by Jack Murray
There was silence for a few moments and then Mary asked how the interviews were progressing. This was a welcome distraction and Kit was happy to fill in everyone on what he and Miller had found out.
‘Harry and I have mostly established where people were over the last day, but some questions clearly remain unanswered. As to motive, assuming we are dealing with,’ he hesitated a moment, then continued, ‘…murder, we do not have anything that seems plausible.’
‘The telephone is working again,’ said Mary.
‘Good, I want to make some calls tomorrow to London, if I may,’ said Kit. Both girls nodded. Then he added, ‘It seems less cold tonight. With luck the roads will be passable tomorrow, so I suspect the police will finally be able to visit.’
Mary took Esther’s hand. ‘It also means they’ll take our grandfather away.’
‘Yes,’ said Bright. ‘I imagine they shall want to conduct a post-mortem soon. We should know more about what we’re dealing with when they’ve finished.’
Following a few minutes more of conversation, the sisters rose and retired to their room. As much as Kit longed to console them, he realized they needed one another at this moment. The last thing he wanted to do was to intrude on their private grief. Bright seemed to read his thoughts and said, ‘Nothing we can do at this point.’
‘I know,’ agreed Kit.
Kit decided to turn in also. As he left the room, he met Strangerson who was just coming into the drawing room, ‘Thought I’d have a little glass of cheerfulness. Definitely needed. It’s been a rough day.’
Kit heartily agreed.
Chapter 21
27th December 1919: Cavendish Hall
The next morning Kit pulled his bedroom curtains back to reveal a silvery grey sky and sheets of rain falling steadily onto the ground. It pleased Kit to see this. Rain meant that the snow would clear, and they could make progress on what killed Lord Cavendish. It meant also he would be taken away, for the last time from Cavendish Hall. This would be a symbolic break with the past for Esther and Mary.
Unquestionably it would be emotional. He felt sad for the two girls as they faced a life without both their father and their grandfather. He did not doubt they were strong individuals who would cope in these circumstances. However, there was no question of the bond existing between the sisters and their grandfather. They would miss him greatly.
Many questions remained unanswered and one more person remained to be seen, Reverend Simmons. It would be better to see him first thing in the morning, if only to give him fair warning about the possibility of the police needing to interview him. Seeing the clergyman again would be a good excuse to get away from the sad atmosphere in the Hall.
Kit was the first to arrive for breakfast. Curtis seemed to have regained control after the turmoil of yesterday. However, Kit could feel, not just see, the void behind his eyes. It was important for Lady Emily to clarify her plans for the future of the staff soon. Kit made a mental note to approach Esther and Mary about this.
After a rapid breakfast, Kit retrieved his overcoat and hat. Sam appeared looking very bright.
‘Walk?’ asked Kit. Sam readily assented, and Kit put his lead on, feeling a little guilty. His little dog disliked the rain intensely and he would be a little put out at having been taken for a fool.
They made their way through the rain to Reverend Simmons. The snow was becoming a brown-grey slush and began to soak through Kit’s boots. Sam, as Kit surmised, had not realized it was raining and was making his feelings clear. A remorseful Kit picked him up and carried him to the Rectory.
Reverend Simmons was delighted to see Kit. The delight turned to sadness in an instant when Kit revealed his sad commission. They both sat down in the drawing room.
‘I’m sorry we couldn’t come down yesterday to inform you. In truth, I became wrapped up in some elements related to his passing and I forgot. The girls were probably too distraught to think of asking someone to come down and inform you.’
‘Think nothing of it, Kit. I understand completely. But may I ask one thing?’ said Simmons looking at Kit, ‘Are you implying the circumstances of his death are suspicious due to its suddenness or is it something else? ‘
Kit replied, ‘Both, but I can’t talk about the latter. I think it’s best left to the police to decide how to handle.’
Simmons nodded his head, ‘So it will be a matter for the police?’
‘Yes, it must be so.’
‘Of course. The poor girls,’ said Simmons shaking his head. ‘How are they bearing up?’
