The Last Mrs. Summers

by Rhys Bowen

  “He was. But it was hopeless. The currents are so strong when the tide is coming in. Colin was swept away and disappeared under the water.”

  We drove on in silent contemplation. I wondered how I’d handle it if I’d let a pal drown. They’d done all they could, at least Jago had done all he could. Presumably Tony too. But Jonquil had known that Colin couldn’t swim. And now Jonquil was dead. I began to wish I had never accepted Belinda’s invitation and had stayed safely but boringly at Eynsleigh.

  Belinda was clearly having the same sort of thoughts. The moment we were together upstairs, sprucing ourselves up before tea, she tapped on my door. “What do you say we forget about the cottage for now and flee?” she said. “Darling, if I’d known what I was getting you into, I’d have left you alone.” She closed the door behind her and came over to me. “Do you think that Rose is batty? I mean, I knew Tony pretty well and I simply can’t believe that he’d go around murdering wives.”

  I nodded. “And yet it’s clear she’s scared, isn’t it? And something must have prompted her to start wondering whether Jonquil’s death was an accident. I don’t know how you’d ever prove that it wasn’t, unless there was an eyewitness.”

  “She said Tony got rid of all the staff, didn’t she? Perhaps one of them saw something.”

  “Then you’d want to keep a close eye on them, not set them free to gossip. And he didn’t get rid of Mrs. Mannering. If anyone was spying through a window, it would have been her.”

  “But she adored Jonquil,” Belinda reminded me. “If she’d seen Tony giving her a push, she’d definitely have gone straight to the police.”

  I nodded, agreeing with this. “But I’m with you on fleeing as soon as we can. Since your builder can’t do anything until he’s renovated Trengilly, why don’t you leave a key with him and ask him to get in touch when he’s had a chance to inspect the place.”

  “Good idea,” Belinda said. “We’ll make our excuses and go in the morning.”

  “Do you think it’s all right to leave Rose in the lurch like this? I mean, what if we go and then we find that she has had a horrible accident?”

  “We can’t stay on indefinitely, can we? She’ll have to make up her mind what she wants to do with her life. And I still think the whole thing is in her head.”

  “I don’t know about you, but I could do with a good cup of tea,” I said. “This sort of weather has chilled me to the marrow. And those little cakes and scones yesterday were heavenly, weren’t they?”

  Belinda agreed that they were. As we entered the long gallery where tea was served we heard voices.

  “Tony must be back,” Belinda said. “Oh God. All right. Let’s face the music, shall we?”

  As we came closer we noticed that the hair appearing above the back of the armchair was dark, not fair. And parted in the middle.

  Rose looked up from her teacup, with a strained smile on her face. “Ah, here they are now,” she said. “A surprise for you, Belinda. Look who is here.”

  “Uncle Francis,” Belinda exclaimed.

  “He stopped by to give his compliments,” Rose said. “He had just heard that I now lived here and he wanted to congratulate me on my marriage. Apparently he remembered me fondly from my childhood, and my mother’s cooking. Wasn’t that sweet.”

  “Very sweet,” Belinda said in a voice that could have cut glass.

  “And also delighted to find my one and only niece here too,” Uncle Francis said. “I was hoping to give my regards to young Tony Summers as well. I remember him from those years. A fine young yachtsman, I remember. Does he still sail?”

  “We have a small sailboat,” Rose said, “but I don’t think he has much time for sailing. He’s very busy with the property and the farm.”

  “He should come and crew for me,” Uncle Francis said. “I’ve a forty-footer. Handles a rough sea splendidly. So when do you expect that rogue of a husband to return home, Rose?”

  “I’ve no idea. He comes home when he’s hungry, usually. But why do you say he’s a rogue?”

  “He’s raking in the money at the expense of poor creatures like me, that’s why,” Francis said. “Do you know he’s doubled the mooring rents, and as for lobsters—he’s created a monopoly. He owns all the best bits of coast around here. If you try to put down a pot, the blighter pinches it.” He stopped, realizing perhaps that it might not be tactful to run down a woman’s husband if he wanted her support. “He probably has no idea, of course. It’s probably his estate manager or someone in his office who is in charge of moorings and licenses.”

