“I’ve seen quite a few new faces on the staff tonight. This poor chap Coates for example. A recent addition?”
“Yes, m’lord. With the usual excellent recommendations from the agency, and references from previous employers.” Benton sniffed, as if – Kat wondered – he perhaps felt the question reflected on him.
“How about the rest of the staff? Anyone else new?”
“I believe, m’lord, that Lady Lavinia’s personal maid, Alice Comeley came while you were overseas. Then last year we took on a new housemaid, the girl Jenny. Rather young, but she’s been good as gold.”
Kat remembered the maid who’d obviously been crying earlier in the evening.
Was she perhaps… Jenny?
“Dear old Woodfine still at her post?” continued Harry.
“Mrs Woodfine continues in her role as housekeeper – oh yes. She took a short leave of absence when her husband passed on, but came back steady as ever. And the cook… McLeod… I believe you know him as well, sir?”
Harry grinned at that. “As much as anyone can know a Scottish cook who dislikes anything you can’t put in a pot.”
Kat thought she detected a hint of dislike on Benton’s part at the mention of the cook’s name.
“Mr Benton,” Kat said. “The grounds outside. Must have a crew on that as well?”
“A ‘crew’ m’lady?”
“Sorry – guess that’s not the word you use? Team, hmm?”
“Ah, I see. Mr Grayer, the head gardener is in charge there. His under-gardener – he’s reasonably new – a Mr Huntley. Young fellow, hired about a year ago.”
“I saw a stable,” Kat said.
“Yes, m’lady.”
M’lady…
Still hard getting used to that.
“Huntley looks after that as well, and the horses. Comes up from town. The motor vehicles were in the charge of the late Mr Coates.”
She saw that Harry had his eyes on her.
Surprised she started asking questions or…
No.
He was waiting for more.
But Kat felt that she’d better talk with her husband before diving further into the inner workings of the household.
And especially about the dead man.
“Well – could you please tell Lady Lavinia ‘thank you’ for the nightcap. Very welcome indeed.”
And with what Kat thought was a fairly smooth dismissal on her part, especially carried out by a newcomer, Benton took the hint, did a slight bow of his head. “I will m’lady.”
Then he turned back to the door.
And when the door was shut again, the two of them alone, she said: ”How about you shoot some seltzer into those glasses and pop in a cube or two of ice?”
Harry grinned. “Seltzer? Ice? With a single malt? What blasphemy is this?”
“Hey, just remember – there’s few wives in this country can mix a drink like yours truly. You should be grateful to have me.”
“Oh, I am, Lady Mortimer.”
*
They sat at the table by the bay window, the half-moon outside now high in the sky above the trees, throwing milky-white light on the front lawn.
Harry clinked his glass to Kat’s.
“Rather generous pour, I must say,” he said.
“If these are the house measures, count me in.”
Harry smiled, then she watched as he stood and peered out of the window.
“What is it?” she said.
“Movement out there – caught my eye.”
Kat stood up and joined him at the window.
“Ah – it’s the policeman they put on duty,” she said, nodding to where the constable could be seen, pacing the lawn.
“Lord and Lady Tamworth’s room is just two down the corridor from us, you know,” said Harry.
“So, this is close to the view Reggie had when he was shooting, hmm?”
“Not surprised he didn’t know what he was firing at,” said Harry. “Even with the moon out, it’s a devil of a job to pick out anything.”
He stepped back from the window, and she watched as he drew the curtains shut.
“Hmm. What do you say we have another chat with Reggie and Claudia in their rooms tomorrow? Walk through what happened.”
“You think it might trigger some memories? Things they left out?” she said.
“We certainly could use a better description of the chap that got away. Shame we didn’t see him.”
“I do believe I was rather more interested in taking cover,” said Kat. “Though,” she paused, remembering the figure at the window, the shots, “despite that, I mean, I was looking all around. I’m surprised I didn’t spot him crossing the lawn.”
