Dara England - Accomplished in Murder

By Dara England

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2011 DaraEngland

Edited by Lauren Dee

Cover art by Dara England

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Excepting brief reviewquotes, this book may not be reproduced in whole or in part withoutthe express written permission of the copyright holder. Theunauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted workis illegal.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance topersons, living or dead, real events, locations, or organizationsis purely coincidental.

AUTHORS NOTE

Accomplished In Murder is the first ina series of historical mystery novelettes featuring intrepidVictorian heroines up to their bustles in crime. These works areonly loosely connected and can be read in any order.

DEDICATION

This work is for Mom and Dad, with whom Ihave enjoyed many a fictional murder.

Chapter One

Near the village of Morcastle, off the coastof Cornwall

Celestes delicate boots sank deep into themuddy earth. Her hair was mussed by the wind, her hem dampened bythe dew-soaked weeds creeping over the cemetery path.

Still, she felt freer now than she had in along time. Anything was better than being cooped up in the bighouse with Absalom and his horrid family. Not even the distantrumble of thunder and the winds promise of a coming storm deterredher resolve to seek solitude in the ancient cemetery.

Such a strange place this was to bury onesdead. Not a church in sight, not even a wrought iron fence to keepout the wild animals and other unwanted visitors.

As she wandered among the tombstones, Celesteshivered, suspecting she was one of those unwelcome trespassers.She wasnt of the family after all, except by marriage. Might thedead resent her intrusion? What an odd notion. But then one gotstrange ideas after spending enough time among the locals here.They were a superstitious lot, these Cornish.

As she walked deeper into the graveyard, shewas struck by the stark contrast between the rough, stone markersstanding side by side with intricately carved marble angels andcrosses. Here was proof of the contrasting affluence and declinethe family had experienced over the centuries.

They were suffering through one of thoseperiods of deterioration now, as was evidenced by the overgrowncondition of the rambling burial ground.

She had no sooner had the thought than asudden wave of dizziness washed over her.

Stopping, she sank down onto an elaboratelycarved bench beneath the shadow of an ancient mausoleum. The benchwas shaped like a pair of intertwined angels wings and aninscription across the seat listed the birth date and death of somepast ancestors Beloved Child.

Celeste forced her mind to happier thoughts.She was far too inclined to brood these days.

Resting her palm against her as yet flatbelly, she thought of her recent suspicion, one she had yet toshare with her husband. She had no wish to disappoint him shouldher hopes prove false. Absalom could prove nasty whendisappointed.

A soft rustling nearby broke into herthoughts. Over in the stand of trees lining the cemetery somethinglarge was moving behind the screen of leaves and branches. What wasit? Perhaps there was a wild animal hiding in the gloom, watchingher.

Even as her heart beat faster, she toldherself the reaction was ridiculous. Most likely it was only agentle deer cowering in the thicket. Or possibly a goat had escapedone of the neighboring farms and strayed onto the landlordsproperty.

Nevertheless, she could not stop her thoughtsfrom returning to other similar occasions over these past few weekswhere she had felt watched by hidden eyes. It was never anythingshe could prove, never anything more than the tread of softfootsteps trailing her down lonely halls of the great house. Thewhisper of a cloak disappearing around the corner whenever sheturned to look back.

But she was not imagining these incidents.Someone had begun following her with secret, possibly evil,intentions. And it might be that same someone watching her now.

Suddenly the graveyard seemed a less safeplace.

Her dizziness had passed now. Even if ithadnt, she would not have lingered here. Unease spurring her on,Celeste abandoned her seat and hurried along the path that wouldreturn her to Blackridge House.

Chapter Two

Hanover Square, London

Drucilla Winterbourne rapped softly at theclosed door of her brothers study and didnt await permission toenter before letting herself into the enveloping warmth of theinner room. A lively blaze crackled in the fireplace and a streamof pale sunlight slanted through the window to fall across Edwin,seated in a familiar pose. Ensconced behind his mahogany desk, hewas all but concealed behind a wall of precariously stackedpapers.

Seating herself daintily on the edge of aplump armchair opposite him, Drucilla heaved a delicate sigh.

There was no response from her brother.

Her next sigh was a little morepronounced.

Edwin never glanced up from his work. Isuppose I am expected to ask to what do I owe the pleasure of thisinterruption?

She ignored his irritable manner. I have hada letter from Celeste. She took her time withdrawing the rumpledmissive from her pocket and offering it to him.

His curiosity did not seem piqued so sheadded, She sounds rather distraught.

Distraught? He did not go so far as to setaside his work, but at least he lowered it.

Well, perhaps I put it too strongly. But Iknow Celeste, and there is definitely an anxious undercurrent toher message. She has returned from her marriage trip and settledinto her new home in Morcastle. Now she asks for my company.

Why? Is she unwell? Despite himself, herbrother displayed concern. Drucilla knew he was fond of hergirlhood friend. Celeste had spent so much time in their home shewas practically a fixture of the house. Drucilla privatelysuspected Edwin had even entertained notions of offering for herhand. But that had never happened. Instead, Celeste stunnedeveryone this last year by suddenly choosing to marry a wealthygentleman with a country estate in Cornwall.

Taking pity on Edwin, Drucilla assured him,Of course she is well. Im sure she is enjoying more sunshine andfresh air than either of us have seen for a season.

Edwins relief turned to annoyance. Thenwhat is so urgent it couldnt wait until tea?

Kindly allow me to finish, dear brother, andyou shall find out. Celeste certainly sounds to be in good health,but there is something troubling her. I suspect it may have to dowith her new husband or his family. She did not name the problem inso many words, of course, but it is clear she is mostanxious.

Deep unease stirred within her as sheremembered a particular passage from the letter.

Please come to me, dearest Cilla. I shallfeel safe with you near.

Safe. Such an odd choice of words.Drucilla suppressed a shiver but did not quote the passage toEdwin, for she felt that would be a betrayal of Celestesconfidence. Besides, the hint of danger it suggested would disturbher brother and run counter to her purpose.

Already, Edwin was frowning as he assumed alecturing tone. Other peoples marital bliss, or lack of it, istheir own affair, Drucilla. Im sure you are reading too much intothis. There was probably some little kerfuffle between Celeste andher husband. She penned an agitated letter to you and forgot thematter soon after posting it. The married state is made up of suchtempests in teapots.

As if you would know. She refrainedfrom speaking the words aloud and smoothed her skirts instead. Ifyou say so, dearest.