01 - Murder at Ashgrove House

by Margaret Addison

  ‘Anyway, the upshot is that Stafford thinks I should follow everyone in alone. I did suggest to him that perhaps Miss Simpson wouldn’t mind going in by herself, but he told me that wouldn’t be the done thing at all. Now let’s see who goes next after you and Marjorie. Ah yes, we found this rather tricky, or Stafford did, I should say, because you see the younger son of a duke comes after an earl in the order of precedence but, as Lord Sneddon is now heir to his father’s dukedom, Stafford thought he should be treated as if he was the Duke’s eldest son, which means that he’ll come before Henry. So, Lord Sneddon will be taking in Lavinia, which should please her very much, Henry will be taking in Edith and Cedric, Miss Simpson, which is likely to upset Marjorie, but really that can’t be helped, and then I’ll just follow them in. Stafford’s worked out the seating at the table as well, which he’s written down on the back of this bit of paper for you to familiarise yourself with.’ Lady Withers turned over the paper. ‘Ah, yes having an odd number makes it jolly difficult, of course, but he’s managed to arrange it so that Edith is sitting as far away from Cedric as possible. She shouldn’t even be able to see him unless she leans forward and peers around Henry and Miss Simpson.’

  ‘Even so, Constance, I think –.’

  ‘No, William,’ Lady Withers said firmly. ‘I’m not going to think or talk about it anymore. Lord knows I’ve got enough on my plate as it is, making sure that all the servants do everything properly so as to avoid Marjorie complaining or making one of her nasty, snide little remarks.’

  ‘Very well, Constance, but on your head be it.’ The seriousness of Sir William’s tone startled her and she turned to stare at him.

  ‘William, everyone, especially that husband of hers, needs to stop mollycoddling Edith all the time. It’s been twelve years. She can’t expect everyone to keep walking on egg shells around her forever. Of course I feel very sorry for her, we all do, but everyone lost someone they loved in the war, she’s got to start getting over it.’

  ‘There are times, Constance, when you can be quite heartless,’ said Sir William coldly. ‘You haven’t a clue what Edith’s been through. You’ve no idea of how much she’s suffered.’ With that, Sir William walked out of the room and Lady Withers was left staring helplessly at the empty space where he had been standing, half wondering whether she should call out to him. She was so very unused to them arguing over anything that her eyes immediately welled with tears. Before she had decided quite what to do, she heard him marching across the landing to the stairs.

  Constance turned and looked at herself in the dressing table mirror. ‘He’s still in love with her,’ she said softly to her reflection, ‘after all this time, he’s still in love with her.’

  A few doors down the corridor, Lady Belvedere walked into her husband’s bedroom.

  ‘Henry, did you know Edith would be coming to stay at Ashgrove this weekend?’

  ‘What’s that, Marjorie?’ The Earl of Belvedere stood in front of the mirror trying to tie his bow tie. It was no good, however much he tried, he could never tie it properly himself. He sighed. In the early days of their marriage, Lady Belvedere had used to do it for him; nowadays he had to resort to his valet.

  ‘I said, did you know Edith would be here?’

  ‘What? I say, what the devil makes you ask that?’

  ‘You were so insistent that we come down to Ashgrove this weekend. It’s not at all like you. Usually I can’t tear you away from your library. Anyway, it’s a simple enough question, did you know that woman would be here?’

  ‘Of course not, Marjorie. I just wanted to see the children, that’s all. Lavinia hardly ever comes home to Sedgwick, as well you know. I just thought this would be a good opportunity to see her. Wonderful that Cedric’s come down as well, jolly pleased to see him too, of course.’

  An uncomfortable silence lingered in the air. Both knew, although neither said as much, that the reason Lavinia and Cedric came so seldom to Sedgwick Court was because they did not wish to encounter the countess.

  ‘Does it matter so much, Marjorie, Edith being here?’

  ‘I can’t stand the woman, I never could when we were girls, and I doubt whether she’s changed. But it’s not me I’m thinking of. I thought you might mind.’

