Murder Under a New Moon Page 2

  “I’ve got to change. I hope you have a good time,” Mona said.

  “Thanks.”

  Mona started up the stairs and then stopped. “Dotty.”

  “Yes?”

  “I know you realize that you need to be discreet with this young man. Nothing about me or Lord Bob.”

  For a second, Mona saw a shadow of hurt across Dotty’s face. “Of course, Mona. I’ll get that order for a lunch tray in for you now. Excuse me, please.”

  Mona pressed her lips together. She had offended Dotty, but Mona had been betrayed by her previous secretary. Mona did not intend to make the same mistake again. She was determined to keep an eye on Dotty and her new “beau.”

  At that moment, she heard fussing coming from the kitchen. The head butler, Thomas, and the chef, Monsieur Bisaillon, must be butting heads again. Mona leaned over the banister to listen before heading to her room. Somehow, the arguing was comforting. It was normal. Yes, that’s what it was. Normal to hear pots banging, servants moving about, and Thomas arguing with Bisaillon.

  It was what Mona wanted—to live a normal life.

  She doubted she was going to get it.

  3

  Mona tiptoed behind and playfully clasped the eyes of Lawrence Robert Emerton Dagobert Farley, now Duke of Brynelleth, as he napped in a lounge chair alongside Chloe, her poodle.

  Robert caught her hands and kissed the inside of her palms. “You even taste delicious.”

  Mona swung around the chair and strutted back and forth. “How do you like my new bathing suit?”

  “Va-va-va-voom!” Robert sat up and howled, which caused Chloe to jump off the chair and look about in confusion.

  “I guess it meets with your approval.”

  “I’d like it better if you were wearing nothing at all.”

  Both Mona and Robert heard the clearing of a throat. They turned to see Thomas, standing nearby with a tray of sandwiches and a large pitcher of sweet iced tea. Keeping a neutral expression, Thomas asked, “Shall I put the tray on the table, Miss Mona?”

  Embarrassed, Mona said, “Yes, thank you, Thomas. That will be all. I’ll call if I need you.”

  “Very good, Miss.”

  As soon as Thomas was out of sight, Robert burst into laughter. “Mona, you should see your face. You’re as red as a beet.”

  “It’s not funny. We never have any privacy. There is always someone lurking about.”

  “Get used to it, pet. We are basically public people.”

  “I don’t know if I want to get used to it.”

  Robert asked sharply, “What does that mean?”

  Mona wrung her hands. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to explain it, but I never have any time to myself. Everywhere I go, there are people with expectations and guards following me about. I’m beginning to resent it.”

  “I take it today didn’t go well with the solicitors,” Robert said, picking up a roast beef sandwich.

  “Robert, I loathe your lawyers.”

  “They are not my lawyers, darling. They are Brynelleth’s men. They don’t work for me, but the estate.”

  “But Robert, you are the estate, aren’t you? Can’t you tell them to compromise? They were so recalcitrant today.”

  Robert put down his sandwich, stood and put his arms around Mona, squeezing tight. “Tell me all about it. What happened today?”

  Mona leaned into Robert’s chest, deeply inhaling his scent of horses, tobacco, and musk. “I feel so . . . I don’t know even how I feel. I’m just tired. Exhausted.” Despairingly, she thrust her head in her hands. “It’s all too much at times.”

  “Mona! Mona! Dearest. What’s the matter? Tell me.” Robert sat down in a metal lawn chair and pulled Mona on his lap, cradling her like a small child.

  “I don’t know what’s the matter with me, Robert. I feel ashamed to break down so.”

  “I know what’s the matter. You’ve worked nonstop for almost two years without a break. That’s on top of betrayal, kidnapping, suicide, and murder. That would be enough to send anyone to the booby hatch,” Robert teased.

  Mona broke into laughter which quickly dissolved into tears.

  “Aww, Mona,” Robert said, pulling her closer. “I didn’t mean to make you weep. It was meant to be a joke.”

  “I know, but it’s not funny.”

  “You keep everything bottled up inside. I say cut loose and have a good cry. Get it all out of your system. Go on, cry to your heart’s content,” Robert whispered into her ear. “I won’t tell a soul that you’re not superhuman.”

