by Rose Donovan
Recalling Gayatri’s stiff posture on the sofa, Fina was inclined to agree. There had been a tension there that had nothing to do with the chit-chat about Paris fashions. And Gayatri had been remarkably vague about her reasons for spending Christmas here, in the deep countryside, so far from her usual glittering London society circle.
Fina’s mind suddenly flew to the Bluegate testimony. If Gayatri and her sister had links to Dulcet & Sons, anything that worked against Lavington’s would be immensely valuable to them. There was an even a chance that they were Ruby’s mysterious contacts, the ones who had promised that the papers would be used to root out injustice if only they were in the right hands.
If that was the case, Fina thought, no wonder Ruby hadn’t wanted to say much about it on the train. The involvement of ‘foreign-born aristocrats’ in a plot to bring down a perfectly respectable and profitable English business, run by an Earl, would be headline news indeed.
“Do you think all this has anything to do with the argument we overheard last night?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.
Ruby tapped her teeth – a sure sign she was deep in thought. “I shouldn’t think so,” she said at last. “But it certainly complicates the situation.”
Fina wandered about the room, checking the corners that had been too dark to see last night. She glanced down to her right at the French windows, where the snow was pleading to be let in to warm itself by the fire. That’s odd, she thought, noticing a rug with a large discoloration by the doors. She trod on it tentatively, and it gave a slight spongy squelching sound, indicating it was wet. Maybe there was a leak in the door and the snow melted? Surely no one could have entered given the height of the snowfall.
“Ruby?” said Fina, motioning over to French windows.
“Hmm…” said Ruby, who was bent over a bookshelf, unable to see Fina’s hand gestures.
“Can you come over here? There’s something strange.”
Ruby padded over to the French windows and frowned at the dark spot. “That is odd. It looks as though someone opened the doors from the inside. No one could come in from the outside, with all that snow.”
“But I’m sure it wasn’t here last night. I might not have seen it, but I would have felt it.” She traded an anxious glance with Ruby. “Do you suppose someone came in here after we did?”
“Wouldn’t we have heard something?”
“Not from the kitchen. But do you remember that curious noise, a sort of scraping? What if there was someone nearby… and they heard us?”
Ruby, normally so serene, looked apprehensive. “Perhaps we left here just in time.”
There was a tense silence as the two considered the implications. “I don’t like it in this room,” said Fina with a shiver. “Let’s leave.”
14
In the hallway, Fina saw Charles scurrying about like a crab just let out of a barrel, unsure of where to go or what to do. She noticed that his shoulders were hunched and brow furrowed. Ruby, obviously noticing the same, approached him and queried, “Are you all right, Charles? Is something wrong?”
He jumped. “Oh, pardon me, I’m so sorry, Miss Dove, I didn’t see the two of you there. Good morning to you both.”
He hesitated.
As this was clearly going to be a guessing game, Fina prompted, “Is it about the snow? I imagine it presents a problem for you and the staff this morning.” Even as she said this, she knew that it must be something more serious than the weather.
“No,” he retorted. “It’s, it’s Master Granville, Miss Aubrey-Havelock. Mary, the maid, brings his coffee up to him every morning – when he is in residence at the Hall, of course – at nine o’clock. On the dot. He becomes quite agitated if it is not brought up precisely at nine. It serves as a type of wake-up call, I guess you might say,” he said, running his hands through his dark hair. They were trembling.
Ruby went over and put a kind hand on his shoulder. “Charles, do you want to sit down?” Indeed, thought Fina, he looked as though he had food poisoning. A high yellow sheen of sweat covered his face.
“Thank you, Miss Dove. I’m fine,” he said, taking in a deep gulp of rejuvenating air. “Well, as I was saying, this morning, Mary knocked and knocked at his door and there was no answer. I saw her on the staircase on her way down to tell someone. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her, honestly, but I thought I’d try myself. No answer. Complete silence, even as I put my ear up to the door – not that you can hear much through those solid oak doors.”
“Have you told anyone else?” asked Ruby. “Can we help?”