‘Esther has really taken it hard. Mary also, but I sense she is stronger in controlling her emotions.’
This caused Simmons to smile and he nodded his head and smiled, ‘I wouldn’t disagree with you there.’
A faraway look entered the eyes of Simmons and Kit guessed the news was beginning to sink in. Not wanting to impose too much, Kit limited his questions with Simmons and took his leave after a short visit. They parted with Simmons thanking Kit for coming specially to relay the sad news.
Stepping out of the Rectory, Kit was relieved to see the rain had stopped and sunshine was threatening to break through the heavy cloud above. It was still icy, so he put his hat on and walked with Sam back towards the Hall. The air was damp, and Kit was keen to return to the Hall as quickly as possible. However, a familiar feeling in his leg forced him to slow his pace.
As he walked towards the Hall, he passed a middle-aged lady and a young girl coming from the direction of the Hall. Both looked at him and he returned their look. He raised his hat and addressed the older lady.
‘Good morning. Would I be right in thinking that you are Mrs Edmunds?’
‘Yes,’ came the reply.
Kit remembered Miller’s description of the Edmunds family as a charming mixture of hostility and taciturnity. He doubted if they would be interested in a conversation about the inclement weather, so he confined himself to saying, ‘My name is Aston, I’m staying with the family. I hope you’ll accept my condolences for the loss of Lord Cavendish.’
Sam clearly took a shine to Jane and was muzzling her shin. A smile burst onto the lips of the young girl and she knelt down to stroke the shameless little terrier.
‘This is Sam,’ added Kit.
‘We’ve met,’ said Jane, not looking at Kit. ‘Aren’t you a beautiful boy.’ Her voice was very different from her mother’s. It would not have been out of place at a debutante’s ball. Then Kit remembered something about her having been educated with the girls at the Hall.
Mrs Edmunds tapped Jane, ‘Come along.’ She nodded to Kit and said, ‘Good day sir.’
Kit tipped his hat again and they parted company. It was difficult to reconcile Miller’s description of the antagonistic young girl and the person he had just met. In any company she would be considered a beauty. She was tall, slender with wide set green eyes and high cheekbones. Only her clothes betrayed her humble origins because the gaze that met Kit suggested nobility.
Ever the man for the ladies, the meeting with a pretty girl seemed to perk Sam up and he trotted along happily to the Hall without demanding a lift. This did not pass unnoticed by Kit who rebuked his little friend for such barefaced attempts at wooing impressionable young girls. Sam merely barked a carefree riposte.
The morning walk to the village had taken its toll and Kit was relieved to be back at the Hall. His leg hurt, and he needed to rest. At the door he met Strangerson on his way out from a walk.
‘Making a break for it,’ said Strangerson with a smile, ‘Don’t tell the law, guv.’
‘Your secret’s save with me. Where are you off to?’
‘A walk into town, I think. Don’t worry I’ll be back to face justice.’
They parted company and Kit led Sam downstairs to see Miller. He knocked on the door and Miller invited him inside. Sam hoped up onto the bed and settled on Miller’s knee. This was staggering, and Miller looked at Kit for an explanation.
‘I think he’s i
n love.’
‘With the sisters?’ laughed Miller, ‘Well, we finally have something in common then mate.’
‘Actually, I think his new favourite is the daughter of Edmunds’.’
‘Really, where did you see them?’
Kit related his encounter with the two ladies. Both acknowledged the young girl was beautiful. Miller then updated Kit on his conversation with Curtis.
‘Does he really think Jane is Robert’s daughter?’
‘It’s an interesting thought, I’m not sure though it would constitute a motive unless they think provision has been made in Lord Cavendish’s will for her. Then it could become a reason to kill. At this point we don’t know enough about the will never mind accusing Robert Cavendish of fathering a child by one of the estate workers. I wonder why he would say that, though. Was Robert a bit of a cad?’
The two men agreed it was not the time to ask this sort of question directly. Instead, the best approach would be to listen out for any veiled comments on this. Miller looked out of the window at the grey skies and the rain falling gently onto the snow.
