A Second Chance for Murder Read Online Free PDF

friend’s life.
    Though Cecilia would have chosen to stay a few more moments, she also concurred, thinking a short nap before dinner would put a fresh glow in her cheeks for the master of the house to sit up and take notice. Carrying their unusual gifts, the ladies followed Thora out of the room.
    With the women gone, Nyle scratched his head. “I wonder how Thora procured those rattles?” Then scowling, he added, “Bribed a constable, no doubt.”
    “Actually, I have to applaud her forethought,” Garren commented. With a playful grin, he furthered, “Perhaps, she might be able to procure one for you.” Seeing a perplexed look on his friend’s face, he added with a laugh, “It may prove useful should Miss Boothwell back you into a corner!”
    Nyle rolled his eyes before saying, “It would take more than that to stall Cecilia Boothwell’s advances, I’m afraid.” Turning serious, he asked, “Have you found out anything about our guests?”
    “Yes,” Garren answered, slipping the guest list from the inner pocket of his jacket and handing it to Nyle.
    Taking the list, Nyle saw that the names of four men on the list had been circled. He was about to ask why when Garren provided it. The reason was so shocking that it sent a chill down his spine.

Chapter 3
    Leaving the library, Thora made her way to the kitchen to speak with the staff, reminding them not to serve anything with lemon to the vicar as he was allergic to citrus. She then went to her room. Alone in the silence of her bedroom, she prayed that her plan to catch the evil devil who’d taken Ivey’s life would prove successful. Though it saddened them, Cecilia, Floris, and Lauryn had all seemed to accept Ivey’s loss, but that was something she could never do, not without knowing who and why, and more importantly not without seeing that the culprit was punished.
    Anger flared each time she thought of Ivey, spurring Thora on in her quest for justice. Somehow, someway, she would find her dear friend’s killer. At dinner, she would force herself to be lighthearted, to chat cheerfully, and tease playfully with each of her suspects. Then, when they were relaxed, she’d turn her conversation to Ivey and study their faces for any flicker of guilt. Even if it meant that she was putting herself in danger, she’d press further, forcing the villain’s hand. That part of her plan she had kept from Nyle.
    Moving to her dressing table, she opened the top drawer for a new pair of gloves to wear this evening and suddenly paused. Lying next to her gloves, atop her neatly folded lace handkerchiefs, was a square blue velvet box. Unsure if she could bear to view its contents one more time, Thora hesitated before taking it out. Holding the box in her palm, she summoned her courage and with shaking fingers opened the lid. Resting inside lay a pretty hair comb.
    A wave of grief swept over her. Thora slowly sank into the cushion-topped bench of her dressing table. “Oh, Ivey, how could anyone be so heartless to hurt someone as sweet and dear as you?” she cried, taking out the hair comb Ivey had given her. The pretty silver comb was embellished with tiny white pearls nestled in a garden of sparkling diamonds. How excited Ivey had been to give it to her.
    “You can wear it on your wedding day,” Ivey had told her.
    “But you won’t be there, Ivey,” Thora murmured woefully.
    Wrapping her slender fingers around the comb, Thora now crushed it to her chest. “Sweet, trusting, Ivey, my dearest friend, not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. You were the sister I never had. Oh the silly, childish plans we made, each of us vowing that we were going to live close to each other after marrying the most handsome of men. We would raise our children together, visit on holidays, and of course continue to share our most secret thoughts. Oh, Ivey, you left me too soon! I want you back to make me laugh, to have tea with me, to tell me when my nose needs a dusting of