“That’s kind of you, Miss Dove. I was on my way to find Grimston to consult with him,” he said, shifting his body in the opposite direction.
“Ah, I see. Well, we’ve already breakfasted and are ready to start the day. We’ll meet you near Granville’s room to see if we can be of any assistance,” she said as he began to back away.
Fina turned to Ruby. “Granville had quite a bit to drink last night – that must be it, don’t you agree?”
“Yes. Although by the quantity he consumed, my guess is that he does this quite regularly,” replied Ruby. “We don’t have much to do until the others have breakfasted, so shall we make our way to his room?”
Soon after they arrived, Charles, Grimston, the Earl and Mary joined them in the hallway outside Granville’s impressive door. Grimston rapped on the door, and by the grimace on his face, this was surely something he had never done in his many years at Pauncefort Hall. “Sir, are you awake, sir? Can you hear me? Sir—”
“See here, Grimston, I’ll give it a go,” said the Earl, pounding with all his might. “Wake up, m’boy!”
Silence.
“I already tried the door with a key, sir,” said Mary, twisting her apron, “but it must be bolted from the inside. I did the same with the side door through the bathroom, but it’s bolted as well.”
The Earl, already florid by nature, turned crimson from the effort exerted on the door. “Let’s break it down!” he said, leaning heavily against the oak panelling to catch his breath.
“Ahem,” coughed Charles, confidently. “Lord Snittlegarth, shall we try to break down the bathroom door? I believe it is considerably thinner than the bedroom door.”
“Ah, yes, Charles. Lead the way,” said the Earl.
Charles and Grimston made quick work of the door, knocking it from its hinges. The rather nervous party filed into the narrow, immaculate bathroom. Charles and Grimston took turns hurling their bulk against the mahogany door of the adjoining bedroom until it finally gave way.
Despite her curiosity, Fina stayed back with Ruby in order to let the rest of the party push forward into the unknown. As they gingerly stepped over the door on the floor and entered, Fina noticed nothing had been moved since her search of the room yesterday. The only major difference, of course, was that Granville was tucked away in bed. His arms lay akimbo and his head turned to the side. He wore a pair of jade green silk pyjamas. Fina’s observant eyes immediately noticed a brandy glass on the nightstand and an overturned cup and saucer by the bedside.
The Earl approached Granville, peering at his face. He shook him gently and then withdrew, backing up and nearly stepping on the saucer on the floor. His face had turned the colour of the snow outside, and his jowls began to shake as he shook his head in a disbelieving way.
“He’s… he’s… he’s,” the Earl stammered. “Get a doctor. Now!” he yelped. Mary, needing no prompting, dashed out of the room.
Charles approached the bed and felt for a pulse. “He’s dead,” he said in a firm voice, though his hands quivered.
The only sign of disturbance were strange streaks of what looked like coffee, dried on either side of Granville’s mouth. His lips were a yellowish-white colour. Fina could see a line of dried brown liquid spittle on one side of his face. Other than this anomaly, he looked as if he were merely in a deep sleep.
“Call a doctor, Grimston!” ordered the Earl.
Grimston, who had managed to remain calm, said evenly, “I’m afraid no one can enter or exit Pauncefort Hall, sir. The snow is simply too deep. I shall notify the local doctor and police via telephone, however. I sincerely doubt they will be able to access the Hall until the weather changes. I will endeavour to enquire into guest medical training.”
“Good God, man. Are you telling me we’re cut off? And Granville is dead?” Overwhelmed, the Earl fell back into an armchair. Ruby strode into the bathroom – Fina always marvelled at her self-possession in stressful situations – and returned with a glass of water for the Earl. Fina was already sitting in shock on the chair furthest from the bed. Fina, Ruby, Charles, and the now almost-catatonic Earl were those that remained in the bedroom. Well, and the body, thought Fina, grimly.
Ruby turned to Grimston. “I believe Gayatri is training to become a doctor of some sort. You should ask her to come up right away. I can see that nothing can be done, but it would still be useful.” Nodding, Grimston slipped out through the bathroom.
