Cream Caramel and Murder Read online

  “Oh, that.” I gripped the underside of my seat. “My, um, well, it’s nothing. My granny used to take me on protest marches when I was younger. We got caught up in a protest that turned nasty in London when I was eighteen. The police arrested us. We were fingerprinted but not charged with anything.”

  “I never had you down as such a rebel.” Rupert smiled at me. “That’s it? No other crimes in your past?”

  I nodded. “I’d forgotten about it. Granny Molly said that sort of thing happened to her so often that they must have a room dedicated just to her record.” I decided not to mention the other criminal activities she took part in, the ones she was behind bars for. The less they knew about her the better.

  “Your granny’s a criminal?” Smitherington was good; he must have sensed I was withholding something.

  “Um, well, it’s complicated. Her heart’s in the right place.”

  He nodded. “The most important thing for us to do is solidify your alibi during the timeframe the murder was committed. Once we prove it’s impossible for you to have been in the location at the time of the murder, you’re in the clear. As you said, you could have moved the spade quite innocently. You had no idea it was the murder weapon.”

  “There’s a problem with that. I was on my own during the time of the murder. I don’t have anyone to back me up.”

  “Ah! That may complicate things.” Smitherington glanced at Rupert.

  “Holly would never do such a thing,” he said. “I’ll vouch for her. If this goes to trial, I’ll be her character witness.”

  “You’d do that for me?” My eyes filled with tears, which I blinked away quickly.

  His smile was warm. “Of course. Holly, you’re important to me. I mean, this household. The castle wouldn’t be the same without your famous cupcakes.”

  I choked back my tears and nodded. “Of course.”

  Smitherington cleared his throat. “Your character statement will lend weight to Holly’s good character, if it comes to that.”

  The car pulled up outside the castle.

  “Holly, you come with me. Smitherington, do you need us for anything else?” Rupert asked.

  “I’ll take the car back to the police station and gather all the evidence. I will wish to speak to you at a later date, Holly, if we can’t get rid of these charges straightaway.”

  “Of course. Whatever you need.” I climbed out of the car with Rupert. “Thanks so much for getting me out of there. I promise you, I’ll pay back however much you get charged for using your lawyer.”

  Rupert waved a hand in the air as the car drove away. “Nonsense. Don’t even think about that. Holly, we’re ... good friends. I believe you’re innocent. All of this is a mistake. I’ll have Campbell in front of you apologizing by dawn. I should have him fired for what he’s done.”

  “Oh, no. I mean, he’s wrong to think I’m involved, but he’s only doing his job. He’s protecting you and the family. There is evidence against me, but I assure you, I didn’t do it.”

  “Holly!” Alice raced out the door. She flung her arms around me before kissing my head. “What a beastly business.”

  Meatball raced out of the castle and bounced around me.

  I scooped him into my arms, glad to have him back as I snuggled him against me. “I bet you’re wondering what’s going on. You’ve missed dinner and your walk.”

  “I fed him and walked him,” Alice said proudly. “As soon as we heard what was going on, I sent Rupert off to deal with things. I knew you’d be worried about Meatball, so I’ve been looking after him.”

  Meatball now sported a rather fetching pink bow on his collar. “Thanks. I really appreciate it. All of it.” I set Meatball back on the ground.

  “We’re looking after you,” she said. “This has been a shock for all of us. I can only imagine how awful you feel.”

  “There’s really no need.” But I didn’t protest as Alice led me through the door and into her private parlor.

  “You sit right there.” She pointed to a comfortable looking pink chair. “We’re going to wait on you hand and foot, just like you do us. We can’t have our favorite member of staff thinking we don’t trust her.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” I was too stunned to argue as I sank down.

  “Rupert, bring that footstool over. Then go to the kitchen and sort out some delicious treats for Holly,” Alice ordered.

  “Of course.” He grabbed the footstool and gently placed my feet on it. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “Really, you’re both too kind. I just want this all over with.”

