A Bloody Hot Summer

by Trevor D'Silva

  “So she did not think that Charles had anything to do with it?”

  “No, she saw Charles walk past the laundry door to the kitchen. She didn’t believe that he would harm the boy. Why would he want to hurt his little master who hadn’t done him any harm?”

  “Anything else?”

  She shook her head.

  “What about the clock striking when she was in the laundry yard?”

  “Oh… yes… she kept goin’ on about that. She said she heard the clock strike four-thirty twice. I told her that it does, once in the morning and once in the evening. But she said it was only a few minutes after she heard it strike the first time when Miss Fitzhugh said she was at the library door. She then saw the three of ’em go into the stables and ride off towards the meadow.”

  “Yes, she was beginning to tell me about that when we were interrupted. It didn’t make sense to me either.”

  “Abigail was a little dim-witted. Even at school and when we trained to become maids, she made silly mistakes. She was my friend and I tried to ’elp her. I suppose she wanted to show off that she knew somethin’, but it may’ve been nothin’. I think she may have made it up, because a clock don’t strike the same after a few minutes.”

  Dermot nodded. “You two grew up together?”

  “Yes, Detective. Been friends since we were small. Her family was glad we got hired together because they knew I’d look after ’er. She may’ve been a silly girl, but she was kind and didn’t deserve to die like that,” Alice said, teary eyed.

  “Did you see anything unusual on that day?”

  Alice wiped her tears. “Now that you mention it, when I fetched the tray from the library, I saw some dried mud and a leaf on the carpet. I saw the same on the day her Ladyship’s body was found. Probably don’t mean anythin’ though. Loads of people went into the library at the party, could’ve come from their shoes.”

  “You’re right; anything else?”

  She smiled. “Mrs. Withers was upset that the knife was a bit blunt.”

  “Which one?”

  “The knife Miss Carter put on the tea tray for Miss Fitzhugh and Mr. Seymour. Miss Fitzhugh said that she used it to cut the apple, but I don’t think that would’ve made the knife blunt.”

  “Interesting,” Dermot said and then he thanked Alice and left.

  Chapter 17: Painter’s Muse

  Dermot took the lift to the floor where Richard lived in Mayfair, London. He knocked on the door of the flat and Richard opened it, wearing a shirt with paint stains on it and holding a colour palette.

  “Ahh, Detective Carlyle,” Richard said, looking taken aback. “What a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?”

  “I was in the vicinity and I wanted to talk to you about Hector’s accident.”

  Richard rolled his eyes. “I’ve already told Inspector Enderby everything that happened. It was just an accident… Please come in.”

  As Dermot entered, he got the smell of paint. He looked in the corner of the room and saw a blonde woman, wrapped in a sheet, posing in front of a half-finished painting on an easel. She winked at Dermot and greeted him. Richard introduced her as Felicity, his model.

  “Ooooooo, so you’re really a detective like Sherlock Holmes? Never met a detective before.”

  “Sort of, but without Dr. Watson.”

  Felicity chuckled.

  “You’re painting her for your next gallery exhibition?” asked Dermot with a smile.

  “Yes. I know what you’re thinking, Detective, but an artist has to be open-minded and paint everything, including beautiful women,” Richard replied.

  “By the way, congratulations on your engagement. Mrs. Fitzhugh mentioned it to me.”

  Dermot noticed the frown on Richard’s face and immediately looked over at Felicity.

  “Richard, you cheeky devil, you never told me that you’re engaged to that girl you’re seeing,” said Felicity, sounding hurt.

  “It just slipped my mind… Now, Felicity, why don’t you put on some clothes and run along. The detective wants to talk to me. We can finish your painting another time.”

  She giggled. “Yes, darling.” She got up with the sheet wrapped around her, went into the bathroom, and closed the door.

  Dermot asked Richard to tell him what happened on the day that Hector had his accident. Richard began by telling Dermot about making plans with Pippa to ride the horses and about Hector wanting to join them. He then told Dermot what happened after the three of them took the horses from the stables and about Hector’s accident.

  “Hmm, I can see nothing wrong with your story, but… well, Abigail said something strange to me a few minutes before she was attacked and killed…”

  The bathroom door opened and Felicity came out. She kissed Richard on the cheek, wished them both goodbye, and left.

  After she left, Dermot continued, “Abigail told me that she did not see Pippa outside the library door when the clock in the library started chiming at four-thirty p.m. She was passing by the library, taking a glass of lemonade for Constable Jenkins at the front door. Only you can corroborate whether Pippa was really at the library door when the clock chimed. It will help strengthen Pippa’s alibi.”

  “Detective, you have my word that Pippa was knocking at the library door at four-thirty. Constable Barnaby also heard the clock chime and I told him that Pippa was at the door knocking.

  “Maybe Abigail was mistaken.”

  “Yes, she was. We all know Abigail was not a bright girl. She probably invented that just to make herself sound smart. The door was closed because I didn’t want one of those old birds seeing me without a shirt and throwing a fit. They get upset very easily… especially Aunt Lilian.”