  ‘Me? No, of course not, why should I mind?’ Lord Belvedere stopped fiddling with his bow tie and looked at his wife curiously. ‘It’ll be nice to see her after all these years, it’ll just be like old times, what.’

  ‘All the same, I wish she wasn’t here.’ Lady Belvedere took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. I’m scared, she thought, I’m scared about what might happen.

  Chapter Twelve

  By the time that the house parlour maid, acting as lady’s maid, had finished dressing Lavinia and doing her hair, Rose was fully dressed and ready to go down.

  ‘Oh, I’m awfully sorry, miss,’ Martha said, puffing a little as she came into Rose’s bedroom. ‘It took me longer than I thought it would to see to Lady Lavinia and now I see that you’ve managed quite well without me.’

  ‘No need to worry. But tell me please, will I do?’

  ‘I think a demi-toilette is highly appropriate for country-house visiting, miss, and I see as you’re wearing real pearls and your hair is done all nice and simple, so I’d say as you’re turned out very well.’

  ‘You don’t think I’ll look a bit underdressed, do you?’

  ‘Well, perhaps a little compared to Lady Lavinia but, and I may be talking out of turn, I’d say as she’s a little overdressed. Of course, I know as the aristocracy is amongst our guests at Ashgrove what with the earl and countess and the heir to a duke being here and all, but while Sir William and m’lady always observe the custom of dressing for dinner even when dining alone, I would say that Lady Lavinia’s evening-dress were probably more suited to a ball. I might say that I did try and discourage her from wearing such large diamonds, but she was most insistent.’

  ‘Is she wearing her pale gold silk satin gown,’ enquired Rose, her heart sinking, ‘the one that’s backless?’

  ‘Indeed she is, miss, although I managed to persuade her not to wear gloves which she seemed quite happy about seeing as she would have to remove them anyhow as soon as she had seated herself at the dinner-table.’

  ‘Oh, dear. I suppose you’ve been put to a lot of additional work with so many guests coming for the weekend?’

  ‘That we have, miss, and with so little notice we haven’t been able to get in much help from the village today, so we’re all having to double-up with regards to what we do. Still, I can’t say as I mind much myself, like, as it means I get some practice hairdressing. You see, miss,’ the maid bent forward and lowered her voice as if she intended to impart a great secret, ‘my dream is to be a lady’s maid one day to some grand mistress. I’m trying to save up to put myself through a hairdressing course and I’m teaching myself a little French because I’m hoping to have an opportunity to travel, that’s my dream, like.’

  ‘Well, I wish you every success,’ Rose said, sincerely. Before she could add anything further, they heard the door of the room next door open, followed by a rapid tapping on Rose’s own door.

  ‘Lavinia, you look wonderful.’

  ‘Do you think so?’ enquired Lavinia, throwing back her head and striking a pose, the diamonds she was wearing glittering in the light from the room. ‘I must admit that I do think I look rather good in this dress which obviously I didn’t get from Madame Renard’s shop!’ She looked at Rose and smiled. ‘You look awfully good too, you know. That dress really suits you and I love your pearls, are those your mother’s, the ones that you were telling me about? Aunt will thoroughly approve.’

  Together they descended the stairs and went into the drawing room where Lord Sneddon and Lord Sedgwick were awaiting them, the cocktails prepared and put ready in wine glasses on the drinks tray. Both gentlemen, Rose thought, looked handsome in their dinner-jackets and black bow ties. The old rule which had stipulated white t
ie, tail-coat and white waistcoat be worn at all dinners at which ladies were present, had generally now been abandoned except by the old school.

  ‘Here they are,’ declared Lord Sneddon. ‘I say, Lavinia, you look swell as they say in America and of course you too, Rose’ he added almost as an afterthought. ‘Cedric, where’s that footman? I want him to get those things out of the refrigerator that I gave him earlier. Ah, there you are,’ as Albert appeared, ‘have you got them, my man? Good, and are they ice-cold? Put one in each of the glasses and then hand out the drinks will you.’

  ‘Goodness, Hugh,’ exclaimed Lavinia, ‘whatever are they, they look just like silver balls.’

