Entertaining Death

by Lesley Cookman

  Dorinda sat and accepted a cup. ‘What can I do for you, Inspector?’

  ‘First, why were you all in Lady Washington’s suite?’

  Dorinda explained her suspicions. ‘We thought they had gone back to London.’

  ‘I think, if they had been able to lay their hands on Lady Washington this morning, they would have done. They didn’t expect to meet with resistance, you see.’

  ‘What on earth did they expect to happen, then?’ asked Dorinda.

  ‘I hate to be the bearer of such unpleasant news,’ said Colyer, a twinkle in his eye, ‘but they intended to spirit her away.’

  ‘Spirit –? What do you mean?’

  ‘Their information was that she was working in a concert party with a lot of women. They expected to be able to extract her with a minimum of fuss.’

  ‘But even if that had been the case, there would have been witnesses.’

  ‘And who would ever suspect two pillars of society of abducting a young woman? Who would even come asking questions? You see, they had no idea that the police were already here.’

  ‘I gathered that,’ said Dorinda. ‘You said they had information. From whom?’

  ‘Oh, I’m sure you’ve guessed that.’ Colyer smiled at her.

  ‘Eugene Tybalt.’ Dorinda looked away from the warm brown eyes. ‘You’ve found out a lot in a day.’

  ‘So have you.’

  Dorinda was quiet for a moment. After taking a sip of coffee, she said ‘What did they intend to do with Amy tonight?’

  ‘The carriage was hired to take them to London.’

  ‘Not to the station?’

  ‘They could hardly take her on a train, could they?’

  ‘But what about Mariah? Did they intend to take her too? She would have fought.’

  ‘Ah, but our resourceful Mr Tybalt was waiting outside. I have no doubt he will be only too pleased to be helpful, under the circumstances.’

  Dorinda gasped. ‘You don’t mean …?’

  Colyer smiled. ‘I don’t know yet. I am loath to think that two such ladies would sink to those depths, but we shall see.’

  ‘I know I suspected them of trying to – well, of something, but surely – the scandal!’

  ‘Perhaps they merely wished to hand Lady Washington over to us.’

  ‘That is exactly what I assumed,’ said Dorinda. She looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Do they know that you suspect Sir Harold was murdered, as they implied?’

  ‘I doubt it.’

  They were both silent for a moment.

  ‘Would you explain to me why you think he was murdered?’ Dorinda asked. ‘Amy seemed confused. She said something about Doctor Hargreaves being ill.’

  ‘There is very little I can tell you, Dorinda. You are, after all, a member of the public. Let me just say that the suspicions of Lady Willis and Lady Violet, together with Lady Washington’s flight from London, had prompted us to look into the matter. It was natural, therefore, that we should speak to Doctor Hargreaves under the circumstances.’

  ‘Surely you cannot suspect Amy seriously?’

  Colyer raised his eyebrows. ‘Is she in custody?’

  Dorinda sighed. ‘No.’

  ‘You may rest assured I shall do everything I can to find out the truth of this matter. At least we now know that Eugene Tybalt was employed by Lady Willis and Lady Violet, although how he came to their attention I should be glad to know.’ He stood up. ‘Now I should let you go. If I am able to tell Lady Washington anything, I shall call tomorrow.’

  Dorinda joined Will and Maude and they left the hotel.

  ‘What did he say?’ asked Maude. Dorinda repeated the Inspector’s information and ended by shaking her head.

  ‘It just doesn’t seem possible. Those two women employing that horrid little man to find out where Amy was, and then intending to kidnap her – and goodness knows what they were going to do with Mariah. The Inspector thinks they had the idea of handing them over to the police, as we thought, only they didn’t realise the police already knew she was here.’

  ‘But they don’t think Amy murdered the old man?’ asked Will.

  ‘I don’t think so. But I don’t know why they are suddenly so sure he was murdered.’

  ‘And why.’ Maude frowned. ‘Amy wouldn’t have done it, according to her, ’cos she wanted another baby and had no thought of marrying that Jeremy person. The sisters wouldn’t have done it, because all the old man’s money was going to Amy. So who else would kill him?’

  ‘When you put it like that,’ said Dorinda gloomily, ‘it actually does look as though Amy is the obvious person. We only know what she tells us.’