“Maybe he kept close to the house?” said Harry. “We’ll look for tracks tomorrow, in the daylight.”
“Good idea.”
She sat down again, and he joined her.
“Harry – you do realise that this time yesterday we were still in Dieppe?” she said. “Seems like a lifetime ago.”
“Doesn’t it? How was the drive by the way?”
“Piece of cake,” said Kat. Then a grin. “Mostly. Save for the tunnels.”
“I knew you’d be fine,” said Harry, smiling and raising his glass. “Here’s to us.”
“To us.”
Kat took a sip. The aroma was peaty. Not her usual beverage, but oh-so-welcome.
“Harry – I wanted to talk about tomorrow.”
“Fire away. Oops. Bad choice of words. Go on, darling.”
“We’re here till Monday it seems.”
“Afraid so.”
“And your aunt did ask you to look into—”
“She asked us. We’re together.”
“Okay. Us. To look into Coates, the robbery, and try to find out who his accomplice is.”
“Not much faith in the local police, I’m afraid.”
“Been thinking. You know, back in New York after the war, I worked a spell for that criminal attorney?”
“Ah – your mentor. Yes, I remember. The great Sean O’Driscoll. Gave you that last push to get you to go back to school.”
“That he did. And also let me interview people, take depositions. What you did before – asking Benton about the staff?”
“Yes?”
“You’re trying to figure out who we should talk to, about Coates. Correct?”
“On the nose so far. Go on.”
“I assume that includes Benton as well. Though I imagine he’d be a tough nut to crack?”
“Benton? Oh yes, for sure. Definitely a tough nut.”
She laughed at the way he said that. “But we should talk to all of them. Yes?”
“Absolutely. And sharpish. Who knows which one may have an idea about Coates’s accomplice – or may even have been in on the robbery too.”
“Right, OK. Here’s my big question. I don’t know much about the niceties of life in an English country house. So then, how do I do that?”
She watched Harry sip, savouring the drink as he took a moment to respond.
*
“Here’s the thing, Kat. If I question the staff, well, it’s all ‘Sir Harry this’, and ‘Sir Harry that’. Hard for me not to be nephew to Lady Lavinia.”
“I can see that.”
“But you, well, even though you are technically Lady Mortimer, I think people below stairs might talk more freely with you. Maybe while I talk to Reggie and Claudia.”
“Makes sense. And what else?”
“We need to talk to the gardener and his… crew, hmm?” said Harry, smiling. “See if any of them noticed anything odd about our friend Mr Coates.”
Kat laughed at that. Then felt immediately guilty.
A man did die here tonight.
“Meanwhile – our chance of finding out anything about the chap that got away? Slim to none, I’d say, without a description.”
Kat nodded. “Least we can find out if there’s anyone in the house who was involved.”
“Hmm. And – just a hunch – I rather fear there might be.”
“So, your aunt is right to be worried?”
Harry paused – took another sip of whisky. “I think so. And we should be worried too. Ten thousand guineas? God – sum that size – brings out the worst in people.”
Kat nodded. Hearing the warning tone in Harry’s words.
This could be dangerous.
“Well, at least now we’re not short of things to keep us busy over the weekend. And then Monday morning, bright and early – off to our new home.”
“Finally!”
She watched Harry finish his glass.
“Appears I’m done here. And I think it might be time for us to turn in, hmm?”
Kat stood up, slowly getting used to the silky pyjamas with their brilliant swirls of colour.
“Now that’s a great idea.”
And she walked over to the bed, feeling more like she was staying in a mysterious, exciting hotel than her husband’s ancestral home.
9. Above and Below Stairs
Harry stood on the gravel drive by the fountain and watched the convoy of police vehicles drive away.
Looking at the house now, it was hard to believe the dramatic events of last night had occurred.
But with the body removed, the flowerbeds searched and some of the jewellery recovered, the only vestige of the crime was the gouge in the ivy on the wall below the window where poor Coates had dragged the plant free as he fell to his death.
