Dying for a Garden Party

by V L McBeath

  “Aren’t you getting out of bed this morning? We’ll be late for church if you don’t hurry. Even Henry’s downstairs.”

  Eliza smiled. “That’s only because he smelled the sausages. Give me five minutes and I’ll be down.”

  She splashed cold water onto her face from the basin on the washstand and slipped into her new lilac skirt and white blouse. Never let it be said that I don’t look smart when I go to church. On her way out of the room she checked her reflection in the mirror and stopped. How did her hair manage to be such a mess? She untangled the knot of hair on the top of her head and brushed it quickly, before rolling it into a ball and securing it to the nape of her neck with an array of hair clips. “That will do.”

  “What have you been doing?” Henry said as she arrived in the dining room. “The sausages will be cold.”

  “I’m sure they won’t be but help yourself. Just leave enough for everyone else. If I’d known you were coming home, I’d have told Cook to buy more.”

  “So what are we doing today?” Henry asked once two of his sausages had disappeared. “Are there any more suspects to interview?”

  “No, not today, Sergeant Cooper wants to wait until tomorrow. Anyway, what’s with the ‘we’? I thought you didn’t approve of me helping the police.”

  Henry smirked. “I changed my mind when I saw how much you helped them last time. Besides, it was fun. I wasn’t expecting to be here today and so I’ve nothing better to do. We could go looking for clues.”

  “Given that all the evidence is inside Oak House, I’d say that’s unlikely.”

  “You may see something at church,” Mr Bell said. “I would imagine the family will be there after what happened, you may be able to talk to them.”

  “Don’t worry, I will. I just didn’t know I’d have an apprentice following me around.”

  Henry grinned. “It must be nearly time to go. I’ll go and find my notebook; you never know when you might need it.”

  The church bells were striking ten when Connie arrived and the five of them walked up to church together.

  “Did you bring the letter for the coroner?” Eliza asked Archie.

  “I did.” Archie held up a large envelope before dropping it into the postbox, where it landed with a thud. “They should get it tomorrow.”

  Eliza linked his arm again. “Good, now we can concentrate on them.” She nodded towards Maria Hartley as she approached from the opposite direction wearing an elegant black mourning gown. “I notice it’s only her, with Jane and Benjamin, no sign of James or Robert.”

  “Does that surprise you?” Connie asked. “After having to deal with them yesterday, I’m sure she’s glad to get away.”

  “Good morning, Mrs Hartley,” Eliza said when they were close enough. “I wasn’t sure if we’d see you this morning. How are you feeling?”

  “All the better for being here. I didn’t realise the church was in such a picturesque setting. It warms the heart, doesn’t it? Is that the River Thames I can see glistening behind the gravestones?”

  Eliza smiled. “It is, and it looks so peaceful on days like today. You can sit alongside it if you like, it’s very pleasant.”

  “What a lovely idea, I may do that later, even if it is just to keep me out of the house for longer.” Turning into the churchyard, Maria Hartley walked ahead of them, with Jane and Benjamin on either side.

  “She seems nice,” Henry said. “Is that her son? He looks about the same age as me. Perhaps I could invite him to the Golden Eagle for a pint of ale.”

  “I don’t think so.” Eliza’s attention was momentarily diverted as Connie wandered into the churchyard.

  “Why not?”

  “Because he’s in mourning, that’s why not. Mr Hartley might only have been his stepfather, but he still needs to observe a time of grieving.”

  “I suppose so, but it’s such a shame. There aren’t many people younger than forty around here, let alone under twenty.”

  “I’m sure he’ll still be here when you’re next back from Cambridge. Come on, we’d better keep walking.”

  Archie and Mr Bell were waiting for them outside the church and Eliza paused in the entrance to allow her eyes to adjust to the change in light.

  “I’m afraid it looks rather gloomy in there this morning,” Mr Hewitt said as he handed them a prayer book. “Our little candles can’t hope to compete with the brightness of the sun.”

