Malice at the Palace (The Royal Spyness Series Book 9)

 

We were helped out of the backseat. Marina went ahead of me. I was about to follow when I glanced back and thought I saw that strange greenish glow coming from the archway below the clock tower. I had to see for myself where the light was coming from and began to walk toward it. Then I stared harder. Surely something was lying there. Something white. My heart was beating faster and I wanted to turn and hurry into the safety of our apartment but I couldn’t help myself. I was drawn toward it. If it was the ghost of Princess Sophia I had to see it for myself. But why would a ghost be lying anywhere? Surely ghosts wafted about as they wished and didn’t linger too long. As I approached the thing lying on the cobbles, I could make out the form of a dark-haired young woman in a white silk dress, lying slumped over, facedown. I kept moving closer, walking more slowly now. Surely the specter would vanish when I came too close, wouldn’t it?

 

But it didn’t. I stood there, taking in every detail—the rather flashy rings on the hand that lay outstretched a few inches from my foot, the very modern short haircut with its permanent waves, and then, as I moved around to get a better view I saw her eyes, open and staring at me blankly from a deathly white face, contrasting with the bright red lips.

 

Whoever she was she was no ghost. She had been recently alive and now she was very dead.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

 

LATE AT NIGHT, NOVEMBER 4

 

KENSINGTON PALACE

 

I stood there in the darkness with my heart hammering, not knowing what to do. I had seen dead bodies before but one never gets over the shock. I put my hand to my mouth, feeling queasy. Marina had gone ahead of me into the house. I had no idea how long the girl had been lying there, if she had been murdered, or even if the murderer still lurked nearby.

 

“Your ladyship?” a voice called and the chauffeur was coming toward me. “I don’t believe you can get into the apartment that way. May I escort you to the front door?”

 

“Thank you so much.” I came hurriedly to meet him so that he wouldn’t catch a glimpse of the dead girl. He delivered me safely to the front door and I heard the motorcar drive away as the door was closed behind me by a maid.

 

The police should be called immediately, I thought, and I was about to tell the maid to take me to a telephone. But I realized that Princess Marina should not be made upset. Then I remembered Major Beauchamp-Chough. There were rules of protocol to be followed in a royal palace and he was currently master of the house. So if anyone summoned the police it should be he.

 

“Do you know where one would find Major Beauchamp-Chough?” I asked the maid.

 

“I expect he would be in his own apartment at this time of night, my lady,” she said, looking at me strangely.

 

“It was apartment 10, I believe. Do you know which one that is?”

 

“I’m not sure. I’d have to go and ask,” she said.

 

“It’s important that I see him right away,” I said. “A situation has arisen that demands his immediate attention. Where can I find a writing desk?”

 

She took me through to a small sitting room and seated me at a Queen Anne desk by the window. I found an old-fashioned inkwell, pen and paper. I started to write as the maid went to find out how to locate the major’s suite.

 

Dear Major Beauchamp-Chough,

 

I am sorry to disturb you at this time of night, but a difficult situation has arisen that demands your immediate attention. Please come to apartment 1 as soon as you receive this.

 

 

 

By the time I had finished, the maid had returned. “His apartment is all the way around at the front of the building,” she said, her expression betraying that she didn’t want to walk all that way in the dark.

 

I felt for her, but speed was of primary importance. “Then please take him this letter,” I said.

 

“Now, my lady?” She looked scared and I wondered if she’d heard the stories about Kensington’s ghosts.

 

“Yes, now. I’d go myself, but that would not be seemly. It’s most urgent, you understand, or I would not be asking you to do this.”

 

“Very well, my lady.” She bobbed a curtsy and went. I sat at the desk, staring out into blackness, waiting. The image of that white face with staring eyes swam before me and I found I was shivering. It wasn’t long before the major appeared, looking absolutely resplendent in full dress uniform with much braid and a row of medals that were most impressive.

 

“Lady Georgiana, what on earth is the matter? You look quite white. The maid said it was most urgent. Has the princess been taken ill?”