  “Yes, I know. But why didn’t you want to change in the bathroom?”

  “You see, Detective, I was reading a book. It was so engrossing that I didn’t want to idle away my time in the bathroom doing nothing. Pippa was okay with me being in the library because the bathroom was at the other end of the corridor. The shirt needed to come off immediately so that the stain wouldn’t have time to set.”

  “Which book were you reading?”

  “Moby Dick. My father told me the story as a child. I was fascinated with the story of Captain Ahab and how doggedly he pursued the whale, but ultimately his passion for revenge got the better of him and killed him. I was reading it as I waited in the library while Pippa went to the stables and told Charles to get the horses ready. Miss Carter had already put the tray with the tea, sandwiches, and apples in the library. The book was interesting and I didn’t want to put it down.”

  “Pippa told me about hearing a breaking sound twice…”

  “Yes, I was very clumsy that day. The teacup I was drinking from fell on the floor as I was placing it on the tray and then when I picked it up it slipped from my hand and broke.”

  Dermot nodded slowly and continued.

  “Pippa also told me that you took the torch from the desk in the library.”

  “I found the torch in the desk and used it to look for pieces of the teacup on the floor. I then took it along with us since we had decided to take Hector on a tour of the caves near the stream. I put it in the saddle bag on Hector’s horse. It must still be lying where Hector and the saddle fell.”

  “Now, speaking of clothes, does Pippa know that you paint women with hardly any clothes on?”

  Richard laughed. “Detective, what are you? The morality police? Yes, she does. All painters have to paint people in the nude or with hardly any clothes on.”

  “I hope that you’re aware that Pippa thinks that you love her and are faithful
to her. She wouldn’t fancy you fooling around with a saucy dish like Felicity.”

  A wave of anger swept through Richard’s face.

  “Well, Detective, it really is none of your business,” he said. “You can be sure that once Pippa and I are married, this will all stop. Felicity is one of those flapper tarts, good for a little nookie.” Richard then lowered his voice. “Pippa would make a good wife, but Francis – who as you know owns the theatre where she acts – seems keen on her. I could tell when I met him and I’ve seen him following us to Meadowford and around London. I haven’t told Pippa. I don’t want her thinking I’m against her being an actress, like her mother and aunts.”

  “How did you know that I met Francis?” asked Dermot, surprised.

  “Pippa told me. Francis mentioned to her that a detective knew who she was and she gathered that it was you. She’s very grateful that you’ve kept her secret. Her aunts still adhere to the Victorian mentality that only loose women become actresses and they would do anything to prevent her from becoming one.”

  Dermot tried not to smile and then said in a serious tone, “Pippa mentioned that you fought in the Great War.”

  Richard was caught by surprise and responded, “Yes, I was injured in France. Recovery was long and hard. I had no family… only my talent to help me. I worked as an odd job man while I painted. Once I got an art gallery in London to take my paintings, things started working for me.”

  Dermot spotted a picture of a young girl on the table. “Who’s that?”

  Richard looked at the picture and his expression changed. He picked it up and gazed at it with sadness. “That’s my daughter. She died during the Spanish flu epidemic. Her mother died in childbirth.”

  Dermot sympathised with him and then tactfully asked if he knew the reason why Lady Fitzhugh had invited him to her birthday party.

  “No. I was surprised when she invited me a few hours before the party and also when she asked me to meet her the next morning. Pippa felt that maybe she had finally come to accept me. We’ll never know,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

  Dermot thanked him. Then as he was about to leave, Richard said, “Detective, if I were you I would take a closer look at Charles. He isn’t trustworthy.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Richard began narrating an incident that he witnessed when he first visited Fitzhugh Manor. Pippa had told him that they had horses at the stables and he went alone after dinner to have a look. As he approached the stables, he heard two people talking. He crept on slowly and saw Charles talking to Irene Shaw. Irene was telling him that Lady Fitzhugh was going to call her solicitor and add her to the will since she knew who she really was. Then Charles said how marvellous it would be if Irene would get that money immediately, instead of waiting for her Ladyship to die. They could elope and then go to Paris for their honeymoon.

  Dermot interrupted him to ask if he had heard what Irene meant about who she really was, but Richard just shrugged his shoulders. Dermot then asked him to continue.

  Richard explained that the pair had heard footsteps approaching. Irene looked outside and saw that it was Pippa coming down the hill. Irene left the stables from another door and Charles went to his room. Richard went up to Pippa and she was startled to see him. They both went into the stables and, as they petted the horses, Charles came down from his room and pretended that he was up there reading a book. He had no idea that Richard had heard a part of his conversation with Irene.

  “Why didn’t you mention this before?”

  “Irene had been fired many days prior to the murder and Charles sleeps in the stables, so I didn’t think it was important until now. I haven’t even told Pippa about it. When you mentioned that Abigail told you that nobody can be in two places at the same time, I thought of Charles and Irene. An accomplice could’ve let them in.”

