Page 46 of Charlotte's Story
Lady Catherine’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“Not you.” I waved a hand behind her. “Merrick.”
The brownie flinched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know it was you. All along, it was you.” I took a step closer.
Lady Catherine frowned. “What is she talking about, Merrick?’
“Nothing, ma’am.”
“So you’re saying that you had nothing to do with Dahlia’s death?” I met his gaze, keeping my expression level.
“Of course not,” he said. “I wouldn’t harm anyone.”
William squeezed my hand reassuringly. “My wife is often right about things.”
The crowd gathered around us, whispering like the rustle of the wind through the pines.
“Then what about the card that was found in her pocket with your handwriting on it?” I said.
Merrick met my gaze, and while his voice was steady, his hands shook at his side. “That’s not unusual. I believe Dahlia bought an ornament for the drive, and I wrote all the receipts and cards that went with those.”
“And while she was there, did she overhear your plan to steal the Star of Everlight?”
“I would never do something like that.” He folded his arms, glaring up at me even though he was half my height.
“Even though you were furious when you heard that someone besides Lady Catherine had been picked to put the star on the tree this year? After all, you probably thought it would be betterfor there not to be a ceremony at all than to have someone besides Lady Catherine getting to put the star on, right?”
His face twitched, but he said nothing.
I’d have to apply a bit more pressure. “But then Dahlia overheard your plot, and she ran to tell William.” I glanced at him. “And you followed her, didn’t you? She ran to the church searching for him, and then to his house.”
Lady Catherine stiffened. “Merrick would never do something like that. He’s been with me for many years. This is preposterous.”
At her words, his expression dropped, guilt flashing in his eyes.
“You couldn’t let word get out about your plan, so you killed Dahlia, and William got caught up in the aftermath when he was trying to protect her. Then you left him to be framed for her murder, which is why a thread from your outfit was found on her. You were there!”
Merrick blanched and looked down at his dark uniform, and Lady Catherine stared in disbelief, but I didn’t give anyone time to counter me. I was on a roll.
“Which is why it was your writing that matched the plaque in front of the Star of Everlight at the Museum of Regrets.” It didn’t matter that he hadn’t written it himself. The museum had written it for him—like a confession.
“Your handwriting didn’t register as familiar right away, but when I observed you writing your sign at the Christmas Market, I noted consistent stroke patterns and letter formation,” William said. “When the same characteristics appeared on the museum plaque with the star, that correlation clarified your connection to the crime.”
Merrick blanched. “I didn’t mean to. It wasn’t supposed to be a killing spell. It was a forgetful spell. She was just supposed to forget what she’d overheard.”
“Merrick, no.” Lady Catherine put a hand to her mouth.
He turned to her, wringing his hands. “I couldn’t stand to let them have someone else do the ceremony, not when it was your right. You’re the only one qualified in town.” His voice broke, and he wiped away a tear. “I don’t know what happened. No one was supposed to die. I didn’t even know shehaddied until the police came that night. I just wanted to protect the name of the de Bourghs.”
My mind whirled with the revelation. “Your spell hit William instead, which is why he doesn’t remember what happened.”
Merrick nodded miserably, his shoulders hunching. “He jumped in the way.”
“And tried to protect Dahlia with a spell,” I murmured, putting the pieces together as I figured out why William’s magic had been on her. “Then how did Dahlia die?”
“After William collapsed, Dahlia panicked,” he said, voice muffled behind his hands. “She was shouting that she’d turn me in, and I—I lost control. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I was panicking, and my magic got away from me. But no matter what, I couldn’t let word of what I’d done get back to Lady Catherine or Maris.”
