Less Than a Treason

by Mary Birk

  “He doesn’t have anyone now.”

  “No, not every day, but he has a small flat and I think he eats out all the time. I’m sure he has someone do the cleaning. I don’t see Terrence cleaning the loo, do you?”

  “I never thought of it. Terrence, do you have cleaners?” From the way she asked the question, he could tell she was surprised at how much there was in each of their lives that the other didn’t know.

  “Indeed I do, girl. Once a week.” He lightly bounced the baby, trying to tease a smile from him.

  “You’ll need someone to help with Michael, a nanny, I expect. So that you can work if you like, or just get some other things done, like take a bath.” Pippa went on, being helpful. He silently sent thanks to his sister for helping to engage Anne in setting up their household and getting situated so she would be happy in Scotland with him. As if she’d heard his thoughts, Pippa looked over at him and winked.

  “Mrs. Paulson says she’ll come help us train our cook to make things the way Terrence likes. She’s made me a recipe book.” Anne didn’t even seem to notice Miranda anymore or even register she was still around. As long as he wasn’t paying any attention to her, Anne didn’t seem to care whether Miranda was there or not.

  Pippa said, “That’s perfect. She’s spoiled him for anyone else’s cooking, anyway. He was definitely her pet. Always. And she’ll know what you need from a housekeeper, as well.”

  Reid turned away from the window, putting the baby over his shoulder and kissing the little face. “You hear your mother? She’s getting our house all ready for us, laddie.” He looked up and saw the Countess coming down the stairs alone, looking shaken.

  “What’s wrong?” He went over to her, keeping his voice down.

  “Chérie, you’d better get Rafe. And your father. Right now, please.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Her lip trembled, and he saw tears in her eyes. “It’s Flora.”

  “What’s wrong with Flora?”

  “I believe she’s . . . dead. I checked her pulse and there was nothing. I couldn’t tell what happened. It’s as if she just stopped breathing.”

  “I’ll go up right away. Here, take Michael and let Father and Rafe know. I’ll take Rick up with me. It’s possible it may not be too late.”

  He handed the baby over and motioned to his brother. The two of them quickly went up the stairs while his mother went over to his father and Rafe to let them know what had happened.

  Chapter 42

  RICK EXAMINED the body of the woman on the large canopied bed, while Reid took in the details of the scene. A tea tray sat on a table in the corner. An empty tea cup sat on the bed table, as if perhaps Flora had woken up and taken her tea with her to bed. The drapes were pulled, placing the room in semi-darkness. Everything was orderly; there were no clothes lying around, the vanity table was arranged neatly and the wardrobe doors shut. The room of a woman who was used to keeping things in their place, at least when she was a houseguest.

  He turned his attention to the woman herself. Rick was opening one of her eyes to examine the pupil. Her soft dressing gown had fallen open at the top, revealing a beige slip trimmed with lace. Her head slumped on the pillow, lolling to the side, mouth open. Beside her lay a syringe and a small medical kit. Using a clean tissue, Reid opened the kit, revealing several apparently empty glass vials. “What’s this look like to you?”

  “Insulin kit,” Rick said, then seeing Rafe and the Earl come in, held out a hand for them to stay back. “We were too late, I’m afraid. She’s gone. For at least a couple of hours, I’d say.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Rafe. There’s no way to revive her at this point.”

  Rafe’s face had lost all color, and his voice choked when he spoke. “What happened?”

  “I can’t tell for sure. She’s diabetic?”

  “Yes.”

  “How old was she?”

  “Fifty-four.” Rafe’s face was taut, his cheekbones seeming to strain against his skin.

  “No serious health issues?”

  “I don’t think so.” Rafe’s chest began to heave. “I need to sit down.”

  Reid caught his father’s eye. “Dad, I think it would probably be best if you took Rafe out of here.”

  The Earl nodded, put his hand on Rafe’s shoulder, and led the bewildered man out of the room.

  Reid sensed his brother’s unease. “Something you’re not saying?”

  “I’m not sure.” Keeping his voice down, Rick jabbed a finger at the medical kit by the bed. “Without knowing more, I’d guess she died of insulin shock. You’ll need to get the authorities in, and there’ll have to be an autopsy.”

  “What causes insulin shock?”

  “Basically an overdose of insulin. It could have been accidental or it could have been intentional. Suicide.”

  “I’ll call the authorities. With this storm, though, I’m not sure how soon we can get someone out here. Meanwhile, we need to close up the room and not touch anything else.” Reid went over to the thermostat and turned the heat down. “I’ll lock the door and the door to the adjoining room as well. We don’t want anyone else in here. The family may need your help, Rick. Do you have any sedatives if they want them?”

  Rick nodded. “Not many, but probably enough to get them through the next day or two.”

  “This will be a shock to them all. Flora was younger than Mother.”

  “Actually a year older, I believe.”

  “I thought Rafe said Flora was fifty-four.”

  His brother nodded. “Mum’s fifty-three.” He gave a brief smile. “She’s one of the few women in the world who lies about her age to make herself older.”

  His mother’s birthday was the day before his, and he’d always thought he’d known her age. Just twenty-one when she’d had him, she’d always said. He did some quick math in his head. Apparently, she’d really just turned sixteen. “She was pregnant at fifteen?”