  ‘That’s exactly what they are, silver-plated hollow metal balls. They’re called “silverice” balls and they come from America. One uses them in place of ice cubes, the advantage being that they don’t dilute one’s drink.’

  ‘Oh, how clever, Hugh. Don’t you think so?’ asked Lavinia turning to Sir William who had just entered the drawing room, ‘how would you like to put them in your whisky, Uncle William?’

  ‘I think I’d prefer to stick with ice cubes, my dear, I’m not very good with these new-fangled ideas,’ replied Sir William, good humouredly. Rose saw that he was dressed in full evening dress of white tie and tails. ‘Ah, here’s Constance.’

  ‘Henry and Marjorie are just coming down,’ said Lady Withers as she entered the room. ‘No sign of Edith, I see. I assume she’s still intending on coming down for dinner. No doubt she’ll let one of the servants know if she intends to take dinner on a tray in her room instead. Most unfortunate if she decides to, as it will completely upset the seating plan, but Stafford’s made up another one just in case and both he and Albert are on hand to re-arrange the table settings if required. Ah, what lovely pearls, my dear,’ Lady Withers said turning her attention from her husband to Rose, ‘are they your mother’s? They look just the sort of necklace I would wear. Really, Lavinia,’ she said, looking reprovingly at her niece, ‘are all those diamonds really necessary, you’re not going to a ball, my dear.’

  Lord and Lady Belvedere entered the drawing room and Rose thought that both looked rather ill at ease. The earl especially, she noticed, looked restless and fidgety; she wondered whether it was the result of being in his wife’s company. Lady Belvedere made a beeline towards her son whom she had not seen since his arrival. A look of reservation crossed Cedric’s face as he moved forward. For a moment his eyes met Rose’s and the two of them exchanged a smile. Cedric had to walk past her to get to his mother and as he did so, he turned to her briefly. ‘I say, Rose, you look jolly nice in that dress if you don’t mind my saying so,’ he said quietly, so that only she could hear. She flushed with pleasure and noticed that his cheeks had also gone a subtle shade of crimson.

  Instinctively Rose looked up and saw that the countess was watching them closely. The expression on her face showed that she was not best pleased by what she had witnessed. Just then, Edith entered the drawing room and everything stopped and went quiet. All eyes were turned on the newcomer, even Lavinia’s and Lord Sneddon’s, despite the fact that up until that moment they had been engaged in eager conversation, seemingly oblivious to everyone else. A chilly atmosphere appeared to have invaded the room with Edith’s entrance and Rose gave an involuntary shiver. Edith seemed fully aware of the effect of her arrival on the assembly, because she hovered awkwardly by the door. Her eyes sought out Sir William and she looked at him, Rose thought, almost pleadingly. He came to her side at once and this had the effect of breaking the tension in the room. Lavinia and Lord Sneddon took up their conversation and Lady Belvedere commenced her interrogation of Cedric, who stood before her looking uncomfortable. Only Lord Belvedere and Lady Withers continued looking at Edith, who was now engaged in conversation with Sir William. She happened to be smiling at something that he was saying and Rose caught the expression on Lady Withers’ face. It took her by surprise because it was one of pain. Rose turned back to look at Edith and Sir William, and wondered.

  ‘Dinner is served’, announced Stafford and they all filed out of the drawing room to the dining room in precedence, each gentleman offering his arm to the lady whom he was taking to dinner, followed by Lady Withers. Once they had arrived in the room, the servants drew the ladies’ chairs out a little from the table for them and Sir William, as host, remained standing until all the guests had taken their seats. It being a small gathering, there were no name cards on the table. Instead Sir William directed the gentlemen to their seats and each lady sat on the right hand of the gentleman that had taken her to dinner. This resulted in Sir William sitting at the head of the table with Lady Belvedere on his right and Edith on his left. Lord Belvedere sat next to Edith and opposite Lord Sneddon. On the earl’s left sat Rose and next to her Cedric, and Lady Withers, at the other end of the table to her husband, sat next to her nephew. Rose was pleased to find herself seated opposite Lavinia who in turn, with no-one sitting on her right with whom she was expected to converse, felt that she was fully justified in focusing her attention on Hugh, with the occasional remark made to Rose for good measure.

