Royal Blood (16 page)

“That makes sense. Choose wisely and let us get to work.” Nicholas sighed. “The first thing to do is to get Pirin up to his room. That in itself will not be an easy task. He was a big man when alive. Now he’ll be a dead weight.”

“I will call in those two servants I suggested,” Dragomir said. “Both strong men and loyal to me and the crown. I will station one of them outside his door and I shall keep the key.”

“Thank you, Dragomir. Much appreciated,” Nicolas said.

“I don’t know what you hope to achieve with this, Your Highness,” Dragomir said. “It seems like a hopeless endeavor to me.”

“Not so hopeless,” Anton said. “I’ve been studying a bit of chemistry at Heidelberg. The longer you leave it, the more chance cyanide has to dissipate from the system. A heart attack will be tragic but nobody can be blamed for it but the man himself. My father needs time to think out his strategy. We are giving him time.”

I had been the silent onlooker until now but I took a deep breath. “It seems to me there is one thing you are all overlooking,” I said. “And that’s the murderer. Who wanted Pirin dead so strongly that he was prepared to take a risk and kill him in public?”

Chapter 18

Still Thursday, November 17
Still snowed in.

They all stared at me, as if I were putting a new thought into their heads.

Then Anton gave an uneasy chuckle. “As to that, the only two people who were glad to see the last of him were Nicholas and myself, and we are not stupid enough to risk our country’s future by bumping him off.”

“I can’t think of anyone else here who actually knew the man, let alone would have had a motive to want him dead,” Nicholas said.

“There are always ongoing feuds and hatreds seething in the Balkans,” Darcy said. “Who is to say that one of the servants here does not come from an area where they have a longtime feud with Macedonia, or whose family has not suffered at the hands of Pirin?”

Dragomir shook his head. “That is most unlikely,” he said. “These men belong to the castle, not the royal family. Local men. They live and work here year-round. Our men are Transylvanian through and through.”

“Money can always buy loyalty,” Darcy said. “The people of this area live a harsh life. If an instigator or anarchist were to pay them enough money, which of them might not be tempted to slip a little pill into food or drink?”

“That, of course, is the big question, isn’t it?” I said. “How was the poison administered? We were all sitting together at table. We all ate the same food and drink.”

The others nodded thoughtfully.

There was a sound from outside the archway and a servant appeared saying something to Count Dragomir. Dragomir looked up. “This man says that Prince Siegfried sent him to see what was happening. The prince was about to come in himself. He was annoyed at being told to stay away.”

Nicholas stepped forward to block the man’s view of Pirin’s body. “Please tell the prince that Field Marshal Pirin is being taken to his room,” he said to Dragomir in French. “He appears to have suffered a heart attack and there is regrettably nothing that anyone can do, other than wait and see if he pulls through. Sleep and perfect quiet are what he needs.”

Dragomir repeated this and the man withdrew. Dragomir turned back to us. “I have asked the two men in question to present themselves. They will carry the field marshal’s body to his room.”

“Excellent,” Nicholas said.

“But what about the tables?” Dragomir asked, looking through at them. “Our men will become suspicious if they are left untouched. They will know that something is wrong.”

“That’s true,” Darcy said. “Then we will rescue Pirin’s plate and glasses while we can, and they can take the rest. We have to assume that the poison was designed for one person and not randomly sprinkled on some part of the meal.”

“The meal was at an end, anyway,” Anton said. “Besides, I don’t see how anyone could have poisoned the food. It was served to all of us from the same platters. The risk of setting aside one slice of poisoned meat or one poisoned potato to be put on a particular plate is too great.”

“It is impossible,” Dragomir said. “The platters come up from the kitchen in the dumbwaiter. They are handed to servers who whisk them to the table as rapidly as possible so that the food stays hot. There are too many links in this chain.”

“I suppose it’s possible that a particular server could put a cyanide capsule on one special morsel of food as he came through from the serving area,” Darcy said thoughtfully, “but as you say, the risk of making a mistake is great.” He broke off as two burly men appeared at the door. Dragomir intercepted them and spoke to them for a while in a low voice. They looked across at the body and nodded. Then they went over to him and lifted him between them. It was clearly heavy going.

“You and I had better help, or they’ll never get him up the stairs,” Nicholas said to his brother. “It may be easier if we seat him on a chair and carry him that way.”

“Your Highness. That would be most unseemly,” Dragomir said.

