Page 15 of Tattered Huntress
‘The Royal Institute purchased it several decades ago and it’s hung here ever since,’ he continued. ‘Of course, it is not the only spectacular painting here. My favourite is the Constable on the second floor. I can show it to you, if you like.’
He reminded me of a golden retriever puppy – a very posh golden retriever puppy. ‘That’s very kind of you,’ I said. ‘But I do need to find Sir Nigel and deliver his parcel.’
‘You could join us for dinner afterwards, if you like,’ Eleanor offered.
‘What a brilliant idea!’ Humphrey exclaimed. ‘The squid here is excellent. The chef does this wondrous thing with foam and tweezers and a blowtorch. The result is exquisite.’
I was starting to wonder if these two were for real. ‘I have other deliveries to make,’ I lied, unwilling to draw either of them further into my charade regardless of how exquisite the squid was. In any case, I prefer my food without slimy tentacles; I’m more of a burger and chips fan and perfectly content to live my entire life with an unadventurous palate. ‘Unfortunately I’ll have to decline.’
‘We shall have to invite you on another occasion,’ Humphrey said. He reached into his waistcoat and took out a small silver case from which he extracted a white card. ‘There. You must call me at your earliest convenience. It would be an honour to dine with you when you are free.’
Beside him, Eleanor looked at me earnestly. ‘It really would, Daisy. Please say yes.’
I smiled awkwardly. ‘Sure. Yes. I’ll be in touch.’ I tucked the card away, certain that I would never use it.
We turned left and went into the dining room. I tried to appear nonchalant at the extravagant surroundings but it wasn’t easy. Every single person here, waiting staff included,was dressed up to the nines and I felt very shabby and dirty in comparison. The tablecloths were pristine white, the silverware glinted in the light shining from the overhead chandeliers and a small orchestra was playing in the far corner.
‘Ah, Sir Nigel is by the window with good old Hugo and his chums,’ Humphrey said with a satisfied burble. ‘I’ll take you over.’ He glanced at Eleanor. ‘You’ll like them both. They’re good fellows.’
I managed not to snort aloud and maintained a faint, unthreatening smile. I might be both jobless and penniless but I was having the most fun I’d had in years. I was tempted to rub my hands together with glee.
Humphrey wove in and out of the tables that were mostly occupied by other high elves. He paused at several of them, shaking hands and murmuring greetings, but he was gracious enough not to linger and delay my ‘work’ or interrupt their meals.
Soon we’d passed most of the other guests and only Sir Nigel remained. I scanned the table, noting that all of the faces from the drawing room at Neidpath Castle were present, together with Sir Nigel, Hugo Pemberville and a few others.
One of them, an elf who I recognised from Neidpath, looked at us. He smiled vaguely at Humphrey – then his gaze slid to me and his smile vanished. A second later, he was leaning across the table and gesticulating urgently to Hugo Pemberville.
Hugo’s head snapped up and his eyes met mine. The sudden glittering fury in them was a joy to behold.Just you wait, I silently promised him.Just you wait.
‘Dear me,’ Humphrey murmured. ‘Old Hugs looks rather cross. I cannot possibly imagine why.’
I knew I’d have to get in the first word before Pemberville had me thrown out of the building. I carefully removed my arm from Humphrey’s, strode forward until I was standing in frontof Sir Nigel Hannigan and thrust the cardboard box in his face. ‘Sir Nigel,’ I said loudly, ‘I have a special delivery for you.’
To give them their due, Hugo and his Primes reacted quickly. I’d barely finished my sentence when the box was yanked away and two of them had grabbed me by the arms.
‘I say!’ Humphrey blustered. ‘Whatever is going on?’
‘Keep him back,’ Hugo ordered and another underling jumped to do his bidding. Humphrey and Eleanor were hastily ushered several feet away. ‘Call the police,’ Hugo snapped to the blonde by his side.
I remained calm, despite the pincer-like grip from the elves on either side of me. ‘Open the box,’ I said, my attention wholly on Sir Nigel, who was looking more entertained than alarmed.
The elf next to him reached for it but Hugo got there first. ‘Don’t touch it, Rizwan.’ He glared at me as if I’d deposited a bomb in the middle of his dining table. ‘Is it dangerous?’
I grinned cheerfully. ‘You tell me. I don’t know what’s so special about an old silver necklace, but you guys were the ones who were looking for it.’
Sir Nigel jerked. ‘You found it?’ he breathed. ‘You found the necklace?’ He pulled the box towards him and, ignoring another warning from Hugo, opened it up. He frowned. ‘Why does it smell of cabbages?’
‘Daisy?’ Eleanor asked shakily. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Who is she?’ Hugo snarled at Humphrey.
Humphrey might have resembleda puppy but he was no push-over. He straightened up and glowered. ‘I’ll ask you to remain civil, Hugo. This is Eleanor. She is my companion for this evening and will be joining me in the hunt for the Arkaig treasure.’
Hugo’s lip curled. ‘How does she know this … creature?’
‘You’re a very rude man,’ Eleanor said in a remarkably snippy tone. ‘This wonderful woman saved my life the other night. A vampire would have killed me if it hadn’t been for her.’
‘How very convenient,’ Hugo muttered. His expression suggested that I’d been in cahoots with a mindless vampire and somehow ordered it to attack Eleanor so as to get inside this dining room on this very evening.