  “Truth.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I’m her doctor.” He shook his head. “This is going to be tough on Mum. Flora was her best friend.”

  “Maybe you should go to her.” Reid tried to think who his mother would want with her at such a traumatic time. “Take Pippa with you. I’ll make the call to the authorities, then I need to take another look at the scene.”

  Rick shot him a glance Reid couldn’t interpret, but then just nodded.

  When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Reid motioned Bernard over and handed him the keys to the Range Rover. “Fetch the black kit from the boot of my car, please?”

  “Certainly, my lord.”

  *****

  Reid made his call to the local police, then decided to rejoin the group in the drawing room before going back to Lady Flora’s room.

  Lance sat on one of the upholstered chairs, Darryl Duggan perched beside him. Rodney, his arm around Miranda, had commandeered one end of a sofa. Rafe stood alone by the fireplace. He didn’t seem to know what to do with himself, as if this were a situation for which he had no script, no proper clothes, and in which he wasn’t sure of his role. Lance’s attention was on his friend, and neither of Flora’s older children even looked at Rafe.

  George Greene looked not only grieved, but angry, and Reid remembered what the man had told him the night before. There must have still been some kind of a bond there between George and Flora. It must be hard to grieve and have no status to do so. He watched as George went over behind the sofa where his two children sat together and put one of his hands on each of their shoulders. Miranda put a hand on top of her father’s. At least these three seemed unified in their grief, the bond of a family.

  The Earl stood up and began to speak, after first sending the children in to Mrs. Paulson so he could talk openly. “I know you’ve all heard the sad news that Lady Flora has passed away quite unexpectedly.” He put his arm around his wife. The Countess, though her eyes were red, presented a composed face. “We’re waiting for the medic
al examiner, but it may be some time before he gets here due to the weather. The roads haven’t been passable this morning, as you know. Meanwhile, there’s nothing to be gained from letting the food go to waste. If you don’t feel like eating, don’t feel you need to join us, but it may be of some comfort to all of us to be together and to go on as normally as possible for the sake of the children.”

  The adults seemed to agree with the Earl’s plan, and once the children rejoined the group, they all filed in to the dining room. Miranda moved woodenly, her face a mask. Reid watched while Rodney, who looked deeply shaken himself, helped her into her chair and sat next to her. Her father sat on the other side of her. Glad that Miranda was taken care of, Reid searched out Anne, spotting her at the seat to the right of his father.

  On the other side of Anne sat Jeremy Stone. Reid went over to his wife and crouched down next to her. “All the best seats are taken, I see.”

  “I’m sorry. But we’ll see each other after luncheon.”

  He nodded. She took his hand, and he kissed her on the cheek.

  She let his hand go, but he could tell she was reluctant to do so. Death had a way of letting everyone know how fragile life was, he supposed.

  The only people who hadn’t come into dinner were Lance, Rafe, and Lance’s friend, Darryl. He’d heard his mother direct Greta to take a tray into the library for them.

  The mood of the group around the table was subdued. They all talked quietly among themselves, focusing attention on the children who had been told only that Lady Flora had taken ill. In the way of children, they went on with their lively conversations and plans. In the midst of death, life would go on, and children were life. Reid’s eyes rested on Meg who was holding Michael as she ate, a natural mother even though she hadn’t yet been blessed with her own children.

  Bernard came into the dining room and quietly told Reid he had a call.

  Reid picked up the telephone in the drawing room after making sure there was no one around who could overhear. “Reid here.”

  “Superintendent Reid, this is DI Francis from the Northern Constabulary in Inverness. I understand you’ve had a death at Dunbaryn?”

  “Yes, unfortunately. It looks like it might be an insulin overdose. Lady Flora Kensington. She’s one of our guests, a friend of our family. Her husband’s a solicitor in Glasgow. Rafe Kensington.”

  “Does it look to be accidental?”

  “I can’t say for sure. I’ve left the scene for you to examine. We’re snowed in today out here, but I was hoping you could send someone out.”

  “Certainly, as soon as we can get through. Any reason to suspect it was anything other than an accident?” There was a pause. “Any chance it was suicide?”

  “I doubt it, but I’m perhaps too close to the people involved. She’s a good friend of my parents, has been for years. Her family’s all here too. We were celebrating the holidays together.”

  “Can you keep everyone there?”

  “I think the weather will do that for us. But yes, I’ll make sure the house party stays put.” He frowned when he remembered Stirling had already left but decided not to mention it.

  “If the roads get cleared, we’ll make a start in the morning. What are you doing with the body?”

  “Right now we’ve locked the room and turned the heat off.”

  “Good idea. We’ll be out there as soon as possible in the morning.”

  “Thank you. Anything else you want us to do?”

  “Just make sure no one tramples the scene.”

  Reid grimaced. “We already had quite a few people in there when she was first discovered. Hope-fully, the damage was minimal.”

  “I was afraid of that. I’d appreciate it if you’d just do your best.”

  They rang off and Reid headed toward the dining room, then changed his mind and detoured to the library to see how Rafe and his son were doing.