  “I’m sure my eyes will be fine in a moment.” Eliza took the book and made her way to the first of the free pews.

  “We’d better sit here,” she whispered to Archie as she approached a pew that ran across the back of the left-hand bank of seats. “There’s not enough room for Father and Henry in our usual seat. Where’s Connie? She’s acting very strangely.”

  Archie nodded towards the door. “She’s coming. You’d better move up a bit or we won’t fit here either.”

  “No, you go in first with Henry. I want to sit on the end.”

  From her vantage point at the back, Eliza watched the rest of the congregation join them. There was Mr Pitt from the shop, and his wife. Sergeant Cooper and Constable Jenkins looked like they were taking the morning off as well. Let’s just hope the criminals do the same. As the minutes passed the creases in her forehead deepened. Where was Mrs Petty? It wasn’t like her to be late; in fact, she was usually one of the first here. She leaned over to Archie. “Mrs Petty’s not been to see you, has she?”

  Archie shook his head. “Not recently, no. Why?”

  “She’s not here. I hope she’s all right. If she doesn’t arrive, we’d better call around and check up on her.”

  She looked around once more as the organist struck the chords for the first hymn. As if on cue, James Hartley arrived at the back of the church and led the family into the pews in the middle of the right-hand aisle. He sat on one with his wife Millicent and presumably his two daughters, while Robert sat on the other with Vanessa, their son and his mother. What a sombre bunch they looked. All in black and not a smile between them. Still, it was to be expected.

  Eliza couldn’t keep her eyes from the Hartleys on one side of the church and Maria Hartley with her children on the other, but if either side of the family gave the other even a passing glance, she didn’t notice it. She was itching for the service to come to an end, but as the vicar stood up to read the final blessing, so too did James and Robert. Without waiting for the vicar to speak, they led the family from the building.

  “How rude of them,” Connie said, once the service was over and they were back outside.

  “I would have expected nothing less.”

  Eliza turned to find Maria Hartley and her children standing behind them.

  “Good manners have never been one of their strong points.”

  “Have they been like that with you since yesterday?”

  Maria sighed. “They would have been if I’d bothered to keep their company, but I was too tired for all that and so I spent the evening in my room. It’s big enough and Jane and Benjamin sat with me.” She smiled at her children. “At least I won’t be on my own, whatever happens.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Eliza said. “If you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m in the dispensary at the surgery most mornings. Come and find me.”

  Eliza glanced around as Connie mumbled something and set off towards Mr Bell, who was standing further down the footpath.

  “I seem to have upset your friend,” Maria said.

  “I’m sure you haven’t, she was just upset by yesterday’s events. It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I’m glad. The last thing I need now is to fall out with anyone. I need to start socialising again. After a respectable period of mourning, you understand.”

  “Of course.”

  Maria’s gaze turned to a group from the congregation who had clustered together in the shade of a large horse chestnut tree. “I suppose we must be going, I’m not quite up to questions yet. Can we walk along the river and come out l
ower down the village?”

  “You can.” Eliza pointed to the footpath that ran along the bottom of some back gardens. “If you start there, it will take you to the junction of the road at the end. It’s a pleasant walk, probably something that will do you good.”

  Eliza watched Maria leave before joining Connie and her father, who were talking to Mr Pitt and his wife.

  “Good morning, Mr Pitt, Mrs Pitt. Another lovely day.”

  “It is that,” Mr Pitt said. “Even though it’s far too warm for its own good, we shouldn’t grumble. It’ll be snow and ice again soon enough.”

  “I’m sure we have another few months yet.”

  Mrs Pitt tutted. “Take no notice of him, he’s always looking for the next thing to complain about. Never happy, are you?”

  “I’m happy enough when I’m in the shop and the customers are coming in.”

  “That’s all he thinks about.” Despite her criticisms, Mrs Pitt gazed fondly at her husband.

  “I see you were talking to that lad with the red hair,” Mr Pitt said. “Do you know him?”

