Chapter Twenty-five
‘You’re very quiet. darling,’ said Cedric, regarding his wife with a concerned eye. ‘Anything wrong?’
‘I was just mulling over what we know about the thief,’ Rose replied.
They were still seated in the small drawing room. The chief inspector and the commander were no longer present, having hurried away to continue their own investigations.
While the two men had been in the room, the plans of the secret invention had dominated the conversation. There had been talk of taking the gardener’s shed to pieces bit by bit to ascertain if the papers had been crammed into some nook or cranny of timber or even hidden in the earthen floor. Acting on Commander Wrenfield’s suggestion, the chief inspector had instigated a thorough and comprehensive search of the hedge that bordered the lane on the vague off-chance that the plans had been hurled into its depths, in a similar manner to the thief’s discarded clothes.
‘Well,’ said Cedric, ‘personally, I think it likely the thief took the plans apart and stuffed them into his various pockets. I must say, the commander was terribly evasive as to whether such a thing would be possible. Still, he was awfully grateful to you, darling, for suggesting how the thief might have been able to smuggle his disguise into the house.’
‘Yes, murmured Rose. ‘I was rather convincing, wasn’t I? I almost believed it myself.’
‘What?’ cried Cedric, staring at her in amazement. ‘Are you saying that you don’t think that was what happened? It seemed to me you put forward a pretty good case for it having occurred as you described.’
‘Well of course it is perfectly feasible,’ admitted Rose cautiously, ‘but from the very beginning I’ve rather had my suspicions concerning another theory entirely. I have not mentioned it as I fear the commander and the chief inspector would consider it to be ridiculous.’
‘Oh?’ Cedric stared at her intrigued. ‘Will you tell me what it is?’
‘Actually, I should rather like to keep it to myself for the time being, if you don’t mind?’
‘I mind dreadfully,’ said Cedric, only half in jest.
‘You needn’t look at me like that, darling,’ said Rose laughing.
‘I shan’t tell anyone, if that’s what’s bothering you? Scouts’ honour.’
‘It isn’t that. It’s merely that my theory really is rather far-fetched. I daresay I’m being a little silly refusing to tell you but, you see, I’d like to find out whether it could have happened in the way I imagine before I say anything.’
‘Very well,’ said her husband, a trifle grudgingly. ‘But in the meantime, couldn’t you give me a small clue?’
Rose considered this request for a moment.
‘All I will say,’ she said rather mischievously, ‘is don’t you think it rather odd?’
‘Which part exactly? It all strikes me as being pretty strange.’
‘The fact that the thief’s clothes were so distinctive. I mean to say, he did an awfully good job of drawing attention to himself.’
‘I admit that, in his line of work, one might have expected him to attempt to blend in with the other guests.’
‘Yes, because really all he had to do was change his mask and he would have looked like someone else entirely.’
‘I wonder,’ said her husband, ‘why that didn’t occur to him?’ He gave her a sharp look. ‘I can see by the expression on your face that you believe you know the answer.’
‘Yes,’ said Rose, a trifle smugly, ‘I believe I do.’
‘How are the Denbys?’ Rose asked, as Lavinia peeked her head around the door of the small drawing room. ‘Has Eliza managed to repair your gown?’
‘I wanted to speak to you. Has everyone gone?’ said Lavinia, pointedly ignoring her friend’s questions.
‘Yes. I rather gathered that you wished to speak to me alone,’ said Rose laughing.
‘That business about the ruined dress was the first thing that came into my head, if you must know,’ Lavinia said and made a face. ‘Everyone was looking at me in that ghastly way. It was awful. I simply felt I had to say something, even if it was the most absolute drivel.’
‘That was quite evident,’ said Rose with a grin.
‘Well, when I opened the door, I hardly expected the commander and the chief inspector to be there. It rather shook me, I can tell you.’ The girl edged further into the room. ‘Ceddie’s not here, is he? Not lurking in a corner somewhere?’
‘No, you’re quite safe.’
‘Good.’ Lavinia advanced towards her friend and spoke very quickly, as if she feared an interruption. ‘Listen, Rose, I have something to tell you. It might be frightfully important. It’s … well, it’s about the man in the mask.’