  ‘You can’t believe that!’ Maude was shocked.

  ‘No, I don’t, but I really cannot see that anyone else had a motive.’

  ‘Then there must be someone else,’ said Will firmly. ‘Something Sir Harold knew, maybe? That someone didn’t want the world to know?’

  ‘I suppose that’s possible,’ said Dorinda. ‘I wonder what connections he had – perhaps in the political world.’

  ‘You can be sure the Inspector will have looked into all that,’ said Maude. ‘Now come along, it’s time we was all in bed.’

  Dorinda arrived at The Alexandria the following morning before anyone else, as usual, and stood outside looking out over the beach. Children played, the bathing machines were all deployed along the edge of the sea and various heads, male and female, were to be seen bobbing about in the waves, accompanied by girlish shrieks. Several disapproving matrons sat in deckchairs along Victoria Place, swathed in black, grey and purple. Then her attention was caught by a large and cumbersome motor vehicle, which lumbered to a halt just at the top of the slope. The door opened and Inspector Colyer jumped down.

  He raised his hat as he came down the slope towards her.

  ‘Conveying the gentleman back to town,’ he said. ‘We allowed the ladies to travel back on the train, as you know.’

  ‘With an escort, I believe,’ said Dorinda.

  ‘Indeed. And I make no doubt that by now complaints will have been laid against me by both their husbands and anyone else they can influence.’

  ‘Oh, dear!’

  ‘Oh, a few sharp words won’t harm me. And as we have witnesses who will attest to the ladies’ actions, I doubt it will be more than words. Although, of course, no action will be taken against the ladies.’ He looked gloomy.

  ‘That seems harsh. What about Mr Tybalt?’

  ‘There is little to be done with him, either. After all, he was merely waiting outside the hotel. As long as we can encourage him to confess to his part in the prospective plan, I think we may consider ourselves lucky.’

  ‘And so you continue to look for Sir Harold’s murderer – if there was one.’

  ‘Oh, there was.’ Colyer looked at her shrewdly. ‘And I would not be surprised if you came to the same conclusion, my dear Dorinda.’

  She blushed and looked away. ‘How can I? I do not have the same information that is obviously in your possession.’

  ‘Ah, no. Perhaps you should talk to Doctor Hargreaves.’

  ‘You mock me.’ Dorinda turned her back and gazed determinedly at the sea.

  ‘Not at all, Dorinda.’ He took her arm and turned her gently towards him. ‘I believe the gentleman is intending to take the sea air. He believes it will do him good.’

  ‘What?’ Dorinda was startled. ‘He is coming here?’

  Colyer inclined his head. ‘For his health. And he feels himself responsible for Lady Washington.’

  ‘Responsible –?’ Dorinda frowned. ‘I cannot understand why.’

  ‘You will talk to him. I believe he will feel more comfortable unburdening himself to you than to Scotland Yard.’

  ‘You want me to –?’ gasped Dorinda. ‘How can you?’

  ‘Easily!’ Colyer grinned. ‘You know perfectly well you’re fascinated by this case. And you have a very superior understanding, if I may say so.’

  Dorinda did
n’t know whether to be affronted or pleased. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this last night?’

  ‘I received a telegraph this morning. Although, as the Mansion House Hotel has a telephone, I feel a telephone call would have been preferable.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Dorinda. ‘I am most anxious to have my own instrument.’

  Colyer’s lips quirked. ‘Indeed.’ He placed his hat on his head. ‘I must return to my charge. Please convey my apologies to Lady Washington and tell her I shall inform her of my progress.’ He gave a small bow and went back up the slope.

  ‘Well!’ said Dorinda to herself. ‘How very surprising.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘Dolly?’ Amy put her head round the office door. ‘Can I come in?’

  ‘Of course.’ Dorinda looked up from her bills and smiled.

  Amy came in, carefully shutting the door behind her. ‘I don’t suppose the Inspector was here, was he?’

  ‘Yes.’ Dorinda pushed her chair back and folded her hands. ‘Sit down.’

  ‘Did he tell you he sent Juliana and Violet back to London?’

  ‘Yes, and that he’s taken that nasty little man back, too.’

  Amy twisted herhands in her lap. ‘And about Doctor Hargreaves?’

