Murder at Missleberry Manor

Part 4

Cecilia and Freddie wandered slowly round the outside of the house.

"We've got so many people staying here right now that anyone of them could have snuck away for a short while and no one would have noticed," said Freddie.

"I don't suppose Bess saw or heard anyone?" asked Cecilia. "I heard the detective last night say it had only just happened so she must have been so close to whoever it was."

Freddie shook his head. "She heard a scuffle which is why she went to investigate but nothing more than that. Nothing that could identify who it was and when she entered the room there was no one else there."

He came to a stop and looked up at the house. They were almost back round at the front door.

"Any secret passages lead into the bedroom?" Cecilia asked.

Freddie smiled. "Lizzie's been filling you in on the secrets of the house I see. No we've never found any passages in that part of the house, they're all in the original section of the house. From the library to the drawing room, from the long gallery to the dining room and then on to the kitchens downstairs. But anyway it's easy enough to climb out of one of the bedroom windows. It's those two there. Second floor on the right hand wing. No need for secret passages."

Cecilia looked where he was pointing. Although the wall was covered in ivy it didn't look at all easy to climb down from the window, jumping seemed about the only option to her. Something of her thoughts must have shown on her face.

Freddie smirked and said, "Trust me, it's easily done."

He crossed over the gravel drive until he was below the windows in question and studied the ivy intently.

"In fact if you look here I'm pretty certain that's what someone did."

It took her a moment to see what he was pointing out but then she realised a number of the branches were broken.

"There's no guarantees that it was caused by someone climbing down here recently," Freddie replied, unashamedly. "But I've had enough experience climbing out of the windows and then trying to cover my tracks to know what it looks like."

Cecilia couldn't help but smile at his guilty confession. "Well that's something at least."

They began retracing their steps when a glimmer of something in amongst the bluebells caught Cecilia's eye.

"What is it?" Freddie asked when Cecilia stopped to pick it up.

"I don't know."

It was a grey metal disk engraved with stars and other strange symbols. It sat comfortably in the palm of Cecilia's hand but felt heavier than it looked.

"Oh look," she exclaimed holding it up to her face. "It's got hinges. I think it's a locket."

But as much as they both tried they were unable to open it.

"Best keep a hold of it for now," said Freddie, slipping it into his pocket.

"What now?"

"Was it just me or did Cat seem particularly odd at breakfast?" Freddie asked reluctantly.

Cecilia hesitated and then nodded. "I'm so glad you brought that up so I didn't have to."

Looking back up at the bedroom windows Freddie said, "One of us needs to talk to her but first I think we should get in there."

Cecilia followed his gaze and her eyes widened in surprise. "Actually in the bedroom?"

Freddie nodded.

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Cecilia hadn't been sure if there was going to be a police officer standing guard outside the bedroom in question but peering round the bannister they saw the hallway was empty. They hurried up the last few steps as quietly as they could and entered the room, closing the door softly behind them.

On first glance there was nothing out of the ordinary about the room. In fact it was almost identical to the room Cecilia was staying in except that the blue décor of hers had been exchanged for yellow. And then she saw it.

A large reddish, brown stain on the cream carpet to the right of the bed. Blood.

Freddie hadn't even noticed it as he walked straight over to the windows on the far wall but Cecilia couldn't take her eyes off it. Although there had been very little else on her mind since the maid's body had been found last night it only seemed to be hitting her now what it actually meant. A girl, Jane Williams was her name, only 19 years old just as Cecilia was, had died. Not just died but been killed right here in this room while Cecilia herself had been just one floor below laughing and drinking. Had she been scared? Had she seen her attacker or had they crept up on her?

There was a ringing in Cecilia's ears but she was dimly aware of someone calling her name. She started violently when Freddie pulled her away from the stained carpet and over to the armchair in front of one of the windows.

"Here, sit down," he said.

"I'm fine. Really," Cecilia said even as she noticed her hands were trembling. She quickly trapped them between her knees.

Freddie knelt down in front of her.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have got you involved in all this. I'd never allow Lizzie or Cat to run around trying to uncover a murderer so I shouldn't be letting you."

Away from the blood stain Cecilia was beginning to feel more herself again.

"Just out of curiosity how often have you told Lizzie or Cat that they weren't allowed to do something and actually had them listen to you?"

He sighed. "I'm not sure they've ever paid any attention to what I've said. And you're not going to now are you?"

"It did get to me for a moment but now I'm fine."

Cecilia stood up, brushing her skirt out and then held out a hand for Freddie. He took it and stood up as well but didn't let go. Her hand tingled in his.

"Stubborn," he said softly. "That's what you are."

She smiled up at him. "That may have been said once or twice about me before, it's true."

"Come on, there's nothing here."

He opened the door slightly to check the coast was clear and then they slipped out of the bedroom and back downstairs, still holding hands.

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