Free A Death in the Wedding Party by Caroline Dunford Page A

frowned. ‘Do you recognise anyone in this room. No, don’t look round, use the reflection.’
    ‘Apart from the Staplefords I now recognise the Earl and his Countess, Tipton, and that looks like Muller, but I doubt I know him in my new persona.’
    ‘You are very ill-prepared.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘I doubt I will need to give you up. You’ll do that yourself in a matter of moments.’
    ‘If anyone here has previously met the lady I am misrepresenting then I am lost.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Fitzroy. ‘But she will have heard of many of the people here.’
    ‘Really?’ I asked, arching my eyebrow in a distinctly aristocratic manner.
    Fitzroy gave a low laugh. ‘She will have heard of Tipton elder brother. He’s over by the fireplace. The tallest man. He’s known as Tip-Top among the upper classes, and not ironically.’
    ‘And he’s related to Baggy Tipton?’ I asked astonished.
    ‘I’m here to recruit him. Lots of charm, bored with society and not enough money. All areas I can work with.’
    ‘Why are you telling me all this?’
    ‘I am trying to make conversation,’ said Fitzroy, ‘and I am not in the habit of doing that with people who know what I am.’
    ‘But why?’
    ‘My dear girl, I am doing you a favour. I am well aware that the only way Richenda could ensure that the lady in question did not deny that she was ever present would be if she knew her secret.’
    ‘This has all been very interesting,’ I said, ‘but I think I should circulate before your exclusive attention attracts rumours.’
    ‘But that is what I am telling you, my dear. You and I are lovers.’
    ‘W-w-what?’ I gasped.
    ‘I was sent on a mission to gather information about certain areas of her country’s industry. Let’s just say I got rather more than that.’
    I could feel myself blushing horribly.
    ‘Excellent,’ continued Fitzroy. ‘Those in the know will certainly believe now you are who you say you are. Shall I expect you at midnight?’
    ‘No, you will not,’ I hissed.
    Fitzroy chuckled. ‘You need to learn how to embrace your part.’ He turned away from me and caught the eye of an elder man, who came across to us. ‘My lady allow me to present the Earl of …’
    As he uttered that last word I felt my world rock. The man standing in front of me was no other than my grandfather.
    I fled.
    ______________
    8 See A Death in the Highlands for our last bloody encounter

Chapter Twelve
An Interesting Night
    Or I would have fled if Fitzroy’s fingers hadn’t pinched my elbow hard and held me back. I tried to focus on what my relative was saying. ‘… so if you would be so gracious as to allow me to escort you into dinner, your Highness. I’m afraid old Ratty rather feels he has to take in the bride-to-be. I appreciate she is a friend of yours, but she does seem to rather want a bit of a show, what?’
    Your Highness. He had no idea who I was.
    I heard my voice answering. ‘Of course not. I should be delighted to accompany you in to dinner.’
    My grandfather smiled and his face changed, softened. His whole visage was etched with lines and he had the deep complexion of one who had spent much of his life outdoors. He also had a very bristly moustache. I could see the echo of mother in his features. ‘Thank you, my de-your Highness. It will make everything much easier. I shall try very hard not to be too boring an old duffer.’
    ‘I’m sure you could never be that,’ I said. My mind was racing. Could this be my opportunity to discover why my grandfather still refused to acknowledge my mother, even though she was now widowed and thus free from the connection he despised?
    Mr Fitzroy bowed and withdrew. ‘Very charming man, that, Lord Milford’ said my grandfather. ‘Always thought there was something a bit cavey about him.’ He caught himself up with a cough. ‘My apologies. My wife used to be a terrible gossip and now she’s gone I seem rather to have taken up her role. That’s one of the