Silent as the Grave

by Bill Kitson

  ‘A corkscrew? Why would you want a corkscrew?’ she enquired, innocently.

  ‘I thought we could open that red wine you gave me – no doubt filched from Tony’s wine cellar. After that we could experiment with the mistletoe if you like.’

  Eve went pink in the face. ‘What makes you think it was me?’ she asked weakly.

  ‘Given the events of yesterday evening, I opted for the least likely candidate. Also, remembering one part of what passed between us, I thought the mistletoe might mean you were keen to repeat the experiment.’

  ‘That was a joke.’ Her colour deepened even more.

  ‘That’s a shame. In that case, will you settle for a glass of wine?’

  ‘You said you needed a corkscrew.’

  ‘I’ve just remembered I’ve got a Swiss army knife with a corkscrew on it.’ I produced the tool and removed the cork. There were two tumblers on the dressing table I filled each and passed one to Eve.

  She looked at it, her eyebrows raised. ‘That’s a hefty measure.’

  ‘I thought it would get you in the mood for the mistletoe. Now what was it you wanted to ask me?’

  She eyed me suspiciously, and I guessed she wasn’t certain whether I was joking or not. ‘You know why Beaumont went to the chapel, don’t you?’

  I smiled at the neat way she side-stepped the mistletoe issue. ‘Not for certain, it’s just an idea that came to me when we were talking it over.’

  ‘Go on then, share it with me,’ she demanded.

  I began with, ‘If you leave out the thought that Beaumont was deeply religious,’ which caused Eve to laugh, ‘the only reason I can think of for choosing such an inconvenient meeting place was because of either the chapel itself, or something inside it.’

  Eve thought this over for a moment. ‘You mean somebody had put something in the chapel for Beaumont?’

  ‘That’s one possibility,’ I conceded. ‘Alternatively, it might have been there all along; I don’t know. One way or the other, I think we should have another look round the chapel.’

  ‘OK, I see the logic in that. I certainly can’t think of another reason for traipsing all that way in a snowstorm. So what was it you found so interesting in Beaumont’s briefcase; something you didn’t want to talk about?’

  ‘I don’t mind talking to you about it, but I have to admit I found it more than a bit worrying.’

  I walked over to the dressing table and took the document from the briefcase. I handed it to Eve and sat down to watch her read it. She scanned the paperwork twice before looking up. ‘You realize what this implies?’

  I nodded. ‘Yes, I believe it’s quite a common practice amongst business partners nowadays to take out life insurance on each other. However, when one of those partners has been murdered, the implication of a mutual policy that benefits the surviving partner to the tune of five million pounds from their death could be extremely sinister.’

  ‘You don’t honestly think Tony murdered Beaumont for the insurance money?’

  ‘I don’t think Tony’s capable of murdering anyone. But on the face of it, five million pounds is a hell of a good motive,’ I paused. ‘I’m just saying what a policeman might think; someone who doesn’t know Tony. I reckon you’re more capable of murdering someone than Tony is.’

  ‘Oh, so now you think I’m a murderer, do you?’

  ‘Not the way Beaumont was killed. I reckon you could kill a man, given strong enough provocation, but I think you’d want to look him in the eye when you did it.’

  I said more than I intended, which might have been because of the red wine or maybe I was growing to like Eve.

  Strangely she took my unguarded remark as a compliment, ‘Maybe you’re right, and maybe you see more that you let on.’

  I was still grappling with this cryptic remark when Eve suggested we look at the other documents. I took the briefcase from the dressing table and carried it across to the bed, upending it to tip all the contents onto the duvet. I sat on the edge of the bed and patted the quilt alongside me. After a moment, Eve hobbled across and sat down, and we commenced examining the papers. She stared intently at the wording of every page whilst I watched her reflection in the mirror of the dressing table. She was undoubtedly beautiful, very like Harriet but with that glorious mop of red-gold hair to enhance her lovely features. She looked up and saw me watching her. ‘Have you found anything?’ I asked to cover my confusion.

  ‘Nothing that I know of; but a lot of it is beyond me. I think we need an expert.’

  ‘Well that counts me out.’

  ‘So what do you suggest we do now?’