  “Not really, but he came to the surgery last week and then we spoke to him at the garden party at Oak House,” Eliza said. “He’s lived there for over a year but he only ventured into the village recently.”

  “Yes, I saw him yesterday. He came into the shop for two ounces of sweets. Seemed nice enough, but he called at a really busy time and so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him.”

  “What time would that be?” Eliza asked.

  “Now, let me see. I would say about ten past or quarter past two.” A frown settled on Mr Pitt’s face. “But now I think about it, I don’t remember him wearing a black armband. Have they had a recent bereavement? Is that why they were all in church this morning?”

  Hmm, they clearly haven’t heard the news. “Yes, sadly, Mr Hartley, the gentleman of the house was … found dead yesterday afternoon.”

  “That’s a shame. Wasn’t the party supposed to be for him?”

  “That’s right, but naturally it had to be cancelled.”

  “Poor chap.” Mr Pitt whistled through his teeth. “Fancy leaving us on the day of a party held in your honour.”

  “As if he had a choice.” Mrs Pitt’s exasperated voice carried through the stillness of the air.

  “I’m sure we know what he means,” Eliza said. “Actually, while you’re here, can I ask if you’ve seen Mrs Petty recently? She wasn’t in church this morning.”

  “You’re right, she wasn’t. That’s not like her.” Mrs Pitt’s eyes flitted around the dwindling congregation as she checked she hadn’t missed her. “She did come into the shop, yesterday. At the same time as that young man, as it happens.”

  “Well, that’s something. Not to worry, we’ll walk the long way around and call on her on our way home,” Eliza said. “I’m sure there’ll be a perfectly logical explanation.”

  “Is there a problem?” the vicar said as he joined them.

  “We were just asking after Mrs Petty,” Eliza said. “She wasn’t here this morning.”

  “No, I thought about her myself.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll call and see if she’s all right. If there are any problems, we’ll let you know.”

  Archie checked his pocket watch. “If we’re going to walk the long way around, we’d better leave now. Good day to you all.”

  “Not everybody has to come,” Eliza said as the five of them walked back to the road.

  “Henry and I can go straight home,” Mr Bell said. “You don’t need us.”

  “And I’d better be getting home,” Connie said. “I need to get my meat out of the oven.”

  “You’re not joining us?” Eliza cocked her head to one side as she studied her friend.

  “No, thank you. Not today. I’ve got things to do.”

  Eliza watched as Connie walked away alone. “Will you walk with her?” she asked Mr Bell. “I’m not sure what’s the matter, but I don’t want her to be alone.”

  “So, it’s just the two of us,” Archie said as they set off in the opposite direction. “That makes a change.”

  “It does, but I’m concerned about Connie. It’s not like her.”

  “She’ll be fine. Perhaps she just feels left out with everyone else being here. She probably thinks Henry’s taking her job as well. Chief helper to Detective Thomson.” Archie gave a hearty laugh. “She’ll be back to her usual self once he’s gone.”

  “It’s not funny. I don’t like to see her like that. Perhaps I’ll pop round this afternoon for a chat.”

  Archie shook his head. “As if you ever do anything else.”

  The walk to Mrs Petty’s only took ten minutes, but with the sun getting warmer, Eliza was glad to stand in the shade by the front door. Archie knocked and when they got no answer, he tried the handle.

  “It’s locked.”

  “How unusual.” Eliza walked to the front window and peered in. “Everything looks perfectly normal … except for the fact she isn’t sitting by the window.”

  “I’d say she’s gone out. That’s the only reason I can imagine for her locking the door,” Archie said. “If she was ill, she’d leave it open.”

  “Yes, that’s a good point, but where would she go? She has no family and all her friends are in the village.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough. Come on, I’m ready for something to eat.”

  For the first time ever, Eliza hesitated before she knocked on Connie’s front door and let herself in.

  “Connie, what’s the matter?” Eliza couldn’t control her voice as she saw Connie sitting by the unlit fire with plates from her luncheon still on the table. “This isn’t like you. Have you been crying?”

  Connie ran a finger across her eyes. “No.”

