The Autumn Palace (5 page)

‘D
elighted to see you!' Duke Pavla said as he took Old Col's hand in his. They were standing in his gleaming study. The leather chairs looked so shiny Ondine thought she'd slide right off them. Not that she had permission to sit down yet. The Duke – and the Duchess Kerala was here too – hadn't invited them to do so.

The Duke looked the same as he always did – dressed in an expensive, dark suit, his hair swept back from his widow's peak. His high-maintenance split moustache looked so neat it might have been stencilled on. ‘Dare I say you have arrived just in time. Somebody tried to poison me with seafood,' he said.

‘My Lord Duke, you have no cause for alarm.
Falling fish are a natural phenomenon, caused by the twister turning into a waterspout over the lake,' Old Col said. Then she added, ‘Although it was a startling event.'

For a palpable few seconds Duke Pavla stared at her as if she had said something really strange. Well, she had.

‘Falling fish?'

‘As a result of the twister, Your Grace.'

It took him a few moments to compose himself. ‘I was referring to earlier events at the fish markets,' he said.

Now Ondine was really confused.

With a wave of his hand the Duke invited them to sit. He also dismissed Pyotr, so it was just the five of them in the room. Ondine did her best not to fidget. To her dismay, Shambles climbed on to Col's shoulder, not hers.

The Duke sat behind his desk. The Duchess remained standing behind him. She looked immaculate, as only the seriously rich can. Perfectly applied make-up, shiny mahogany hair, a tailored
suit that complimented her hourglass frame and soft dainty hands. She wore an imperious look on her face, a mixture of revulsion and concern. Obviously not a small-animal lover. It was hard to explain why, but Ondine had the feeling the Duchess was one of those people who preferred her animals without a pulse.

‘This is too much of a coincidence. You've heard about what happened at the fish markets yesterday?'

Old Col coughed softly. ‘No, Your Grace.'

The Duke looked bewildered. Ondine felt incredibly uncomfortable. Surely at some point things would start making sense. Wouldn't they?

The Duchess placed a comforting hand on Pavla's shoulder.

‘I was due to open the new sushi bar,' Pavla said. ‘They would have made me eat the stuff, too. A good thing I changed my schedule. I sent my dear wife to the markets in my place. They had a listeria outbreak but thank the stars she was unharmed. If anything had happened to you, my love . . .' his voice trailed off as their eyes locked.

A pang gripped Ondine. They looked so very
much in love. Would she and Hamish ever have that? Impossible if he remained a Shambles-ferret.

‘I'm fine. I have an iron constitution,' the Duchess said.

‘I can't help thinking someone has cursed me. Yesterday bad food. Today a twister, now you're saying there was fish rain? If this is the result of dark magic, I'm glad to have you as an ally, Miss Romano,' the Duke said. He turned to Shambles, who was still on Old Col's shoulder. ‘And you, Shambles, I can see you will be a valuable asset.'

‘Aye. Ready, willing and able. Where would ye like me tae start?' Shambles said.

‘I think you should begin with the most obvious. The kitchens,' the Duke said. ‘Watch them closely for the next week and report anything unusual directly back to me.'

‘Or me. If the Duke is unavailable,' Kerala added.

‘Yes, good idea, my love.'

The Duke still hadn't addressed Ondine, which made her feel insignificant. Then again, maybe if he ignored her, she could slip under the radar? If
he didn't directly send her home, did it mean she could stay?
²³

Unexpectedly, the Duke winked at Shambles, which was not endearing. If anything, Ondine felt even more unsettled.

The Duke moved towards a pile of letters, picked up a gold paper knife and began slicing the envelopes open. He talked the whole time, reading one thing while discussing another. Meanwhile, the Duchess walked over to a side table and poured herself a glass of wine.

The Duke opened the next envelope. Brown powder fell from the papers it contained.

Poison?

‘Get back!' Shambles yelled. ‘Dinnae breathe it in!'