  Mona wrapped her arms around Robert’s neck and wept until she began hiccuping. Once the hiccups stopped, Robert made Mona eat a turkey sandwich and take a swim in the heated pool. Afterward, Robert wrapped Mona in a warm, fluffy bathrobe. “Is the crying jag over?”

  Mona nodded, nibbling on another sandwich. “I’ve been holding those tears in for a long time. It was good to get them out. You know, you can cry anytime with me as well.”

  “I didn’t cry when my father died. Not a single tear. I don’t think I liked the man. I know I didn’t love him. He was so stern and stubborn. But when my brother and mother died, I cried. I think my brother’s death hit me the hardest.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “You need a vacation, Mona.”

  “I do need some downtime. I think you’re right.”

  “When can we get away?”

  “We can’t. Your solicitors are breathing down my neck, making demands. Essentially they are asking me to relinquish control of Moon Enterprises, the largest copper mining company in the United States, so I can host dinner parties for you at Brynelleth.”

  Robert asked, “Would that be so bad?”

  “I’ve made my mark in the world. I’m not going to give it up for marriage.”

  If Robert was disappointed with Mona’s reply, he didn’t show it. “It’s too bad we can’t run off to Italy and live in a palazzo on a mountain top. I’ll grow a beard and we’ll make money selling our own wine. You can sketch for the tourists in the market place.”

  “Have you seen my artistic ability? I can barely draw stick people. We’d starve.”

  “I guess that is that. We’ll have to stick with the current plan.” Robert dried off with a towel. “What is the current plan?”

  “Your people are coming to brunch on Sunday, along with Dexter and Willie. You are to be gallant, but firm in telling them that they have to compromise. I am not going to live in England full time, I will carry the Moon name, and I will still be the head of Moon Enterprises.”

  “What about being a wife?”

  “What about being a partner in life? The term wife means subservience to me. I have never liked that marriage phrase—man and wife.”

  “Mona, we need to be realistic about this. I can’t stay in the United States for long periods of time. I need to be at Brynelleth. Things are different now that Father is dead. I have responsibilities.”

  “You can hire a manager.”

  “So can you.”

  “I need to be here as well, Robert. Moon Manor is my home.”

  “Brynelleth will become your home.”

  “I told you how I felt even before you proposed. You should never have pursued me if you just wanted a hostess for Brynelleth. I will not budge on this matter.”

  Robert looked sorrowful as though he had come to some uncomfortable realization. “I guess I better make the lads understand on Sunday.”

  Mona clasped Robert, “Please, Robert, understand. I can’t just be your wife. I must be me as well—Mona Moon, head of Moon Enterprises. Don’t ask me to make a choice.”

  “You would choose Moon Enterprises over me?”

  “See how this is turning out? No one is asking you to choose between being a duke and marrying. It’s always the woman who has to sacrifice, and I won’t do it. If we can’t compromise, I will give back your ring.”

  “Mona, I know you love me. I’ll see if I can remove that burr
from under your saddle on Sunday.”

  Mona pushed Robert. “I’m not the one with a problem. You make your men understand that they must come around—not me!”

  Robert laughed and swept Mona up in his arms. “Okay. Okay. You don’t need to resort to violence.”

  “If I were going to be violent, I’d crack a vase over your head.”

  “Which you will probably do one day after we’re married. I pity us with our foul tempers.”

  “Put me down, Robert. The servants will see.”

  “I’ve got a better idea, old girl. No one is at my house. Let’s play hooky and enjoy ourselves.”

  “No four course dinner tonight?” Mona’s servants, especially Monsieur Bisaillon, insisted Mona dine formally, which included Mona dressing to the nines. Mona considered dinner time a huge time suck and hated its formality.

  “How about I fry some good old American hamburgers on the grill?”

  “Sounds divine, but Monsieur Bisaillon has been hard at work for tonight’s dinner.”

  “Blast him. Let’s do what we want for a change. Were you not just giving me heck about being your own woman and now you cower to your chef’s demands? Please, Mona, make up your mind. You’re getting heavy.”