  “Smitherington is the best lawyer you can get. He can make the guiltiest look innocent,” Rupert said. “Of course, not that either of us think you’re guilty. But with him on your side, you’re guaranteed to have this dealt with in no time. Campbell and the police are incompetent.”

  “Of course they are,” Alice said.

  I sat back as they talked about how awful it was and all the lovely things they had planned to make it up to me.

  This was such a shock, and I had no idea what to do next. The amazing life I’d been building in the castle could be over. If the police pursued this, I could lose my job, my home, and if the worst happened, I’d get charged with murder and go to prison. I wouldn’t be able to take Meatball with me. I’d lose him too.

  I shook my head as I pinched the bridge of my nose. How had everything gone so wrong so fast? It felt like I was about to lose everything.

  Chapter 20

  I’d kept a low profile yesterday after being taken in for questioning.

  Rupert had told Chef Heston that I was under the weather and needed a day off. I’d appreciated having the time to myself, but I’d hidden in my room, not sure what to do.

  I couldn’t hide forever. These might be my last few days of freedom. I wasn’t going to spend them cowering and worrying about what the police were cooking up for me.

  I had to believe in Rupert’s lawyer and trust the truth would come out. And, if that failed, I needed to make sure I spent my last days as a free woman doing the things I loved. And that meant going to the kitchen.

  After I’d settled Meatball in his kennel, I opened the kitchen door and peeked around the side.

  It was the usual busy hive of activity, with people rushing around as Chef Heston barked orders.

  His gaze flickered to the door, and he strode toward me.

  I pulled back, expecting him to start yelling and telling me to get out of his kitchen.

  To my surprise, he caught hold of my elbow and gently guided me to the table. “How are you feeling?”

  I blinked up at him. “Better, thanks. Is it okay that I’m here?”

  “Of course it is. You work here.”

  “Oh, it’s just that, well, with everything that’s going on, I didn’t think you ...” My voice wavered and I clamped my lips together.

  He gently patted my arm. “Let me get you a mug of tea before you get started. If you feel up to working.”

  My eyebrows shot up. Chef Heston had never made me tea before. “That would be great. Thanks.”

  “Take a seat away from the chaos of my incompetent team.” His glare turned lethal as he watched the rest of his team work. “I’ll be right with you.”

  I settled on a chair, feeling almost as shocked as I’d done when Campbell took me in for questioning.

  Chef Heston had a good side. All it had taken to uncover it was me getting on the hook for being a murderer.

  He returned with two mugs and handed me one. “I know you weren’t sick yesterday. I’ve heard what’s going on.”

  My gut tightened. Was this the lead up to being fired? “It wasn’t me.”

  He snorted before taking a sip of tea. “You don’t need to tell me that. I only hire staff I trust. Within the first minute of your interview, I spotted a valuable member of staff. You were so enthusiastic about your food and poured your passion into your words. I don’t make mistakes when I hire p
eople.”

  I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “I’m glad you believe in me.”

  “I do.” He jabbed a finger at me. “Most of all, I believe in your skills in the kitchen. I barely had to give you any training when you joined the team. That’s a rare find. I’m not losing you to some trumped up charge. Your name will be cleared and my dessert case will return to its former cupcake laden glory. No one can make ganache icing like you can. And, if you want to keep busy, I have a job for you.”

  “Anything. I’m happy to get back to work. I’d actually like to keep busy. Sitting around yesterday just got my thoughts in a spin.”

  “Good. The food for the garden memorial event needs to be finished,” he said.

  “Oh! Of course. I’d forgotten all about that.”

  “It’s happening at two o’clock this afternoon. The sandwiches are being made but all the cakes need to be iced and filled. You can add a few of your special little flourishes. Maybe mix a batch of your cream caramel frosting?”

  “Absolutely.” I went to stand, but Chef Heston patted me on the shoulder. “Finish your tea first. I ... I believe in you, Holly. Everything will be back to normal soon enough.”