The Duke coughed and reeled away in shock. Instinctively Ondine grabbed a rose bowl off the side table, tipped the flowers on to the floor, then slapped the upturned bowl over the envelope and powder.

The Duchess's mouth fell open as she stood in mute
shock. Her eyebrows shot up and stayed there.

Inside the bowl water dripped on to the powder, turning it into a dark brown liquid that oozed across the desk.

‘What is it?' the Duke said.

Confusion made Ondine feel dizzy. ‘Looks like coffee,' she suggested.

‘We don't know that for sure,' Col said.

‘I feel so terribly foolish,' the Duke said, wiping his brow.

Perhaps they'd all overreacted. What a mess Ondine had made of the Duke's study.

The brown liquid stopped oozing and started sinking into the table, eating right through the veneer.

‘Not so foolish after all,' Col said. ‘It's some kind of acid.'

‘Who sent it?' Shambles asked.

‘There is no return address on the envelope,' Col said, picking it up. ‘Your Grace, call the police, this needs to be tested.'

‘Wait,' the Duchess said, stepping closer to the table. ‘Let me see it.'

Great Aunt Col handed the envelope to the Duchess, who held it up to the light as if she might make out something the others had missed. ‘The stamp has not been franked, so we do not know from which sorting office it came. Maybe if I try this . . .' She took out a pack of matches from her handbag and lit one, holding it beneath the envelope. ‘Saw it in a movie once, there was a secret message written in – ouch!' The envelope caught fire and she dropped it hastily.

‘Are you all right, my love?' Pavla rushed to his wife's side and checked her hand. ‘You'll need a cold compress.'

As the burning envelope fluttered to the ground, Shambles raced down Col's shoulder and stomped his paws on the glowing paper. ‘Weil, there goes that,' he said.

‘I was trying to help,' Kerala said.

The Duke's skin turned grey. He took a small breath, then adjusted his tie. ‘Colette, you and Shambles – and Ondine, it seems – have arrived just in time. I want you to be my eyes and ears here in the palechia. From now on you will open all
my correspondence. If there is no return address, incinerate it immediately.'

Uneasiness morphed into dismay in Ondine. When she'd set out with Hamish, she'd had visions of being with him and having a great time. Not for a moment did she think they'd have to work that hard. Not harder than she already did at her parents' pub in Venzelemma. Now she felt as if they were responsible for the Duke's very survival. And she didn't have a clue how they would do that.

‘You wouldn't credit it, but I used to think I was paranoid,' Pavla said. ‘However, I have come to accept that somebody really is out to get me. As much as Vincent knows he will one day succeed me, he is far from ready. As they say, “Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends”.'
²⁴

The mention of Vincent's name sent fresh ripples of worry through Ondine. Lord Vincent was the Duke's teenage son and heir, but he was also a total prat and had tried to bring on his father's heart
problems so he could inherit the title ahead of time. At least he was now in a military academy fifty kilometres away and couldn't do anything directly. But what if he had spies in the palace?

‘Your safety and continuing good health are my paramount concern,' Old Col said to the Duke.

‘Ondine.' Duke Pavla turned his full attention to her. Worry filled her stomach with concrete. ‘I appreciate your swift action, but you are so young. You should be with your parents.'

‘I –' Ondine made a start, but she couldn't finish.

‘She has the gift of sight, Your Grace,' Col said. ‘She will prove very useful.'

‘Really, now?' Pavla's eyes widened.

Not really
, she wanted to say, but Col had dropped her in it and the Duke was interested. If the Duke wanted to believe in it, then why not? What some people called psychic powers, others called ‘cold reading' or ‘being really observant'.
²⁵
If he thought she could be useful, she'd get to stay.

‘Aw, yeas, she's brilliant at it,' Shambles added, climbing back on to Col's shoulder.