Nicholas laughed. “I’m afraid this is an occasion on which we put protocol aside, if we wish to succeed,” he said. “Your job is to go ahead of us and make sure the coast is clear.” He looked at the rest of us.

“And your job is to go back to the party and act normally. If asked about Pirin’s health be vague. And remember the vow you made.”

“But what about the investigation?” Lady Middlesex demanded. “And the plates that should be tested?”

“I’ll retrieve them now and keep them safe,” Darcy said. He went through to the dining room and wrapped Pirin’s china and glasses inside a couple of napkins. “I moved the dishes around a bit to create some confusion,” he said. “The removal of one place setting might make the servants suspicious. And if you don’t mind, Count Dragomir and Prince Nicholas, I think I should have a word with the servers before they disperse and can gossip among themselves. I’ll need you to translate for me, Dragomir.”

“So your job is to keep the stiff upper lip, as they say in England, ladies,” Nicholas said. “Go back to the party and be merry and gay.”

“I think we should go straight to bed, Deer-Harte,” Lady Middlesex said. “This has been most distressing for all of us. I sincerely hope that we can get away tomorrow and resume our journey back to normal life.”

Miss Deer-Harte nodded. “Oh, I do hope so. I told you when we arrived that I sensed this was a place of death, didn’t I? I am seldom wrong in my intuition.”

And so they left. Darcy turned to me. “You should go back to the party. Above all keep talking to Maria and Siegfried so that they don’t follow us. I’ll come and join you when I can.”

And so our group dispersed.

I tried to slip into the drawing room without being noticed but it seemed that everyone was on edge and Siegfried got to his feet as I came in.

“What news, Lady Georgiana?”

“I’m afraid I’m no medical expert,” I said, “but everyone seems to think that the poor man suffered a heart attack. They have carried him to his room. There’s not much more that can be done for him apart from letting him rest.”

“I feel desolate that there is no doctor in our midst and no way of summoning one other than sending one of the cars back to Brasov. And given the condition of the pass, that could not be accomplished until morning.”

The group was still sitting in subdued silence.

“Well, I’m not at all surprised he had a heart attack,” my mother said, loudly and cheerfully. “That bloated red face is always a sign. And the way he ate and drank.”

“He is a peasant. What can you expect,” Siegfried said. “Nothing good ever comes of elevating these people to positions of power. It goes to their heads. Let those who are bred to rule do the ruling—that’s how I was brought up.”

“Siegfried, you are so stuffy,” Matty said. Then she stood up. “I’m sorry the poor man has been taken ill, but enough gloom for one evening. It is my wedding celebration after all. Let’s bring in some music and dance a little.”

“Maria, do you think that’s seemly?” Siegfried asked.

“Oh, come on, Siegfried, it’s not as if there’s been a death in the house. He may be right as rain by tomorrow and he won’t be disturbed by us down here. These friends have come from all over Europe to celebrate with me and I want to dance.”

She gave a command and the carpet was rolled back. A pianist and violinist appeared and soon a lively polka was played. I stood beside Siegfried as Matty dragged one of the young counts onto the dance floor. Siegfried always looked as if there were a bad smell under his nose. At this moment the expression was exaggerated. Then he turned to me and clicked his heels.

“I should see if the patient requires anything of me,” he said. “After all, I am the host in my father’s absence. It is not right that I neglect Prince Nicholas in his hour of need.”

“Oh, I think that Dragomir has organized everything beautifully,” I said. “He’s a good man. Everything runs like clockwork here.”

“Yes, he is a good man,” Siegfried said.

“Is the administration of this castle his only responsibility, or is he usually in Bucharest with the royal family?”

“No, his duties are confined to this place,” Siegfried said. “He is not of Romanian birth, which would make him unpopular with the people.”

“But you are not of Romanian birth either,” I said, laughing. “None of the royal families in this region are natives of their countries.”

“Ah, but we are of royal blood. That is what matters. People would rather be ruled by true royalty, wherever they come from, than by upstarts who would abuse their power.”

“So where does Count Dragomir come from?”

Siegfried shrugged. “I can’t quite remember. One of those border areas that has changed hands many times, I think. Just as Transylvania itself used to be part of the Hapsburg Empire.”

“Interesting,” I said. “The history of this whole area is fascinating, don’t you think?”

“One long disaster,” Siegfried said. “One long history of being overrun by barbarians from the East. Let us hope that Western European civility will finally bring peace and prosperity to these war-torn lands.” He looked around again as he spoke. “I really feel that I should at least go up to the sick man’s bedroom to make sure that he has all he needs.”

