This maze was driving her mad. Paths turned into dead ends or circled back on each other. And the hedges were so tall, it was like being lost in a fairy tale forest. If the cake knife were bigger, she’d try hacking her way through the greenery. There hadn’t been another scream from Clara, but Eliza didn’t know if that was good or bad. Were Clara and Richard even still alive?
Cursing under her breath, she found herself faced with two diverging paths once more. Which way this time? If she had a coin, she would have tossed it. With a sigh, Eliza decided to turn right when a familiar screech rang out from the other path.
Her mouth fell open when a peacock appeared. He emitted another cry upon seeing her, then opened his gorgeous tail feathers with a flourish. This must be the male peacock who had followed her the whole morning. Apparently he had chosen her as his mate.
“Have you come looking for me?” Eliza admired his fan of turquoise and green feathers. “I don’t know if anyone has named you, but if you’re going to trail after me all day, I must call you something. How about Percy? You look like a Percy to me.”
The bird cocked his head at her, giving another piercing cry. Eliza hoped that meant he approved. “I wish you knew the way to the folly.” A thought struck her. “Wait a minute. How did you get in here?”
Eliza stared up at the hedges looming over her. She hadn’t seen any of the peacocks take flight, so this bird must have walked through the maze like she did. Could Percy lead her out of here? “Percy, show me how you got here.” She made a shooing motion. “Go, go!”
Percy instantly folded his tail feathers. Eliza wanted to let out a delighted squawk herself when the bird swept down one of the paths. She ran after him. Eliza prayed he was leading her out of the maze – or to the folly. As they headed along yet another path, something sparkled in the grass. Eliza knelt down and picked up the object. It was Lady Winifred’s missing earring.
If the earring was here, Lady Winifred must have been inside the maze before the wedding ceremony began. And only someone who had ill intentions towards Richard and Clara had any business being in the maze today. Eliza stood up, the earring clutched in her hand.
Pickering told them Winifred was a superstitious woman. She’d even admitted it herself. Eliza thought back to the jeweled brooches Winifred wore to the weddings: a ruby snake today, an emerald elephant at Winterbottom’s wedding. Eliza had learned these were good luck symbols in India. But Winifred didn’t always wear a piece of jewelry meant to bring good luck. A Florentine gold brooch decorated her dress at Farrow’s memorial service, and a diamond heart pendant circled her neck at the Winterbottom funeral. Eliza didn’t get a good look at the necklace she wore to the Duchess’s wedding, but recalled it had a long, sinuous shape. The pendant was likely a snake as well.
Eliza’s sharp memory now brought up something Winifred said at the funeral: Whenever I need good fortune to smile on an endeavor, I take care to wear jewelry in the shape of images said to bring protection.
She gasped as the truth hit her. The superstitious Winifred wore good luck symbols at the three weddings because she needed all the luck possible to pull off the evil murders she planned.
“I believe that belongs to me,” a voice said calmly.
Blimey, she’d been so distracted by the earring, Eliza hadn’t noticed that her peacock guide Percy was long gone. And Lady Winifred blocked the path.
The cake knife was still clutched in Eliza’s right hand, but she quickly pressed it against her skirt. She hoped Winifred was too focused on the ruby and gold earring to notice.
“You wondered earlier where you’d lost your earring,” Eliza said. “Now we know. You left it in the maze.”
“I’m grateful you pointed out I didn’t have it on at the church. Otherwise I would have assumed it fell off during the reception. That’s when I realized I must have lost it in here.”
The older woman opened her drawstring bag and pulled out an elegant sharp object. Eliza recognized the ivory handled letter opener as the gift Winifred had given the bridal couple.
“Do you really think you’re going to need that?” Eliza’s unease grew.
“Do you think you’ll need that knife you’re hiding among the folds of your dress?”
She held it up. “I hope not. But I’m glad I brought it.”
“Aren’t you the intrepid young lady,” Lady Winifred said with a laugh. “You remind me of myself. Only I know not to get involved in matters that don’t concern me.”
“My cousin Jack and Colonel Pickering were almost killed. I was involved from that moment on. I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realize that you shot them. But I should have remembered you were at the siege of Mafeking with your husband. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had occasion to pick up a rifle there, and probably more than once.”
The woman’s voice rang with pride. “Oh yes, I fought by his side for months. Plus the soldiers at Mafeking showed me how to use explosives.”
“You put the bomb in Winterbottom’s car.” Eliza couldn’t hide her disgust.
“I learned how to rig a bomb with a timer during the siege. Of course, the police never suspected a woman. They did suspect a woman after the shooting at the church, only the wrong one. Such a stroke of luck, Pearl Palmer being a sharpshooter back in America. Scotland Yard was quite dogged in their pursuit of her.”
“And Pearl paid with her life.”