  ‘He said he might be coming to the coast for his health.’

  ‘He told me, too.’Amy looked puzzled. ‘And I don’t know why.’

  ‘Why he told you or why the doctor is coming?’

  ‘Well, both. Has the doctor got something to do with my Harry’s – death?’

  ‘I think he knows something. Otherwise, why would the Inspector be so certain your husband was murdered?’

  ‘But if he does, why didn’t he say something when Harry died?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Dorinda looked out of the window. ‘And I don’t know why he’s coming here, which is what the Inspector implied.’

  ‘Do you think he’ll stay at the hotel?’

  ‘I should think so – it’s the only place suitable, isn’t it?’

  Amy shook her head. ‘I don’t understand any of this. What did those women want with me? They were going to try and take me, weren’t they? And what has that got to do with Harry’s death?’

  ‘I think,’ said Dorinda, leaning forward and putting her elbows on the desk, ‘they were still trying to prove you had something to do with it. They didn’t think the police were taking their accusations seriously.’

  ‘But do they really believe it?’ Amy looked horrified. ‘I thought they were just angry about Harry’s will.’

  ‘I don’t know. I do know they wanted to blacken your name,’ said Dorinda, ‘but that had no effect except to send you away from London.’

  ‘What shall I do? Mariah says we should find somewhere to set up home together, and …’

  ‘And what? Live retired from the world? Why?’ Dorinda stood up. ‘We should try to find out why the Inspector is sure your husband was murdered, then find out who did it. That would keep those women quiet, and you could return to London and begin to take up your place in society.’

  Amy smiled wryly. ‘I haven’t got a place in society. I was never really part of it.’

  ‘What about the Honourable Jeremy?’

  Amy blushed. ‘He don’t count. And his dad would never let him marry me, even if I was willing.’

  Dorinda sighed. ‘Let’s take one step at a time. The Inspector told me to say he will keep you informed – is that what he told you?’

  Amy nodded.

  ‘Then let us hope Doctor Hargreaves does come here. Then we can ask him exactly what happened and what he has told the Inspector.’

  Amy looked horrified again. ‘We can’t do that!’

  Dorinda smiled. ‘We can. The Inspector told me to talk to him. If he comes, of course.’

  But Doctor Hargreaves did come.

  ‘A note for Amy,’ said Maude after the afternoon performance. ‘Gentleman in your office.’

  Dorinda’s eyebrows rose. ‘Is it the doctor?’

  ‘Fussy old body. Talking to himself. Will I fetch her?’

  ‘I’ll go first,’ said Dorinda and left the backstage area. ‘You give her the note and ask if she wants to see him.’

  The small rotund gentleman, muffled in a heavy overcoat, didn’t rise from his chair, merely goggled at her through round-rimmed spectacles.

  ‘Doctor Hargreaves?’ asked Dorinda pleasantly. Her visitor continued to goggle. She continued round the desk and sat down. ‘Inspector Colyer was kind enough to mention that you might call.’

  ‘Ah – hum.’ The doctor cleared his throat. ‘He did not, however … ah.’

  Amused, Dorinda watched him. ‘He did not tell you anything about me? That I was proprietor of a concert hall? That I was a woman?’

  Doctor Hargreaves pushed his spectacles up his nose and cleared his throat again, noisily.

  ‘Ah – yes. He told me that. Friend of – ah – Lady Washington.’

  ‘Indeed, I am. He indicated that you might wish to talk to me?’

  Hargreaves regarded her shrewdly from behind the spectacles. ‘Said you were a friend. Wanted to help.’

  ‘So I do, but I am not fully aware of the reason she needs help.’

  ‘Do you mean to produce her?’

  ‘Certainly she has been given your note. I hope she will come out here and see you.’

  On cue, there was a sharp rap on the door, and Maude opened it, closing it behind her again.

  ‘Mariah’s with her,’ she whispered,looking from Dorinda to Doctor Hargreaves and back. ‘I didn’t know …’

  ‘Certainly not!’ huffed the doctor. ‘If that’s the female she had living with her.’

  Dorinda’s lips twitched and she nodded at Maude, who opened the door a crack.