Before they drove away, Sergeant Timms had said there was a full alert out across the country for Coates’s accomplice, and a warning had been sent to all the Channel ports.
If this was a professional job, then time was of the essence – and Harry feared they might already be too late.
He turned and walked back to the house.
It was going to be a busy day.
*
Kat helped herself to scrambled eggs and bacon from the sideboard in the dining room, then poured a coffee and joined Reggie and Claudia at the table.
“Morning,” she said.
“Morning Kat,” said Reggie, surprisingly all smiles. “Jolly good breakfast – as ever at Mydworth Manor!”
Amazing to think the guy put a bullet in someone just twelve hours ago and now he’s tucking into – what are they called – kippers? thought Kat.
She looked at Claudia, sitting next to him. The woman smiled wanly – then went back to picking at a thin piece of bare toast on her plate. Perhaps she was a bit more rattled?
“Kinda expected a full house,” said Kat, looking at the empty places.
“Oh – all up early and out riding,” said Reggie. “Lavinia made it very clear she didn’t want the morning’s schedule to change.”
“Understandable,” said Kat. “Not you two though?”
Reggie fired a look at his wife playing with her bit of toast. “Oh, we’re not the riding types. Much prefer the Bentley. Hmm, darling?”
Claudia nodded, then the smallest and briefest of smiles.
She, at least, was definitely not over the shooting.
Then Reggie leaned forward a bit as if sharing a secret. “Think Lavinia also wanted her guests out of the way while the local constabulary cleared away the… ahem… mess.”
“Right. Makes sense,” Kat said.
“Morning all,” came Harry’s voice from the door. Kat turned and watched him enter, pour a cup of tea at the sideboard, and then come over and stand at her side.
“Hope you managed to get some sleep,” Harry said to Reggie and his wife, taking a sip of tea.
He’s so casual in these grand surroundings, thought Kat. No intimidation whatsoever. What’s the phrase? “To the manner born”?
But then – this had been his home for so many years.
“A little,” said Reggie, putting his hand on his wife’s arm as if to steady her.
“Jolly good,” said Harry. “I was wondering. Bit of a favour to ask you, Reggie old chap. You too, Claudia, I’m afraid.”
“Fire away.”
“Aunt Lavinia asked me to go through what happened with you – on her behalf. Get a first-hand account – without the police in the way, if you know what I mean?”
Reggie paused a moment. “Not sure I do, old chap,” he said, with a quizzical smile. Kat thought she detected a caginess underneath the smooth reply.
“Well, here’s the thing,” said Harry, lowering his voice and looking round as if to check they would not be overheard, “she’s rather concerned that one of the staff might be involved somehow, and she thinks I might be able to help you remember anything… suspicious.”
“Ah, I see. Hmm,” said Reggie. Then he turned to his wife. “Claudia, what you think my dear? You up to it?”
“If it helps catch that dreadful man. Yes, I’ll do my best.”
“After breakfast?” said Harry.
“Splendid,” said Reggie. Then he folded his napkin and stood. Kat saw Claudia look at her unfinished cup of tea then obediently stand too.
“We’ll be in our rooms. Just knock when you’re ready.”
“Will do,” said Harry.
Then he produced a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over to Reggie.
“Oh – I saw Timms this morning. They’ve taken the jewellery they recovered back to the station for fingerprints. He asked me to give you this list of what they found – so you can confirm what’s missing.”
“Ah, good man,” said Reggie, taking the list. “Need to do that for the insurance people as well.”
Kat watched Reggie take his wife by the arm and lead her out of the dining room, leaving Kat and Harry alone.
“You ever make me rush my breakfast like he just did to his wife, I’ll punch you, Harry Mortimer.”
“Day I see you eat a breakfast that small, I’ll take that punch.”
He sat next to her and stole a piece of bacon from her plate.
