Chocolate Swirls and Murder Read online

  I’d only just settled Meatball back in his kennel and walked into the kitchen to wash up when Chef Heston caught me.

  “You’re late.”

  “I took the delivery to Mrs. Brown, and she wanted to chat. It would have been rude not spend a few minutes with a lonely old lady.”

  “Sure it would.” He scowled at me. “Lady Philippa has been asking for you. Take this up to her rooms immediately.” He handed me a tea tray with a pink flowered teapot, china tea cups, and four strawberry scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves.

  “I’ll get right on that.” I gulped down my sudden nerves. The east turret was never my favorite place.

  Mrs. Brown’s comments about the castle being haunted were front and center of my mind as I walked through my first cold spot. It was nothing. This was an ancient castle, built in Jacobean times. Cracks would appear over the years and the cold would get in. That’s all it was.

  I shoved away my fears and dashed up the spiral staircase to the east turret rooms.

  “Holly Holmes! Where have you been?” Lady Philippa spoke before she could even see me as I hurried past the large leaded windows toward her lounge.

  “Sorry I’m late. I got here as quickly as I could.” I nudged the door open with my hip and entered the room. It was an opulent living space, with expensive velvet curtains draped around the windows, red silk wallpaper, and luxurious designer furniture scattered around the room. Lady Philippa also had a huge bedroom with an ornate four poster bed. I had no idea how they’d gotten it up the spiral staircase. Maybe it had been built in place.

  “You’ve been on my mind.” Lady Philippa gestured to a side table by the high-backed chair she sat in. “Pour me a cup of tea. I’m parched.”

  “Of course. Why have you been thinking about me?”

  “Because of who you’ve been to visit.” She was dressed in a demure beige silk dress, diamonds glittering around her neck. “You’ve been gossiping about me.”

  I looked up hurriedly as I handed her a tea cup. “I wouldn’t say gossiping.” How did she know Mrs. Brown had been discussing her less than two hours ago?

  “My gut never lies,” she said. “And I smell lavender. Olivia Brown always wore a lavender perfume.”

  My mouth dropped open.

  “Stop trying to catch flies, girl. Sit down and sort those scones. Remember, I like my preserves under my cream.”

  I snapped my mouth shut and dealt with the scones before handing her two on a plate.

  “The rest are for you,” she said. “I imagine you’ve worked up an appetite cycling to the village and back with those cakes for Olivia and her gaggle of wrinkled old girlfriends.”

  I glanced at the binoculars on the window ledge and smiled. “Have you been busy birdwatching again?”

  She grinned. “I’m a keen birdwatcher. There’s always something fascinating outside to keep me occupied. So, what has Olivia been gossiping about?”

  “Nothing bad about you. She was saying that she knew you, and you used to go to her parties.”

  Her grin faded, and she nodded. “We used to be close. She was a real firecracker. All the men fell in love when they saw Olivia and those raven curls.”

  “She’s not raven haired anymore,” I said.

  Lady Philippa patted her professionally dyed and styled bobbed hair. “None of us are the same as we used to be. How is she?”

  “Doing well from what I can tell,” I said.

  “She still has that little cottage?”

  “That’s right.” I bit into my scone. The perfect combination of cream and sweet strawberry preserves made me sigh in pleasure.

  “She never married. Back in our heyday, marriages were often arranged, especially in the upper classes. It helped cement relationships and forge business deals. I can’t think of anything worse. Olivia got several proposals of marriage, and her family tried to set her up on numerous occasions, but she comes from a moneyed background and inherited the lot when her parents died. She never found anyone to love. Good for her, living a life she always wanted without being saddled with some weak-chinned wonder who’d bore her to death.”

  “She might miss you,” I said cautiously. “She was interested in how you were doing.”

  Lady Philippa gave a most unladylike snort. “I doubt that very much. Did she tell you why I stopped going to her parties?”

  “Something about predicting a death?”

