A Death at the Church

by Caroline Dunford

  I sat bolt upright, clutching the sheet to my front. ‘That is too harsh,’ I said. ‘I never had any intention...’

  Fitzroy held up his hand cutting me off. ‘Yes, it was harsh. Probably too harsh, but honestly, Euphemia, I thought you were more self-aware of the effect you have on men? You explained it to me quite clearly before. If you had been fully trained in martial defence, I might have countenanced what you had done, but you were extremely lucky he caught and held you as he did. Many men would have held you down and ravished you.’

  ‘You do not think much of your sex,’ I said sternly, but I could feel myself trembling.

  ‘When they are with a half-naked woman, who willingly went into their bedchamber? No, I don’t.’

  ‘I wonder you sent me at all.’

  ‘I happen to know that Otto von Wolff is at heart a decent fellow, or I wouldn’t have sent you. But you did not know that. I am frustrated and angry... do you know what causes the death of the majority of spies, regardless of who they are working for?’

  I shook my head not trusting myself to speak.

  ‘Over-confidence,’ said Fitzroy. He stood up and tucked the pocket book into the inside of his jacket. ‘I am going down to breakfast. Join me as soon as you can. You don’t need to pack up the clothes neatly but do put them in the cases. It would look odd if we left any behind.’ He walked to the door. ‘When I see you downstairs, I will be your husband, Mr Brown. As for what happened here yesterday will discuss that at another time when I have the space and patience to explain what you did wrong. Perhaps in the meantime you can think about that for yourself?’ He left, closing the door behind him.

  By the time I had dressed, fixed my hair, and packed, the gentleman I met downstairs could not have been more charming. My husband held out my seat for me, chided me gently on my drinking last night, and apologised once more for running over our imaginary cat. He then started to discuss what school we might send Nicolas to. He told me he agreed to a local prep as I had requested, as long as his education was finished somewhere decent – which he then went on to discuss at tiresome length. Not only had his manner changed, but his mannerisms too. Mr Brown had a habit of stroking his moustache when he was thinking and drumming his fingers on the tablecloth. He also ate with an almost finicky precision, totally unlike Fitzroy. I realised I was watching the performance of a master. He did not need different clothing to shift into an entirely different persona. I forgot about our disagreement and watched fascinated. I made a plethora of mental notes.

  A policeman joined as we were finishing our morning tea. Mr Brown preferred his wife give her statement in his presence unless the constable could think of a reason why she should not? Not being under any obvious suspicion he came across as a most controlling husband, who did not like letting his wife out of his sight. Another mark against us being involved with Otto. We both gave simple statements. Fitzroy gave a fictitious forwarding address. He then paid the hotel bill, keeping me by his side, got the porters to bring down the luggage and load it into the car. Then, almost before I realised, we were driving away.

  ‘I am glad you had the sense to keep that choker,’ said Fitzroy after a couple of miles. We’ll dump the rest of the stuff, but you can wear that to cover your bruises. I have been thinking about what you said...’

  I must have looked cowed because he added, ‘ Not that. About Mrs Wilson. I think you might be right. The key might still be somewhere in Stapleford Hall.’

  ‘He had other properties.’

  ‘Agreed, but that was his favourite, was it not?’

  ‘He was obsessed with the place,’ I said.

  ‘We need to think of a way to get you in there. Who lives there now?’

  ‘I don’t know. Bertram took no interest in the place and Hans drew up a document exempting him and Richenda from inheriting it.’

  ‘Hmm, but presumably it would have had a codicil about who it went to in the case Richard predeceased the rest of his family without an heir?’

  ‘It was never discussed with me, or in front of me,’ I said.

  ‘Nevertheless it’s the kind of clause lawyers live for. Any idea when the will shall be read? Or has it already been done?’

  ‘I think both Bertram and Richenda thought he would leave everything to his wife.’

  ‘Lucinda, was it? Daughter of a mill owner?’

  ‘I believe her dowry consisted of a number of mills.’

  ‘And who will they go to now know he’s gone?’ He gave a grimace of disgust. ‘I do hope this doesn’t turn out to be a grubby little matter about inheritance. That is the kind of the thing the ordinary police should have been able to easily solve.’

