Dying for a Garden Party

by V L McBeath

  Once through the side door they found themselves in the middle of a corridor that led to the billiard room on the left and the kitchen on the right.

  “It sounds busy in the kitchen; we’d better not go that way. Do you remember the secret staircase we used to play on when you visited? We can use that.”

  They headed in the direction of the billiard room and turned left onto a servants’ staircase. The steps were steep and narrow, but they soon emerged amongst a suite of rooms at the back of the house. They appeared to be little used.

  “I told you it would be quiet here. Do you remember the nursery … and my bedroom?” Eliza popped her head into both rooms. “They seem so much smaller than they did. I wonder if Nanny’s room has changed.”

  “The nursery’s gone; I’d say they’re all spare bedrooms now,” Connie said.

  “You’re right, what a shame. I used to love being here in my own little world with only Nanny to worry about. I don’t suppose any young children live with them.”

  “No, but they do have grandchildren visiting; didn’t you see them in the carriage? We’d better be careful in case any of them are using this part of the house for the weekend.”

  “I’d say they’ll be on the second floor rather than here. Besides, there’s no luggage in any of these rooms.”

  Connie inclined her head to one side. “Perhaps. Is that all you wanted to see? Shall we go back now?”

  “Go?” A frown settled on Eliza’s face. “There’s no one here. Can’t we take a peek around the reception rooms on this floor? If there’s anyone left in the house, I expect they’ll be getting ready in the bedrooms.”

  “Go on then, but only if we’re quick.” Connie walked to the door that separated the old nursery area from the rest of the house. “After you.”

  Eliza led the way and stopped a short way down the corridor outside the dining room. “You can’t see much in here, the shutters are closed to keep out the sun. The furniture’s different but it looks like they still have the dark wooden panelling on the walls. I don’t really remember what it used to be like; I always ate in the nursery.”

  “You’d have been too young, I suppose.”

  “I was, but after Mother died, Father rarely entertained and so for the most part, the room was left empty.”

  “That’s a shame.”

  Eliza forced her gaze from the room as they continued on towards the drawing room. They hadn’t reached the door when their attention was diverted by a large rectangular metal cage.

  “What on earth’s this? It certainly wasn’t here when we lived here.” Eliza peered through the mesh into the hole below. “There’s a platform down there. I wonder if this is the lift Mrs Hartley was telling me about.”

  “Why would they have one of those?” Connie’s forehead was creased as she stared at Eliza.

  “Mr Hartley can’t walk and so it brings him up to this floor. It doesn’t go to the top floor, though, and so his bedroom must be down here.” Eliza shuddered as she rounded the corner and gazed at the door at the far end of the corridor.

  “If he has a bedroom on this floor, we need to turn back. He could come down here at any moment.” Connie stopped as Eliza continued walking.

  “We will, just let me walk to the corner. The library and an office used to be down here but the bedrooms were the other side of the door down there. It’s a solid wooden door and so I’m sure he won’t hear us.”

  “We can’t go into Mr Hartley’s office, what if he’s in there?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll check first.”

  They walked halfway down the corridor but Eliza’s pace slowed when she noticed the door to the library was open. She crept the last few steps and breathed a sigh of relief when she found it was empty.

  “What a lovely room,” Connie said when they stepped in. “The windows over the front garden are splendid. They must be over the front door. Are they?”

  “Yes, that’s right. There’s an adjoining door to the office as well. Let me go and check whether anyone’s in.”

  “Wait a moment.” Connie put a hand on Eliza’s arm. “What’s that noise?”

  They peered down the corridor to see a shadow rising from the lift on the corner.

  “There’s someone coming.” Eliza stared at the four walls of the room. “Quick, there’s a small kitchen opposite. We can hide in there.” They hurried from the room and Eliza closed the kitchen door as soon as Connie was safely inside.

  The lift seemed to take an age but eventually they heard a man and woman approaching.

  “What in God’s name were you thinking inviting people here? You know full well I don’t want to socialise any more.”

