A distinguished gathering turns deadly when the host, Lord Ashworth, is found poisoned in his study. Five dinner guests, the household gardener, and the cook remain under suspicion. One of them is the killer.
Separate manners from motive before the household closes ranks.
The Victim
Nobleman and Industrialist
Lord Ashworth built his fortune in textile manufacturing, known for both his business acumen and ruthless dealings. He invited his closest associates for what he called "an evening of importance." He promised an announcement before the night was over, but kept its purpose private. Someone killed him before he could speak.
The Secretary
Personal Secretary
Miss Hartley has been Lord Ashworth's secretary for eight years. She knows his business dealings intimately—including the dirty ones. Sharp-eyed and observant, she notices everything that happens in the household. Tonight, she's preparing papers for Lord Ashworth's important announcement about his will. She knows something is about to change.
The Cook
Household Cook
Mrs. Finch has run Ashworth Manor's kitchen for sixteen years. She is not one of the dinner guests, but no dinner party happens without her knowing its rhythms. She claims she was finishing the kitchen work and carrying scraps to the compost trench while the gentlemen and ladies sat in the parlor above. A locked pantry bottle with a bitter almond scent makes the kitchen impossible to ignore once poison is named.
The Doctor
Physician
Dr. Pemberton has served the wealthy families of the county for three decades. He knows secrets that could destroy reputations—and carries guilt for one he cannot reveal. He was Lord Ashworth's physician and spent the evening fidgeting over whether private medical matters would become public scandal.
The Gardener
Head Gardener
Thomas Webb has tended the gardens of Ashworth Manor for twenty years. He is staff, not one of the dinner guests, but his future depends on the household as much as anyone's. He was working late tonight, preparing the hedges for an expected frost. He claims his rounds kept him outside during the fatal minutes, but fear for the gardener's cottage gives him a reason to resent any change in Lord Ashworth's estate plans. His pruning knife also fits the first impression of the damaged study latch too neatly for comfort.
The Soldier
Retired Military Officer
Colonel Cromwell served with distinction in India and Africa before retiring to the English countryside. He is an old friend of Lord Ashworth from their school days—but that friendship has been strained by a gambling debt he cannot repay. He values honor above all else, which makes his current predicament unbearable.
The Merchant
Import/Export Merchant
Mr. Chen built a successful trading company connecting East and West through Hong Kong. He has been negotiating a major partnership with Lord Ashworth— a deal that would make or break his company. He keeps his cards close, knowing that in business, information is currency.
The Widow
Widow and Investor
Lady Blackwood is a wealthy widow who has rebuilt her fortune through shrewd investments since her husband's death three years ago. She and Lord Ashworth move in the same social circles; she accepted his dinner invitation graciously. To all appearances, she has put the past behind her and bears no ill will toward her late husband's former business partner.
Common Area
An elegant room with a long mahogany table set for six, now cleared of dinner service.
Restricted
The service kitchen where staff prepared the evening's meal. Now dark and quiet.
Common Area
A manicured garden with hedges, a stone path, and a covered smoking area.
Restricted
A work garden beyond the yew hedge, with frost cloths, rose frames, and a potting shed.
Common Area
A wood-paneled corridor connecting the dining room to the parlor. Portraits of Ashworth ancestors line the walls.
Private
A small washroom for guests to freshen up. Decorated with floral wallpaper and a gilt mirror.
Common Area
A comfortable sitting room with leather chairs, a roaring fireplace, and brandy decanters on a sideboard.
Crime Scene
A private study lined with legal volumes and leather-bound journals. A brandy decanter sits on the desk.