  I blinked away a few tears, surprised by how much I appreciated Chef Heston’s kind words.

  His eyes narrowed. “Don’t get all emotional on me, or I’ll have to start shouting at you. No tears in my kitchen. It’s forbidden.”

  “I’m not crying!” I swiped at my eyes. “Someone’s chopping onions.”

  “That’ll be it.” A smile flashed across his face before vanishing as he walked away.

  After finishing my mug of tea, I washed up in the sink, tied on an apron, and went to look at the array of cakes out on the counter ready to be finished. There were buttercream angel cakes that would look perfect with a dusting of icing sugar and sugared candy fruits decorating the top. There were several flavors of miniature sponge cake, from vanilla to chocolate. They’d look amazing with sprinkles and carefully piped cream caramel sandwiching them together. There was also a batch of chocolate cupcakes yearning to be drenched in heavenly cream swirls.

  As I got to work carefully decorating the cakes, my thoughts turned to Lord Rupert. He’d most likely be at the memorial event today with his friends, remembering Sebastien.

  “Holly, we need more self-raising flour and a sack of dried fruit. You’ll find them in the outside store,” Chef Heston said as he passed my workstation.

  I finished the cake I was working on and placed my icing bag down. I also needed to get more supplies to finish off the cakes, so the distraction was welcome.

  I headed to the store room located next to the kitchen and spotted Rupert walking past with a group of gardeners.

  He slowed when he saw me and diverted course. “How are you doing? I didn’t know you were back at work. Isn’t it too soon?”

  “I made the decision to come back,” I said. “I needed something to keep my mind busy.”

  “Smitherington’s still working on things. He’s giving me regular updates. The police have been cooperating so far, but they’re not letting this go. They’ve been asking around to see if they can find anyone who saw you out of your apartment during the time Kendal was murdered.”

  I frowned. “They’re wasting their time. This is a big misunderstanding.” My gaze drifted over Rupert’s shoulder to the gardeners as they headed to the memorial garden. “How well do you know the team who worked on that garden?”

  “Pretty well. I work alongside them several times a week. Once they got past the fact I’m a Lord, they let their guards down. They’re a good bunch. Why do you ask?”

  “The spade that killed Kendal was discovered among their tools,” I said. “If it wasn’t planted there ...” I wasn’t sure where I was going with this. “Would any of them have had a grudge against Kendal?”

  “Oh! No! I can’t imagine any of them would,” Rupert said. “Most of them are from the village. They’ve been helping out for years around the estate.”

  My mouth twisted to the side. “Not all of them are from the village? Has anyone joined in the last year that made you suspicious about them? Or perhaps asked questions about your school friends or wanted to know about their background?”

  Rupert rubbed his hands together as he pondered my questions. “It’s not a topic of conversation any of them have singled me out about.”

  “The only time I handled any gardening equipment was when I was helping pack it in the back of a car. I don’t remember grabbing any spades, but I must have done. I moved some tools around so could easily have touched something without paying attention. That must be how my fingerprints got on the murder weapon.”

  Rupert scratched his chin. “You’re wondering if the spade was planted among the gardeners’ tools or if it belongs to one of them?”

  I shook my head. “If it was planted, it’s the perfect place. It wouldn’t look odd among a jumble of other tools. And if the tools were used on a daily basis, the evidence would soon wear away when other people handled it. But ... what if it’s more than that?”

  “It can’t be anyone in that group. They’re good people,” Rupert said.

  My gaze ran over the group as they stood by the memorial garden, giving it a final check over before the afternoon’s event. Most of them were of retirement age, but there was one guy who looked to be in his late thirties, and Meredith, who was around fifty.

  “Meredith has been here the same amount of time as me, hasn’t she?” I said.

  “Yes. She started working here three months ago, but she’s been involved with the planning of the memorial garden for over a year,” Rupert said. “In fact, she contacted me with the idea to set up a special place for people to remember their loved ones. She knows all about the grounds in Audley Castle because I went to school with her son.”