‘What is the plan today, sir?’
‘Wait for the police. They need to take over this case if it is a case, of course. I’ll stay involved, though, but in the background.’
‘Anything you want me to do?’ asked Miller.
‘Dig a bit more into the tracks in the snow. If the staff are telling the truth, then could it have been someone from the Hall going to the cottage? There are also tracks from the Hall to the stables. Those might be from Esther and Mary, so I’ll check with them. To be honest, it’s all conjecture at the moment. None of this may be relevant but it’s a loose end and, until it makes sense, it’ll drive me crazy,’ laughed Kit.
Kit went upstairs after his meeting with Miller. He heard the sound of the sisters in the library. They were talking animatedly but in low voices. It also seemed to Kit that they were talking to someone on the telephone because a burst of chat from them would be followed by a few moments of silence.
Miss Buchan came out of the dining room at this moment. They looked at one another and Kit was uncomfortably aware how his presence by the door gave the appearance of his eavesdropping on the girls. However, Miss Buchan either did not notice or was too tactful to suggest, by her look, this is what he was doing. She seemed to have recovered from yesterday and this was confirmed by Kit’s inquiry into how she was.
‘By the way, Miss Buchan, did anyone from the Hall go to the Edmunds cottage on Christmas Day? I saw tracks between the Hall and the cottage. They looked fresh.’
Unfortunately, Miss Buchan was unable to shed any light on who might have gone from the Hall. She seemed to be telling the truth, insofar as Kit was able to judge. They parted after this and Kit decided to go the library to see the two sisters. He knocked on the door but received no answer. Assuming they had not heard him, he tried a second time. Still no answer. Rather than wait he pushed the door open. The room was empty. Seems odd, he thought, where have the sisters gone?
-
Miller squelched out towards the cottage. The ground underneath his feet was a pleasant combination of sludge and ice. Up ahead he saw Edmunds walking towards the stables. Changing direction, he trotted over to join Edmunds as he walked towards the stables.
‘Are you a groom as well?’ asked Miller indicating the stables.
‘No, just Jane. There’s a barn behind the stables. I want to check on the equipment.’
Miller also noticed the trail of footsteps through the snow leading from the Hall to the stables. There seemed to be two sets of prints, but it was just as probable that it had been made by the same person returning. Miller could sense Edmunds looking at him. He turned and faced Edmunds.
‘Apart from Lord Cavendish, did anyone from the Hall come to visit your cottage over Christmas?’
Edmunds eyes narrowed, ‘What makes you ask that?’
Miller explained about the tracks in the snow. They continued to walk without Edmunds replying. Miller decided to wait for a reply. They reached the stables and Miller saw the horses for the first time. There were three horses, two greys and a chestnut. Edmunds went over to each of them and patted them. Each of the horses seemed to recognize Edmunds and, in Miller’s estimation, were pleased to see him.
The smell of manure in the stable was something Miller found eye wateringly pungent. Edmunds smiled at the reaction of Miller.
‘You’re from the city then.’
‘Born and bred.’
‘This is Queenie,’ said Edmunds, indicating one of the greys. ‘The other grey is Frisco, and the chestnut is Phantom.’
‘They’re beautiful. Your daughter looks after them well.’
‘They’re family to her.’ It was apparent Edmunds was not going to answer Miller’s earlier question so there was no point in this line of inquiry pursuing any further. After ensuring the feed and water containers were well stocked, Edmunds indicated he was finished in the stable. They went behind the stable to a large barn containing various items of farm equipment, feed for the horses as well as bales of hay. The smell of the manure now co-mingled with the sweeter smell of hay and petrol. It still gave off a stench that Miller knew he would never get used to.
‘You get used to it,’ said Edmunds, reading Miller’s mind.
‘Not sure I would, but there you go,’ said Miller with a laugh.
There seemed no prospect of getting anything useful out of Edmunds, so Miller bade him a farewell and retraced the existing footsteps back to the Hall. There was no doubt both Edmunds and the staff at the Hall were hiding something. If it were relevant to Cavendish, then it would be up to the police to establish what they were trying to conceal as he and Kit were at the limit of what they could reasonably establish.