  “Exactly! She shunned me for telling the truth.” She shook her head. “One second, we were all laughing and joking, then I announced my prediction and it all went wrong. Olivia said she was feeling unwell and everyone had to leave. The next week, I wandered past her cottage and they were all together. Olivia didn’t invite me back after that.”

  “Maybe it’s time to mend that bridge,” I said. “It could be fun to host a few parties here for your friends.”

  She waved a hand in the air as if to dismiss the idea. “Too much has happened since then. It would be like strangers meeting. We’d have nothing to say to each other.”

  “True friendship isn’t like that. I have friends I only see once a year, but it’s like we’ve never been apart. We just pick up a conversation and off we go.”

  “Hmmm. Lucky you.”

  “Don’t you get lonely up in this turret on your own?”

  “If my family didn’t keep me locked up here, I’d be free to make new friends,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “Anyway, I didn’t call you up here to gossip about my former friends. I want to talk about the death I see in the very near future.”

  Chapter 2

  “You see a death occurring?” I gulped. “I hope it’s not mine.”

  Lady Philippa tipped her head back and laughed. “You’re going to live a very long time, Holly Holmes. But I’ve had the same dream three nights in a row. It never ends well.”

  “What does your dream show you?”

  “I’ve struggled to understand this one, which is why I’m only just mentioning it. Sometimes, my visions can be tricky. I’ve been dreaming about a pig.”

  “Is the pig doing anything in particular? Does the pig have a gun and is aiming it at someone?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Of course not. How can a pig hold a gun in his trotters?”

  I pressed my lips together to stop from smiling. “Excellent point. So, what’s the pig doing?”

  “He’s a handsome fellow. A big pink porker. He’s wearing a curly wig.”

  “A pig in a wig. And he used his wig to do something bad? Did he stuff it in someone’s mouth and suffocate them?”

  She tutted. “I won’t tell you the rest of my prediction if you keep on with that nonsense.”

  I lifted a hand and settled back in my seat. “I won’t say another word. Tell me your whole dream. Maybe we can figure it out.”

  Lady Philippa pursed her lips. “Very well. My wig-wearing pig is dining on a bowl of figs.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “A pig in a wig eating figs. This could be a poem, not a portent of death.”

  “You can make it into what you like, but those three things are linked. I won’t get a good night of sleep until this is resolved. Not that I sleep much these days, anyway. Whatever that pig has planned, he needs to do it quickly and stop bothering me.”

  “Maybe these dreams aren’t connected to the pig doing anything wrong. Perhaps this is connected to the food fair. It always causes disruption at the castle. We’ve been taking deliveries in the kitchen for two weeks. Chef Heston is almost tearing his hair out. Hey! Maybe that’s what you’ve seen. Chef Heston gets so stressed that his hair falls out, and he needs to wear a wig.”

  “This has nothing to do with that grumpy chef. And I’ve been around for all the food fairs. I love welcoming people into our grounds.”

  “Could it be your subconscious telling you that you want to go to the food fair? I bet there’ll be all kinds of tasty treats. Probably plenty of pig and fig themed items to sample.”

  Her blue eyes s
parkled. “I’d love to visit the food fair. If only I wasn’t locked in this turret, I’d be there all day.”

  I opened my mouth to protest. The door to her room was always open whenever I came by. Instead, I simply nodded. “I’m going to be there this year.”

  Lady Philippa smiled warmly. “I predicted that as well. If you weren’t at that fair displaying your fabulous food, it would be a crime. What will you showcase?”

  “Mostly things we’re already preparing in the kitchen,” I said. “Princess Alice talked me into it, and she twisted Chef Heston’s arm to agree to me being involved. I’ll be on the Audley Castle stand.”

  “I expect to see you entering the cake competition as well. You’ll give all those show-offs who think their food is the best, a run for their money.”

  “Do you predict a win in my future?”

  Lady Philippa closed her eyes and swayed in her seat. “Oh dear!”

  I gasped and leaned forward. “What do you see? Don’t tell me the judges hate my cake.”