  ‘Have another glass of wine, then go to bed,’ I said it without thinking. I felt myself going red and hoped Eve hadn’t noticed the unintentional double meaning. I should have known better.

  ‘It takes more than a couple of glasses of wine, buster. If you want an easy lay try the caterer.’

  ‘I’m sorry, you got me all wrong, I didn’t mean we should go to bed together …’ I stopped, because Eve was laughing at me.

  ‘Gotcha,’ she said, triumphantly.

  ‘Oh very well, have your joke,’ I told her, crossly.

  ‘I’d rather have my wine,’ she smiled and held out her glass.

  After we’d finished the wine I stood up and held my hand out to help her. After a moment’s hesitation she took it and allowed me to lift her to her feet. She stood facing me, allowing her weight to rest on my arm as I helped her towards the door. I caught that musky perfume again. ‘How’s the leg?’ I asked.

  ‘Still a bit sore, but better than it was.’

  She held on to me longer than I thought was absolutely necessary, then, almost as if she had made a decision, reached across and kissed me. ‘Who needs mistletoe?’ she said; then closed the door behind her. A second later she opened it again. ‘I should lock this if I was you.’

  I slept badly, and I suppose that was only to be expected after everything that had happened following my arrival at Mulgrave Castle. Such fitful sleep as I was able to manage was punctuated by a variety of strange dreams. Of these; one concerned the ancestors of the Rowe family whose tombs I’d seen in the chapel. The second concerned Eve and this was possibly the most horribly realistic of all. In it I was searching Mulgrave Castle for her but although I walked from floor to floor up seemingly endless staircases and along never-ending corridors calling her name, I was aware that my search was a vain one; that Eve was dead.

  I knew Eve was there somewhere, I knew the others who had disappeared were there but I could not see them; could not hear them; could not touch them. I knew they were dead and with a shock I realized why I knew all this; why I was unable to contact them; for I was also dead.

  I awoke suddenly and sat up. So real had been the dream that I was momentarily disoriented. Although the night had been cold and although at some point in my nightmare I had thrown the duvet from me I was sweating profusely. The terror the nightmare had inspired crept into my waking state and I was suddenly afraid that whatever happened, whatever the truth or not of the Rowe family curse; I might not leave Mulgrave Castle alive.

  I glanced at my watch on the bedside table. It was only 6.30. I thought briefly about trying to go back to sleep but rejected the idea. Sleep had brought such dreadful visions that I was unwilling to risk a repetition of the ordeal. I opted to get up and see if a shower would help me. I crossed to the window and drew the curtains. I stared into the darkness at the stars and was pleased to find that overnight the snow had stopped.

  I had just emerged from the shower room and was feeling decidedly better when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it. Eve was standing there. ‘Can I come in?’ It was a bit late to refuse as she was past me before I had chance to reply. I turned round. Eve looked at me. ‘Oh,’ she exclaimed, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you weren’t dressed.’

  She didn’t sound particularly sorry; she didn’t stop looking either.

  ‘Eve!’ I protested. ‘I was taking a shower,
’ I told her, clutching the bath sheet round my waist.

  ‘I’ll wait until you’re dressed, then.’ She sat on the end of the bed.

  I snatched the clothes I’d laid out from the chair and hurried through to the shower room to dress. ‘What was it you wanted?’ I called through the open door.

  ‘I’ve had an idea about that paperwork.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I have a friend who works in the City. He’d know if those papers were significant. I could read them to him over the phone. It might take a day or two before we can get hold of him as it’s the holidays but it could be worth a try.’

  ‘I agree, why not give it a shot?’

  I finished dressing and came back into the room. I sat next to Eve on the bed. ‘There, decent again,’ I said with a measure of relief.

  She had a mischievous smile on her face that unnerved me slightly. ‘Yes, Adam,’ she agreed, ‘there’s just one thing,’ she pointed towards the open door of the shower room.

  I followed the line of her finger. To my horror the full-length mirror on the wall that had been steamed up earlier was now clear. It reflected the spot where I had stood to dress. ‘You’re not supposed to look,’ I told her severely. ‘It isn’t ladylike.’