  “I’m past caring what you want.” The woman’s voice pierced the air. “You’ve kept me here as a prisoner for long enough, so if you won’t let me out to meet new people, I’m going to invite them here.”

  “That’s Mrs Hartley,” Eliza whispered to Connie as she peered through a crack in the door. “She’s pushing a wheelchair, presumably with her husband in it.”

  “You’re well aware why you’re not going out alone.” Mr Hartley’s words boomed down the corridor. “I don’t trust you one iota. Whether my legs work or not, you’re my wife and you’re not going near any other men.”

  “I’ve not been near another man since I met you. Everything James and Robert have told you is lies and you know it.” The door to the office slammed as the two of them went inside, but it failed to stop their voices carrying across the corridor. Eliza opened the kitchen door a touch wider as she and Connie strained to hear what was said.

  “And what’s that woman doing here? Did you deliberately tell James to bring her so you could upset me?” Mrs Hartley sounded as if she was about to burst into tears.

  “I didn’t invite her. I’m no happier about her being here than you are. I tore a strip off James last night, but he said she’s living with him now and he couldn’t leave her on her own.”

  “She’s living in London!”

  “Don’t blame me. Last night I told James to send her straight back to Scotland, but she won’t go.”

  “Well, she can’t stay here … and you’re not hiding up here either. I’ve put this party on especially for you and you can jolly well come and meet the guests. I’ve invited people from the village especially. You can deal with her later.”

  With the break in the conversation, Eliza suddenly pushed Connie back into the room. “Quick, get back, someone’s coming.”

  “Who is it?” Connie asked as Eliza closed the door.

  “I don’t know, I couldn’t see.”

  Hearing the office door open and close, Eliza again peered through a gap in the kitchen door. “It sounds like a man, but I can’t make out what he’s saying. Mrs Hartley’s still in there.”

  A second later, a noise from the office caused Eliza to dart back into the kitchen.

  “I expect Georgina to be gone from here by tonight and I want you in the garden in five minutes or there’ll be trouble.” Mrs Hartley slammed the office door behind her as she headed towards the stairs.

  “It will take me longer than that to get in the lift,” Mr Hartley shouted after her, but she hadn’t waited to hear.

  “My goodness,” Connie said. “I’m not surprised they weren’t in the garden to meet us. Don’t you think we should go?”

  Eliza popped her head out of the door and peered down the corridor. “I don’t know. Should we wait until the new visitor has gone … or Mr Hartley goes back downstairs?”

  “They could be hours. They’re not shouting any more.”

  “I know, confound them. Their voices are loud enough to make out they’re talking but not loud enough to hear what they’re saying. They may not be in there long though. If Mr’s Hartley’s expected in the garden, he could leave at any time. Let’s wait one more minute to make sure the coast’s clear.”

  With the door a fraction open, Eliza strained to listen to what was being said, but it was no use. �
��We might as well … argh!” Eliza and Connie visibly jumped as a clock in the corridor struck half past two. Eliza put a hand to her heart.

  “Oh my goodness. That frightened the life out of me.”

  “Me too.” Connie’s face was pale. “We need to go. I can’t cope with all this skulduggery.”

  “You’re right, it’s not good for the nerves. Come on, follow me.”

  Eliza stepped out into the corridor and with a glance at the solid oak door to her right, turned to the left and headed off in the direction they had come in. The platform of the lift was now level with the floor they were on, presumably waiting for Mr Hartley to go back downstairs. They rounded the corner and were almost at the door to the nursery when Eliza pulled Connie into a side room, full of linen.

  “Did you hear that? I think someone’s coming?”

  “I did. Oh gosh, I don’t like this.”

  Eliza peeked through the gap in the door. “You’ve no need to worry. I can’t see anyone but let’s wait a little longer.”

  Time seemed to stand still but after counting to sixty, they decided it was safe to move.

  “We only need to get to the door and we should be fine. Nobody will see us on the back staircase.”

