Read Online 1 A Spirited Manor by Kate Danley - Free Book Online Page A

be able to get a better look.  Norman ran to the
poor woman, his fingers upon her throat, searching for a pulse.
    "She's dead," he
confirmed.
    "Of course she is
dead!" shouted Clifford.  "Her head has practically been snapped from
her body."  Violet gave a muffled cry.  Clifford patted her shoulder
bracingly.  "Apologies, dear."
    Marguerite was on her feet at
once, searching the floor as if for footprints or some sort of clue.  "How
in the devil did someone get in here to do this?"
    They all stared, the open window
continuing to flap open and shut in the wind, but no longer with the violence of
its initial swing.
    "Who said someone had to
get in to do it?" said Norman accusingly.
    Marguerite rolled her eyes,
"We were all holding hands.  We would have known if someone let go." 
She looked at each person individually.  "Did anyone let go?"  They
all shook their heads and she turned back to Norman.  "Then that means someone
got in and did it."
    Wesley walked over and closed the
window, latching it tight.
    Horace pointed his finger
accusingly at Wesley.  "I said we wanted to see ghosts, not be
ghosts!"
    Norman joined in his reproach. 
"You're the flim-flam man here.  You tell us how this happened!"
    The color drained from Wesley's
face.  "My dear sir, if you are insinuating I had anything to do with this
death..."
    "You're in cahoots with
that widow!" Norman replied, now pointing at Clara.  "You and your
false stories of fake ghosts dressed in purple.  You distracted us while the
murderer got in!"
    "What?" she said, aghast. 
    "None of us have ever seen
you before tonight.  And despite the fact all of us have occupied a room
together in the past, none of us have ever ended up dead until you showed
up."
    Clara gulped.  "Do you mean
to say that I killed this woman?"
    "I can assure you that her
hand never left mine," Wesley said, stepping forward to protect her if
Norman continued his rant.
    Horace waved away Norman's
accusations.  "Please.  A woman's delicate touch could not have done such
an act.  Strangulation, perhaps, but snapping another woman's neck?  She
wouldn't have the strength.  And you call yourself a scientist!  I find your
powers of observation do not fill me with confidence in your skills."
    Norman pulled down the bottom
edge of his waistcoat, as if Horace was throwing down a challenge. 
"Fine.  So, it needs to have been a man with strong hands who was not in
our circle.  Is that what you're saying?"
    The entire room stopped.  As
one, they all turned and looked at Gilbert, hulking Gilbert, with his massive
hands and long arms.
    "I swear to you all that it
was not me," the butler protested.
    Horace stepped forward speaking
slowly so that there could be no misunderstanding.  "Gilbert, did you send
home all of the house staff as I requested?"
    Gilbert's eyes were wide, aware
of how bad this appeared.  "I did, sir.  We are quite alone."
    "It was him!  It was him, I
say!" shouted Norman.  "The butler did it!"
    Horace waved him down and turned
back to Gilbert.  "You realize that I am forced to confine you to your
rooms, Gilbert, until the police are able to conduct a full investigation."
    The butler nodded but did not
make any protest.  "I understand fully, sir, the unfortunate situation as
it appears to be."
    "Very well.  If someone
would care to come with me to witness the confinement.  I won't have it be said
that I let a faithful servant escape because of old loyalties or some such
rot."
    "I would be happy to go
with you," offered Wesley quietly, trying to let Gilbert know he would not
condemn him until his guilt was proved.
    "Not you!  I do not trust
you as far as I can throw you!" said Norman.
    "Fine, Norman!  You come
along then, too!" snapped Horace.
    "Why do you all act as if I
am committing some wrong by pointing out the truth of what is going on?"
    "I was the fool who brought
you here.  I will be the fool to put up with your nonsense," said
Marguerite as she took Norman's