‘But I was going to marry Richenda! She knew that!’
‘For some reason she preferred me,’ I said bluntly. I knew why, but I had no intention of telling him. ‘I imagine she thought because I was younger I would be more likely to be able to have several children for you.’ I took a deep breath. ‘She arranged for Richenda to be pushed into the ivy by Bennie, so you would dance with me at the ball. I think you are right, that she hoped Richenda would become severely ill. When it became clear she was recovering, she sent Bennie to turn down the gas lamps so the fumes would overcome her.’
‘He could have blown the whole house up!’
‘If I hadn’t disturbed him I think he would have stayed around to turn them up again. It may be he only intended for them to make her sleepy …’
‘To prevent her coming down to the ball?’ asked Muller.
‘So he could more easily suffocate her in her sleep.’
‘Dear God.’ The look of devastation on his face was hard to see.
I moved away from the door. I took a chair and placed it opposite him. ‘It gets worse.’
‘Lucy?’
I nodded. ‘Your mother’s room is above the morning room. She heard Richenda and me making plans to pay Lucy for gossip.’
‘And Bennie killed her too? She would have had nothing to tell you.’
‘Obviously your mother thought otherwise,’ I said carefully.
‘Charlotte died from heart failure.’
‘That isn’t the whole truth, is it?’ I said. ‘What caused Charlotte, your beloved wife, who kept miscarrying your children, to suffer heart failure?’
Muller slumped. ‘Angel’s Trumpet. Those beautiful flowers on the pavilion. Shake several over a tea cup, stir and you will never wake up. She admits it in the letter. Claims it would have been a gentle death. It seems our local doctor is open to bribes. He has a son he wants to send to a good school. The ambition of parents.’ said Muller bitterly. ‘Did you guess?’
‘Between them Bennie and your mother had a vast knowledge of plants and herbs, and that includes plants that are toxic. All gardeners must know these so the children, pets, and even the adults of the household do not come to harm.’
‘My mother killed Charlotte because she couldn’t have children.’
‘I feared so.’
Muller sat silently for some time. I waited. I knew I could not wrest the key from him. I did not know what he would do if I called for help. Had he been involved in his mother’s schemes? Complicit? Now I had laid all I feared bare would he silence me too? I clenched my muscles and tried not to shake. I must not show fear.
Then Muller dropped his head in his hands and began to sob. My next action I will always claim was involuntary. I went to sit next to him and put my arms around him. He lent on me and wept like a child.
Finally he stopped. He wiped his face with his handkerchief, gently disengaging my arms. ‘I am so sorry, Euphemia,’ he said. ‘Everything this family has put you through. It is too much. I will go and tell Bertram to telephone to the police now and send someone to Bennie’s house. There may still be time.’ He made to rise.
I put a hand on his shoulder, restraining him with my touch. ‘No,’ I said. ‘We both know it is too late for the gardener by now. We have spent too much time here.’
‘Your reputation!’ said Muller.
‘Was never that high with the Staplefords!’ I gave a weak smile. ‘Your mother and Bennie have paid for their actions with their lives. Nothing either of us can do will bring back either Charlotte or Lucy. Summoning the police will cause nothing but unpleasantness to all those involved.’
Before he could stop me I threw his mother’s confession on the fire. ‘If nothing else,’ I said, ‘Richenda would never forgive me if you let a constable interview her in the state she is currently in!’
‘That damned doctor. Heart failure?’
‘It is what we all die of eventually. It may be that he simply did not know or it is what he thought you also wanted him to put. I doubt he knew she was poisoned. Your mother probably told him to put something innocuous and he didn’t ask any questions.’
‘I would have wanted to know the truth.’
‘Honestly? That your mother had conspired to take your wife from you?’
He nodded. ‘It would have saved Lucy’s life.’
‘Well, now there is no one left to take account of.’
‘Except me,’ said Muller. ‘I think I suspected Mother a long time ago. And then when she became so keen for me to marry you and bought you that amazing dress …’
Not to mention, I thought, she’d heard me admit in the morning room that I was the grand-daughter of an earl.
‘I feared she had arranged Richenda’s accident, and then when I had considered she might have done that I began to …’
‘Fear more,’ I finished for him. ‘But it was too late by then.’
‘How could I have been so blind,’ raged Muller. ‘I should have protected Charlotte. I loved her with all my heart.’
‘I’m sure she knew that,’ I said. ‘I expect she never knew what happened to her.’
‘You think so?’ asked Muller hopefully.
‘Heart failure is very sudden,’ I said with no knowledge whatsoever to back up my assumption. His face cleared a little.
‘But what do we tell the others about Mother?’
‘This is where your local doctor must once again prove his worth. School fees must be paid annually. Your mother was hardly elderly, but she was of an age when it is not uncommon for people to die. She had said she was feeling unwell.’
‘But Bennie?’
‘If we wait until your mother has been seen by the doctor, people will assume that he took his life as he was so devastated by your mother’s death. They may draw some inappropriate conclusions …’
‘I’m not sure they would be inappropriate,’ said Muller almost savagely. ‘He must have had a great regard for her to do her bidding.’