‘Which man? There were quite a few men wearing masks, you know,’ said Rose, though her interest was aroused.
‘You know jolly well which one I mean. The man whose face was completely hidden by his mask. He was wearing a gold cravat.’ Now that she was assured of her friend’s attention, Lavinia chose a sofa and reclined gracefully upon it. ‘Simply everyone’s been talking about him,’ she said. ‘Even the servants. And I overheard the commander refer to him when he was speaking to the chief inspector out in the hall.’
‘Well, what of it?’ said Rose curiously, wondering where the conversation was leading.
‘Rose, darling, you’re being awfully abstruse, and it’s not a bit like you. I wish you’d snap out of it. Now, tell me, what exactly is the poor man accused of?’ The lightness in Lavinia’s voice sounded rather strained, the nonchalant pose a trifle false.
Rose gave her a sharp look.
‘Lavinia, what have you been up to?’
‘It isn’t murder, is it?’ Lavinia said. This time she sounded rather breathless, as if much depended on her friend’s answer. ‘Do say it’s theft?’
‘Yes, it’s theft, though there’s a possibility he may be involved in Miss Casters’ death. But I really don’t think I ought to tell you anything else.’
‘Hallam said he was a jewel thief.’
‘Hallam said that?’ Rose looked genuinely surprised.
‘Well, not exactly,’ conceded Lavinia. ‘He asked me whether I’d seen the man in the mask. When I pressed him as to why he wanted to know, he admitted that the fellow had taken something that didn’t belong to him.’
‘Did he say he’d stolen some jewellery?’
‘No, not exactly. But, when I asked him whether the man was the jewel thief, he snapped at me to be quiet. I thought it awfully rude of him. Really, you wouldn’t believe how dreadfully pompous and irritating he was.’
‘I see,’ said Rose, guessing correctly that Hallam had considered it wiser not to tell Lavinia the truth as to why he was seeking the stranger in the gold cravat.
‘Now, you must promise me, darling, that you won’t breathe a word to anyone of what I’m about to tell you, even Ceddie,’ continued Lavinia, leaning forward on the sofa. ‘He'll only laugh and say I’ve behaved foolishly, which I daresay I have. But I ask you, how was I to know that he was a proper thief? If Hallam hadn’t been so beastly, I’d have told him the truth.’ She gave a little giggle. ‘I have to admit, I thought it jolly thrilling, him being the jewel thief.’
This observation was met with silence.
‘Rose, darling, what has he stolen?’ implored Lavinia. ‘Is it of terrible importance? Because, of course, if I’d known, I’d have answered Hallam truthfully.’
‘Lavinia, what are you talking about?’ asked Rose. ‘Do you know something about this man? You’ll be in no end of trouble if you keep it to yourself.’
Lavinia immediately looked put out. Rose tried another tack, attempting to appeal to her friend’s love of the melodramatic.
‘Listen. It’s frightfully important that you tell me if you have any information about this man. I probably shouldn’t tell you, but he’s stolen some secret documents which are of the utmost importance to this country. The commander is doing all he can to ensure they’re
returned to him and don’t fall into enemy hands.’
‘Gosh,’ said Lavinia, her eyes very wide and bright, ‘how jolly thrilling. Of course, I thought there must be more to it than the theft of some dreary old pearls. And when they found the jewellery next to Miss Casters’ body, I simply knew he couldn’t possibly be the jewel thief.’
‘Lavinia,’ said Rose, her patience sorely tried, ‘it’s awfully important you give me the facts.’
‘Very well,’ said Lavinia, a trifle sulkily. ‘But first you must promise you won’t tell Ceddie.’
‘I can’t do that, though I’ll do my best to portray your actions in a favourable light, if that’s what’s worrying you?’
Lavinia gave a resigned little sigh, followed by a deep breath, and launched into the subject that had been occupying her mind.
‘I was standing on the terrace thinking that our masquerade ball had been a great success, but that something was lacking.’
‘What do you mean exactly?’
‘The fairy tale part. You see, I desperately wanted something magical to happen,’ said Lavinia, with a dramatic sweep of her hand, ‘and … and at that precise moment he appeared.’