Ruby continued, now in full control of the situation. She said to Charles and Fina, “I was nursemaid to my grandfather for many years before he died. I’ll attend to the Earl. He has a bad case of shock,” she said as she turned back toward the Earl, who was sitting quietly now, completely immobilized.
Fina nodded absently at her friend. Slowly, it dawned on her that this might be an unnatural death. She could see from Charles’ rather greenish face that he’d come to the same realization. Keeping out of earshot of the Earl, and unfortunately, thought Fina, Ruby as well, she whispered to Charles. “What did he die of?”
Pulling his vacant stare away from the corpse, Charles said, “I don’t know, but it cannot be anything natural. He was too young and fit. Perhaps some sort of accident? Maybe he choked?”
“On what?” Fina asked, simply.
“Good point,” he said, despondently. The question prompted Charles to bend over the corpse with a grimace. Fina could see that Granville’s mouth was already slightly open. Gently pressing against the lips to open the mouth further, Charles peered into his mouth. He straightened up abruptly, wiped his hands on his trousers and shook his head at Fina.
Out of the corner of her eye, Fina saw the Earl heave himself out of his chair to his feet. He stood for a moment, swaying. Then, with a weak little moan, he crumpled to the floor.
“Fina and Charles!” said Ruby. “Lord Snittlegarth has fainted. Can you two help me with him?”
They rushed to Ruby’s side. By the time they carried the Earl over to the settee, Gayatri and Grimston burst in through the bathroom.
“Ahh!” gasped Gayatri. “What happened? Granville… and the Earl! It’s just not possible.” Fina slipped over to her to explain the situation, and guided her gently to the bedside. Ruby and Grimston joined them there.
Pulling herself together, Gayatri gingerly began her examination. A moment later, she looked up. “Poison,” she said, with her mouth set and brows furrowed.
“What?” exclaimed Fina. “Couldn’t he have died of some sort of natural causes? He looks so peaceful.”
Gayatri shook her head. She stood, rhythmically moving her index finger up and down her nose, apparently lost in thought.
“Do you see the discoloration around his nostrils – in the same colour as the liquid on his cheek? It has a brown, granular appearance. His lips are also discoloured. All of this adds up to internal trauma. Perhaps it was caused by some sort of acid. Rigor has already set in, so I’d say he died sometime last night. Perhaps midnight or near that time? Difficult to determine,” said Gayatri.
Shifting on her feet, she continued, “I suppose it could be some sort of unintentional poisoning.”
Fina shook her head in bewilderment. In response, Gayatri said, “By that I mean it could have been from food poisoning, though I don’t know of any type of food poisoning that would cause this type of visible trauma.”
“Well, then that leaves only one possibility,” said Ruby, sitting down gently on a nearby chair to steady herself.
“Murder!” they heard from behind them. The three women spun around to see that the Earl was sitting up, shaking his fist, while his jowls flapped furiously. “Granville’s been murdered! I knew this day would come.”
Amazed by his revival and apparently fantastic oratory skills, Fina said, “What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry,” the Earl sputtered. “I should explain. I–I–I had a premonition. No, I’m not superstitious, but I have had a recurring dream about him dying. In my dream, he is suddenly absent. No one at Pauncefort is able to account for his absence – even when I query about his whereabouts. I conclude that something awful – death – has come to him. Though I don’t know why I think he actually dies – in the dream, naturally.”
“And you never shared this with anyone, Lord Snittlegarth?” asked Gayatri, her eyes narrowing with a pointed gaze.
“Good lord, no,” said the Earl. He hesitated. “Except, on one occasion… yes, I did tell Alma, Edgar and Charlotte one time – in passing – at the breakfast table. Granville wasn’t with us on that particular weekend. I wouldn’t have said it if he had been there. They didn’t think much of it at the time, and neither did I. Business affairs were rather weighing on my mind just then, so we all thought it was that, rather than any sort of premonition.”
