Fare Thee Well Miss Alice

Chapter 7: Count Liam McPherson

"I can't believe we didn't see that before!" Davie exclaimed.

Now that they knew about it, it was all completely obvious!

"What's going on?" William asked, walking in with his Uncle, the General.

"We found something," Davie explained excitedly.

"Well actually Kathleen did."

"Davie was the one who gave me the idea," Ang countered modestly.

"Anyway, she found out that Alice left a clue for us on the painting. There's a  bit of ash on the archers right arm and Alice had ash on her finger."

The General stood their astonished, looking from Davie to Ang.

"What do you think it means?" he asked.

Ang shrugged and Davie realized she had put her masquerade back on, adopting the Irish accent once more.

She really is good at it, Davie thought. Before then he never really listened, but now he could tell what talent she had.

"It could mean anything," Ang answered.

"But what I'm guessing is that the murderer is left handed."

Everyone looked up at that, surprised conclusion.

"What makes you think that?" William inquired.

"Well the smudge, or scar, is on the archer's right arm. So the only way it could get there is if he, or she, were to shoot left handed. Otherwise the bowstring could smack the other arm," Ang explained.

Davie listened in amazement. She was all the better when he knew her dirty little secret. He could have almost sworn that Ang glanced at him with a mischievous glint in her eye, almost as though she were happy that he knew.  

"Well," the General started.

"That's certainly helpful. Do you think we should tell anyone?"

"No. It's probably best if we don't mention it at all. That way no one will have time to cover up."

General Dempsey nodded slowly, then looked at Ang with a new topic on his mind.

"Davie did tell you about the Count, right?" he asked.

Ang swallowed a bit nervously and nodded.

"Yes...Yes he did."

"Well it turns out he arrived sooner then he had anticipated and is waiting in the parlor."

"WHAT?...I mean, is that so?" Ang quickly covered up, shooting an accusing glance at Davie.

Davie made a gesture that said, 'I didn't know', and Ang rolled her eyes.

"Yes, well, I'll be there is a minute. Would you mind telling Liam that? I have a few words I'd like to discuss with Davie."

"Of course Kathleen,"  the General nodded.

"Come along William."

As soon as General Dempsey and his nephew left the room Ang exploded.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU SAID HE WOULDN'T ARRIVE TILL TOMORROW!"

Davie nearly jumped out of his skin and her sudden change of character and slowly inched his way toward the door, just in case he'd need to make a quick getaway.

"I didn't know! It's not my fault travel is so efficient these days."

"What on this good earth am I gonna do?" Ang blurted out.

"You could just go and tell me everything."

"Yeah, cause' I can just waltz into a crowded room filled with adoring fans and say, 'Hello Liam! Remember me? Oh yeah, that's right, WE'VE NEVER MET! Probably because I'm impersonating the Countess and am not actually from this country!'. No thanks Davie, I like my head where it is!"

Davie sighed and slowly walked over to Ang.

"Well what else can you do?" he asked practically.

Ang folded her arms and glared at him, eventually walking toward the door and swinging it wide open.

"Well are ya' comin'?" she asked.

Davie smiled to himself and followed Ang down the hall to possibly the most interesting conversation ever made in history.

"Well this should be fun," he mumbled to himself.

To his surprise, Ang put on the best act he had ever seen in his entire life, playing the part of a Countess totally at ease with her husband.

"Liam! Hello darling!" she chorused, gliding across the floor with as much elegance as she could muster.

When Liam looked at her, obviously very aware that she was not Kathleen, Ang quickly made some crazy face expressions to keep him from saying anything. She kept raising her eyebrows and somehow motioning toward the General with her eyes so that Liam got the jest.

"Oh...Um...H-hello...Kathleen," he said awkwardly.

Davie just stood there, astonished as to how she managed to pull it off.

"Is there anything you'd like us to get you?" General Dempsey inquired.

Kathleen quickly turned toward him with a beaming smile and gestured towards the door.

"Actually there is. I'd like a few moments alone with Liam and Davie if you don't mind?"

The General nodded reluctantly and left the room, closing the door behind him. Ang quickly dropped the act and leaned against the fireplace, letting out a huge sigh.

"Alright, what's this all about?" Liam asked furiously.

"Who are you? Where's Kathleen?"

"Okay, okay," Ang countered quickly.

"Before you go any further let me just say one thing...Man, it is great to finally meet you!" she smiled, holding out her hand.

Liam slapped it aside and Ang simply cocked her head to one side, understanding completely.

"Alright, alright, I'll explain. I'm Ang Carter and I was pretending to be the Countess so that I could find out who was selling information to the French. I have Davie here to confirm that story. Your wife is fine...A little mad, but fine."

Davie nodded at Liam when he looked towards him and Ang continued.

"As you can probably tell, I'm not from England or Ireland and I really need your cooperation right now. Do I have it?"

Liam kept looking from Ang to Davie with uncertain eyes. Then, with a hesitant expression, he nodded.

"You do."