Kate Kingsbury - Wedding Rows

Daphne’s gaze flicked back and forth between her husband and Elizabeth, while Rodney began blustering.

“Not at all. The man was only interested in our daughter because of her financial status. I spoke the truth. That doesn’t mean-”

“Then perhaps you can explain the presence of confetti in the turnups of your trousers? All the confetti had been locked up in the basement until some time after you left the village hall.”

Rodney’s gaze turned frosty. “I think the more relevant question is, your ladyship, how you happen to know there is confetti in my trousers.”

Elizabeth straightened her back. “You asked me to investigate the murder. That’s exactly what I was doing. I must confess, I’m beginning to wonder if you asked me to do so in the hopes that I would muddle things up and confuse the police to cover up the fact that both you and your wife know more about the death of Brian Sutcliffe than you’re willing to admit.”

The silence stretched several seconds while Elizabeth waited for his answer. She hated to think the Winterhalters were involved. It would be a terrible homecoming for Priscilla to discover that her sister and brother-in-law were responsible for a man’s death. Yet right now she could see no other explanation for what she had discovered, and, judging from Rodney’s silence, it seemed she was right.

“All right,” Rodney said, breaking the silence at last. “You’re right, Lady Elizabeth. I saw Tess rush into the kitchen and she was obviously upset. I followed her in and heard her yelling at Sutcliffe. She was accusing him of cheating on her with another woman.”

“Rodney-” Daphne began, but he held up his hand.

“No, let me finish. I hid behind the door because I didn’t want to embarrass my daughter. I heard her slam the cellar door shut and run out. Sutcliffe was banging on the door so I guessed she’d locked him in. I was furious with him and wanted to give him a piece of my mind. I unlocked the door and saw he had a knife in his hand. I reacted without thinking. I punched him in the jaw and knocked him down the stairs. He was holding a box of confetti in the other hand. Some of it must have sprayed over me.”

Daphne moaned. “He must have stabbed himself when he fell.”

“He couldn’t have,” Rodney said shortly. “The knife fell out of his hand at the top of the stairs. I saw it lying there when I left.”

“Locking the door behind you,” Elizabeth said quietly.

Rodney looked startled. “No, I don’t think I even stopped to close the door. I was so enraged and worried about my daughter. All I could think about was finding her to see if she was all right. The knife had unnerved me. I didn’t know she’d threatened him with it.”

“Then if you didn’t lock the door again, I wonder who did.”

“I locked the door,” Daphne said, her voice quivering.

Rodney uttered an exclamation and stared at his wife.

“Of course. You knew about the other woman, too,” Elizabeth said. “Which is why you called him a cheat and a liar the other night.”

“Yes.” Daphne looked down at her hands twisting in her lap. “I saw Rodney go into the kitchen, and a moment or two later Tess came out looking upset. I thought she’d been arguing with her father, so I went to the kitchen to find out what had happened. I was just in time to see Rodney punch Brian in the face. I left before he saw me. I didn’t want him to know I’d seen what he’d done. But then, later on, I began to worry about Brian. So I went back to the kitchen to see if he was all right.”

Rodney muttered something under his breath.

“I’m sorry, darling,” Daphne said quickly, “but if the man was hurt I didn’t want you to get into trouble for it. I couldn’t see anything from the top of the stairs, so I went down there.”

She shuddered, and tears started rolling down her face. “I could see he was dead,” she said, her voice hushed. “The knife was sticking out of his chest and there was blood everywhere. I thought he’d fallen on the knife when he tumbled down the steps. I knew Rodney would get the blame for his death. Everyone would think he did it on purpose.”

She paused while she hunted for a handkerchief in her sleeve, dabbed at her eyes, and blew her nose. “I locked the door and tried to put the key on the shelf to hide it,” she continued, while Rodney seemed transfixed, his gaze pinned to his wife’s face. “I thought if the body wasn’t found until after we’d gone, no one would suspect Rodney. I couldn’t quite reach the shelf and the key fell into the milk. I went out and found Rodney and told him I had a headache. By then the speeches were nearly over, so we left.”

“ Why didn’t you tell me? ” Rodney almost shouted. “Did you really think I’d stoop to murder? Sutcliffe wasn’t worth that.”

“I thought it was an accident.” Daphne began to sob in earnest. “But his death would have been your fault.”

“Oh, good Lord.” Rodney buried his head in his hands.

Elizabeth stared thoughtfully at him. “You are absolutely certain the knife was at the top of the stairs when Brian Sutcliffe fell.”

“Absolutely.” Rodney groaned and raised his head. “Why do you think I’ve been so worried about my daughter? I can’t help wondering if she went back and finished the job after I left.”

“It’s a possibility,” Elizabeth said slowly. “There’s one person I haven’t spoken to about all this. And it’s just occurred to me that I should.” She got to her feet. “Try not to worry too much. I think we should be able to clear this up fairly soon, if I’m right.”

Rodney rose, too, his eyes full of hope. “Right about what?”

“I’d rather not say at this point.” Elizabeth touched Daphne briefly on the shoulder. “I promise to tell you just as soon as I have it sorted out.”

Daphne nodded and blew her nose again.

“I appreciate your efforts, Lady Elizabeth,” Rodney said, as he walked with her to the door. “If there’s anything I can do, please let me know. I’m anxious to see a solution to this, for many reasons.”

“I’m sure you are.” Elizabeth paused in the doorway. “I’ll do my best to get this settled just as soon as possible.” She left, hoping she could keep her word. The Winterhalters deserved some peace after all they’d gone through.

She was crossing the hall when the bell at the front door started chiming. Martin was probably already in bed, and Violet was in the kitchen. Since she was right on top of the door, she reasoned, she might as well open it.

Surprised to see Polly there, she opened the door wider, her smile fading when the girl almost fell into the hallway, gasping something she couldn’t understand.

“Calm down, Polly,” she said as she closed the door again. “Tell me what’s happened.”

“They’ve got her,” Polly said, fighting for breath. “I… couldn’t find… her.”

“Couldn’t find who, dear?”

“Sadie!” Polly waved a hand in front of her face and took a huge gulp of air. “She disappeared. Just like the others.”

Frowning, Elizabeth shook her head. “But she’s here, isn’t she? She usually lets us know if she’s going out.”

“No, m’m. We went to the windmill to look for Nellie and Florrie and Sadie climbed all the way to the top and I had to piddle and when I came back Sadie was gone and-”

“For heaven’s sake, child, take another breath.” Elizabeth fought to calm her own sense of panic. “Did you talk to George yet?”

“No, m’m. I came straight here. I didn’t even tell me mum yet.”

“All right, you get on home and let your mother know you’re all right, and I’ll go down to George’s house and alert him.”