  Eliza held open the door and was about to follow Connie to the stairs when she froze, her eyes wide as she stared at Connie. “Oh my goodness, was that a gunshot?”

  The colour drained from Connie’s face. “It was and I would say it came from one of the rooms at the front of the house. We have to get out of here.”

  Chapter Four

  Connie’s face was as pale as Eliza had seen it as she turned to head for the stairs.

  “No, wait.” Eliza hovered in the open doorway. “Don’t you think we should go back? Somebody may be hurt.”

  Connie shook her head. “No, I don’t. What if the gunman’s still there and takes aim at us? Besides, we’re not supposed to be in the house. Why don’t we just go and tell someone what’s happened? We’re in enough trouble as it is.”

  Connie was trembling as she edged towards the stairs.

  “All right, let’s get you outside. I’d say you’re in shock. I’ll see if Archie’s around and come back.”

  Eliza left Connie propped up by the back door as she hurried into the garden in search of Archie. She spotted him talking to a group of men from the bowling club.

  “Archie.” She shouted his name as she approached them. “Can you come with me? It’s urgent.”

  Archie turned and stared at her. “I’m in the middle of a conversation.”

  “Please, don’t be angry, I just need you to come into the house.”

  “Is everything all right?” Mr Bell walked towards them, his eyes firmly on Archie.

  “No, it’s not,” Eliza said. “Please, will you both come with me? Mr Hewitt you too.” In her panic she grabbed hold of Mr Hewitt’s arm and pulled him towards the house. She waited for Archie and her father to follow them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to make a general announcement, but we think someone’s been shot.”

  “Shot!” Archie laughed as he looked to the other men for support. “It’s the glorious twelfth tomorrow, I’m sure it’s just someone practising.”

  “No, it’s not. It wasn’t a shotgun … it wasn’t that loud, and it was in the house. Mr Hewitt, will you hurry and fetch Sergeant Cooper while we go and find out what’s happened?”

  Archie’s demeanour changed. “What were you doing in the house…?”

  “Nothing, now come along, this isn’t the time for a conversation. Someone might be injured.”

  Eliza hurried back to the house where a little colour had returned to Connie’s face. “Wait here and I’ll be back.”

  “No, don’t leave me on my own. I’m fine now.” Connie hitched up her skirt and as Eliza opened the door, she hurried up the servants’ staircase.

  “We’re not sure where the shot came from,” Eliza said as she led the way back to the dining room. “It wasn’t in there because we’d have seen whoever did it.”

  They hadn’t reached the drawing room when a scream rang out from around the corner.

  “Down here.” Eliza hurried towards the noise but Archie overtook her as they headed for the office. He was no more than ten feet way when Mrs Hartley ran into the corridor. She was clearly dressed for the party in an emerald green gown that matched her eyes, but her face was white.

  “Oh Doctor, thank goodness it’s you. Come quickly … it’s Edward…”

  Archie pushed past her but as he turned into the office, he stopped abruptly in the doorway.

  “What is it?” Eliza peered over his shoulder. “Oh my goodness. Connie, don’t look, not after the shock you’ve had. You too, Mrs Hartley, come away. Father, will you take them to the drawing room?”

  “Me?” Mr Bell cleared his throat. “Only if you come too.”

  Shaking off her father’s restraining hold on her arm, Eliza glanced into the office. “I’ll be with you when I’m ready. I need to take a look around.”

  Ignoring Mr Bell’s objections, she followed Archie into the office, shuddering as she glanced down at Mr Hartley. He sat in his wheelchair, his head thrown back by the force of the single bullet to his forehead.

  “I presume he’s dead?”

  “I would say so.” Archie instinctively felt for the pulse in the man’s neck.

  “Well, whoever did it was a good shot. Either that or they were fortunate their first shot hit the target.”

  “Eliza, you shouldn’t be in here; this is no place for a lady.” He put his arm around her shoulder to steer her towards the door. “Mr Bell, can you come and get her?”

