Murder at Missleberry Manor

Part 10

Cecilia opened her mouth to scream regardless of the gun pointed at her but, expecting just that, Mrs Hanbury clapped a hand over her mouth just in time. She tried to struggle away from her but Mrs Hanbury had entangled her other hand in Cecilia's hair and was pulling it hard enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Freddie tried opening the door but the chair was wedged too well.

"They're in here," he shouted and suddenly there was a cacophony of noise outside the door.

"Right. Lawrence keep that aimed at her at all times," Mrs Hanbury said, waving a hand in the direction of the gun. She pulled Cecilia up into a standing position by her hair and dragged her over to one of the windows. "Don't move."

The noise outside grew as they pounded on the door but it showed no signs of opening. Nor did the window which Mrs Hanbury was currently trying to open.

Rather than look at Highmore or his gun Cecilia had fixed her gaze on a bookcase on the far wall over his shoulder as she prayed desperately for the door to open and so it took a moment for her to realise what she was actually seeing. The bookcase had just moved. She barely masked her gasp as it swung silently open and Freddie entered the room. The secret passages! Quickly averting her gaze so as not to give him away she looked at Highmore and Mrs Hanbury. Neither of them had noticed him.

And then in the next moment everything happened at once. Mrs Hanbury got the window open, turned, and saw Freddie. The door opened with a resounding crash. Freddie threw himself at Highmore. Cecilia dropped to the ground. A gunshot rang out followed by screams.

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The formal lawn was now all but hidden in the velvety dusk as Cecilia sat on the stone steps outside the drawing room. Behind her the party was still going strong undeterred by the small matter of her almost kidnap and Highmore and Mrs Hanbury's arrest for the murder of Jane Williams.

They'd confessed everything, Mrs Hanbury in between screaming for medical attention for the wound on her hand where the bullet had grazed her. They confessed that they'd been having an affair for almost a year now; that Jane had walked in on them the night before; that Mrs Hanbury had slipped back down to the party leaving Highmore to deal with Jane; that he had hit her with a fire iron before climbing down the outside of the house.

Cecilia shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

The detective had taken them off to the station with promises that Bess would be realised and brought back to Missleberry Manor straight away.

There was a noise behind Cecilia and then Freddie sat down next to her.

He sighed, looking out into the darkness. "What a day."

Cecilia nodded.

They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, the noises from inside the house floating out to them and mingling with the sounds of the night. An owl hooting as it flew overheard, a small animal snuffling in the darkness beyond.

Eventually Freddie turned to Cecilia.

"Thank you," he said softly. "For all your help today. You were right I couldn't have done it without you. You were amazing and I'm just glad you weren't hurt."

Grateful for the darkness which hid her blush Cecilia smiled and then a thought struck her. "Do you know what else I was right about?"

Freddie shook his head.

"Lawrence Highmore," Cecilia replied. "I distinctly recall saying this morning that he was the culprit."

Freddie rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Ah. Yes. I was hoping you wouldn't remember that."

Cecilia laughed, feeling the remnants of the darkness of the day being blown away by the light breeze and after a moment Freddie's chuckles joined hers.

"This is for you," said Freddie, picking something up from the step beside him.

In the light from the house Cecilia saw that it was a rose, deep pink in the middle lightening almost to white on the outermost petals. She ran a finger over the silky flower and then beamed up at Freddie.

"Thank you. It's beautiful."

"Just like you."

Cecilia lowered the flower to her lap as Freddie leaned slowly towards her. He paused for just a moment and then they kissed.

The End.

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