Part 24 (1/2)
The lip lifted in a snarl.
”That's right,” I said, suddenly realizing, ”go ahead and bark. Woof woof.”
I flicked snow at it, making it step back. I even stuck my fingers through recklessly and waggled them. It c.o.c.ked its head suspiciously but it didn't bark. Then in desperation I started to sing. I'm not the world's best singer and my singing once made the dogs at home start to howl. ”Speed, bonny boat, like a bird on the wing,” I sang. ”The Skye Boat Song,” one of my favorites.
”Are you all right, miss?” Queenie shouted.
”Just singing,” I called back down. ”Join in.”
”I don't know it.”
”Then sing something you know.”
”At the same time as you?”
”It doesn't matter.”
We sang. She, I believe, was singing ”If you were the only girl in the world” while I continued with ”The Skye Boat Song.” It sounded terrible. At last the dog put his head back and howled. The song echoed up from the well and the howl echoed from those walls.
Then I heard a human voice, cursing the dog.
”Help!” I called. ”Get me out.”
A face appeared on the limits of my vision. The woman gasped, crossed herself and went to back away.
”Get help!” I shouted after her in English and French. ”English princess.”
She went. The dog went. I hung there, fighting back disappointment. She thought I was some kind of evil spirit or something. She had run away. They'd probably avoid this place for years after this. Then I heard the most blessed of sounds: several raised voices. And men stood over me, one of them carrying an ancient shotgun, the others with sticks, their faces taut with fear.
”Help me, please,” I said. ”Fetch Count Dragomir. I English princess.” This was a slight exaggeration but I knew the word was the same in all the languages.
They were talking furiously among themselves, then suddenly one of them came back with a crowbar, the grille was pried open and hands pulled me free. At that moment Count Dragomir came striding into the courtyard. His face registered horror and shock as he recognized me.
”Mon Dieu. Lady Georgiana. What has happened to you?” Lady Georgiana. What has happened to you?”
”I was tipped into your famous...o...b..iette,” I said. ”My servant is still down there.”
”But the oubliette, it was just a legend,” he said. ”n.o.body ever discovered it.”
”It exists, trust me. My servant is in it and the opening is too small to get her out. Send down some hot tea or soup or something to her and then we'll try to find the opening in the castle.”
Dragomir was already barking commands.
”We'll soon get you out, Queenie,” I shouted. ”Help is on the way. Don't worry.”
The sound echoed so strangely down the shaft that I wasn't quite sure she understood me. ”My dear Lady Georgiana, come inside and let us warm you up,” Dragomir said, opening a door into some kind of outbuilding. ”Some hot coffee and blankets.”
”We have to get my maid out first,” I said. ”Take me back to the castle immediately, please.”
”Very well. As you wish.” Dragomir escorted me across a couple of courtyards, through a door in a wall and up some steps and we were back in the castle proper.
”How did you happen to fall into this...o...b..iette, Highness?” he asked.
”I was following Princess Maria Theresa,” I said. ”She went ahead of me and . . .” I couldn't bring myself to say to him that she had taken me that way deliberately so that I would step on the wrong slab and fall. I was now quite sure that she and Vlad had planned the murder of Prince Nicholas together. I didn't know which of them administered the poison, but one of them did. The problem was that we were all a.s.sembled for her wedding-two royal families, plenty of important personages and plenty of opportunities for a diplomatic incident. If only I could locate Darcy, he'd know what to do. But my first task was to rescue Queenie.
”I'll show you the oubliette,” I said and led Dragomir through the halls until we reached the right spot. I was just searching for the door in the paneled wall when I heard the sound of feet behind me. I turned to see two of Patrascue's men bearing down on me.
”Please to come with us,” one said in atrocious French. He grabbed my arm.
”Wait,” I said trying to shake myself free. ”Where are you taking me? We must save my friend first.”
But another man grabbed my other arm and I was swept along the corridor at a great pace.
”Wait a minute. Slow down and listen to me,” I shouted but to no avail. The third man went ahead and flung open a door. I was borne inside and came upon a tableau. The king of Romania and Siegfried were sitting in high-backed chairs on one side of the fireplace. The king of Bulgaria, Nicholas and Anton sat on the other. In front of them stood Darcy, his arms being held by two policemen. And beside him stood Patrascue.
Chapter 31.
Bran Castle Sat.u.r.day, November 19
As I was thrust into the room, the tableau moved and they all turned to stare at me in horror.
”What is the meaning of this?” the king demanded, rising to his feet. ”My dear, what has happened to you?”
”She was obviously attempting to flee and she was caught by my men,” Patrascue said before I could answer. ”Now we have apprehended both the suspects. The case is complete. You can proceed with your wedding with confidence and serenity.”
”What are you talking about?” I demanded.
Darcy gave me a long look that warned me not to say too much. ”This idiot has told Their Majesties that Pirin was poisoned, and what's more, he has got it into his head that you and I were paid to come and carry out the murder.”
”It is too obvious for someone of my experience and talent,” Patrascue said. ”Mr. O'Mara thought he would cleverly pretend to drive away with the body before I had a chance to examine it. I expect he has tried to hide the evidence. And Lady Georgiana denies that she hid the vial of poison in the trunk in her room. But they cannot fool Patrascue. I ask myself, why are they really here? Why should she come to this wedding instead of a member of the British royal family?”
”I am a member,” I said. ”The king is my cousin.”
”But why send a mere cousin to represent the English people, when the king could send one of his own children?”
”Because I asked my daughter to invite her,” the king said in a voice taut with annoyance. ”My son let it be known that he had selected her as his future bride and we wanted her to have a chance to know us better. So you will please treat her with the same respect you accord to us. Is that clear?”
Patrascue gave the merest hint of a bow. ”Of course, Majesty. But if she is involved in the cold-blooded murder of an important man, surely your son would wish to know the truth about this before he entered into marriage with such a woman.”
”Of course I'm not involved,” I said.
Siegfried came over to me. ”Georgiana, did these men hurt you? You look terrible. You are bleeding.”
”Not these men,” I said. ”I fell into a dungeon. Count Dragomir did not believe me but there really is an oubliette in this castle. My maid is still down there.”