  “Tony doesn’t have a manager,” Rose said. “He has a secretary and a man who oversees the farm, but that’s about it. And I remember he mentioned those mooring fees. They hadn’t been raised since before the Great War.”

  “That’s as may be. But they’ve put chaps like me in a bind,” he said. “Living on a pittance, you know. My mother—your dear mum’s old employer—left everything to my niece here. Everything. Cuts off her son without a penny.”

  There was an awkward silence. “That’s not quite fair, Uncle Francis,” Belinda said. “When she sold Trengilly she settled half of it on you.”

  “Yes, in a trust, doled out to me like a child’s pocket money,” he said. “Not even enough for a decent Bordeau or a good steak.”

  Belinda was still standing, her hand on the back of the sofa. “Uncle Francis,” she said, “I don’t think it’s right to come here and air your grievances in front of strangers. You are making Rose feel quite uncomfortable, and she was nice enough to offer you tea.”

  “It’s all right for Rose,” he said. “She’s landed on her feet, hasn’t she? And her mother too. I understand my mother gave her the money to start her own tea shop. If she’d done the same for her only son, I could have set myself up in some kind of business too.”

  Nobody spoke. Uncle Francis took a big bite of a chocolate éclair. “Such a treat,” he said. “It’s toast and dripping for a pauper like me.” He stood suddenly. “Well, I can see that I’ve outstayed my welcome. I don’t think I’ll wait around to see if young Tony comes home. Probably not much point. I’ll bid you all adieu. And thanks for the tea, Rose. Quite delicious. Quite up to your mother’s standard. Did you bake the cakes yourself?”

  “Of course not,” Rose said. “We have a wonderful cook.” She picked up a bell. “I’ll have someone show you out.”

  “Don’t worry. I can find my own way,” Uncle Francis said. “I used to come up here a lot when I was a boy. I was friendly with Ferrers Trefusis—the one who was so tragically killed in that air crash. We used to run all over this place. Knew every nook and cranny. And the parties! What a great house for sardines, what?”

  For a moment he had been smiling, then the smile faded. “I hope you’ll bring it back to life, Rose. That’s what we need around here. Gaiety, laughter! I also bid you farewell, niece. Enjoy your wealth while you can.”

  Then he stomped out, brushing against a statue of a Hindu god and making it teeter on its table.

  Chapter 14

  OCTOBER 17

  TREWOMA

  Belinda has suggested we go tomorrow morning. I couldn’t agree more. Having that little fracas with Uncle Francis was the last straw! What an unpleasant relative. If Belinda had had to put up with him and her stepmother, no wonder she wanted to get away from family. I always felt that Fig was bad, but not that bad! Golly, if I’m thinking fondly of Fig, I must be homesick.

  “I must apologize for my uncle,” Belinda said as soon as he had gone. “Horrible man. I always thought so.”

  “I have to confess that I did too,” Rose said. “I wasn’t going to say this but when I was visiting once he trapped me in the hallway outside the kitchen and he groped me. He ran his hands over my front and told me I was developing nicely. I was so shocked I never told anyone but I made sure I stayed out of his way after that.�
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  “I had similar experiences,” Belinda agreed. “If he calls again I’d have the servants tell him you are not home. And warn Tony about him too.”

  Rose shifted uncomfortably. “The trouble is that he has been raising all the local fees and he’s put a lot of backs up around here. Old men who have moored their boats in a particular spot all their lives now suddenly have to pay double. I did suggest it wasn’t going down well, but Tony just said that they need to move with the times. You know what Cornwall is like. Nothing ever changes.”

  The embarrassment gradually melted away as a new plate of warm scones was brought in.

  “Perhaps we shouldn’t mention your uncle’s visit to Tony,” Rose said when his voice was heard in the foyer. “I don’t like to upset him after he’s been working all day.”

  That was strange to hear, I felt. At one second she was saying she feared he was going to kill her, but this sounded like a caring wife, concerned for her husband.