  ‘You are involved because you believe the circumstances of his death have some kind of national importance?’

  Fitzroy negotiated a tight corner before answering. ‘If anything, I would be interested in who gets the armaments factory now – and possibly even the bank. The actual matter of his death matters less to the service than what becomes of his assets, and if we can still utilise them for the security of the country.’

  ‘Oh, I see. A single person’s situation is not important enough to affect national security?’

  ‘Not in the usual way of things. Of course, if the King had been involved...’

  ‘Naturally,’ I said.

  The conversation between us died. It took some time for me to get up the nerve to ask, ‘Then why are you involved.’

  Fitzroy threw me a startled look, and almost skidded. ‘Because of you, of course. I thought I had made that adequately clear.’

  ‘Oh,’ I said again.

  ‘That doesn’t mean I am not still furious with you. We will have words later. Right now, I have other matters on my mind.’

  I took this as a request for my silence. I made no more attempts at conversation and did not even ask where we were headed. I hoped such supplication might have a minor effect on his temper.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It quickly transpired that I had no need to enquire of our destination. The landscape became familiar. ‘You are taking me back to the Mullers.’

  ‘I do wish your friend Hans had listened to me and changed both his names. He sounds far too German.’

  ‘Perhaps he is proud of his German heritage.’

  ‘Then once war is formally declared he will find himself being proud of it in an internment camp along with his wife and children.’

  ‘You cannot be serious?’

  ‘No, changing his name would, in all likelihood, not have been enough. His parentage is too well known. Is that not why he had to resort to seeking business from Richard Stapleford? Less and less of those in the City would work with him.’

  ‘But Hans would never do –’

  Fitzroy interrupted me. ‘Why not? You are prepared to swear your loyalty to your country, why would he not be prepared to do the same?’

  ‘Because he considers himself an English gentleman,’ I said hotly.

  Fitzroy slowed the car and pulled in to a sheltered path off the road. ‘Are you sure about that? The subterfuge he could be exercising would be no more than I did with my German princess.’

  ‘But you are not German.’

  Fitzroy said something in German I could not follow, but the words were fluid and convincing. ‘You speak German?’

  ‘I speak a few languages. I have had an odd linguistic aptitude since I was a child. I don’t care to use it often.’

  ‘Is that why you said you were good at codes?’

  ‘My point, Euphemia, is that I do not believe the German people are in any way lesser than the English, nor do I find them individually evil. However, when a country becomes our foe then we must treat its subjects like foes. We no longer have the luxury of trusting them, and in a conflict we must often slay them to preserve our own lives. Personally, I consider war a failure on both sides to communicate and reason. Once fighting begins, both sides lose – mothers lose sons and sons lose fathers. The laws of human so
ciety change. We are forced to be cruel and callous to defend our country’s beliefs – the lot of the ordinary people on both sides is little different. However, having expressed my opinion, which I rarely do, I must make it clear to you that I will show no leniency when I am called to war. I will undertake whatever my sovereign requires of me. If I am told to personally drag Hans into a jail, I will do so. If I am told to investigate him and find him an enemy of the state, then I will consign him to the firing squad. You also, Euphemia, have sworn to do the same.’

  I felt bile rise in my throat.

  ‘You cannot say I did not warn you about this work.’ ‘No,’ I said. ‘I cannot. But I did not think about how close to me and mine...’ ‘I hoped you had.’

  ‘Is there nothing that can be done for Hans?’ I said. ‘What will happen to Richenda and the children? Must they also be interned?’

  ‘I don’t know. Her twin’s past actions do not argue well for her own. In marrying a German, she has been thought to be playing both sides. She shares the ownership of the Stapleford Bank, doesn’t she? She’d be wise to sign it over to Bertram. It is possible it could be confiscated by the government.’

  I began to tremble. ‘Dear God, this is awful.’

  ‘I thought it better to raise this before we returned to the estate. If it occurred to you there...’

  ‘You thought I might warn them?’

