Page 41 of The Curse of Penryth Hall
“We should get to Penryth Hall before too much longer.”
“Penryth… why?”
“I need to see the body.”
Right. I’d nearly forgotten.
CHAPTEREIGHTEENBurglaress
THErain made the roads impassable for my little car, forcing us to return to the estate on foot. My legs would regret all this scarpering about in a few days, but for now my thoughts remained foggy from the pub and the last couple of days’ excitement.
In the moonlight, the house was even more foreboding. And devilishly dark. All the lights were out, aside from one on the uppermost floor. I thought of Tamsyn here, with only Mrs. Penrose and a handful of gossipy maids for company, and immediately felt guilty for the way I’d left things. She was emotional. Overwrought. That was all. And I’d once called myself her friend. I’d called myself more if I were honest with myself, which I didn’t care to be at this moment.
“You don’t have to come with me…” Ruan laid a warm hand on my shoulder. “I can find my way—”
His voice settled me, and I shrugged him off, heading on down the path to the house. “No, no. It’s only I was thinking of the woman at the crossroads. Do you suppose she’s our killer? I assume she’s the one that Constable Enys was talking about.”
Ruan didn’t answer.
“That’s not reassuring, you know. Mysterious woman comes to town. Dead bodies pop up.”
He glowered.
“You don’t think it is the White Witch, do you?” I asked suddenly.
He shook his head. “I told you. The White Witch is dead.”
I was not convinced on that score, but wasn’t about to argue with him. “Very well, what could this woman want with you?”
The moonlight had finally broken free of the thick clouds, illuminating the path. “People seek me out for all sorts of reasons. It could be anything.”
“Or she could be our killer.”
“Doubtful. Anyone who wouldaskfor a Pellar isn’t likely to be up to mischief. One of our many attributes, in addition to breaking curses, is finding thieves. Pellars redress wrongs, cure the sick. They don’t abet murderers.” He rummaged around in his pocket in the darkness.
Not even if the dead deserve it?
Ruan let out a strangled sound, and once again I had the uncanny sense that he knew my thoughts. “Ruby, these sorts show up from time to time. Curious folk. Or someone wanting a charm or poultice. I’m sure that’s all it is. She’ll find her way to me eventually and we’ll sort it out then.”
There was no sense arguing. Besides, there was nothing to link this strange woman to Edward at all. Shewasafter the Pellar. Perhaps Ruan was right to not be concerned, but I remained uncertain.
The servants’ entrance was locked when we arrived, as I’d expected. I dug around in my canvas haversack and pulled out my set of lockpicks. I held them up in the moonlight, looking for the one I needed, glinting steel in the night. The leather case was steadying. Normal.
As if any of this was normal.
“You…”
“I?” I arched a brow, glancing up from my palm. “I take it you had another idea for how to get inside the house without waking everyone?”
I dropped to my knees and set to work on the warded lock.
“I can’t believe you’re—”
I tried again, feeling for the obstructions, and bit my lower lip. Sweat beading up at my brow. “Picking a lock? Yes… yes I am. Now would you please be quiet so I can—” But I heard the telltale click anyway. “Ah-hah.” I turned the knob and the door swung freely open. “After you.” I gave him a jaunty little bow, tucked my pick back into the roll, and dropped the whole affair into my satchel. “What? Honestly, what did you think you would do? Walk in,Please may I see the body?”
“Yes. Yes I did. Pellar, remember?” He pointed to the center of his chest.
“Burglaress?” I pointed at my own. “Come on then. I know where he’s at. Or where he was at least.” The kitchens of Penryth Hall were uncharacteristically quiet without Mrs. Penrose bustling about. I stepped easily, careful not to make noise to alert her to our presence—though I doubted she’d say a word if she discovered her beloved Pellar scurrying through the house at all hours of the night. She’d probably fix him a pot of tea and some sandwiches.