  We went up to change for dinner. Belinda paused outside her door. “Uncle Francis really is the last straw, isn’t he, darling,” she muttered. “I can tell you, I nearly died of embarrassment. It was all I could do not to tip the teapot over his head.”

  I had to chuckle at this image. “I suppose he was using your being here to try and get more favorable terms from Tony.”

  “Of course he was. What a slimy snake he is. No wonder Granny didn’t trust him. How dare he come here. First thing tomorrow we go.”

  As I entered my room I started in surprise. Mrs. Mannering was standing beside my bed.

  “Ah, here you are, my lady,” she said. “I came up to help you dress again. I have laid out the blue gown, or should I find you another choice for tonight if you don’t want to wear the same thing twice?”

  “Oh, Mrs. Mannering, this is very good of you,” I said, “but I am quite happy to wear that beautiful dress again.”

  “It certainly suits you,” she said. “It was made to compliment blond hair.”

  I had to stand there, feeling strangely embarrassed, while she eased my jumper over my head, helped me step out of my skirt and then put on the blue evening dress. I felt her cold fingers as she hooked at my bare back. There was something reptilian about them and I tried not to shudder or to push her away.

  “If you’ll take a seat at the dressing table I will take care of your hair, my lady,” she said. She almost pushed me onto the stool, took the brush and started to brush my hair in long, even strokes. I saw my reflection in the looking glass, my tense uneasiness. My hair was short and easy to manage. A few strokes would have sufficed, but Mrs. Mannering went on brushing, stroke after stroke until I wanted to cry out.

  “How I have missed this,” she said. “I always brushed Miss Jonquil’s lovely hair until it shone like spun gold. The current mistress of this house is not worthy of my ministrations. She would not appreciate them. It takes a true lady to allow a servant to do her job.”

  “She is trying hard, Mrs. Mannering,” I said. “It must be very strange for her and she needs encouragement. You could help her fit in and learn this way of life.”

  “You have to be born to it, my lady. Breeding counts. That’s what I’ve always known.”

  She slid a jeweled hair clip to hold back a curl. “Very nice. I will now go and make sure all is ready for your dinner.”

  I let out a sigh of relief as she closed the door behind her. I hurried down to join the others. Dinner was again outstanding. I hoped that I could find a cook like this one. Queenie’s food was—well—satisfactory and filling. This was a gourmet treat. Oysters followed by a creamy cauliflower soup, then roast pheasant surrounded by tiny slivers of roast potato and creamed spinach, and finally floating islands followed by squares of grilled cheese. Each course was accompanied by plenty of wine. Feeling replete and content we went through for coffee. Again Tony joined us immediately and poured us a generous snifter of brandy each. “Come on, drink up,” he said. I heard the belligerence in his voice and wondered if he’d knocked back a bit too much at dinner.

  Belinda steered the conversation to White Sails, chatting about the possible renovations to the cottage and the reputation of the builder and what Jago was doing at Trengilly.

  “That blighter,” Tony said. “Don’t tell me he’s commandeered Harris for Trengilly. The money certainly flows freely there, doesn’t it? And who knows how it’s acquired?” He gave a knowing grin. “I think that Panopolis fellow has got fingers in a lot of suspicious pies. Shipping business? Argentina? I wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t weapons. Probably selling them to the Nazis in Germany.”

  “Oh, surely not, Tony. You do jump to conclusions,” Rose said. “I heard he was in banking.”

  “What would you know about banking?” Tony gave her a patronizing smile.

  Belinda cleared her throat and mentioned that we were planning to go home in the morning.

  “Since the builder will not be able to give his attention to White Sails for a while, I thought there is no point in waiting around here.”

  Rose reached out and touched Tony’s hand. “Oh, but we love having you, don’t we, Tony?”

  “Absolutely,” Tony said. “Livens up the place no end.” He gave Belinda a quick glance.

  “But Georgie needs to get home. She needs to be there when her husband returns from his trip,” Belinda said. “She’s newly married. Pining for him.”

