the outermost path. I normally found the covering
serene and charming, as sunlight filtered through the leaves and dappled the trail
in front of me. But today the overhang of vegetation seemed more ominous, more menacing.
I somehow doubted I would ever view the leafy bower in such a quaint and harmless
manner ever again.
I wrapped my shawl tighter around my shoulders as we made our way deeper into the
maze. Most of the path was cast in shadows, as the sun had yet to reach its pinnacle,
and the chill of morning still clung to the land. My heart pounded faster with each
step we took closer to the alcove where Lady Godwin’s body had lain. So much so that
by the time we approached the last turn, it was beating so hard I thought for certain
Philip and Gage could hear it knocking inside my chest.
Philip paused just before we could see into the alcove and looked down at me. I could
see the battle raging behind his eyes. He clearly wanted to protect me from further
distress, but he also knew I would never have accompanied them on this errand if I
did not think it was important. His faith in my good sense won out. He sighed rather
gustily, as if he was giving in against his own better judgment, but he did not try
to send me back to the castle. I squeezed his arm in gentle scolding, as well as reassurance.
Gage waited patiently behind us through this exchange. Only the shuffling of his feet
told me how anxious he was to continue. Philip grimaced and stepped forward so that
we could see into the niche.
As far as I could tell, the scene before me had remained undisturbed since the men
removed Lady Godwin’s body the night before. The pale cream stone bench was tacky
with dried blood softened by the morning dew. The cool, damp air of night had blown
away any lingering fumes of death, but I suspected I would still be able to smell
the sharp stench of blood once I moved closer. Which, unfortunately, I needed to do
to get on with this investigation, no matter how much I would rather keep my feet
planted where they were.
Taking a deep breath, I released my grip on Philip’s arm and followed Mr. Gage into
the alcove. “Did you find anything last night when you moved the body?” I asked them,
trying to go about this in as systematic a manner as possible.
“Nothing,” Gage replied, kneeling next to the bench on the end where Lady Godwin’s
head had lain. “Although, we did remove her jewelry before placing her in the chapel
cellar. Lord Cromarty has the items locked in his safe.”
“What pieces was she wearing?”
Philip’s voice softened as if thinking back. “A few rings, one with a rather large
diamond, a sapphire-and-diamond necklace, and sapphire earbobs.”
My eyes widened. Clearly the motive for her attack had not been theft. “What about
a reticule? Was she carrying anything?”
“No. At least none that we found.” Gage pointed at the corner of the stone seat. “What
do you make of that?”
I knelt down next to him, careful not to touch the bench or the ground. Much of the
blood that had covered the earth the night before had soaked into the dirt or been
washed away by the dew, but I still felt squeamish about placing my skin against it.
I suddenly wished I had worn gloves this morning instead of dismissing them so readily
when Lucy offered them to me.
The blood on this end of the stone had left a predictable pattern. Crimson streaked
the limestone where Lady Godwin’s neck had lain, almost forming a complete stripe
of color across the surface. A few droplets decorated the stone in irregular patterns
from when she was moved. However, at the corner where Gage pointed there was a short
strip of red, as well as a smudge of black. The leg of the bench below was sprayed
with blood.
Wrinkling my nose at the blood’s faint metallic scent, I leaned in closer to examine
the inky black substance. “Have Beowulf and Grendel been kept away