  Eliza sat down on the chair opposite her. “Is this about Henry?”

  Connie stared at Eliza with a frown on her face. “Henry?”

  “Or perhaps it’s about Maria Hartley? That’s it, isn’t it?”

  Connie averted her gaze. “Well, what do you expect? She’s the prime suspect in the murder of her husband and yet it seems she can do no wrong.”

  “She might be a suspect, but we don’t know she’s a killer. Haven’t you heard that people are presumed innocent until proven guilty?”

  “Well, she looks guilty from where I’m standing. She’s not even upset.”

  “People deal with grief in different ways, you should know that, and she’s in a difficult position. Not only has she just lost her husband, but she has his ex-wife and sons to deal with. It can’t be easy. She just needs a friendly face.”

  “Why does that have to be you? I heard you this morning telling her to visit the dispensary if she wanted to talk. What if she’s a murderer?”

  “What if she isn’t?”

  Connie took a handkerchief from her sleeve and blew her nose. “At least you could wait to find out.”

  “Connie, I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but you should know you’re my best friend, nothing’s going to change that. Can’t I befriend anyone else?”

  “Yes, of course you can.” Connie paused as her voice squeaked. “I just don’t trust her, I think she’s evil.”

  “Now you’re being silly.”

  “No, I’m not, and she’s trying to entice everyone to be on her side. I can understand why Georgina Hartley dislikes her so much. I bet she lured Mr Hartley away with those come-hither eyes; poor Georgina wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

  “You don’t know that. Mrs Petty said…”

  Connie glanced up. “What did Mrs Petty say? Is she all right?”

  “Don’t change the subject. I was going to remind you that Mrs Petty told us it was Georgina who left Mr Hartley not the other way around, but I’ve just realised what this is about. You think she’s trying to snare Sergeant Cooper.”

  “No!”

  “Yes, you do. You think she’s flirting with him.”

  “Well, she was, and s
he hadn’t been widowed for two hours. What sort of trollop does that?”

  Eliza took a deep breath. “I don’t think that was her intention.”

  “Whether it was her intention or not, that was the effect it had on poor Sergeant Cooper. Did you see him grinning like a schoolboy? ‘You can call me Maria’, she said, with a smile meant only for him. I don’t expect she wanted us to call her Maria.”

  Eliza rubbed her hands across her face. “I’m sure it wasn’t like that. It was confusing with everyone called Mrs Hartley, she was just being helpful.”

  “What if Sergeant Cooper took it to be more than that? What if he likes women with red hair and lots of money?” Connie buried her face in her hands.

  “Whether he does or not, as you rightly said, she’s a suspect in a murder investigation and he can’t be seen to be favouring her over the other suspects.” Eliza waited for a response but when she didn’t get one, she continued. “Besides, he likes a widow with blond hair … a lot. He’s not going to stop liking you just because of one conversation. Perhaps you should let him know that you like him too? It’s the first time you’ve admitted it to me, so poor Sergeant Cooper won’t have a clue.”

  To Eliza’s amazement, Connie chuckled. “I only admitted it to myself last night.”

  “Well, there you are then.” Eliza shook her head. “I’ve watched the two of you this last year and it’s obvious that you like each other, you’re just frightened to admit it.”

  “But I’m a married woman.”

  “You were a married woman but Mr Appleton’s been gone for over three years now. You are allowed to move on.”

  “But what if he likes Mrs Hartley now and I’m too late?”

  “You’re not too late. She’s an attractive woman, I’ll grant you, but she’s not Sergeant Cooper’s type. He was probably flattered yesterday, that was why he blushed, but I expect if he knew you liked him too, he’d be much happier with that.”

  “Do you think so?” The blue of Connie’s eyes shone as she looked up expectantly.

  “I do, now will you promise me we’ll have no more of this nonsense? In the same way Sergeant Cooper hasn’t stopped liking you, neither have I.”

  Connie blew her nose again and laughed. “Thank you. I don’t know what got into me.”