‘Loyalty is prized among servants,’ I said vaguely.
‘As you have always been loyal to Richenda.’ Muller frowned at me. ‘You are very adapt at arranging these matters.’
‘Living with the Staplefords has given me an insight to a world I would not otherwise have encountered.’
‘Am I wrong to consider marrying Richenda? Is she also …’
‘Versed in these ways? I think Richenda will improve vastly when she is away from Stapleford Hall and her brother.’
Muller nodded. ‘Under the circumstances I could not reconsider offering my proposals to you. I could not ask you to join such a family.’
‘But you can ask Richenda?’
‘Richenda and I will make a bargain. We will each get what we want from this union.’
‘I think she is more than half in love with you,’ I said.
Muller shrugged. ‘I will always treat her kindly, you have my word. There will also always be a home for you here if you still wish it.’
I sighed. ‘I have nowhere else to go,’ I said simply.
‘Then you should look, Euphemia,’ said Hans Muller, ‘and I say this to you as a friend.’
Chapter Seventeen
Stapleford Hall
There was, of course, quite a fuss when Muller and I finally exited his room. This was not helped by Bertram coming up the stairs as we exited and thus having a very good view of Muller and I together silhouetted against the backdrop of his enormous bed. I believe he would have rushed up and done his best to knock Muller down if Muller hadn’t taken that exact moment to announce the death of his mother. It seems in the gentlemanly way of things you cannot knock down the recently bereaved. Bertram said all that was polite though clenched teeth while throwing both of us looks he clearly hoped would kill.
I left Muller to summon the doctor, the housekeeper and the staff necessary to oversee the sad events. ‘I will tell Richenda everything,’ I said quietly to him as I slipped away. I was rewarded with a smile. ‘Thank you,’
he said. ‘It is only fair she knows before I ask her. Don’t tell her that though.’ I shook my head. Bertram scowled furiously at us and I saw his fingers twitch over a fine tall vase. I was unsure which of us he most wanted to throw it at, so I made my escape to Richenda’s room.
I told her everything she had missed and everything I had surmised. ‘So there’s no proof,’ she said.
‘None whatsoever,’ I said.
‘But Muller didn’t contest any of it?’
‘No.’
‘Do you believe him?’
‘I’m not sure what you mean?’
‘Do you believe it was his mother who arranged all these deaths and not Muller himself?’
‘If you want me to be honest,’ I said slowly, ‘it is not possible to rule that out, but I don’t believe he did so.’ I stressed the word ‘believe’.
‘You told me once before you almost succumbed to his charm.’
‘Do I think this might have happened again?’
‘That you might have been overwhelmed.’
‘He is very charming,’ I admitted. ‘And frankly there is no way we can ever know the truth now.’
‘I’d better make damn sure I give him a couple of bouncing babies as soon as possible after the wedding,’ said Richenda.
I gave an uneasy smile.
With Muller in mourning there was no way we could stay on as guests in his house. Much to my surprise Richenda, heavily veiled, sent me to fetch Muller to her room. I did point out he had other things to do and we needed to make plans. ‘I know that,’ said Richenda. ‘What do you think I’m doing?’
To my amazement Muller left his arrangements and came at once. I hovered outside her door when Muller went inside to lend some kind of respectability to proceedings. They spoke in low voices for long enough that I was afraid Bertram would come creeping up the stairs again to accuse me of improper behaviour. When the door did open, Muller came out smiling. ‘You can congratulate me,’ he whispered in my ear. He walked off with more spring in his step than I had seen for some time. He stopped at the top of the stairs. ‘Could you stay with her a little longer, Euphemia? There is someone I am sending up for her to see.’ I nodded. I thought he meant the doctor.
Richenda and I played cards for the next two hours. I tried to lose to her, so she wouldn’t become too grumpy, but she was a very bad player. However, she lasted only ten minutes before she broke the news to me that she and Muller were now engaged. ‘We’ll have a proper celebration once this blasted rash has gone down,’ she said. ‘Though it won’t be that big because of his mother’s and Tippy’s deaths. I do think the ballroom will look good in green and orange.’ I felt a twinge of sympathy for Muller.
When Richenda’s visitor did arrive he proved to be an unfamiliar man in an expensively discreet grey suit carrying a briefcase. He nodded at me. ‘She’ll do,’ he said. ‘But we’ll need another one.’
‘No,’ said Richenda. ‘Could you leave us, Euphemia and send up two maids. Two.’
I did as I was bid and then slowly made my way downstairs. Muller was nowhere in sight. I found Richard drinking heavily in the library and managed to withdraw before he saw me. I went out into the garden wondering if Bennie’s fate had yet been discovered. Muller and I could have been wrong. He could have fled the scene.
As soon as I was outside I saw a number of servants and gardeners congregated around the head gardener’s house, so it seemed we had been right. I was about to go back into the house and, frankly, hide in my room until anyone came to fetch me, when I walked into Bertram. He was strolling along the gravel drive, his hands in his pockets, kicking at the stones. He looked up and saw me.
‘Don’t know what to do,’ he said. ‘Do you think I should take off?’