He was about to leave. I did the unthinkable. “Oh, no, dance with me, please.” And I took his hand and led him onto the floor.

“Lady Georgiana!” His pale face was flushed, apparently affronted by my boldness. “Very well, if you insist.”

“Oh, I do. I do,” I said with great enthusiasm.

He placed one hand upon my waist and took the other in his. His hand felt cold and damp, rather like clutching a fish. So my decision to dub him Fishface had been quite accurate. It wasn’t just his face that was fishy. I forced my mouth into a bright smile as we glided around the floor.

“So,” he said, “can one assume that you have finally come to your senses? You have seen the light,
ja
? Realized the truth about the situation?”

What situation was he talking about? Did he know something about Pirin’s murder? Had he arranged for it? Or was he talking about vampires, by any chance? He wanted to know whether I had discovered the horrid truth about his family. I had to tread carefully. I was, after all, a guest in a snowed-in castle, with the telephone lines down and miles from any kind of help except for Darcy and Belinda.

“What situation is this, Highness?” I asked.

“You have realized that it is important for you to follow your family’s wishes and make the correct match. You understand the importance of duty.”

What exactly was he talking about? Then he went on and light dawned.

“Of course I realize that ours would be a marriage of convenience, like so many royal marriages, but you would find me a considerate husband. I would allow you much freedom, and I think you would have a pleasant life as my princess.”

The words “not if you were the last man on earth” were screaming through my head, but I couldn’t let him stomp off to find Pirin, could I?

“Highness, I am flattered that you even consider me as your bride when there are many ladies present of higher status than I. Surely Princess Hannelore would be a better match for you—a fellow German and a princess, not just a relative of the royal family.”

“Ah,” he said, his face clouding. “She would, of course, have been an excellent choice, but she has let it be known that she does not wish to settle down yet.”

She’s turned him down, I thought, trying not to smile. Good old Hannelore!

“She is very young,” I said tactfully. “She may wish to experience life a little before she takes on the responsibilities of royalty.”

Siegfried sniffed. “This I find ridiculous. Girls of her station marry at eighteen all the time. It is not good to let them have too much freedom and to become too worldly. Look at my sister. She was allowed to spend a year in Paris and now—” He broke off, checked himself then said, “At least she too has come to her senses. She realizes where her duty lies and has made an excellent match.”

At the edge of the dance floor I saw Belinda’s face light up and realized that Anton had rejoined the crowd. So had Nicholas. But there was no sign of Darcy. The music ended to polite applause. Siegfried clicked his heels to me. “I enjoyed our dance and our little talk, Lady Georgiana. Or now I shall call you simply by your first name, and you may call me Siegfried when we are in private. In public I still expect you to call me ‘sir’ or ‘highness’ of course.”

“Of course, sir,” I replied. “Oh, look, Prince Nicholas has returned. I wonder if he has news about the patient.”

Luckily Siegfried took the hint and strode over to Prince Nicholas. I saw the latter gesturing and explaining, presumably preventing Siegfried from taking a look at the patient for himself. Belinda and Anton passed close to me.

“You and Siegfried looked awfully pally,” she muttered. “If you’re trying to make Darcy jealous, it’s not going to work. I gather he’s sitting at Pirin’s bedside all night.”

“That’s as pally as I ever plan to get with Siegfried,” I said. “Let’s just say that I did it for a good cause.”

I looked around the room, my head suddenly spinning with the conversation and bright lights and the whole strain of the evening. If Darcy was spending the night playing guard to Pirin, then there was no point in my staying awake. Suddenly all I wanted was to be quiet and safe and away from danger. I slipped away unnoticed and made my way up to my bedroom. There was no sign of Queenie, which didn’t surprise me. She was probably snoring by now. I checked the window to make sure the shutters were fastened securely from the inside. I even opened the wardrobe and, after several deep breaths, the chest, and, satisfied that I was the only person in the room, I pushed a heavy chair against the door and undressed. But I was loath to turn the light off. Did vampires come through walls, I wondered; or through locked shutters? Anything that could crawl up that castle wall could probably do a lot of improbable things. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers up around me. The fire still glowed in the fireplace but had done little to take the chill off the room. I couldn’t close my eyes. I kept checking first one corner then the next, seeing those faces glaring down from the molding and the corners of the wardrobe, and then my gaze drifting to that chest.