Chapter 3 #2
“Mrs. Fletcher.” Her name caught her attention. “A guest of his lordship … Yes, a most reliable witness, I am sure. I understand Mr. Fletcher is a detective at New Scotland Yard.”
Daisy groaned. Her status as the wife of a Metropolitan Police detective would by no means dispose the Cambridge police to trust her as a reliable witness.
More likely they would regard her with suspicion, afraid her presence would lead to the Yard interfering in their case.
She should have refused to have anything to do with reporting to them, even through John Walsdorf.
“No, Mr. Fletcher is not at Haverhill at present,” he was saying. “I believe he is expected on Friday.”
With any luck at all, the local detectives would clear up the case before Alec arrived for the wedding.
“Oh gosh, the wedding!” Daisy exclaimed as Walsdorf rang off. “It will have to be postponed, won’t it? There will be a funeral instead. How ghastly! I must go and talk to Lucy. Mr. Walsdorf, did the police say anything about sending for the local doctor?”
“No. Should I?”
Daisy hesitated in an agony of indecision.
No more interference, said one part of her.
The sooner a doctor saw the victim the better, argued another part.
It might help establish the time of death, even the precise cause of death.
The police surgeon might not arrive for ages.
But would the local practitioner understand about not moving the body, not touching anything in the room?
Walsdorf was waiting for her instructions. Everyone seemed to think she should know what to do.
“Ring up Dr. Arbuthnot. Explain what’s happened and leave it to him to decide. No, on second thoughts, Lord Fotheringay may need him. I gather he has a weak heart, and the shock … You’d better ask the doctor to come. All right? I’m going to Lucy.”
Daisy scurried across the icy hall. The polished oak of the stairs was not much warmer to her feet, but she slowed down, trying to think how to break the news to Lucy.
Turning into the west wing, she was surprised to find it empty but for the footman Baines had posted at Lady Eva’s door. She’d have expected people to stand about discussing the horror in their midst.
“Where is everyone?” she asked the footman.
“Gone to dress, ma’am.”
“Oh, of course.” Thoroughly chilled by now, Daisy was tempted to go and put on something warm. But, assuming no one had yet enlightened Lucy, she wanted to be the one to break the news.
She tapped on Lucy’s door.
“Who is it?” Lucy sounded apprehensive.
“Just me, darling.” Daisy went in. Lucy was still in bed, her face
naked and vulnerable without the light make-up she wore even in the country. “Didn’t you hear all that racket a bit ago?”
“Yes. I stuck my head under the pillow till it went away. You look frozen. Here, have my counterpane.”
Wrapping herself up, Daisy settled at the foot of the bed. “Didn’t you wonder what it was all about?”
“I assumed one of the maids had seen a spider, or something of the sort. I wasn’t frightfully interested. But I expect you’re going to tell me.” Both words and tone were flippant, but Daisy knew her friend very well and saw her brace herself for bad news.
“It’s very bad.”
“Darling, I can tell that from your face. Spit it out.”
“It’s your great-aunt.”
“Poor old Aunt Eva. She died in the night? What was it, heart attack?”
“It’s worse than that, I’m afraid. Someone killed her.”
“Oh, Daisy, no!”
Daisy nodded. “The police are on their way.”
“Alec’s coming?” Lucy asked hopefully.
“No, the local chaps. Alec can’t butt in without an invitation.”
“Then we’ll just have to get him invited.” Lucy started to scramble out of bed. “I’ll talk to Grandfather.”
“Not so fast! For a start, as far as I know, no one has broken the news to Lord Haverhill yet. Do you want to be the one?”
“Gosh, no! I should think Timmy’s the one for that, being the only clergyman in the family. Does he know?”
“Yes, both he and Nancy turned out. I think they’re dressing. Your great-uncle was there too. He seemed pretty shaken.”
“He and Aunt Eva are … were thick as thieves. I can hardly believe she’s gone, Daisy. She was years younger than Grandfather and always so full of pep. Uncle Montagu must be devastated.”
“He seemed pretty cut up.”
“Goodness knows how Uncle Aubrey will take it. The shock’s
bound to be bad for his heart, don’t you think? Timmy will have to tell him, as well.”
“I wonder if I should go and suggest that he’s the man for the job,” Daisy said reluctantly.
“I’d better. My brother—my family—and you’re not dressed either. Wait here.”
Lucy slipped on a peacock silk kimono and her slippers and hurried out.
She was much too matter-of-fact, Daisy thought, as if she hadn’t really taken in the fact of murder.
When it hit her, already ruffled as she was by the wedding preparations, it could be the last straw.
Daisy had never seen Lucy distraught, and she didn’t want to.
No more than a couple of minutes passed before Lucy returned. “I hope you don’t mind, darling, I rather implied you were falling apart and in need of my succour.”
“Rotter!”
“I’d never have got away, else. You know how Timmy bores on. But he’s agreed to go and break it to Grandfather and Uncle Aubrey.”
“What about Sir James?”
“Heavens, I’d forgotten him! It’s his mother who’s been done in. Daisy, are you really quite certain she didn’t just die naturally?”
That irreverent refrain from The Gondoliers passed unwanted through Daisy’s mind: No probable, possible shadow of doubt … “Quite certain,” she said. “But even if it was natural, which it wasn’t, the wedding would have to be postponed.”
Lucy stared at her blankly. “I suppose so. Oh, Daisy, I simply can’t go through all this again! All the fuss! I’m calling the whole thing off.”
“You mean you’re not going to marry Binkie after all? Don’t be ridiculous, darling, you can’t just cast him off because getting married involves a lot of fuss.”
“No, I’m quite relieved, actually. I told you I wasn’t certain … It’s
not as if I’ll be pinching pennies any longer. Aunt Eva told me she’s leaving me four hundred a year.”
“Lady Eva’s left you enough to live on? But Lucy, that gives you a motive for murdering her!”
“Darling, you don’t think I’d …”
“Don’t be a blithering idiot, darling. But the police will.”