‘I think we all need to leave,’ I said. ‘But it’s probably best that you don’t leave before Richenda.’
‘Even though Richard is here?’
‘You’d be a real rat to run out and leave us alone with him,’ I said.
Bertram grinned. ‘It’s still an appealing idea.’ Then he dropped his head for a moment and looked up at me somewhat abashed. ‘I’m sorry I thought you were … earlier … with Muller.’
‘Bertram,’ I said stoutly, ‘if I ever decide to have a liaison with any man I will do it with discretion. You can be assured I will never rise from a crowded breakfast table and make my way to – to an indiscretion in public view!’
‘Especially before you’ve eaten anything,’ said Bertram smiling.
‘You’re incorrigible!’
We made our way back into the house once again in reasonable accord. ‘I suggest we go to our rooms until summoned,’ I said. ‘Richard isn’t going anywhere today. He’s already drunk and it will take time to pack up Richenda’s belongings.’
‘But where are you –we – going?’ asked Bertram.
‘I have no idea. How is White Orchards?’
‘Habitable,’ said Bertram unencouragingly. ‘Bit lacking in comfort at present.’
‘It may have to do,’ I said.
Bertram wandered away looking worried. I began to worry that habitable might not include a roof. However, my worries were set aside during a rather remarkable dinner. Luncheon having been sent up to our rooms on a tray and consisting of no more than a sandwich and a pot of tea, I was surprised to be told by a maid that we would be dressing for dinner that night.
I found something suitably dark and discreet – not difficult in a companion’s wardrobe – and made my way down as soon as the dinner gong sounded. I found Bertram, Richard, Muller and a very veiled Richenda already having sherry in the library. ‘Heavens,’ I said to her, ‘I didn’t realise you were coming down. I would have come to help.’
Richenda waved my concerns aside. ‘No, Hans and I felt it was important to tell you all our announcement as soon as possible. This has been such a sad day that we both felt it was appropriate to do something to lighten the darkness.’
Which I realised was a quaint way of trying to explain why they were not reacting to the rules of mourning as expected. Both of them wanted to secure their futures no matter how it looked.
‘What announcement,’ said Richard baffled.
‘Your sister has done the honour of accepting my hand in marriage,’ said Muller.
‘She what!’ roared Richard. I wondered if he had become a little deaf since I had last seen him. He was certainly roaring a lot.
‘Congratulations,’ said Bertram. ‘I hope you will both be very happy.’
‘Dammit! I’m the head of the family and I forbid it!’
‘I’m of age, Richard. Or had you forgotten?’
‘There’s one other little matter we thought we should draw to the family’s attention,’ said Muller and he gave an embarrassed cough. ‘Richenda and I thought …’
‘That I should make a will,’ said the lady in question. ‘Everything that has happened recently has brought the whole issue of mortality to my mind.’ She gave Richard a hard look. ‘Hans arranged for a lawyer to come to me today, so it’s been done correctly. When I am married should anything happen to me after I have married my money and shares go to Muller without reservation. However, should I die before I marry I have bequeathed all my money and shares to the home I set up for fallen women.’
There was a stunned silence. Then Bertram raised his glass and said, ‘Hear, Hear!’
I joined in though I felt Richenda had been incautious. I guessed it was her way of showing Muller she trusted him completely. I could only hope she was right.
When we had all drunk their health, Richenda spoke again, ‘I have one more matter to announce. Obviously I cannot stay here while I prepare for my marriage. Therefore I will be returning, as is my right, to Stapleford Hall. Euphemia will accompany me, as I hope will you, Bertram.’ She bestowed a loving smile on her stepbrother and a less sweet one on her twin.
‘Now that is all cleared up,’ said Muller, ‘can I suggest we go in to dine. I, for one, have found this
an exceedingly long day.’
Bertram took my arm and Muller took Richenda’s. Richard stayed were he was, open-mouthed, clearly floored, and bemused by what had just happened. I knew his silence would not last for long. There would doubtless be shouting over the soup, tantrums over the fish and melees over the entree, but the more I thought about what Richenda had done the better I thought of her plan. Richard would gain nothing by harming her. Instead he could lose all hope of ever winning back those shares. His best option now, as Barker would no doubt point out to him, would be to try and sweet talk his way back into Richenda’s good books. He would doubtless try to talk her out of the marriage and I was as sure he would not succeed. Richenda and Muller both had a look of contentment on their faces. They had accomplished what they had both set out to do. All unpleasantness would be buried along with those who had died today. All in all the future at the Muller estate looked bright.
The following months at Stapleford Hall would doubtless be unpleasant, but I consoled myself that I would at least see Merry again. I tried not to think of whether Rory would have returned to his post as butler. He had made it clear we no longer had a future together.
But so far my life had taken so many twists and turns I knew it was foolish to think anything was set in stone.
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A DEATH IN THE PAVILION
A Euphemia Martins Mystery
CAROLINE DUNFORD
Published by Accent Press Ltd – 2014
ISBN 9781783755394
Copyright © Caroline Dunford 2013
The right of Caroline Dunford to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A Death in the Pavilion: A Euphemia Martins Mystery Page 11