  “Lucky chap,” Tony said.

  There was silence, then he said, “I know, why don’t we play cards? There are four of us. Whist? Bridge?”

  “I’m hopeless at cards as you very well know,” Rose said.

  “Well then, this is a good opportunity to improve your skills when you are among friends.” Tony gave her a long look. “Come on, Rose. Don’t be a wet blanket.”

  And so we played. As it turned out Rose wasn’t nearly as poor a player as she described. Rather astute at times. She and I were partners and we won quite handily. Tony grudgingly handed over some money. “You see,” he said. “You can do these things if you put your mind to it.”

  “Not really. It was all because of Georgie’s skill that we won.”

  This wasn’t true and we all knew it. I was again glad when the evening came to an end and we bid each other good night.

  “I’m going to get some hot cocoa after all this excitement,” Rose said. “Does anyone else want some?”

  “Won’t Cook have gone to bed?” Tony asked.

  “I can make my own hot cocoa, Tony. I did fend for myself for several years,” Rose said. “Are you sure I can’t bring some for the rest of you?”

  We declined. Rose headed off in one direction, toward the kitchens, while Belinda and I went upstairs together.There was no escaping the dreaded Mrs. Mannering, lurking to help me undress, but I did refuse her offer to brush my hair again. I thought of taking a bath, as there was a lovely large tub in the bathroom at the far end of the hall, but tiredness overcame me so I made do with a wash in the basin in my room. I had just been down the hall to the lavatory when I passed Belinda’s room. Her door was slightly ajar and I heard voices. Belinda’s voice, high and strained: “Tony, what are you doing? Are you mad? You have to leave immediately.”

  I knew I should not be listening in to other people’s conversations but I wouldn’t make myself move.

  “Oh come on, Belinda. Don’t be a spoilsport. I thought you and I had something special going once, didn’t we?”

  “I wasn’t the one who was engaged to someone else and forgot to mention it,” Belinda said.

  “I know. It was stupid of me. I realized later it was you I really wanted. I allowed myself to be seduced by all that Jonquil offered. My own father had lost his fortune. I was in a boring, mindless job that I hated. And here was Jonquil, with Trewoma and properties around the world. An heiress. I knew it was a mistake the moment I married her.”
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br />   “A mistake? I thought you were madly in love with her? You were grieving when she died.”

  “The truth, Belinda, is that she was a foul person. Completely self-centered. Didn’t care a hoot about me. Invited her lovers down here. Can you believe that? Some chap moored his boat to our dock and Jonquil disappeared down there for the night. But she knew I couldn’t divorce her. I couldn’t give up all this.”

  “So it was rather convenient when she died?” Belinda asked.

  I held my breath. She was treading on really dangerous ground.

  “Convenient? It seemed like a miracle. I couldn’t believe it. I was free.”

  “And yet you went and married Rose so quickly. You didn’t come looking for me,” Belinda said.

  “I seem doomed to make mistakes,” Tony said. “I bumped into Rose in London. I took her out for a meal. She seemed so pathetically grateful that I felt sorry for her. We both drank rather more than we should and we wound up in bed together. She was a virgin. A virgin at twenty-seven? Can you believe it?”

  “And she wound up pregnant from that one night?”

  Tony let out a large sigh. “Frankly I had forgotten all about her. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. It meant nothing. So you can imagine I got the shock of my life when she showed up on my doorstep a couple of months later and announced that she was pregnant. She was in a terrible state. She was going to lose her job when they found out. Her mother would never forgive her. She had nowhere to go.”

  “So you did the right thing,” Belinda said.

  “I did the right thing. I offered to marry her. She jumped at the chance. We were married right away in a registry office. And no sooner were we married than she had a miscarriage and lost the baby.”

  “Tony—” Belinda said. “Are you sure she was really pregnant?”

  “Well, yes. I mean, I never questioned. But what does it matter? I was stuck with her. With Rose. Boring old Rose. You’ve seen how out of place she is here. And of course everyone knows she was the cook’s daughter. She’ll never be accepted into local society.”