"But how did Sophia know that you were my 'aunt'?"
"Mrs White introduced me as Wadsworth's sister. She didn't know what I looked like, and Thomas was so easy to fool, he hadn't seen me or his sister for just over ten years, and with a little training and blackmail on the real Mary Wadsworth, I was able to pull it off."
"So what is your job? An actress?"
"Of sorts, Catherine. I do what I feel. The real Mary Wadsworth would never have been so cruel to her niece, but I couldn't make Wadsworth suspicious. He assumed that his sister would hate his daughter, so I played to that charade."
"And those two officers you came in with?"
"Old friends. Two bumbling crooks from London. They are…"
"Your henchmen?"
"I suppose you might say, yes, Catherine. I kept the guests busy all night, watching them closely until one by one they fell into unconsciousness. Thankfully most of them assumed it was because of the drink, accept that brazen little hussy Sophia Mustard. She tried to convince the remaining guests that they were being poisoned. Luckily I managed to persuade them otherwise. I then took the brat by the arm and marched her straight…oh, no…why should I tell you? It won't make much difference in a few hours."
"Miss Brown, if that is your name, I suggest and demand that you tell me where Sophia is."
"You demand it, do you? Would you like to see your father first? Say a final farewell?"
"Yes. I will see my father."
'Miss Brown' led Cathy over to a hidden closet.
"Catherine, your father."
Wadsworth tumbled out, rigid as a board.
"Father!" Cathy cried, desperately, kneeling at his side.
"He won't wake." 'Miss Brown' explained, carelessly, "he's far too sedated for that. It does mean, however, that he won't see me slit your Mother's throat, although that would be a pretty sight…"
Wadsworth suddenly began to stir.
"Cordelia…let…her go…."
Miss Brown kicked him hard.
"Get up and fight, Wadsworth! Show me what you're made of!"
Wadsworth stumbled to his feet.
"Let the child go. This has nothing to do with her!"
"Since she's your daughter, yes she does," Miss Brown spat, "how could you betray me, after everything…EVERYTHING I did for you?"
"That was a long time ago, Cordelia…you were…obsessed."
"Obsessed with you? Don't flatter yourself, Wadsworth! You honestly imagine the likes of me would fall head over heels for a butler like you?"
"But you did love me. I just didn't love you."
Cordelia's jaw twitched.
"And WHY not? Why did you make such a fool of me at the party? Why did you threaten me and hurt me?"
Cathy stared at Miss Brown in bewilderment. Had she been too blinded by her father's so called truth that she had never considered Miss Brown's part in the events which had occurred?
"I did what I had to do." Wadsworth explained calmly, "You were a pretentious child!"
"But I loved you! I would have done anything for you! I…I…" she suddenly seized Cathy and expertly fitted the noose around Cathy's throat.
"No! Catherine!" Wadsworth protested desperately.
"I'll show you what blue blood is, Wadsworth…the blood you chose was dirty, corrupted…have me as your wife…and I'll let her go."
"What? I can't marry you! I am already married, you stupid girl!"
"I'm not YOUR girl anymore, Wadsworth. You chose to marry a black widow!"
"Yes, and with good reason. To escape your obsession and pretence!"
"Then give me one kiss and I'll let you go. I need to…complete what I set out to do."
Cathy shuddered; Miss Brown's voice was slow and dreamlike as though she found it difficult to distinguish reality from fiction.
Wadsworth looked from Cathy to Miss Brown, recalling the distressing events of 1954 when Miss Brown had arrived at the house only to be scorned, punished and threatened by him. And yet it was she…SHE who had demanded to escape the house…demanded to be set free…Wadsworth knew that his former obsessed informant was severely deluded and required psychiatric treatment, and he knew of one person who would be able to convince her not to kill Cathy.
"Cordelia…I will agree to your terms, however you must administer the antidote to Professor Plum forthwith."
Cordelia scoffed.
"I am no fool. You think I am mad! You think that I am some toy you can take out for your amusement, well I'm not! I am NO-ONE's toy, not even my father's! Why are you doing this to me, Wadsworth? Do you enjoy hurting me?"
Her words chilled Cathy and Wadsworth; Wadsworth recognised that it was the same speech as she had used when he had threatened her in the library, and Cathy was aware that time was running out.
Seizing his chance, Wadsworth seized Miss Brown and kissed her, Cathy slipping the noose from around her neck as he did so.
"Well…this is where it all ends, I'm sorry." Cathy stepped back and watched as Miss Brown raised the dagger ready to strike Wadsworth in the back.
"No! Father!" she screamed, as Wadsworth struggled to get free, "Father, call me Cathy, please call me Cathy!"
Miss Brown's eyes were wide and blazing, showcasing her insanity, and the dagger trembled in her fist. She held Wadsworth tight to her, singing a song to herself.
"Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go,
Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go,
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight."
Wadsworth tensed, poised ready for the blow which would end his life, but as Cordelia brought the dagger down, Cathy pushed Wadsworth out of the way and seized the dagger, gripping it tight with Cordelia still clutching it.
"No you don't child!" Miss Brown screeched.
Cathy struggled to take control of the dagger, but the hatred in Miss Brown's eyes told her that one wrong move and she would be killed.
Wadsworth was unsure as to what to do. Cathy was risking her life for him, and Cordelia…well…had the intention to kill.
"Cordelia, that's enough!" he exclaimed suddenly.
For a moment the conflict ceased, and then Cordelia began to sing again:
"Now, my mother and my father,
Might hear if I stay here too long,
One kiss and we'll part,
And you'd be going,
Although I hate to see you go."
She dropped the dagger.
Cathy seized it and handed it to her father, backing as far away from Miss Brown as possible.
"I'm sorry," Miss Brown murmured, "we can't both live…"
Wadsworth's eyes widened.
"Cordelia, what are you talking about?" He asked coaxingly.
Cordelia looked at the stylish boxes, stroking each one in turn.
"A candlestick…too violent…a lead pipe, bent…a rope…noosed…a dagger…cut from the noble heart…the revolver…a sharp end…the poison…suffering."
"Father, what is she doing?" Cathy asked anxiously.
"I don't know, Catherine."
Cordelia plucked a single rose from the vase on the piano and began to pick off its petals, one by one.
"One for if you loved me…one if you didn't…"
"Cordelia…stop."
Cordelia ignored him, continuing to pluck the petals from the rose. When she had finished she pierced the tip of her ring finger on a thorn.
"Wadsworth…this is for you." And she traced her bleeding finger down his left cheek. "You carry my blood on your hands," she clutched at his left hand leaving an imprint of blood on it.
"Cordelia, I'm…"but she stopped his mouth with her finger.
Turning to the boxes, she began to undo them one by one.
"Take your pick." She told Cathy.
Cathy stepped back against the wall.
"I couldn't…I'm sorry."
Cordelia drew out a small bottle of white powder and tipped it into her wine glass.
"No!" Cried Wadsworth and Cathy and unison, but they were powerless.