“Please accept our condolences, Lord Snittlegarth,” said Gayatri, who made a sudden movement to the bed to cover Granville’s face with the sheet, now newly aware of the gravity of the situation, thought Fina. Leaning over stiffly, she scooped up the cup and saucer and put them on the nightstand.
“Should you touch that? Won’t the police want everything just so?” asked Fina.
Gayatri stared at her hands as if they weren’t her own. “Yes, you’re quite right – it was an involuntary reaction. I wonder if the police will be able to reach Pauncefort in this snow before we’re forced to move the body.”
As no one could answer that question, Ruby padded over to the nightstand, leaned over and stuck her nose into the empty brandy snifter. When she came up for air, she said, “Nothing, no noticeable odour other than brandy. Of course the brandy could mask the odour of a poison.” She went down again, this time peering and sniffing at the delicate white cup, decorated with ornate blue patterns – the one that had held the cocoa. “Similar problem,” she said.
“I’d leave that for the police if I were you, my girl!” said the Earl sharply. “We may be cut off for the moment, but I’ve no doubt the authorities will arrive as soon as it’s humanly possible to examine the, er, evidence.” He spoke the word with distaste.
Fina rolled her eyes, inwardly, at the ‘my girl’ phrase. Looking over at Ruby’s tight lips, she could see the same thought process playing out in her head as well.
“There may be fingerprints,” continued the Earl, a little wildly. “Fingerprints that will allow us to identify the intruder – for an intruder must certainly be the culprit, no doubt whatsoever.”
Charles coughed. “The Countess, sir, should be informed. And the other guests.”
“What? Oh yes. Charles, look after it, will you?”
As he slipped out of the room, Ruby turned to the Earl. “You spoke of evidence, sir, and the importance of keeping it safe. Quite right. I propose that we keep the cup and snifter somewhere secure, perhaps in the jewel safe.”
“Yes, yes, quite…” The Earl was fading again, his attention distracted by the supine figure on the bed.
Ruby turned to Fina and whispered, “We need to get to the bottom of this. Let’s move quickly. Would you come with me to the kitchen?”
Fina let out a puff of air that lifted her auburn fringe. The fact that this could be murder was only now beginning to dawn on her. Images of her father and brother flashed before her. The trial. The judge. Watching the judge put on the black cap of death. Curse her photographic memory.
Ruby put her hand to Fina’s forehead. “Are you all right? I know this is shock
ing, but I know you’re made of sterner stuff. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I most certainly have,” Fina replied, tersely.
Ruby’s eyes widened and she gripped Fina’s arm. “Oh, I’m so sorry. Of course I should have remembered your family. Will you forgive me? I’m not thinking clearly right now,” she said quietly.
Fina’s eyes softened and her shoulders relaxed. “I know you didn’t mean any harm. Memories, you know. Let’s get on with it. I’ll be fine.”
Wrapping her hand in the sky-blue handkerchief she always carried – one made by her grandmother in St Kitts – Ruby placed the snifter and teacup on a tray stationed on a nearby table and picked it up, balancing it carefully between both hands.
As they made their way downstairs, they heard shouting from the dining room.
15
Peering in, Ruby and Fina confronted a dramatic tableau, reminding Fina of da Vinci’s Last Supper. The detritus of breakfast was scattered everywhere, but the sweet, comforting aroma they had so enjoyed earlier had vanished. Guests and family were in various states of disarray – heads down, standing up, pacing – all giving the sense that the room was a living organism, even in the face of death. Charles was nowhere to be seen, but clearly he had apprised them of the situation.
Charlotte’s face, red and tearstained, glanced up at the newcomers, apparently startled by their presence. She wore a high-necked forest green dress. Rather than flattering her face, Fina noticed it made her body look disconnected from her head, creating a rather spectral effect.
Leslie paced in front of the window, inhaling deeply on a cigarette and muttering to himself. The Countess and Edgar had been bellowing at one another, though Fina hadn’t heard what was said. The remainder of the guests sat dejectedly, fidgeting with their silverware.
The Countess peered at Ruby and Fina as if she stumbled through pea-soup fog. “I gather that you have heard about the… tragedy, my dears.”