  ‘Actually no, I didn’t think you would go against your oath, but I did thing the realisation of what may be coming to that family would shake you to the core. Better to consider the situation before you are called upon to act as if all is normal.’

  ‘Yes, I see that,’ I said quietly. ‘You are right. I will hate myself, but I will not warn them. I gave my word.’

  ‘War is an ugly business, Euphemia. If it helps, the work we do is to avoid conflict and if that cannot be accomplished, then it is to seek information that will end the war as quickly as possible – with our victory, of course.’

  ‘That makes it sound like spying is a positive thing.’

  Fitzroy frowned. ‘Of course, it is. We do what must be done to preserve and shelter the rest of our fellow countrymen.’

  ‘You truly believe that?’

  ‘Why else do you think I would do the things I have done?’

  I gave myself a shake. ‘Yes, I know. I have expressed the exact same thought to you after...’

  ‘I’ve done something awful,’ finished the spy.

  ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I am merely accustoming myself to the idea that I may be called upon do such things.’

  ‘Oh, while I’m training you, I get first dibs on doing that stuff,’ said Fitzroy, and I could hear how he was struggling to lighten the mood. He started the engine again.

  ‘So, do I become Euphemia within a certain distance of places I have lived?’ I asked trying to match his tone.

  He continued looking straight ahead. ‘I certainly wouldn’t call you Alice in front of your family, but no – this time it was... well, you’ll work it out.’

  ‘Because you were speaking to me as a friend?’

  ‘Let’s just say it was a conversation that officially never took place.’

  I sank back into my thoughts for some time. When we were almost at the estate, the spy finally spoke again, ‘Do remember to keep that choker on. I don’t want Bertram coming after me with a fire poker or some such thing. You’d hate it if I broke him.’

  ‘Are you coming to the estate with me?’

  ‘I haven’t decided. Tonight, I will stop at the village inn. Do tell me they don’t have bedbugs? I need to send some messages. I presume there is a local post office?’

  ‘Yes to the post office. I would not know about bedbugs.’

  ‘The charms of the countryside,’ said Fitzroy. ‘Depending on what telegram I get back I may join you. Otherwise I would like you to come down to the village tomorrow after lunch and we can discuss what we will do next. We need to somehow get access to Stapleford Hall.’

  ‘I hope you will at least drive me up to the house this time. The Chilterns were less than friendly last time.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘The gatekeepers.’

  ‘Probably didn’t want a murderess in their house.’ ‘Are we being friends or professionals at this moment?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because if we are friends, I am going to hit you.’ ‘Definitely professionals,’ said Fitzroy turning briefly to wink at me.

  Stone opened the door to the pair of us. Fitzroy had parked the car and accompanied me up the stairs without explanation. As I expected everyone to be even more angry with me, I did not complain. The Mullers’ stoic butler gave an almost inaudible sigh when he saw who was at the door. ‘I will announce you, miss, sir. The family are at luncheon. He left us waiting in the hall.

  ‘If I did not know better,’ I said quietly to Fitzroy, ‘I would think you arranged things to gain maximum access to meals.’

  The spy bent down to whisper in my ear. ‘How do you know I don’t.’ I gave a slight laugh and caught sight of my potential fiancé standing watching us from the other side of the hall. ‘Bertram,’ I said, held out my hands. ‘I can explain.’

  ‘I would rather not know,’ said my beloved. He nodded at Fitzroy.

  ‘Good to see you, Stapleford. I know I’m meant to say I’m sorry for your loss, but I’m not and I doubt you are either.’

  I could see Bertram struggling not to smile. ‘I am containing my sorrow tolerably,’ he said.

  ‘Contenting yourself with remembering him as a sweet little boy with whom you played adorable japes?’ said Fitzroy.

  ‘No,’ said Bertram. ‘He was born a bastard.’ He blushed. ‘Well, not literally, but you know what I mean.’

  ‘So, you two lovebirds are not going to quarrel?’ said Fitzroy. ‘Euphemia was rather scared of confronting you on her own.’

  ‘I would infinitely prefer it if you would stop running off with my fiancée,’ said Bertram. ‘It is most difficult to explain, let alone personally aggrieving.’