  Dermot smiled. “Mr. Seymour, I thank you for that important piece of information.”

  — — —

  As Dermot was heading to the lift, he almost bumped into Felicity.

  “Oooooo, Detective. I forgot my purse in Richard’s flat. I need it to pay the taxi or I cannot go home… Cheerio!”

  She touched his shoulder, giggled, and walked away. Dermot couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something strange in her behaviour.

  Chapter 18: A Woman Unveiled

  The next morning, Dermot drove to Fitzhugh Manor and went to the stables. From a distance, he could see Charles holding a bucket and feeding a horse. Charles saw Dermot approaching.

  “Morning, Detective. What brings you ’ere?”

  “You’ve not been completely honest with me.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean, eh?” said Charles, putting the bucket with the horse feed down. “I told you and that Inspector Enderby what happened that day Hector had his accident.”

  “Yes, I’ve no doubt about that, but you didn’t tell us that you were seeing Irene Shaw or that you were planning on eloping together when she got some money from Lady Fitzhugh’s estate.”

  Charles’ eyes widened and he stepped back, steadying himself against the wooden door of the horse’s stall.

  “How… how’d you know that?”

  “Never mind. Now tell me, how were you two planning on getting Irene’s inheritance early? Was it by murdering Lady Fitzhugh?”

  Charles looked like a cornered animal and slowly began speaking. “No… You see, Detective, Irene is the illegitimate daughter of Frida Wilson, who worked as a maid at the manor many years ago. Lord Fitzhugh…”

  Dermot was startled when he heard the name. He asked Charles to continue.

  “Her Ladyship dismissed Frida when she discovered she was pregnant… On the urging of her mother, Irene obtained work here as a lady’s maid and, when she grew close to Lady Fitzhugh, she told her who she was and also showed her proof. Lady Fitzhugh had mellowed down a bit in her old age and she felt that she had wronged Frida. So she said that she would give Irene a legacy under certain conditions.”

  “What were those conditions?”

  “I’m saying nothing. You’ll have to ask Irene… We thought we’d not have to wait long as Lady Fitzhugh was very old and would die soon.”

  “You know, this new revelation doesn’t look good for Irene and you. Besides, you were the last person to handle Hector’s saddle.”

  “Detective, I swear that we never had anything to do with what happened. Irene was never mentioned in the will.”

  “How’d you know that?”

  “…because she was fired for stealing that necklace, which she didn’t.”

  Dermot nodded, he knew very well that Charles had a point. Dermot cautioned Charles about leaving Meadowford and told him that if he did the law would be after him. Charles nodded with relief and wiped the sweat from his face.

  — — —

  Dermot drove out of Meadowford and headed to St. Crispin’s Village and the Boar’s Head pub where Irene Shaw worked. When he entered the pub, he saw Irene behind the counter serving drinks to two men. A look of surprise swept through her face when she saw Dermot.

  “What can I do for you?” she asked, trying not to make it obvious that Dermot was connected with the police. He moved closer to her and whispered, “We need to talk. I need to ask you about the inheritance Lady Fitzhugh was about to leave you.”

  Irene’s eyes widened and her expression betrayed that she was hiding something.

  “Let me ask the landlord if I can take my break now.”

  Dermot nodded and Irene walked through the curtain behind her. She emerged a few minutes later and an older bearded man followed her and stood behind the counter. Dermo
t surmised that he must be the owner.

  Irene followed Dermot outside and they sat down on a bench. Dermot told her that he knew who she really was and about her conversation with Charles.

  “It’s true that we said that,” she said, looking ashamed. “But we had nothing to do with the death of Lady Fitzhugh. You must believe me.”

  “This new revelation makes both you and Charles suspects. It would be best if you tell me what happened.”

  Irene became a little calmer and told Dermot about her mother being seduced by Lord Fitzhugh when she was a maid at Fitzhugh Manor. Frida told him of her pregnancy before he left for South Africa, and he told her to get rid of the baby. When Frida told Doris Fitzhugh this, she accused Frida of lying and dismissed her to avoid a scandal. She was given three months’ salary in advance, a good reference, and was warned never to reveal the paternity of the baby.

  “How did you get employed at the manor?”

  “I saw an advertisement for a lady’s maid and I applied through the agency. I have many years of experience working as a lady’s maid for one of the ladies here in the village and also in London, and they gave me good references. So I got the job.”

  “How did you manage to tell her Ladyship who you really were?”

  “She once remarked that I reminded her of someone, but she couldn’t remember who. When I managed to gain her trust, I told her who I really was. I also told her about my mother being an invalid. She got upset and apologised to me. She said that she would leave me a legacy in her will on one condition: nobody was to know who I really was. She didn’t want the family involved in another scandal like when her brother died. I agreed. When the solicitor arrived a few days later, the wills went missing and so she was not able to add me to her will.”

  “So it wasn’t you who stole those wills and then put them back?”