  Rose herself, could hardly believe her fortune. Not only had she been taken in to dinner by Cedric, her arm resting on his which had caused a delicious shiver to run up her back, but she found herself seated next to him. As in the gardens, she found him delightful company and, while the dinner itself was rather daunting with its many dishes and courses, she had no difficulty in engaging Cedric in conversation for he seemed to find her comments and observations amusing. The same could not be said of Lord Belvedere, seated on her right, who appeared silent and uncommunicative throughout the meal, disinclined to speak to anyone other than to exchange a few words with Edith, out of politeness. Rose noticed that Lady Belvedere was watching her husband keenly, as if she found his behaviour in some way worrying. Every so often, the countess cast a glance at Rose and Cedric and if she happened to catch Rose’s eye, she positively glared. This was in direct contrast to the look she bestowed on Lord Sneddon and Lavinia when she saw them engaged in animated conversation. Every so often Lord Sneddon broke off his conversation with Lavinia and conversed with her mother as manners dictated. The gist of their conversation from the snippets that Rose overheard suggested that their discussions centred on what his parents, the duke and duchess, were doing and also news concerning their mutual friends, many of whom appeared to be titled.

  Rose looked up the table towards Sir William. He had just finished a conversation with Lady Belvedere to his right and now turned to his left to address Edith. Whatever he was about to say to her froze on his lips and remained unsaid as he glimpsed her face. From where Rose was sitting, it was difficult to see the expression on Edith’s face, but it seemed sufficient to alarm Sir William, for he lent towards her slightly and spoke to her in a voice hardly above a whisper. This action caught the attention of both Lady Belvedere and Lady Withers. A look of anguish shot across Constance’s face before she turned to Cedric to enquire after his studies.

  Mrs Palmer had stuck to the menu that she had put forward to Stafford earlier in the day, which the scullery and kitchen maids had overheard her describe and which had subsequently been agreed with Lady Withers. Rose found that each course seemed to bring with it the offer of a different beverage. Sherry was served with the clear soup, Hock offered during the fish course before the champagne, which was served throughout the dinner along with port. For those not drinking wine, there was the choice of whisky and soda, lemonade, orangeade or barley water. Rose, unused to consuming vast amounts of alcohol and conscious that she had indulged in a cocktail before dinner, moved to lemonade after the sherry and one glass of champagne. Lord Sneddon, she could not help but notice, was drinking rather heavily, as was Lady Withers. Lord Sedgwick kept pace with the various beverages offered with each course but did not appear the worse for drink. Edith, Rose noticed, left her glasses untouched and instead requested a glass of water which was brought to her by Albert, the whit
e-gloved footman, and which she sipped at eagerly.

  Once the final course had been served and eaten, Lady Withers gave the signal for the ladies to leave the dining room by catching the eye of Lady Belvedere, as the lady present of the highest rank, who threw one last glance at her husband before rising from her seat. Rose and the other women present followed their example and left the room in the same order in which they had entered it, Lady Withers bringing up the rear. The gentlemen had risen and remained standing by their chairs until the ladies had left the room and Sir William, having opened the door for the ladies to depart, then shut it behind them and returned to his seat. The other gentlemen closed up as near as possible to him so that they could talk to one another more easily.

  ‘Help yourself to port, Cedric, and then pass it around.’

  There ensued a period of contented silence as the gentlemen indulged in their fortified wine and cigars and cigarettes.

  ‘My sister seems to have made quite an impression on you, Hugh,’ Cedric said at last, quietly enough so that neither Lord Belvedere nor Sir William could hear what he said. This precaution, however, appeared unnecessary, for both seemed lost in their own thoughts. ‘If you’re not careful, my mother will have you both married off in no time.’ He spoke jokingly, with obvious affection for his sister, but when Lord Sneddon replied, he appeared serious.