-
Where had they gone? There was no doubt they had been in here, thought Kit. He checked the windows, but none had been opened. No other door was visible. Then he noticed something peculiar. The photograph of the Battalion was no longer on the wall.
Kit walked over to the desk to see if it had been placed inside one the drawers. They were empty except for some paper documents. Checking under the desk he could see that it had not fallen down. The only possible conclusion to be drawn was that the sisters had taken it. This brought him back to his original question: where on earth had they disappeared?
A thought occurred to Kit and went to the opposite wall from the where he was standing. He began to tap on the wall to check the relative thickness. Moving slowly on the along the wall he tapped it every few feet. After a minute he found a part of the wall that was potentially hollow behind. He looked around for something obvious to press or pull in order to reveal a hidden door. This seemed to be the stuff of children’s stories, he thought to himself, before remembering the Aston household also had a number of priest holes and secret passages.
Another few minutes elapsed as he pushed various parts of the wall and even, after a mumbled apology, had a quick look behind the paintings. Eventually he walked back to the table. At the corner of the table was a button. He pressed it. A door in the wall near where he had been tapping: a secret room. This was not just the stuff of a “penny blood”. There was no doubt, in Kit’s mind, the girls had escaped using this door. He decided to follow them.
The door led into a tiny corridor that was dark save for the light from the library. Groping in the poor light he felt around the wall and found another door. He opened the door and stepped in another small room. Inside he found the Cavendish sisters. Esther was seated at a small wooden table. On the table was the framed photograph from the library. When he entered, Esther looked up and seemed unsurprised by his arrival. Mary, who had her back to Kit turned her head and said, ‘I told you he’d find us.’
‘It wasn’t easy,’ admitted Kit.
‘It wasn’t meant to be,‘ replied Mary. Then she turned around slowly. To Kit’s speechless amazement, she was holding a gun. It was pointed directly at Kit.
&
nbsp; Chapter 22
The police arrived at Cavendish Hall just after midday. Inspector Leopold Augustus Stott of the Lincolnshire police was met by Curtis and invited to sit in the drawing room. Accompanying Stott was Constable Christopher Coltrane who was in his second week on the force. Stott gave no impression of having the slightest confidence in the new recruit. The result was that young Coltrane’s nerves were completely shot. This was a source of no little satisfaction to Stott.
The estimable Stott was a very experienced officer in the Lincolnshire police. He had joined straight from school and for nearly two score years had kept the streets of Lincoln as free from the tentacles of crime as could reasonably be expected. Regrets were few although he would always harbour a lingering question as to whether he should have exercised his, not inconsiderable, skills on a bigger stage than Lincoln.
Ambition and energy go hand in hand. From an early age, Stott recognized one without the other would result in certain disappointment. Similarly, insight into oneself went hand in hand with understanding the criminal mind. Such objectivity had long since helped him realize that his undeniable ambition would always take second place to an inherent predisposition towards idleness.
Stott’s indolent nature informed his approach to criminal investigation and his management of subordinates. His primary objective, when presented with a case, was to prove as early as possible in the investigation, there was no case to investigate. It never ceased to amaze him how the young bloods in the constabulary were always in such a lather to turn the most innocent of circumstances into a full-blown manhunt.
The unexpected arrival of Stott created a problem for Curtis as he had no idea where to find the key principals. The sisters had disappeared earlier in the morning. Lord Aston had arrived back and then, himself, disappeared. Strangerson had indicated a desire to walk into town. Meanwhile, Henry was walking in the grounds and Bright had last been seen in the drawing room.
Sensing Curtis was at a loss on what to do, Stott suggested a visit to the late Lord Cavendish might be a prudent next step. In the presence of such a sensible idea, Curtis was more than happy to assent. They all proceeded up the stairs to the bedroom. It was empty save for the dead body. It was also very cold as all of the windows had remained open for the previous twenty-four hours.
