Death Is in the Air by Kate Kingsbury Page A

there are one or two who look upon me with disdain.”
    “Surely not. You are every inch a lady, and I drink to that.” He raised his glass with a flourish, warming the chill in her heart.
    “Thank you. I appreciate the kind words, spoken by a true gentleman.” She tapped the rim of his glass with her own.
    She was still staring into his eyes when the door swung open, and Polly rushed in.
    The housemaid stopped short at the sight of madam and the American gazing at each other across the candlelit table. “Sorry,” she muttered. “Am I interrupting something?”
    Feeling as if she’d been caught cheating at cards,Elizabeth cleared her throat. “What are you doing here, Polly? Why haven’t you gone home?”
    Polly shrugged, then stacked the empty soup bowls into the tureen with a loud clatter that made Elizabeth wince. “Violet asked me to stay and help out with the dinner, m’m. I was wondering if you’d arranged for my lift home tonight? Violet said you didn’t want me riding my bicycle.” She sent a sly look at Earl, who looked at Elizabeth for clarification.
    “Oh, yes, of course.” Elizabeth gave Earl an apologetic smile. “I wonder if perhaps one of your men could take Polly home? I hate to ask, but with a suspected murderer running around loose in the woods, I really don’t think it’s safe for her to ride home alone on her bicycle.”
    She saw the shock in his eyes and was immediately contrite. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Major. I assumed you’d heard—”
    He shook his head. “I’ve heard nothing. I’ve been gone all day, and after I checked in at the base I came straight back here.”
    “It was a land girl,” Polly told him with relish. “They reckon that German what escaped yesterday killed her. Found her body this morning in the woods with her head chopped off.”
    “That’s enough, Polly,” Elizabeth said sharply. “You may take the plates out now.”
    “Yes, m’m.” Polly picked up the loaded tureen. “But what about my ride?”
    “I’ll arrange something,” Earl said. “What time do you want to leave?”
    “After you finish your meal will be fine, sir. Thank you.” Polly paused at the door, cradling the heavy dish in her arms. “It would be nice if Sam Cutter could take me home, sir. I’d really like that.”
    Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, while Earl looked speculative. “I wasn’t aware you knew my squadronleader.” He glanced at his watch. “Sam hadn’t returned when I left the base. If he’s back in his quarters by the time I’m finished here, I’ll request that he take you home.”
    Polly’s face was transformed by her smile. “Thank you, sir. Much obliged, I’m sure.” She backed out of the door, still beaming.
    Earl shook his head. “I hope this doesn’t break any of your rules?”
    “Not at all.” Elizabeth reached for her champagne glass. “Things have changed so much since I was a young girl. Servants have so much more freedom nowadays, and I’m afraid they have become lax in their duties as well as their attitudes. I’m not sure it’s a good thing. One can’t even refer to them as servants anymore without offending them.”
    “War changes a lot of things.” Earl looked around the vast room with appreciation. “It’s good that you’re not close to a big city. It would be a crime to lose a place like this to a bomb. It must be hundreds of years old.”
    “Seventeenth century, actually.” Elizabeth followed his gaze to the ornate ceiling, lovingly etched by ancient hands. “I just hope we can escape the bombs for the rest of the war. Norwich isn’t that far away, and it was heavily bombed in April of this year. I’m afraid the Norfolk coast can be quite vulnerable to attack, especially from the sea. We are all supposed to carry gas masks with us all the time, though it’s mostly the children who carry them these days.”
    “Well, I reckon you’re well protected with a British army camp and an American Army Air Force base in the