Rose raised her eyebrows. Though a retort hovered on her lips, she refrained from making any comment.
‘You needn’t look at me like that,’ said Lavinia frowning, ‘I know it sounds jolly silly and childish now, but last night, when everyone was in costume, I almost felt as if I had conjured him up out of thin air. Oh, I’m explaining it very badly, I know, but nothing seemed very real, even when he took my hand –’
‘Was he wearing gloves?’ Rose asked rather abruptly.
‘Yes, he was, as a matter of fact. How very clever of you to know that. He dropped one of them and, as it happens, I have it here.’ Lavinia paused to retrieve a leather glove from her pocket. ‘One moment he was standing there and the next moment he was gone. If it hadn’t been for this glove, I’m certain I’d have thought he had existed only in my imagination.’ Her eyes took on a faraway look. ‘His leaving his glove like that … well, it rather reminded me of Cinderella and her glass slipper and –’
‘Lavinia, I should like you to concentrate on what I’m saying,’ said Rose firmly. ‘It’s frightfully important that you answer my questions. Now, I daresay it seemed jolly exciting at the time,’ she conceded, knowing full well her friend’s propensity for being romantic and fanciful, ‘but I need to know as much about this man as possible. Did he happen to remove his mask at any point?’
‘No,’ said Lavinia. ‘That’s what made it all so thrilling. And, anyway, I didn’t want him to take it off, not really. I was dreadfully afraid, you see, that I’d be awfully disappointed, that I would discover he was ugly and heaps older than me.’
‘I suppose it’s too much to hope for that you noticed the colour of his hair?’`
Even as she put the question, Rose thought it highly unlikely Lavinia would answer in the affirmative. For she could picture the scene all too well. Her friend in an enthralled and captivated state, mesmerised by the stranger, would hardly have been in a particularly observant frame of mind.
‘Well, I did try to find out the colour of his hair, as it happens. I’ve always had rather a weakness for men with dark hair. I tried to pull down his hood, but he wouldn’t let me. In fact, when he realised what I was trying to do, he stepped back out of my reach. I can’t tell you how foolish I felt,’ said Lavinia, with feeling. ‘I was awfully afraid I’d offended him. In fact I regretted my actions immediately. It spoilt everything, you see, because suddenly he didn’t trust me. I wanted to apologise, but alas I never got the opportunity.’
‘Oh?’
‘Well, at that very moment some of the guests came spilling out of the ballroom on to the terrace. They made a frightful noise and I suppose,’ Lavinia said rather wistfully, ‘I became a little distracted watching them. They were rather amusing in their way, you see. I don’t know how long I stood there looking at them, but when I turned to speak to the man in the mask, he had disappeared.’
‘How inconsiderate of him. But at least you don’t claim he vanished in a puff of smoke. Now,’ said Rose, holding up her hand as Lavinia made to utter a suitable retort, ‘you said the man appeared on the terrace. Have you any idea whether he came from the direction of the house or from the garden?’
‘It must have been from the house,’ Lavinia said, ‘because I was standing against the balustrade looking out over the garden. I would have seen him as he made his way towards the terrace if he’d come that way. Besides, I heard a noise behind me, and when I turned around, there he was.’
‘Good,’ said Rose. ‘A fact at last. That means you encountered him after he had stolen the papers, and not before.’
‘Gosh, did I really?’ said Lavinia, considerably impressed by her friend’s deductions. ‘I wonder if he hid them somewhere on the terrace while he was talking to me? Do you think I delayed him making his escape?’
‘By a few minutes certainly. Though he didn’t really escape as such.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He went into the gardener’s shed to change his costume before returning to the house.’
‘Did he really? I didn’t think of looking for him in the gardener’s shed at the time,’ said Lavinia, dismay showing in her face. ‘I wish I had. I searched the whole of the garden too, and, when I couldn’t find him, I returned to the house to see if he was in the ballroom.’
‘How long did you spend looking for him?’
‘I don’t know exactly, but quite a while, I should imagine. I needed to satisfy myself that he wasn’t there, you see. It was rather difficult in the ballroom because there were so many dancing couples, to say nothing of the guests watching the dancing. And then I went out on to the landing, because it occurred to me he might be in one of the other rooms. That’s when I met Hallam and he asked me whether I had seen him.’