  “I see bad times ahead for you. Be careful at the food fair.”

  “You don’t think the pig is coming for me? He’s not going to eat my cake?”

  “This problem is much closer to home. Be careful of who you let near your cake.”

  “Someone might sabotage it? One of the other contestants gets vicious?”

  She opened her eyes. “I cannot tell you. My predictions are rarely that specific.”

  “Of course. That would make life too easy if you could tell me exactly who I needed to avoid and who might die.”

  “Cheeky young thing! Just keep your eyes open and you’ll figure it out.”

  “A pig in a wig eating figs.” I nodded sagely. “Got it.”

  She tapped me on the knee. “Don’t expect to see a jolly porker strutting around wearing a fine wig while he munches on a bowl of figs. Think in the abstract.”

  “Of course, the abstract. That makes it simple.”

  Lady Philippa chuckled. “And I expect you to bring me plenty of treats from the fair. I’ll watch through my binoculars, so I’ll know if you miss anything out.”

  “I promise, I’ll make up a special tray for you. You won’t miss a thing.”

  She nodded, seeming content with that answer. “Now, off you go. Chef Heston will be shouting if you don’t hurry.”

  I grinned as I stood and headed for the door. “Even I could make that prediction.” I dashed down the spiral stone staircase and back to the kitchen.

  I couldn’t figure out her prediction. Maybe Lady Philippa was having a bad day. We all had strange dreams. I once dreamed I was living on a space station surrounded by lonely aliens looking for love. It didn’t end well. I never could develop a taste for tentacles.

  I tensed as I spotted Campbell Milligan on duty, the ever-watchful head of private security for the Audleys. He stood with his back erect and his hands behind him. He was clearly on duty, so I ignored him.

  Ever since he’d had me arrested for murder, I was cautious around Campbell. We’d cleared the air, but he was a man driven by logic and evidence. I tended to follow my gut and perhaps paid too much attention to Lady Philippa’s predictions. The two of us would never see eye to eye.

  My head twisted at the sound of barking. That was Meatball. I’d recognize his throaty rumble anywhere.

  “Woof woof woof woof woof.” Whatever was going on, he was excited, and he was heading straight toward me.

  A high-pitched yip followed straight after his barks. A petite, fluffy ginger corgi sped around the corner, her tail up and her dark eyes glittering as she bounded along the corridor and straight past me.

  A few seconds later, Meatball careened around the same corner, his little legs a blur as he chased after the new arrival.

  “Hold it right there, buddy.” I tried to block him, but he dodged around me with a happy woof.

  I turned and stared at him in surprise. Meatball rarely disobeyed me. He must have seen something he liked in this new corgi.

  The corgi slowed and looked over her shoulder, bouncing on her paws as Meatball drew nearer. She let him get within sniffing distance before yipping again and racing away, heading straight toward Campbell.

  “Oh no you don’t,” I muttered under my breath. The last thing I needed was Meatball getting me in trouble with Campbell.

  I raced after the dogs, determined to grab Meatball before he caused trouble.

  I grimaced as the dogs shot past Campbell. He didn’t so much as flinch.

  “Hey! Stop those dogs,” I yelled as I raced after them.

  “Having trouble with your corgis?” Campbell asked.

  “You could say that.” I slowed as I reached him and looked around. The dogs had vanished. “Where did they go?”

  The trace of a smile flickered at the edge of his mouth.

  “Come on! Help a girl out. You must have seen which direction they went,” I said.

  “Your dog shouldn’t run around loose in the castle,” Campbell muttered.

  “I have no idea how he got in. You know he’s got his kennel outside. He should be in there.” I looked along the corridor.

  “Try the doggy door.”

  I stared up at Campbell. And I mean, I had to really stare up. He had a good foot and a few inches in height on me and stood an impressive six feet five inches. “What are you talking about?”

  “You don’t know about the doggy doors in the castle?”

  “No! Why don’t you show me?”

