Castle Evans Murder Solved After Engagement Celebration Turns Deadly
Guests at Lady Mackin’s estate, Castle Evans, gathered for an evening of pre-winter merriment that ended in tragedy. Among the attendees was a financier keen on new industrial ventures, who arrived early with Lady Rose Buckingham. She arrived cold after charity work involving a bonfire and s’mores with young acquaintances. Once all guests had assembled, the financier discussed fiscal matters with Viscount Burgandy, learning of his family’s recent misfortunes while expressing confidence in their resilience.
The financier next met Mr. Adrian d’Artagnan of D’Artagnan Dirigibles, a French gentleman with ambitions of filling the skies with airships that would outpace sailing vessels and steamships. Impressed by the company’s success, and having profited from investments in modern industrial developments, the financier expressed interest in making a substantial investment—contingent upon satisfactory review of the company’s records and projections.
Lady Rose later confided in the financier her affection for Mr. d’Artagnan, hoping the two might someday be together. The financier assured her that if d’Artagnan recognized half her compassion and grace, he would love her twice as much as his beloved dirigibles. Minutes later, with investors secured and his financial future assured, d’Artagnan proposed to Lady Rose to general joy.
A Sudden Death
Within half an hour of the engagement, Lady Mackin burst in, distraught, with news that Lady Rose had been strangled in an out-of-the-way third-floor room. Lady Rose had been excited to explore the old castle, making the tragedy especially cruel on what should have been her engagement day. The assembled guests began discussing the murderer’s identity, and conversation revealed several surprising facts: the true identity of the Smiths’ adopted child Henry, Gerard’s earlier spurned affair with Lady Rose, and some unsavory but legal business dealings.
Working with Lord Cameron Smith, an accomplished logician, the group narrowed suspicion to two guests: Lady Loria and Lord Gerard. The financier, Mr. d’Artagnan, and Lord Cameron were quickly cleared, having conversed in the sitting room at the time of the murder. Gerard repeatedly attempted to deflect blame—at one point accusing Lady Mackin herself—while Lady Gloria comported herself with dignity. Though neither suspect could account for their whereabouts at the time of the murder, Lady Gloria’s slight build made asphyxiation implausible. Cornered, Gerard flew into a rage, and Scotland Yard intervened just in time.
Gerard had indeed committed the murder, driven by financial gain and rage at his former lover’s choice of d’Artagnan. After cornering Lady Rose upstairs, he strangled her, reportedly uttering, “To death do you part!” as his final words to her.
