"So what happened next?" Sir Jasper addressed the question to Phyllida. All eyes swung to her.
She drew in a breath, careful not to make it too deep. "I reached the cottage. The front door was open as if someone was waiting inside. I went in, calling for Molly, but there was no reply. I went into the parlor and stopped just inside the door. There was no one about…"
Phyllida had to stop to take another breath, to break the hold of the paralyzing fear, to remind herself she'd survived. Lucifer rose and came around the chaise to perch on the back. He reached down and took her hand, his fingers curling over hers. She glanced up-his expression was closed, but she drew strength from his touch.
She looked at her father. "I was about to turn back to the door. A black cloth dropped over my head. Hands closed around my throat and squeezed-I struggled, but it was no good. He held on, but the cloth was too thick-he couldn't strangle me through it."
Lucifer glanced down. There were bruises about her throat, just blossoming, largely hidden by the scarf she'd wound around her neck.
"He… I think he lost his temper. He swore and muttered about me leading a charmed life, but his voice was so… so fraught, through the material I couldn't recognize it."
"But it was the same man who attacked you before?" Sir Jasper asked.
She nodded. "The same man who attacked me in the graveyard." She hesitated, then went on. "He still held me, but he took away one hand. I heard a scrape… I jerked back." She looked up at Lucifer. "I think he hit me with something."
With one finger, Lucifer touched the bump behind her ear. He'd discovered it while in the farm cart. "Here." An inch farther forward-where the murderer had been aiming-and he'd have killed her. As it was, the blow had been glancing.
Eyes too wide, Phyllida looked into his face. "I don't remember anything more. Not until I woke up in the cart."
Lucifer would have liked to smile, just a little, to reassure her. He couldn't. "You were unconscious. He assumed that you'd die in the fire."
"I nearly did."
Lucifer tightened his hold on her hand. He looked at Sir Jasper. "I was following Phyllida to the cottage-I smelled the smoke." He briefly described how he'd found her. "And then, thankfully, the others arrived."
Head bowed to his steepled fingers, Sir Jasper pondered, then he regarded Phyllida and Lucifer. "The brown hat?"
Phyllida glanced at Lucifer. "I dropped it in the cottage."
Lucifer shook his head. "I didn't see it. The smoke was so thick I only found Phyllida by touch. I think we can assume the brown hat is now cinders."
Sir Jasper addressed Phyllida. "Any sense in making a list of all the local men who wear brown hats?"
"I already did that. Even with the hat in my hand, I couldn't remember it on any of them."
Sir Jasper grimaced. "In that case, I don't think there's any point raising a hue and cry for a man who wears a brown hat. That would cover half the county. Even I wear brown hats."
"I agree." Lucifer glanced at Phyllida, then at Sir Jasper. "Much as I hate to say it, we're no nearer to identifying the murderer than we were when Horatio died. We had the brown hat-I was going to suggest that we take it around the village. While Phyllida couldn't place it, others might. Cedric even thought it was familiar. But the murderer acted. Whoever he is, he's clever and able to act decisively under pressure. If we'd started showing the hat around, he might well have been unmasked. Instead, he struck boldly and removed the hat, and nearly removed Phyllida, too. He's ruthless and very dangerous. And we have no clue who he is."
"Only," Jonas said, "that he probably still believes that, at some point, Phyl will remember who owned the hat."
Phyllida sighed. "The truth is, I never will. As far as I know, the first time I saw that hat was on Horatio's drawing room table after he'd been killed."
That conclusion did not make anyone feel more comfortable. Lucifer eventually put their helplessness into words. "All we can do is pray that the murderer realizes that Phyllida is no threat to him."
Chapter 18
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Cedric excused himself and returned to Ballyclose. At Sir Jasper's urging, Lucifer stayed to dine at the Grange.
The meal was a family affair. All present were subdued, reflecting on Phyllida's near escape. Even Lady Huddlesford spoke rarely, and then in a quiet tone quite different from her usual imperiousness. The only moment of interest arose when Percy declared he'd decided to leave the next day for "the congenial company of some friends in Yorkshire." The announcement was met with blank silence, then everyone returned to his meal.
When the ladies retreated to the drawing roo
m and the port was set upon the table, Percy excused himself and retired to pack.
Frederick moved to a chair next to Jonas. "I say, terrible business. Is there anything I can do?"