Chapter 23 #2
“Then I got rather bored,” she confessed.
“I mean, a market’s not fun for very long if you haven’t any money to spend, is it?
So I talked Neil into leaving early. Aunt Ruby had agreed that I could go home on his motor-bike.
He said I’d be stiff and sore afterwards, but I’m not, not a bit.
I often go riding when I visit friends in the country. I think that must be it, don’t you?”
“Very likely. You left Matlock early, you were saying?”
“Only a tiny bit early, and took the long way round. Walter was a bit peeved, but I didn’t go off without a word, I told Simon where we were going.”
It was none of Alec’s business, but he couldn’t resist: “Are you going to marry Mr. Ilkton?”
“Goodness, no!” She giggled. “I’m not going to marry anyone for simply ages.
Years and years. Not till I’m twenty-one, at least. I told Walter, but some people just refuse to believe you’re serious when it doesn’t suit them.
” She sounded as if she had considerable experience, as she quite likely did.
“Very true. Was Simon with you the whole time until you and Mr. Carey left?”
“No, he went to a pub to drink beer. It was knowing the Hydro is TT, you see. It made him thirsty.”
“I see.” Alec managed to keep a straight face. “And your aunts, did you see either of them after dropping them off in the town square?”
“Not till lunchtime. Neil and I were home in time for lunch. I promised Simon. He didn’t want Aunt Ruby to worry.
It’s a bit of a bore, in a way, having someone worrying about you, but it’s sort of nice, too, if you know what I mean.
I don’t mind helping in the house, either, whatever Aunt Lorna says, as long as they don’t expect me to cook.
And they’re not likely to ask me, after last time! ” Again came that infectious giggle.
Alec refrained from enquiring about the domestic disaster. “Tell me about the evening,” he said. “You were helping then?”
“Yes, I gave Aunt Lorna a hand in the kitchen. She does breakfast and Aunt Ruby does lunch, and they take turns, week by week, with dinner. I just help with dishing up and carrying stuff to the dining room. Oh, and washing up after. But Neil and even Walter have been jolly good sports about carrying in the trays. They’ve even helped with the washing-up. ”
“So you spent some time in the kitchen, and you were in and out of the hall and dining room?”
“Exactly.” She beamed at his ready comprehension.
“You don’t help with drinks, though?”
“Hardly ever. If I’m at home and Simon’s not, as often as not we don’t have cocktails or wine. Uncle Norman sometimes drinks beer. Last night, Simon was in charge, and I think I saw Neil and Walter helping when they weren’t helping me. And Aunt Lorna.”
“Did you happen to notice who served your uncle’s drinks?”
Her eyes grew round. “No. Is that how he was killed? How mean! He enjoyed his pink gin so much, and he was hardly ever well enough to have it.”
A novel view of murder! Alec asked a few more questions, with little hope of anything new emerging. She told him, in considerably more detail than he wanted, about coercing Ilkton into playing Happy Families.
“He only plays bridge, really, but he couldn’t not, not without looking like a rotten sport. He couldn’t play for toffee. I suppose he couldn’t be bothered to put his mind to a children’s game. He was hopeless at Racing Demon, too.”
Alec sincerely hoped Myra would not marry Ilkton. He didn’t think she’d suit him at all.
On the other hand, he was clearly crazy about her. Perhaps he wouldn’t find fault with her silly chatter when artless spontaneity aged to stupid tactlessness, à la Mrs. Bennet. They might rub on together well enough.
After all many people, including Alec’s mother, Daisy’s mother, and Lucy, her best friend, had prophesied disaster for his own marriage.
He thanked Myra and sent her out. She paused in the doorway, looked back, and said with a dazzling smile, “Aren’t you coming, Mr. Piper?”
“He’ll be along in a minute or two,” Alec told her. “I’m sure I can trust you to go straight back to the hall.”
“Of course,” she said indignantly. With one of her lightning changes of mood, she then confessed, “This is quite the most exciting thing that ever happened to me!” And changed again to a disconsolate: “If only it wasn’t for poor old Uncle Humphrey!”
With that, she took herself off. Piper, apparently mesmerised, watched her go.
“Don’t tell me she’s struck you all of a heap,” said Alec, with some asperity.
“She’s quite a…” Piper, unusually, was lost for words. He shook his head. “Sorry, Chief. Who’d you want to see next?”
“Norman Birtwhistle, but I suppose he’s still out on the farm.”
“D’you want me to go and look for him?”
“No, he’ll have to wait. He usually comes in for lunch, I gather.”
“That leaves Miss Birtwhistle and Simon Birtwhistle. You reckon they’re our best bet, one or t’other?”
“I do indeed, Ernie, I do indeed, unless I’ve very much misread Mrs. Birtwhistle.” He yawned enormously. “Beg your pardon! I got very little sleep last night. Yes, Simon’s top of my list, so let’s see if we can eliminate Lorna before I tackle him.”