The Duchess moved to stand beside her husband, placing her hand on his arm. Her knuckles turned pinky white as she squeezed him that little bit too much. Ondine thought Kerala wanted to say something, but she kept silent.

‘How very useful,' Pavla said. In the next breath he summoned Pyotr back into his study to show him the mess. Pyotr nodded and ushered them into the anteroom while he cleaned it up.

The Duchess murmured in Pavla's ear. Despite her low voice, Ondine heard everything she said: ‘Are you sure about this? They turn up in a storm, then it rains fish and now you have a toxic letter. It's too much of a coincidence.'

Old Col coughed into her closed hand. ‘Please forgive my rudeness, Your Grace, but I am inclined to agree with the Duchess. This really should be a matter –'

‘For the police? Of course it is. I will put Brugel's finest on the case. They are continuing the
investigation of the attempt on my life at the railway station. But from all accounts the scallions under arrest are taking the blame upon themselves and refusing to implicate anyone further. They will, in time. Given the right motivation, everybody talks.'

A disconcerting look crossed his face. He dropped his voice low. ‘Here, among family, friends and staff, I need something . . . less overt. Men and women in uniform won't loosen tongues. If anything, it would make the schemers behave impeccably and everyone else miserable. I need whoever is out to get me to feel as if the authorities' attentions are otherwise . . .
diverted
. Are we on the same page? Good. The three of you will gather information on everyone at the palechia and report back anything you see, hear or suspect.'

‘We'll get started right away, so we will,' Shambles said.

With a pang of longing, Ondine looked at Shambles. As a ferret, he could slip into rooms and listen to conversations without anyone noticing. He'd be the perfect spy.

‘Do you have a list of suspects?' Old Col asked.

‘Hand over the phone book,' Shambles said.

Ondine clamped down a grin. This was not the time for jokes.

To their credit, the Duke and Duchess ignored the quip. Pavla said, ‘A couple come to mind. Lord Vincent is all too eager to assume the reins of power. Or should that be reigns?'

Crickets chirped in Ondine's head, because the Duke's pun only worked in print form.

Pyotr walked past them with a trolley full of boxes and lumpy plastic bags. Evidence, Ondine guessed, as Pyotr nodded to them that his work was done.

‘No matter,' the Duke said as he ushered them back into his study. ‘My son and heir has learnt his lesson. His supporters, on the other hand, could well be plotting my downfall. Another I suspect is my eldest sister, Anathea.'

‘The Infanta?' Old Col asked.

The Duchess coughed as she sipped her wine.

Looking about the study, Ondine could see no trace of their recent drama. Only a notebook lay on the table to conceal the burn in the wood.
She gave a mental shudder.

Duke Pavla continued: ‘All this would have been hers, you see. But fate intervened and I was born. She begrudges me the right that is mine by birth. Words are her poison of choice. Makes mischief. Most right-thinking people take anything she says with a slice of lemon.'
²⁶

The Duchess made a moue with her mouth and wrinkled her nose at the mention of her sister-in-law.

‘Miss Romano, you and Shambles shall attend dinner tonight, ostensibly as my guest, but privately I want you to be on the alert for signs of discontent. Ondine, you will be needed in the laundry.'

Oh, thanks, I get sent to work and Col gets a free meal
, Ondine thought.

‘Yes, Your Grace,' Col said.

‘The entire family is in residence. It should provide ample opportunity to observe the various personalities at play.'

After they were ushered out, Ondine checked
to make sure nobody could overhear them before she spoke. ‘I can't believe he's making the three of us responsible for his safety! He should bring in the experts.'

‘Thank you for your vote of confidence,' Old Col said.

‘I didn't mean it like that.'

‘Of course not. What you really mean is you're only fifteen and you have the burden of a nation on your shoulders.'

An invisible weight descended on Ondine as she let the truth of Col's statement settle. ‘How much does he really expect us to do? We're not trained detectives.'
What we are is a scared girl, a ferret and an old witch
, she thought.