Winifred caressed the letter opener’s sharp edge. “I meant the blame to fall upon her for both Ambrose’s death and the church shootings. It was a godsend when your detective cousin began hounding Pearl. Then that idiot Luther took it upon himself to stab her.”
Eliza listened in vain for approaching footsteps or the cry of her love-struck peacock. Even Percy had abandoned her. “These murders are connected to the missing treasure of the Temple of Parvati,” she said. “You’ve been collecting art and antiquities for years. Especially East Asian art. Who better to be at the center of it all? I bet you’re known as the matchmaker for more than arranging marriages. With your knowledge of collecting, you probably matched the sellers of stolen art with collectors willing to pay the price.”
“Well done, Miss Doolittle. Ambrose and I worked together several times before he moved to London. Once we saw the opportunity to steal part of the Parvati treasure, I handled the operation from India, and Ambrose oversaw the treasure when it arrived in England. Unfortunately, we had to include Winterbottom and Luther. But they served their purpose. As you did today when you mentioned my missing earring.”
She took a step towards Eliza, the letter opener clenched in her fist.
Eliza waved her own knife. “Stay where you are.” When the other woman halted, she added, “Pearl said the treasure was hidden in London. You know exactly where it is, don’t you?”
Winifred stared at Eliza’s knife as if trying to decide how to take it from her. “It’s been hidden at my house in Kensington for months. Ambrose was in debt and needed the money, but no more than my husband and I. We disagreed on how to sell off the treasure. Ambrose wanted to dismantle the jeweled objects and sell the gemstones separately. But I knew we’d get a much higher price if we could keep the pieces intact.”
“Pearl told me a buyer for the treasure had been found,” Eliza said. “That’s why Farrow called off his wedding at the last minute. Good thing he did. Otherwise the Duchess would have drunk the poisoned bridal cog, too.” A wave of revulsion washed over Eliza at what this woman had done. “No doubt it was easy to pour a bit of poison in the vessel before you made your way into the church. You’re an ugly piece of work, you are. Going to a wedding where you intended to kill both the bride and groom.”
“As my husband and his fellow soldiers would say, Minerva was viewed as collateral damage. Serves her right for becoming involved with that fortune hunter.”
“Did Winterbottom know where the treasure was?”
“Of course. He’d been to my home several times trying to decide which pieces from the treasure he planned to turn over to the British Museum.”
Eliza threw a quick look over her shoulder. Where in blazes was Higgins? Even if he was lost in the maze, she assumed he eventually would bump into her again. She had to keep Lady Winifred talking until he did.
“Ambrose insisted that everyone who took part in smuggling the treasure should receive what was promised, but splitting the money four ways was not in my plan.” She shrugged. “I had to eliminate him. No hard feelings. And early this morning I left a surprise for Luther in the folly, which should distract him and Scotland Yard for some time. I had no intention of returning to the maze at all until you mentioned my earring. I couldn’t allow the police to find a piece of my jewelry here. And they would have found it. Now I shall have to hurry if I’m to avoid them.”
“You must know the maze quite well.” Eliza wondered if she could outrun her.
“When I visited Banfield Manor, Richard’s father and I found the maze conducive for romantic assignations. I could lead you through this maze with my eyes closed.” Her smile returned, but this time it was chilling. “I intend to escape through a hidden back entrance. Then I need only venture into the deer park and detour to an abandoned cottage at the end of the property. I left my motorcar there.”
“No doubt it’s filled with boxes of the temple treasure. It’s all yours now.”
“As you said, I’m the matchmaker. Half the treasure shall be delivered to one buyer tonight, the other I shall transport to Scotland tomorrow. And then I’m off to my doting husband in India. He has no idea my activities involve smuggling. Silly dear. As if we could afford half the jewels we’ve purchased over the years if I had not dealt with the black market.”
“You’re a thief and a murderer,” Eliza said hotly.
“Which is why I cannot risk you remaining alive.”
Winifred moved so swiftly, Eliza saw only a blur before a stabbing pain shot up her right arm. The woman had thrown the letter opener, and her aim was excellent. Letting out a startled cry, Eliza dropped the cake knife. As she pulled the needle-sharp letter opener from her arm, Winifred rushed at her and both women tumbled to the ground.
The air filled with grunts and curses as they began to wrestle. She punched Winifred in the jaw, but the older woman – far more agile and stronger than she looked – smacked Eliza hard and she saw stars. Desperate for an advantage, she grabbed Winifred’s hair and yanked with all her strength. So did Winifred, and they both yelled in pain. During their frantic tussle, Eliza heard their dresses rip. And Eliza noticed that a rivulet of blood ran down her arm. If only she could grab the knife she’d dropped. Each time they rolled about on the path, Eliza felt its sharp imprint against her back. But she couldn’t free her hands long enough to reach it.