  ‘You’re confused, Adam. It’s my sister who’s a Lady, not me.’

  ‘Oh, very droll,’ I said grumpily.

  She looked at me. ‘What’s matter with you, didn’t you sleep well? No lady of the manor to tuck you in, no chef to bring you a nightcap at the witching hour? An appropriate time for her to be abroad I reckon. Perhaps she couldn’t find a parking space for her broomstick.’

  ‘Evie, behave.’

  ‘You really are an old grouch today, what’s wrong?’

  ‘If you must know, I had a dreadful night. I didn’t get much sleep and I had some awful dreams.’ I told her about them. She patted my hand consolingly. ‘Well, they were only dreams, Adam. I’m alive, you’re alive, and it’s a lovely morning.’ She pointed out of the window to where the sun was peeping over the horizon.

  There was no doubt her presence cheered me. I looked at her and smiled. ‘Yes, thank goodness. And let’s hope we can get through all this without anyone else getting hurt.’

  I certainly wasn’t going to tell her of the other dream I’d had during the night. It had been only a fleeting one and was the only pleasant one of the lot. It concerned Eve and me. No, I certainly wasn’t going to mention that dream; not to Eve or anyone else.

  ‘What are your plans for this morning?’ Eve asked. ‘I thought I would type up those statements on Tony’s typewriter. That is unless you want me,’ she paused before adding, ‘for anything else.’

  She was teasing me unmercifully and enjoying every minute of it. I knew it and she was aware that I knew it. That seemed to add to her enjoyment.

  ‘If I told you what I really want you for you’d probably slap my face again, so, no I don’t think so. I’m planning to have a talk with Lady Charlotte this morning. I really need to get to grips with this family curse business.’

  Eve wasn’t sure if I was joking or serious, which was perhaps as well. ‘Do you honestly think Beaumont’s murder might be connected to that old fairy tale?’

  ‘It seems unlikely, I agree. On the other hand it’s a bit of a coincidence, don’t you think?’

  ‘Coincidences do happen; they happen all the time.’

  ‘How much do you know about the so-called curse?’

  ‘Probably no more than you do.’

  ‘Well if we’re talking coincidences don’t you think that it’s a bit too much of one for the same thing to happen twice? I mean the wife gallivanting conveniently off to the Continent with her lover; never to be seen or heard from again. And you can’t deny it was a particularly opportune time for the young baronet to drown when his brother was up to his eyes in debt and needed the revenue from the estate.’

  ‘What you’re implying is they never left Mulgrave Castle? They were all murdered here?’

  ‘I reckon you could have dragged that lake time after time and you’d never have found a trace of Sir Richard. I reckon you could have travelled the continent and not discovered a trace of Lady Elizabeth, Lady Amelia, or their lovers.’

  ‘That would lend credence to the other legend, the inherited insanity theory.’

  ‘It would, and I’m sure Tony and Harriet believe it, as does Lady Charlotte. I’m certain that’s why they’re so worried. Worried that Tony might have inherited the curse. Or even that young Charlie might have it.’

  Eve looked appalled. She rejected the idea violently. ‘That’s impossible. Charlie’s a lovely lad. He’s a caring, gentle boy. Not only that, but could you see Tony as a deranged killer?’

  ‘No, I couldn’t,’ I agreed. ‘But that’s because we know them – you certainly know them well. Others might see it differently should something happen. That’s why I must try and find out more about the curse and the family history before something does happen.’

  ‘I think talking to Charlotte’s a good idea,’ Eve said after some thought. ‘She doesn’t say a lot but she doesn’t miss much either, and what she doesn’t know about Rowe family history isn’t worth knowing. I’m off now,’ – she got to her feet – ‘I want to get some breakfast then get on with those statements.’

  ‘I’ll come down in a few minutes,’ I said.

  She limped across to the door. ‘How’s the leg this morning?’ I asked.

  ‘Tons better,’ she told me. She turned by the door. ‘Nice body,’ – she grinned. She was getting to be an expert at delivering unanswerable exit lines.