  “The Duchess had them installed,” Campbell said. “Not this duchess, the one before her. Go to the left-hand side of that door over there, duck down, and you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

  I glared at him. “This had better not be a joke.”

  “You know me. I never joke.”

  That was true. I hurried to the door and ducked. At first, I didn’t see anything, but as I ran my hand along the wall, it moved. A small tunnel looked like it had been cut through the thick stone wall and a dog-sized wooden door added. That was where my missing dog must have gone.

  I stood and grabbed the handle of the main door. Campbell’s large hand clamped on my shoulder.

  “Going somewhere?” he asked.

  “To get my dog back.”

  “These are the family’s private quarters.”

  “Then you’d better escort me in,” I said. “I have to make sure Meatball doesn’t get in trouble. He seemed keen on that corgi. I’ve not seen her before.”

  “The Duchess acquired her a week ago. She’s been with the vet and then at the doggy parlor.”

  “Have you been overseeing that important task? I bet you got trained for just that sort of thing when you worked for the government.”

  He leaned closer. “I trained for many things, including how to get rid of irritating problems.”

  I swallowed. As hard as I tried, Campbell intimidated me. “Good to know. So, are we going in?”

  He dropped his hold on me and nodded. He lifted his arm and spoke into the sleeve. “Alpha two, this is Alpha one. I’m on the move. Entering the Canopy Room. My position will be unguarded, over.”

  “Copy that, Alpha one. We’ll move position to ensure all routes are covered, over.”

  “Received. Out.” Campbell lowered his arm.

  I looked at his sleeve. I couldn’t see anything that could be used as a communication device. “How does that work? Have you got a mic wired up your sleeve? Why not use the doodlebug thing in your ear?”

  A muscle in his jaw twitched. “The doodlebug thing is on the fritz.”

  “Or you could keep a phone in your pocket. That would work. And I’ve always been a fan of walkie talkies. Do you use those to speak to your teams?”

  “You ask too many questions.”

  “I’m curious. Wouldn’t it be easier to have something in your pocket?”

  “What makes you think I don’t?”

  I pursed my lips. “You have backups for everything.”

  He
opened the door. “Shall we?”

  I bit back a retort and hurried into the room. I’d only seen a fraction of the family’s private quarters. They kept a dozen rooms exclusively for use as a family, plus the bedrooms. The public never got access to them. Not so much as a peek.

  This was the first time I’d seen the Canopy Room. I stared open-mouthed in amazement. The room was awash with green interlaced with gold. There were gold mirrors, gold cushions, and green and gold silk wallpaper.

  Campbell nudged me not too gently with his elbow. “Quit staring and find your dog before he pees on something he shouldn’t.”

  “Give me a minute. This might be the only time I ever see this room. It’s beautiful.”

  “You’ve had your minute. Move it. And if I find your dog has done his business in this room—”

  “Meatball’s well-trained. He’d never go to the toilet in somewhere as stunning as this.”

  “He can’t be that well-trained. He ignored you when you tried to bring him to heel.”

  I glowered at Campbell. “He was just ... excited. He’d seen a beautiful woman and wanted to get to know her better. You must know what that’s like. Have you been on any good dates recently?”

  Campbell snorted. “My private life is just that.”

  “Your everything life is just that. You should loosen up, make a few friends, take a night off. It’s fun to have a social life.”

  “What’s your social life like?”

  “Oh! Well ... I’m busy at work. There are always cakes to bake.” My private life was dire. I had friends in the village but was still finding my feet after moving here just over a year ago. And as for going on dates with eligible bachelors, that hadn’t happened for a long time.

  “Maybe sort out your own private life before you nose into mine,” Campbell said.

  I grumbled under my breath as I hurried away to find Meatball. I’d been called nosy once or twice, but it was good to have a healthy curiosity.

  And I was curious now, walking past these beautiful antiques. “I’d be too scared to use any of this. What if you break something in here?”

  “If you broke anything, your feet wouldn’t touch the ground. You’d be arrested,” Campbell said, following me like a second shadow.