“Hey! Lady’s gotta eat. And in case you forgot already – I actually am a Lady now—”
She took back the piece of bacon, put it on her plate.
“So, you better watch out.”
“Looking forward to it already,” said Harry, grinning. “By the way – love the outfit. Very… what’s the word?”
Kat looked down at the faded blouse and baggy slacks that Lavinia’s maid had laid out for her.
“Yes, Harry,” she said, fixing him with a cool stare. “What is the word?”
“Um… interesting?” he said, barely suppressing a smile. “Yes, that’s it. Very… interesting.”
“Careful, now.”
“Actually – I do believe Lavinia used to wear an outfit just like that when she did her gardening.”
Kat reached across, put her finger on his lips.
“Ah,” said Harry, taking her hand. “Stop digging, hmm?”
“That’s my advice.”
“And, as ever, I shall take it.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. “So, what’s your plan this morning, Lady Mortimer?”
Kat took a sip of coffee. “While you do your posh interview upstairs, I’m going to talk to the real people below stairs.”
“Perfect,” said Harry. “Meet for elevenses? On the lawn?”
“Elevenses? Um – and that is?”
“Oh, sorry. Little mid-morning coffee or tea break. Usually taken around eleven, hence—”
“I might need a dictionary to settle in here.”
Harry laughed. “Most of our words are the same, you know. Anyway – see you then?”
“It’s a date.”
He stood up, then leaned in, kissed her.
“Love you – really do,” he said, sneakily taking the piece of bacon back and heading for the door. “Oh, and if you do fancy doing a spot of gardening give me a shout, I’ll show you where the wheelbarrow’s kept.”
“You’ll pay for that wisecrack,” said Kat.
“Can’t wait,” he said, his voice echoing from the hallway, then he was
gone.
*
Harry tapped lightly on Lord and Lady Tamworth’s bedroom door.
“Come in,” came Reggie’s voice.
Harry entered, shut the door behind him and looked around the room. It was one of the larger guest rooms – a big double bed, pair of tall windows, sofa, table, wash-stand. A door leading to a separate dressing room.
Reggie stood at the window. Claudia was seated on the sofa, still looking pale.
“Good of you two to agree to this,” said Harry. “Bit more confidential up here, hmm? No note-taking!”
“Absolutely,” said Reggie, arms crossed behind his back. “By the way – wonderful to see you again, dear boy. Must be years.”
“Ten at least,” said Harry. “Just after things ended, hmm?”
Reggie nodded, though Harry didn’t exactly know what his cousin did during the war.
Didn’t seem much like the fighting type.
“And look at you now!” Reggie went on. “Hear you’re at the FO? Quite a high-flyer.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Just doing a few days a week, consulting and all that.”
“We must have a chat,” said Reggie, leaning in conspiratorially. “Give me a bit of a steer on what’s happening out East, hmm? Know what I mean? Malaya investments, don’t you know? Tricky part of the world to figure out.”
“Malaya? Not my area, Reggie,” said Harry, surprised by Reggie’s direct request. “Sorry, old chap.”
“Oh? Really?” said Reggie, looking disappointed. “Ah well.”
Harry watched him walk across the room, hand rubbing his brow.
“How can we help you?” said Claudia, breaking the silence.
The voice flat.
Cutting to the chase, Harry thought.
“Right. Well, you can understand Aunt Lavinia’s concern – about the staff?”
“Utterly,” said Reggie, turning back. “You just ask away, old boy.”
“Well. First – are there any servants in the house here you’ve ever come across before?”
“Not a soul,” said Reggie, looking to Claudia, who nodded agreement.
“So, no chance of old grudges?”
“Good Lord, no.”
“And you saw nobody behaving suspiciously after you arrived?”
Again, a look between them. Then Reggie spoke.
“Well, hmm. Not so much suspiciously. But actually, there is one thing I did remember this morning.”
Mydworth Mysteries - A Shot in the Dark (A Cosy Historical Mystery Series Book 1) Page 6