Read Online A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Series Book 2) by Jacki Delecki - Free Book Online
Authors: Jacki Delecki
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Cook be planning to poison the Prince of Wales? She didn’t have a reason for Cook’s extraordinary behavior, but poisonous berries in the stillroom was not customary.
Gwyneth replaced the mortar and pestle. Her skin shivered with awareness. Suddenly she felt an overwhelming urge to get away from the stillroom and the disturbing evidence that she found.
She closed the door quietly as she walked outside. She had to find Ash before the morning hunt commenced, otherwise it would be all day before she’d be able to talk with him. She’d go through the kitchen garden to the back of the house and the courtyard.
She’d arouse inquiries if she came through the front door without a pelisse on. She hoped the French doors to the library weren’t locked and that Lord Edworth wasn’t in the library. With the hunt this morning, she doubted his lordship would be working on estate business.
She was in such a tizzy that she didn’t take notice of the snow falling all around her, carpeting the hard, dark earth. She looked up to the skies. Snow for Christmas. She felt a rush of happiness and relief. If it snowed hard, then the prince wouldn’t make it to the party and he wouldn’t be in danger. Gwyneth hurried from the cold. She didn’t want her red nose and cheeks to give away her secret enquiry.
Chapter Eight
Gwyneth hurried through the library to find an empty morning room. Had Ash already left for the hunt?
Brunton stood on duty next to the buffet table, supervising the footmen who delivered platters of eggs, sausage, and kippers, and removed the dirty dishes.
“My lady, may I prepare a plate for you?” Brunton’s eyes trailed down the length of her, inspecting every detail. True to his training, he pretended not to notice or mention that the hem of her skirt was soaked from the snow.
“Thank you, Brunton. I’ll serve myself. Have all the gentleman already left for the hunt?”
“Yes, my lady. Lord Edworth was very concerned by the weather so they started earlier than planned. Based upon how heavily the snow is falling, I believe the gentlemen will return before luncheon.”
They both turned toward the long windows, bright from the heavy flurries of snow.
Drat, she had missed Ash. It probably didn’t matter since they had two days before the Prince’s arrival, but if Ash planned to contact Cord, he should send a messenger before the snow left them stranded. She needed to get dressed and ride out to join the hunt. Committed to her next plan of action, she hurried through her tea and toast.
As she climbed the horseshoe-shaped stairwell to the upper floors, she spotted Ash’s valet, Worthy, moving toward the servant’s stairs. He seemed harried and carried a basin covered with a cloth. Was Ash ill? She gripped the handrail tightly as if she could stop the panic shooting through her body.
In her most lady-like voice, she called loudly. “Worthy?”
The valet turned quickly. Shocked, he stood in place, frozen by her scandalous solecism.
She ran up the stairs, her skirts in hand—another breach of polite behavior. Her breathing became fast and she pressed her hand against her chest. Something was wrong with Ash. She remained fully aware of the dangerous game they were involved in and the necessity that she not draw attention to herself. But the halls were empty, the ladies still abed and the gentleman off on the hunt. And most importantly, Brunton remained in the morning room.
“My lady.” Worthy was pale, and his hands trembled. “May I help you?”
“Is Lord Ashworth ill?”
The poor valet was flummoxed. He stared at her, unable to decide how best to respond.
“Please, Worthy. I’m a family friend and I’m very concerned.”
“Yes, my lady. I’ve never seen him so ill, but he told me under no circumstances should I tell anyone.”
Panic circled her like bees buzzing the nest. “Thank you for telling me, Worthy. I will see to the gentleman, myself.” Gwyneth turned and walked quickly toward
Gwyneth replaced the mortar and pestle. Her skin shivered with awareness. Suddenly she felt an overwhelming urge to get away from the stillroom and the disturbing evidence that she found.
She closed the door quietly as she walked outside. She had to find Ash before the morning hunt commenced, otherwise it would be all day before she’d be able to talk with him. She’d go through the kitchen garden to the back of the house and the courtyard.
She’d arouse inquiries if she came through the front door without a pelisse on. She hoped the French doors to the library weren’t locked and that Lord Edworth wasn’t in the library. With the hunt this morning, she doubted his lordship would be working on estate business.
She was in such a tizzy that she didn’t take notice of the snow falling all around her, carpeting the hard, dark earth. She looked up to the skies. Snow for Christmas. She felt a rush of happiness and relief. If it snowed hard, then the prince wouldn’t make it to the party and he wouldn’t be in danger. Gwyneth hurried from the cold. She didn’t want her red nose and cheeks to give away her secret enquiry.
Chapter Eight
Gwyneth hurried through the library to find an empty morning room. Had Ash already left for the hunt?
Brunton stood on duty next to the buffet table, supervising the footmen who delivered platters of eggs, sausage, and kippers, and removed the dirty dishes.
“My lady, may I prepare a plate for you?” Brunton’s eyes trailed down the length of her, inspecting every detail. True to his training, he pretended not to notice or mention that the hem of her skirt was soaked from the snow.
“Thank you, Brunton. I’ll serve myself. Have all the gentleman already left for the hunt?”
“Yes, my lady. Lord Edworth was very concerned by the weather so they started earlier than planned. Based upon how heavily the snow is falling, I believe the gentlemen will return before luncheon.”
They both turned toward the long windows, bright from the heavy flurries of snow.
Drat, she had missed Ash. It probably didn’t matter since they had two days before the Prince’s arrival, but if Ash planned to contact Cord, he should send a messenger before the snow left them stranded. She needed to get dressed and ride out to join the hunt. Committed to her next plan of action, she hurried through her tea and toast.
As she climbed the horseshoe-shaped stairwell to the upper floors, she spotted Ash’s valet, Worthy, moving toward the servant’s stairs. He seemed harried and carried a basin covered with a cloth. Was Ash ill? She gripped the handrail tightly as if she could stop the panic shooting through her body.
In her most lady-like voice, she called loudly. “Worthy?”
The valet turned quickly. Shocked, he stood in place, frozen by her scandalous solecism.
She ran up the stairs, her skirts in hand—another breach of polite behavior. Her breathing became fast and she pressed her hand against her chest. Something was wrong with Ash. She remained fully aware of the dangerous game they were involved in and the necessity that she not draw attention to herself. But the halls were empty, the ladies still abed and the gentleman off on the hunt. And most importantly, Brunton remained in the morning room.
“My lady.” Worthy was pale, and his hands trembled. “May I help you?”
“Is Lord Ashworth ill?”
The poor valet was flummoxed. He stared at her, unable to decide how best to respond.
“Please, Worthy. I’m a family friend and I’m very concerned.”
“Yes, my lady. I’ve never seen him so ill, but he told me under no circumstances should I tell anyone.”
Panic circled her like bees buzzing the nest. “Thank you for telling me, Worthy. I will see to the gentleman, myself.” Gwyneth turned and walked quickly toward
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