  My eyebrows shot up. I peered at Meredith. She was old enough to have had a teenage son when Rupert was at school. “Do you stay in touch with her son?”

  “Sadly not. I mentioned him to you the other day. He died.”

  “Hang on, her son was Sebastien Grenville? Your friend who drowned?”

  “Goodness, how did you know that? That’s absolutely right. She’d even been here a few times with Sebastien when he was younger. When she got in touch and suggested the memorial garden, I considered it an excellent idea. It was a perfect tribute to Seb.”

  “And Meredith specifically wanted the garden here?”

  “That’s right. Hold on, you can’t think she was involved with what happened to Kendal? She’s a kind woman.”

  I bit my bottom lip as I focused on Meredith. She might be a kind person, but her son had died in an accident. What if she couldn’t let it go? What if she thought Sebastien’s death wasn’t even an accident?

  “Eton’s not a cheap place to go to school. How did the son of a gardener get a space there?” I asked.

  “Meredith hasn’t always been a gardener. The family was well-connected. Seb’s dad works in London. Something in finance.” He jingled the coins in his pockets. “I’m not sure you’re on the right track with this idea, though. Meredith isn’t a killer.”

  “Whose idea was it to have the opening of the memorial garden today?” I asked.

  “Oh! Well, we talked about it as a group. I wanted to make sure the memorial garden opened when my friends were here, so we could use the time to remember Seb.”

  “Are you sure that was your idea? Meredith didn’t push for that?”

  He scrubbed at his chin again. “Hmmm, now you mention it, she was keen on this date, but I didn’t think anything of it.”

  The pieces clicked into place as my heart thudded. Meredith wasn’t interested in the memorial garden. That was an excuse so she could be here at the same time as Seb’s old school friends got together. She was here for revenge.

  I took a step toward the gardeners and hesitated. How could I confront her? I couldn’t wander over and say ‘I know you killed Kendal because
you blame him for your son’s death’.

  Rupert’s hand on my arm tugged me out of my thoughts. “Whatever’s the matter, Holly? You’ve gone very pale.”

  I stared up at him and licked my dry lips. What if Meredith’s revenge plans were bigger? She could have seen an opportunity to kill Kendal and was waiting for more chances to get revenge on all the boys who didn’t save her son.

  “Oh my word! The buggy,” I whispered.

  “Eh? What are you talking about?” Rupert asked.

  “The buggy that almost ran you over,” I said. “What if Meredith used it to try to kill you?”

  He stepped back. “No! It was an accident. Something went wrong with the controls.”

  “Has this happened before? A buggy zooming off on its own?”

  “No, but it can’t be anything else.”

  “It can. Were you on your own when the buggy came after you?”

  “I was. I’d planned an evening of reading. I was looking for a spot in the grounds where I wouldn’t be disturbed.”

  “Meredith must have been waiting, hoping to find you or one of your friends alone. She messed with the buggy controls and tried to run you over with it.”

  “Steady on! I ... well, I suppose it’s possible. When the buggy was looked at, no one could find anything wrong with it. I simply put it down to a mechanical error. Just one of those things.”

  “It’s very possible.” I pushed against my panic. “Rupert, I need your help. You’ll be at the memorial event this afternoon?”

  “Of course. I can’t miss it. How about you?”

  I nodded. “I’ll definitely be there. Meredith killed Kendal. And I think she’s only just getting started.”

  Chapter 21

  “Are you absolutely sure about this?” Alice whispered as she clutched my arm. “Do you really think Sebastien’s mom will try to hurt Rupert?”

  “Not for sure, but it’s too much of a coincidence that Meredith came up with the plan for the memorial garden. She’s engineered it so all of Sebastien’s old friends are here for the opening. This is perfect for her. She gets the people she blames for her son’s death in one place. That makes them easier targets.”