‘And you told him you hadn’t?’
‘Yes,’ said Lavinia, beginning to sound a trifle bored. ‘Well, I think I’ve told you everything –’
‘One more question,’ said Rose quickly. ‘Did he speak to you?’
‘Hallam?’ Lavinia looked surprised.
‘Not Hallam,’ Rose said patiently, ‘the man in the gold cravat?’
‘No, he didn’t, which I admit I found rather vexing because, as I think I have already told you,’ said Lavinia, wrinkling her brow, ‘one can usually tell the age of a man by his voice and whether he is handsome or not. I say, what’s the matter? You look as if you’d had a fright.’
‘It’s all right,’ said Rose smiling, gently cradling her stomach. ‘It’s only the baby. He gave a little kick, that’s all.’
‘Oh, do let me feel,’ exclaimed Lavinia, her boredom all but forgotten as she hastily seated herself beside Rose and put her hand on her friend’s stomach. ‘I don’t care what anyone else says, I’m quite certain the baby’s a little girl. I do hope it is.’ She gave a squeal of delight. ‘Oh, I felt her kick; I did really.’
It was at this point in the proceedings that Hallam arrived, announced by Manning, the butler, who looked somewhat taken aback to find Lavinia kneeling on the floor, her hand on Rose’s stomach, cooing sweetly. As befitted his station, however, he passed no judgment. The same could not be said for Hallam, who was considerably less reticent.
‘Good heavens, Lavinia! What are you doing?’
‘Feeling the baby kick. Oh, Hallam, darling, it’s too adorable.’
‘I’ll take your word for it, old thing,’ Hallam said, crossing the room and sitting down. ‘I do hope you’re feeling well, Rose, and not finding all this too trying.’ He leant back in his chair. ‘Are you following any leads?’
‘One or two,’ Rose said, rather evasively and smiled.
‘I suppose you consider me to be in the enemy camp,’ Hallam said, a little crestfallen. ‘I can hardly blame you. I’m frightfully sorry about the deception.’
‘Well, I do,’
exclaimed Lavinia. ‘I think you’ve behaved quite appallingly. You promised me your friends were very fine dancers, but I didn’t see Commander Wrenfield dance once all evening. And now Rose tells me the commander attended our ball simply to arrange for the return of some secret papers.’
A somewhat bemused look crossed Hallam’s face. In light of her rather muddled narrative, the young man was evidently wondering how much Lavinia knew of the events that had taken place in The Retreat on the night of the ball. That his friend was aware of some of the salient details was obvious and this fact did little to soothe his mind. If anything, he felt his temper rising and before he could stop himself he said:
‘If you’d left me well alone, there wouldn’t have been any difficulties. No one would have known that I was standing behind the screen, or that I was guarding anything, come to that. Not if you hadn’t insisted on drawing attention to the fact.’
‘That’s a jolly unkind thing to say,’ cried Lavinia, somewhat taken aback, her cheeks becoming a vivid crimson. ‘It was hardly my fault if you caused the screen to shudder. What a jolly silly place to hide. Someone was bound to notice you. It was pure chance that it happened to be me.’
‘Yes,’ said Hallam. ‘But you asked me no end of questions, when I made it quite clear I wished you to be gone. In fact, you made quite a scene.’
‘I did no such thing,’ said Lavinia indignantly. ‘Rose, tell him,’ she said, appealing to her friend. ‘You were there.’
‘I don’t believe Lavinia acted unreasonably,’ said Rose, choosing her words with care, not wishing to offend either party.
‘There you are,’ said Lavinia triumphantly. ‘Rose agrees with me.’
‘What I don’t understand,’ said Hallam, ‘is why you saw the need to return to the screen to peer at me in that ridiculous fashion. I suppose,’ he conceded, ‘you wanted to see if I was still there. But it was jolly vexing, I can tell you.’
‘I did nothing of the sort.’
‘You know perfectly well you did. You saw the door behind me opening and you wanted to see who was in the room.’
Murder at the Masquerade Ball Page 24
