a marvelous cook among other things, although he still likes to behave as if he’s superior to us.” She gave the bellpull a firm jerk. Neat footsteps tapped down the hall and Treadwell appeared, hastily taking off an apron. “You rang, Lady Whyte?” he asked.

“We have guests, Treadwell,” she said. “We shall need sherry glasses, and we don’t happen to have any nibbles, do we?”

“No nibbles, I regret, Lady Whyte. If you had given me advance notice I could have provided cheese straws.” He gave her a critical stare.

Oona laughed and slapped her hand on her side. “Exactly what I said, wasn’t it? I told them you were a dab hand at cheese straws.”

“Is your husband at home?” Zou Zou asked as Treadwell made a dignified exit.

“Dooley? Oh yes, he’s bound to be around somewhere. Still busy with the battle of Waterloo, I’m afraid. I told him to put his considerable brainpower to saving poor Thaddy, but he can’t leave the Duke of Wellington in the lurch.” She looked up as Treadwell returned with sherry glasses and a decanter on a silver tray. He removed the basket of eggs without a change in expression, put the tray down, then began to pour.

“Treadwell, when you’re finished, please tell Sir Dooley that we have guests, so perhaps he should comb his hair before he comes down.”

Zou Zou gave a happy little smile. We sipped our sherry and soon Dooley appeared, his hair neatly parted and slicked down. But this effect was spoiled because he was still wearing a moth-eaten cardigan over a shirt with egg down the front. Dooley was properly presented to Zou Zou.

“I hear you are re-creating the battle of Waterloo,” she said. “How terribly exciting.”

“You’re interested in history, are you?” he asked.

“In that battle, oh yes,” she said. “I have an uncle who thinks he is Napoleon.”

“Then would you like to see it? It’s all laid out in the attic. Absolute faithful re-creation.”

“Dooley, she doesn’t want to see your toy soldiers,” Oona began but Zou Zou cut in, saying, “I’d absolutely love to.”

“Come on, then.” Dooley headed for the door. “But be careful not to let the dogs in or they’ll spoil everything.”

“We’d better come with you or he’s likely to pinch your bottom,” Oona said.

“Really, Oona. I don’t go around pinching princess’s bottoms,” Dooley said.

“I know you. You can’t resist a pretty woman.” And she ushered us all into the hall. Up one flight we went, then up a second. Then Dooley opened a door and I gasped. There was no furniture in the room and the floor was covered with literally thousands of lead soldiers as well as horses, cannons and even miniature trees and houses.

“Good heavens, it’s quite spectacular,” Zou Zou exclaimed. “What a brilliant man you are. So tell me, who is winning at the moment?”

Dooley was beaming. He squatted on his haunches, pointing to an area of the battlefield. “We are,” he said. “See there? That’s Wellington. Now, what he’s about to do . . .”

“Oh, Dooley, please,” Oona said in her booming voice. “Once you get started there will be no stopping you.”

“And I should be driving Princess Zamanska back to Dublin before it gets too late,” Darcy said.

“Pity she doesn’t have her belongings or she could bunk down here,” Dooley said. “It’s not often we have the chance to have two pretty women stay at the same time.”

“But I would love to stay,” Zou Zou said, getting a warning frown from Darcy. “If it’s really not too much trouble?”

“I really don’t think that Aunt Oona . . .” Darcy began but Oona cut him off.

“Not a problem, if she doesn’t mind mucking in. But I can tell you right now that it’s not the Ritz or the Shelbourne and she’ll have to help feed the chickens.”

“Of course. I’d love to,” Zou Zou said. “See, Darcy, I told you.” She shot Darcy a triumphant smile. I realized that she was quite formidable when she wanted to be, and used to getting her own way. “I could even fly over here and park my aeroplane in one of your barns, if that’s all right with you.”

“Aeroplane?” Oona and Dooley asked in unison.

“Oh yes, didn’t we tell you?” Darcy said. “She flew over in her aeroplane and landed in the paddock across from the lodge.”

“Good God,” Oona said. “You’re full of surprises, Your Highness.”

“Please don’t be so formal,” Zou Zou said. “My name is Alexandra—Zou Zou to my friends—and I am definitely going to call you Great-Aunt Oona. You’ll be a sort of adoptive aunt because my relatives are all far away in Poland and Russia, where I can no longer visit them.” She put a hand on Dooley’s shoulder. “And if you don’t mind you can be my adoptive uncle. So I look forward to seeing where the battle will take us tomorrow, Uncle Dooley. This will be ripping fun.” She took Darcy’s arm. “Come on, then, Darcy. I know you’re fretting about driving me back to Dublin. Let’s get going, then.” And she dragged him down the stairs.