  There was a large screen at one end of the dining hall which was opened out to conceal the breakfast buffet table. Quite why this had to be hidden from the gaze of those eating the meal I never fathomed out. There was nobody seated at the dining table when I walked into the room. This wasn’t altogether surprising as it was only 7.15. I could hear voices from behind the screen, one of which I recognized as Eve’s. I was about to join her when I heard my name mentioned. I paused. Then I recognized the other voice as Harriet’s. ‘You were seen going into Adam’s room last night and coming out again this morning. What more proof does anyone need?’

  ‘How come you’re watching Adam’s room so closely, sister dear? Waiting your chance, were you? Wanting to relive the past a little perhaps? Trying to get in there before the Black Widow gets to him? I wouldn’t blame you for that; there wouldn’t be much left after she’d finished with him. He’d be like all her other victims.’

  ‘Do you deny you slept with Adam last night?’ Harriet sounded almost hysterical.

  ‘I deny nothing. I admit nothing. Why should I? Neither Adam nor I are married; unlike some people round here, in case you’d forgotten that little fact. If we want to sleep together that’s our business and nobody else’s.’

  I thought it was high time I made my presence known. I ambled round the end of the screen. ‘Good morning, Harriet, hello again, Evie darling,’ I greeted them, ‘did I hear my name being mentioned just now?’

  ‘Have you been there long?’ Harriet demanded angrily. There were two spots of high colour on her cheeks.

  ‘A few minutes,’ I admitted shamelessly. ‘I stopped to re-tie my shoelaces on the other side of the screen.’

  Harriet turned on her heel and departed with her breakfast plate. I’d never quite understood exactly what the word ‘flounced’ meant until that moment. It suited her action perfectly.

  I turned to look at Eve. She was also a little pinker in the face than nature had intended. ‘Hello, lover,’ I said quietly.

  ‘Hah,’ she laughed scornfully. ‘If you’re going to tell lies at least make them marginally credible.’

  ‘Lies, what lies? I’ve no idea what you mean, sugar plum?’

  ‘Re-tying your shoelaces,’ – she pointed to my shoes – ‘what laces?’

  I’d forgotten I was wearing slip-ons. ‘Oh, yes. I was so interested in what you were sayi
ng to Harriet it slipped my mind. Whilst we’re on the subject of lying, what was it again?’

  ‘Ah, well, that was different,’ Eve said, uncomfortably.

  ‘Yes of course it was, dear heart,’ I agreed, straight faced.

  ‘One more snide endearment and you’ll be wearing that porridge instead of eating it.’

  ‘That,’ I told her sternly, ‘is no way to speak to your lover, the man whose bed you have only just left.’ I had moved the porridge bowl out of her reach; a wise precaution. I was still far from comfortable though, as Eve had picked up the long handled fork used for spearing sausages and was eyeing me with a slightly manic expression. ‘I think I’ll go sit down now,’ I said.

  I turned to leave, only to find Eve blocking my path, the fork held dangerously close to my throat. ‘Don’t let me down,’ she whispered fiercely.

  The fork hovered close to my tonsils. ‘Of course I won’t,’ I reassured her, adding as I moved the fork to one side, ‘Honey-bunch.’

  Fortunately, the wound to my backside was only a superficial one, but the tines on that fork were pretty sharp. I reached the table. Harriet was seated at the far end. I set my bowl down next to Eve’s place and smiled sweetly at Harriet. ‘Evie, darling,’ I called out, ‘don’t struggle with your coffee, sweetheart, I’ll get it for you when I bring mine.’

  Eve appeared from behind the screen. ‘Thank you, Adam dearest,’ she smiled at me and sat down alongside me.

  As silences go what followed was one of the longest and most awkward I’d experienced in some while. At times I had to keep fierce control to avoid giving the game away by laughing. I was determined not to break my promise to Eve though. I was also more than a little annoyed. Eventually, I could stand it no longer. ‘How’s Charlie this morning?’ I asked Harriet.

  ‘Much better, thanks,’ she replied. ‘Boys of that age are pretty resilient, don’t you think?’

  ‘I wouldn’t know,’ I reminded her. ‘I’m not a family man.’

  ‘No, of course not, I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t, I mean you weren’t thinking I said that, er …’ the sentence tailed off.

  I let her stew over that one.