Winifred suddenly straddled her. She grasped Eliza’s throat with one hand and squeezed. Eliza fought for breath, aware that Winifred was groping for the cake knife with her other hand. In another second, Eliza was sure to be stabbed. Summoning all her strength, she pulled herself up from the ground and sank her teeth deep into Winifred’s arm. The woman screamed.
She flung Winifred off and scrambled to her feet. Winifred caught hold of her dress, but only managed to rip most of her skirt off as Eliza jumped aside. At this rate, she’d end up stark naked. Darting past Winifred’s clawing hands, she raced in the direction she hoped led to the exit. Eliza wanted to weep when she met one hedge-lined path after another.
Eliza glanced over her shoulder, hearing Lady Winifred panting no more than ten feet behind her. She increased her speed. Was she going in circles? Was there no end to this maze?
Another choice of paths lay ahead. Right or left? It probably didn’t matter. All that mattered was staying ahead of Lady Winifred. Eliza veered right, praying she could outrun her pursuer. She suddenly found herself surrounded by hedges. Another dead end.
She spun about as Winifred charged her from behind. The older woman looked fierce; chest heaving, hair tumbled about her face, eyes wide with anger. And she gripped the large knife in her hand. As Winifred lunged for her, Eliza screamed and threw herself to the ground. She rolled in the other direction, then got to her knees. Maybe she could crawl out of here.
But Winifred grabbed her hair and pulled so hard, Eliza’s head snapped back. Dear God in heaven, her throat was about to be slit! Time seemed to stand still. Eliza murmured a final prayer. Then everything became a blur of green and blue while the air filled with frantic squawks. Winifred released her with a shrill scream.
Flipping onto her back, Eliza looked up to see the peacock attack Winifred. His sharp beak pecked at the woman’s face and his clawed feet scratched at her body.
“Get him off me!” she howled.
When Winifred dropped the knife, Eliza crawled over to reclaim it. She rose shakily to her feet, but made no attempt to help the woman.
The bird viciously bit at the corner of Winifred’s eye. “I can’t see! Help me.”
Eliza briefly considered escaping into the maze. But she refused to leave her love-struck peacock. Percy had not only saved her life, he was probably her only chance of ever getting out of this maze. Besides, once he finished scratching and clawing Lady Winifred, she would be in no condition to wrestle again. Especially since Eliza once more had the cake knife.
“Eliza, is that you?” a familiar voice called out from behind a hedge.
She wanted to sob in relief. “I’m in here, Colin!”
Detective Ramsey and Thaddeus Smith burst around the corner of the hedge. They stopped short, alarmed by the sight of Eliza in her torn dress, her arm dripping blood. But they were immediately distracted by the peacock’s attack on a screaming Lady Winifred.
Ramsey moved to rescue her. “Don’t you dare harm that peacock,” Eliza said. “He saved my life. Winifred murdered Farrow and Winterbottom. And she tried to do me in as well.”
As if sensing the danger had passed, the peacock abruptly stopped his attack. Winifred collapsed onto the ground, moaning in pain, hands over her bloody face. Ramsey crouched before her with his handkerchief, wiping the worst from her eyes.
Percy strutted over to Eliza, who knelt to welcome him. “You’re my hero,” she murmured.
The peacock allowed her to gently wrap her arms about his feathered body. A moment later, Higgins, Richard, and Clara appeared behind Thaddeus Smith, who still appeared baffled by what was going on.
“You look awful, Eliza!” Clara cried. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She kissed the peacock, amazed that he allowed her to. “It’s all thanks to Percy. Lady Winifred was about to cut my throat when he attacked her.”
Higgins slowly walked over to her, as though worried he might startle the bird into defending Eliza once more. “Your relationship with him has progressed quite rapidly. Can we expect the banns to be read soon?”
Eliza giggled.
He crouched beside her. “Your arm is bleeding.”
“It looks worse than it is. It wouldn’t have bled this much if we hadn’t been wrestling.”
“Indeed.” His gaze took in her scratches, bruised neck, torn gown, and long tousled hair that had come loose from its pins. “I wish I’d been there to help.”
“No need. Percy was watching out for me.”
Ramsey stood and pulled Lady Winifred to her feet. He kept an iron grip on her arm, although Winifred was in no shape to fight. “Someone show me the way out of this insane maze. Inspector Shaw needs a stretcher sent to the folly.”
“The sooner we all leave, the better,” Higgins eyed Winifred’s woebegone condition.
“I agree,” Eliza said. “After all, Clara and Richard have to cut the cake. And the first piece should be served to Percy.”
“You do know the first piece is reserved for the bride and groom,” Clara said with a wide smile.
“Not at this wedding. As far as I’m concerned, this brave peacock can eat the whole cake.” She stroked the bird’s neck, who shut his eyes in obvious pleasure. “Even my piece.”
Higgins laughed. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
The peacock threw back his head to let out a piercing scream. It sounded like a victory cry to Eliza. Or maybe Percy just realized he was about to eat cake.