  ‘I assure you, on my word,’ said Fitzroy, ‘it has all been entirely professional. In fact, I’m going to need to talk to her again later on this afternoon.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘I won’t know that until later,’ said the spy. ‘So I can’t tell you.’

  Bertram sighed heavily. ‘Whatever. You’d better come and have some lunch, Euphemia. Your mother and Joe are still here, but I warn you, Richenda’s gone off. It’s all a bit sombre.’

  ‘Gone off?’

  ‘Even taken the children,’ said Bertram. I became acutely aware of Fitzroy listening intently beside me. ‘Where?’ I asked.

  ‘You won’t believe it, she’s –’ said Bertram. ‘Stapleford Hall,’ I interrupted. ‘You knew!’

  ‘I assure you, neither Euphemia or myself knew. We have been busy elsewhere.’

  ‘How is Hans taking it?’ I asked. ‘Badly,’ said Bertram.

  ‘On that note, I think I will take my leave,’ said Fitzroy. ‘I was going to invite myself to luncheon despite Euphemia’s mother being present, which should tell you how hungry I am. But I draw the line at moping husbands.’ And without further farewell he let himself out of the house, mortally offending Stone, who believed almost religiously that the front door should never come into contact with any hand other than his own.

  ‘The smoked salmon is rather good,’ said Bertram, taking my hand and leading me into the dining room. ‘And there’s some fishy-tasting sandwiches which are much better than they sound. Joe thinks there is Apple Charlotte for sweet, but I think he’s dreaming.’

  ‘It sounds a very odd meal,’ I said as we entered.

  ‘Well, Richenda going off like that rather threw the household out of whack.’ He said this as we stood on the threshold of the room, a mite too loudly, as Hans looked up from his seat at the head of the table.

  ‘In reality, Bertram, the only person who ever ran this household properly was Euphemia
,’ he said calmly. ‘You have made an excellent choice in a wife. Unlike, it would appear, myself.’

  ‘Yes, well, oh, um...’ said Bertram holding out a chair.

  ‘Euphemia, how nice of you to drop by and see us again,’ said my mother. ‘Where exactly are you residing now?’

  Joe grinned at me from the other side of the table. He was not yet too old to delight in his older sister being berated by his mother. It was generally he that was in trouble.

  ‘Indeed, Mother,’ I said sitting down, ‘I have been taken around the country so much, I am not sure myself. It appears when one is accused of a crime one did not commit there is a great deal of paperwork to do to ensure various people do not try and re-arrest one.’

  ‘Poppycock,’ said my mother. I almost spilled my glass in shock. ‘But if you won’t tell me of your own accord,’ she continued. ‘I am certainly not going to beg. Bertram, I hope you know what you are doing marrying this girl – and I hope even more fervently that once married you will bring her to heel.’

  ‘Mother!’ I said, appalled. Joe stuffed his napkin in his mouth to smother his giggles. Even Hans gave a slight, sad smile.

  Bertram became very interested in a speck of dust on his shoes and almost disappeared under the table.

  I helped myself to some salmon and some fresh green beans. I had a great many questions I wished to ask but launching into them at once would appear far too odd. Instead I let my mother rattle on chastising me for a while. I thought that of all the people present, she was the one I had most pleased by giving her cause to scold me. Although, doubtless, Joe was glad to have the maternal spotlight for once turned away from him.

  When she paused for breath, Hans said, ‘I suppose it would be too much to hope that Richenda communicated her intentions to you, Euphemia?’

  ‘I am sorry, Hans, but she did not. When I learned where she had gone, I was shocked.’ Bertram gave me a funny look. He opened his mouth to say, presumably, that I had guessed far too easily, but I kicked him heavily on the shin under the table. So instead of speaking he gave an ‘ouch’ of pain. Then he gave me the broadest smile. I knew he did not relish the bruise, but my action had reminded him of the many times we had worked together for the Crown. He had finally tumbled to the fact that I was truly working with Fitzroy again. Bertram looked at me in the soppiest way. I smiled back inwardly wondering what the spy would say when he discovered Bertram knew I was working with him again. But then, no one could accuse me of telling him.