  ‘Come in, Amy,’ she said. Amy slipped in and Maude slipped out, just in time to prevent Mariah from effecting an entrance. They all heard her furious protests. Amy sighed.

  ‘Gets on your nerves, too, does she, m’lady?’ The doctor stood and offered his chair to Amy, still in her evening gown. Amy smiled and the doctor took a turn about the room.

  ‘I must apologise for the unconventional manner of this meeting, but the Inspector said, if I wished to talk to you, it would be better here than in London.’

  Both women stared at him uncomprehendingly, then Amy stood up.

  ‘Sit in my chair, Doctor,’ she said. ‘I can sit on Dolly’s desk.’

  ‘Oh – I, er –must say …’ the doctor demurred, but sat down anyway. Amy perched on Dorinda’s desk and gave her a smile.

  ‘Is it something about Sir Harold’s death?’ asked Dorinda, feeling that they might never get to the point if she didn’t give the conversation a helping hand.

  ‘It was only a small thing.’ The doctor stared earnestly at Dorinda. ‘I didn’t think … but then – it was the Earl, you see.’

  ‘The Earl?’ said Amy and Dorinda together.

  ‘Of Hawksley,’ said the doctor.

  ‘Jeremy’s father,’ said Amy.

  ‘Indeed, Lady Washington.’ The doctor looked agitated. ‘He sent for me, d’you see. I thought it was his old trouble.’

  ‘Gout,’ mouthed Amy to Dorinda.

  ‘Indeed,’ said the doctor, whose eyes were obviously sharper than they looked.

  ‘When was this?’ asked Dorinda.

  ‘A few days ago – last week.’

  ‘Please go on, Doctor,’ said Amy.

  ‘He – ah – wanted to know – wanted – ah –’ He stuttered to a halt.

  ‘To know if there was any truth in the rumours.’ Dorinda helped him out.

  ‘Ah – just so.’ The doctor’s eyes flicked between Amy and Dorinda nervously.

  ‘And you told him – what?’

  ‘I could hardly pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about,’ said the doctor rather petulantly, ‘when the police had already spoken to me.’

  ‘They had?’ said a startled Amy. ‘Before last week?’
<
br />   ‘As soon as that poisonous –’ He stopped. ‘I beg your pardon.’

  ‘Which one?’ asked Dorinda, and Amy stifled a smile. The doctor uttered a small sound which could have been a laugh.

  ‘Lady Violet. She tried to gain admittance to my house, and when she was denied, went straight to the police. To accuse me – ME!’

  ‘Goodness!’ said Amy, her eyes wide. ‘We knew nothing of this.’

  ‘What happened then?’ asked Dorinda, when the doctor seemed disinclined to continue.

  ‘I began to think.’ He sounded reluctant. ‘You recall, Lady Washington, how surprised we both were that Sir Harold, although not a young man, should die so suddenly. His health had always been robust, and he had even been taking my advice and cutting down on the claret and port.’

  ‘And riding to hounds.’ Amy nodded.

  ‘So I thought some more. How I wish I had some of that new-fangled photographic equipment and could have taken photographs of Sir Harold’s room …’

  ‘But, sir, you would only have done that, surely, if you had thought something wrong at the time,’ said Dorinda.

  ‘Yes, yes.’ Doctor Hargreaves waved the suggestion away fussily. ‘But I did my best to remember it. A tidy death, Lady Washington, was it not?’

  ‘Dolly – Miss Alexander – asked about that, and I said his bedclothes weren’t even rumpled.’

  ‘Ah!’ said Doctor Hargreaves again. ‘So you thought of that, Miss Alexander. May I ask why?’

  ‘When Lady Washington told me about the circumstances of Sir Harold’s death, I wondered if there had been anything to suggest foul play, such as a disturbance of the bedding, or an unnatural arrangement of the body.’

  Behind the round spectacles, the doctor’s eyes narrowed. ‘You have experience with crime, Miss Alexander?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Dorinda hastened to assure him. ‘It was just – er – logical.’

  ‘Hmm.’ The doctor sniffed. ‘In my experience logic is a foreign language to the ladies.’

  Dorinda lowered her eyes and bit her lip. She guessed she was enough of an affront to the good doctor’s sensibilities as a businesswoman, sitting opposite him in a silver pierrot costume, without trying to assert her opinions.