  “Hamburgers sound divine, Lord Bob. Whisk me away.”

  Delighted, Robert carried Mona through her garden and over to his house, which was next door. Mona clung to his neck, laying her head on his shoulder.

  Little did they know the servants were watching from the upstairs windows. They looked at each other and grinned.

  Miss Mona would not be coming home tonight.

  4

  Mona, dressed in a white, gauzy frock with white and black open-toed shoes, fluttered nervously around the luncheon table in the garden. Her only jewelry was a gold locket Robert had given her with the inscription Forever. Inside was a picture of Robert and one of them together. Her engagement ring was locked away in her makeup case. She would not wear the engagement ring until they could formally announce it.

  “It looks all right to you, Miss Mona?” Thomas asked, putting the last touches on the dinnerware.

  “It is perfect,” Mona answered, admiring the linen napkins, bone china, and crystal goblets on the garden table found in one of the barns. “Thank you, Mr. Thomas.”

  Noticing Mona was on edge, Thomas offered, “Miss Mona, it’s not my place, but things will work out to your advantage.”

  “There’s an awful lot riding on this brunch,” Mona confided. “My future.”

  “That’s not true. Only your choice of this man for your husband is at stake.” Thomas shrugged. “If it doesn’t work out, maybe Robert Farley wasn’t for you. As for your future, you will take care of it just fine.”

  “Thank you for the vote of confidence.”

  “Keep your chin up, Miss Mona. We’re all rootin’ for ya.”

  Mona smiled. She adored Mr. Thomas. He had been such a help to her since she arrived at Moon Manor. It saddened Mona that he was going to retire soon. Mr. Thomas would be badly missed, although he was training Samuel, who was a splendid fellow.

  “MONA!”

  Mona looked up and spied Wilhelmina Deatherage crossing the recently-clipped lawn toward her.

  “Willie!” Mona cried as she ran toward her friend. They embraced and Mona crooked an arm around her as they made their way to a small sitting area in the garden.

  “It’s been too long,” Willie said, smiling broadly. “You must tell me everything. I hear you had an exciting adventure, but Dexter won’t spill.” She rolled her eyes at her husband trailing behind.

  Mona, noticing the man’s perspiring forehead, asked, “Dexter, how are you this morning? You look warm. How about a lemonade?”

  “That would be fine,” Dexter said, slumping in a chair. “It’s warm so early.” He tugged at his collar.

  “Mr. Thomas, can you bring us some lemonade and iced tea, please?”

  “Yes, miss. Coming right up.”

  “And put ice in the pitchers please. We do have ice, don’t we?”

  “Yes, miss. We always have blocks of ice since you bought us the extra icebox.”

  Willie cut in. “Mona, you must tell me about lunch with Eleanor Roosevelt. Did Alice Roosevelt behave at lunch? I hear that she and Eleanor don’t get along.”

  Mona laughed. “Alice did not behave, which was fun, and the luncheon menu was rather—how should I say this—sparse.”

  “What does that mean?” Willie asked.

  “You know the recipes that Mrs. Roosevelt posts in the papers to help women economize during these dark times. They are created by her cook, Henrietta Nesbitt, who creates meals for five and ten cents per person.”

  Willie said, “One can’t create a meal for two people on twenty cents.”

  “You can if it is baloney and crackers,” Dexter said.

  “You can’t live on baloney,” Willie countered.

  “Lots of people are, dear. Many people consider themselves lucky to get it. Besides, I like baloney.”

  “Every meal?” Willie asked, making a face at her husband. She turned to Mona. “I guess you’re telling me lunch was awful.”

  “Not awful. Just a rather spartan affair. That’s all I have to say about it. Mrs. Roosevelt, though, was delightful, very well informed, and I think, a great help to her husband. Violet and I got to spend less than an hour with her, but Mrs. Roosevelt was impressive. I feel the country is in good hands with those two.”

  “I don’t like some of Roosevelt’s policies,” Dexter said.

  “Of course, dear, that’s because you’re rich,” Willie said.

  “Thank you, dear. I didn’t realize that I was.”

  Willie said, “You are compared to the rest of the country.”