  Eliza ducked away from Archie’s hold. “Stop treating me like a child. I’ve seen a dead body before.”

  Mr Bell stepped into the room, but one glance from Eliza stopped him where he was.

  “All right, two minutes and then I’ll be back for you,” he said.

  Eliza watched as Archie knelt down to examine the back of Mr Hartley’s head, which now rested parallel to the floor.

  “Mind your trousers in that blood.” She pointed to the stain on the carpet directly below the head.

  “I will, thank you.”

  Satisfied that Archie was being careful, Eliza wandered to the large bay window that filled the wall opposite the door. “I wonder how long the window’s been open.”

  “All day, I shouldn’t wonder, given the weather at the moment,” Archie said.

  “There’s been no breeze though.”

  Archie glanced up from his examination, his brow furrowed. “What are you talking about? What’s the breeze got to do with anything?”

  “It’s been so hot and airless, I doubt there’s been enough breeze to cause the curtain to catch on the frame like this. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is how the killer escaped.”

  “Eliza, stop this and go and sit with Connie and Mrs Hartley. Sergeant Cooper will be here shortly and he’ll be leading the investigation.”

  Well, I hope he does better than last time! Eliza coughed to disguise a laugh.

  Archie stood up straight and stared down at her. “If there’s a killer walking around the village, especially if he’s got a gun, I don’t want you involved.”

  “Of course, the gun! Where is it?” Eliza moved to the middle of the floor as her eyes searched the room. “It isn’t obvious … but the bullet is.” Walking to a bookcase that stood alongside the internal door, she bent down. “It must have gone straight through Mr Hartley’s skull. Look, you can see the trail of blood that splashed as it exited the wound; it’s made quite a dent in this wood too. I won’t be able to get it out, I’ll leave it for Sergeant Cooper.” She took a piece of notepaper from her handbag.

  “What are you doing now?”

  “Just making a few notes, and don’t look at me like that, I’m well aware the police will lead the investigation, but there’s a chance they’ll need help. Certainly before anyone arrives from London.”

 
“But that doesn’t have to be you.”

  Eliza glared at Archie. “I’m not even answering that.” She turned her back on him and drew out a plan of the room to accompany her notes.

  “Do you think there’s a funny smell in here?” she asked once she had finished.

  “Not particularly, but if you can smell anything it’s probably from the gun.”

  “Hmm … it could be, although I’m not sure.”

  Eliza stopped to sniff the air but was disturbed by the sound of Sergeant Cooper walking down the corridor. “Here we go.”

  “Constable Jenkins, stand on the door, please, to keep everyone out. Ah, Dr Thomson, Mrs Thomson, what are you doing here so quickly?”

  Eliza stepped forward. “Mrs Appleton and I heard the shot and brought Dr Thomson and Mr Bell up here while Mr Hewitt came for you. We feared someone may have been injured and be in need of help.”

  “They need more than that, I would say.” The sergeant’s nose crinkled as he glanced down at the body. “Right, can I ask you to move to the drawing room? I’ll need to question you once I’ve assessed the scene.”

  “Yes, of course.” Eliza managed her best smile. “I’ve made some notes myself and you may like to examine the bullet that’s lodged in the bookcase. Its position should tell you where the gun was fired from.”

  “Yes, thank you, Mrs Thomson. I am aware of these things.”

  “I’m sure you are, but for what it’s worth, my estimate is that the gun was fired from the other side of the desk, close to the right-hand edge of the window. The killer then probably moved to the window that’s open, where they climbed down onto the porch roof. It’s only a few feet below and from there it would be easy enough for a man to jump down onto the driveway.” Eliza studied the sergeant. “Did you notice anyone leaving the party while you were at the gates?”

  Sergeant Cooper shook his head. “No, nobody.”

  “Good … and you did lock the gates before you came up here, in case the killer managed to hide himself while he waited for you to leave your post?”

  The colour drained from the sergeant’s face. “Jenkins!”