  Chapter 43

  REID HEARD the exchange of angry voices as he opened the door to the library. Rafe and his son were standing in the middle of the room, well away from the fireplace in which a steady fire burned. Even had they not been talking, the tension between them would have been obvious. He took no care to be quiet when he opened the door, not wanting to eavesdrop, and when they saw him, they stopped talking immediately. Lance, appearing to see an opportunity to escape, moved to the door to leave. His father turned as if to stop him, but then gave up and turned to Reid, ignoring his son’s departure.

  “Forgive me for intruding, Rafe, but I wanted to let you know the police and the medical examiner mean to be here in the morning. Unfortunately, the roads won’t allow them to get through today.”

  “Medical examiner? Is that necessary?”

  “I’m afraid it is. Sudden death of an apparently healthy woman.”

  Rafe put his hand through his hair. “Poor Flora. She would never have wanted to go like this, especially in someone else’s home.”

  “At least she was among friends. Why don’t you sit down? You look fair exhausted.”

  “I feel that way.” Rafe took one of the leather chairs by the fire and Reid took the one customarily used by his father. The fire crackled, but not loudly enough to muffle the sound of the wind whistling at the top of the chimney. “Flora’s been exhausted herself, and I’m wondering if that didn’t play a hand in what happened. Perhaps she lost track of when she’d last injected herself and doubled up.”

  “Had she ever done that before?”

  “Not that I recall, but I’m not sure she’d have told me.”

  “Did Flora use insulin regularly?”

  “Yes, ever since I’ve known her. Lance is diabetic too. Hereditary.”

  “Not Miranda or Rodney, though?”

  “No.”

  “Can you tell me something about her injections? How much she took and how often?”

  “Actually, I thought she’d quit using the injections. Last fall both she and Lance switched to using a pump. It’s much easier and does a better job of regulating the blood sugar. It attaches to their body, so it makes the injections unnecessary.”

  Reid frowned. “Then why did she have the injection kit?”

  “I can’t say.”

  “Do you know if she continued to use the injections as well as the pump?”

  “I’m not sure. Perhaps she took the kit along as a backup. She didn’t mention it, but she never talked about that kind of thing with me.”

  “Did you see it in her bag?”

  “No, but we pack separate bags. I bring all my own toiletries, and she brings her own.”

  “Do you recognize this insulin kit?’

  “I assume it was hers. Who else’s would it be?”

  “That’s what I’m asking.”

  “It looks like hers.”

  “The police are going to be looking at whether they think Flora’s death was accidental or not. If the overdose was accidental, they’ll want to know why she was using injections instead of relying on the pump. If it wasn’t accidental, suicide would be their most likely conclusion.”

  Rafe shook his head. “She wouldn’t kill herself. It had to be an accident.”

  “Did she seem depressed?”

  “Not really. Maybe a bit edgy, I’d say. She’d been having migraines, but that’s not unusual for her. She’d had a great deal of stress lately. She was quite preoccupied with the legal dispute she was having with Greene. You know, what we were talking about on Wednesday night?”

  Reid nodded. “Over Greenebrae Lodge?”

  “Yes. Greene and she have been locking horns on it since early fall.”

  “How was she dealing with that?”

  “She had Stone working on it, so I would assume it was under control.” Rafe rested his forehead on his hand. “This is unbelievable.”

  “How’s Lance doing?”

  “Not good. He’s taking it hard. He was quite close to his mother.”

  “Was Flora having any other problems? Anything that might have c
aused her to become despondent or upset?”

  “She’d argued with Miranda, but that’s not unusual. They clashed quite a bit.”

  “Over anything in particular?”

  Rafe hesitated, then said, “Flora thought Miranda was behaving inappropriately about you. Misinterpreting friendship to be something more.”

  “They had words about that?”

  “I believe so. She was also a bit distressed with Rodney over some investments.”

  “Serious problems?”

  “I’m not sure. Her finances were something she was very closemouthed about.”

  “I see.” Communication didn’t seem to be rampant between Rafe and Flora. “She’d sent me a note that she wanted to talk to me this afternoon. Do you have any idea what she wanted to talk to me about?”

  “No, none.”

  “Were you two having any problems?”

  Rafe shook his head. “We weren’t newlyweds, of course, but we plugged along together like people do.”

  Reid was struck by the detached way the man could discuss his wife. He’d rarely seen so little emotion from a husband who’d lost his wife. He couldn’t imagine feeling that way if he ever lost Anne, the flickering possibility alone of which was enough to send a stab of pain through him. “So there’s nothing you know about that would lead you to think Flora killed herself?”

  “Nothing specific, but she kept a lot to herself. I hope for the children’s sake that it was accidental. Suicide would be a heavy burden for them to bear.”

  *****

  Reid found Jeremy Stone in the morning room sitting with the Countess, who’d clearly been crying. Annoyed, he wondered where his brother and sister were. Their relationship with their mother was much closer than his, and it was them and the Earl she’d depend on for comfort.

  He nodded a greeting to Stone, then put a tentative arm around his mother’s shoulders. “How are you doing, Countess?”

  “I can’t believe this happened. She was my best friend.”