  Mona interjected, “Hey, you two, Lord Bob’s lawyers will be here soon. Let’s demonstrate a united front.”

  “Quite right,” Dexter said. “Willie, behave.”

  Willie harrumphed, but rallied when Thomas and Samuel brought out trays of lemonade and iced tea. The lemonade had real slices of lemon and maraschino cherries showing through the clear pitchers. “Oh, gracious, real cherries.”

  Mona felt embarrassed. Only the well-to-do could afford maraschino cherries, but said nothing as she knew the staff were trying their best to impress Robert’s solicitors. The cherries were a status symbol. She would speak to Monsieur Bisaillon later about their grocery inventory, although he would balk at any suggestion for economizing. He was her most difficult employee. Mona put those thoughts from her mind, as Robert Farley appeared wearing a dapper navy, pinstriped double-breasted suit.

  Dexter rose and shook hands with him. “Good to see you, old man.”

  Robert bent over and kissed Willie on the cheek. “You look like a girl of sixteen in that frock.”

  Delighted that someone noticed her new chiffon, flowered print dress, Willie giggled and said, “Get on with your bad self.” She patted down her flouncy lapels. “This material is cool, you know.”

  Robert went over to Mona and gave her a perfunctory peck on the lips. “Are we ready?”

  “As much as we ever will be, I guess. Now you will be firm, won’t you, Robert?”

  “Count on me. I’ll be like Nelson raging against Napoleon.”

  “Oh, goodness no. Nelson died fighting Napoleon,” Dexter said, his eyebrows raised in alarm.

  Robert suggested, “How about Alexander fighting Darius then?”

  “Better.”

  “Yes, I wouldn’t want to be known as a Lady Hamilton,” Mona said, referring to Lady Hamilton’s infamous affair with Lord Nelson.

  Robert said, “I see I’ve hit a sour note. I’ll just sit down and keep my mouth shut until the solicitors get here.”

  “That would be advisable, Lord Bob,” Mona said, miffed that Robert would make such a comparison. Realizing she was being silly, Mona tried to calm down. The entire luncheon was making her nervous.

  Willie patted Mona’s hand. “
I see everyone is edgy. Let’s all have something cool to drink. I’ll pour.”

  “Right you are,” Dexter concurred, reaching for a glass of lemonade.

  Willie poured lemonade for herself and Dexter and poured two more glasses of iced tea for Mona and Robert. “Wait a minute. Let me put some ice in those glasses.” She sighed with pleasure as she used sterling tongs bearing the Moon family crest to place ice from a bucket into the tall glasses. “What a joy it is to have ice during the summer. We are getting a new electric refrigerator this fall, but I’m going to keep my old icebox.”

  “I don’t see why,” Dexter remarked. “The refrigerator will keep things cold including drinks.”

  Robert laughed. “The American obsession with ice.”

  “Personally, I don’t see how Europeans can drink liquids at room temperature, especially beer,” Dexter said.

  “Dexter likes his beer ice cold,” Willie added.

  “That I do, indeed, when I have one, which is rare.”

  Mona shot a look at Willie, who was struggling with alcohol.

  “Don’t look so worried, Mona. I’m doing fine. Just fine. No need to tiptoe around me about liquor.”

  Robert, who had his own struggles with alcohol, said, “It gets better with time, Willie.”

  “Thank you, Robert. It’s nice to hear the encouragement.”

  Dexter stood. “I think I heard a car.”

  “I do, too,” Mona said. She gave Robert a pleading look. “Here we go.” She grabbed Robert’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

  He beamed back at her, before saying, “Sit down, Dexter. Don’t stand up when they are brought out. A duke and his fiancée do not stand for solicitors, and neither shall you.”

  Dexter promptly sat down and waited, along with the others.

  A few minutes later, to everyone’s astonishment, Mr. Thomas led Sheriff Monahan out to the garden.

  Chagrined, Mona asked, “Sheriff Monahan. I am surprised to see you.”

  The sheriff tipped his Stetson. “I’m sorry to bust up your party, but I understand three British lawyers were to join you for lunch today.”

  Robert said, “Yes, we’re waiting on them now.”