by Rose Donovan
“Honestly, rather than think about most likely suspects, I’m working on elimination. Who couldn’t have done it?”
“Well, Gayatri and you – unless you two conspired – are out of the running because you didn’t exit during the evening except to remove the stain from her dress. It also seems that Edgar and I are out of the running, since this ‘green man’ person coshed us both,” Fina said, wincing as her fingers brushed the back of her head.
32
Charles carried a tray into the room with three cups of piping hot cocoa. Fina felt absurdly pleased seeing the steam rising from the cups. The mixture was perfect – just enough milk – not enough to overpower the taste of the chocolate.
Feeling revived, she turned to Charles. “I told Ruby about what you found in her room.” Charles stared into the fire. Fina put a hand on his shoulder. “You did as we asked. And now you know. But you know we’re not the murderers.”
Charles sighed. “Apparently everyone has secrets at Pauncefort Hall.”
A light flashed in Ruby’s eyes. “That must include you, Charles. It’s only sporting that you share your secret with us. You seem much too competent to be working here in this capacity. Not that you don’t do your job admirably – it’s just that it seems you might be cut out for something more challenging.”
Charles smiled at the compliment. Fina could see he wasn’t fooled by the pointed question disguised under flattery, however.
“You two are quite the detectives, aren’t you? Well, yes, I suppose it is only sporting – as you say.” He made himself comfortable in a chair by the fire, looking for all the world as though he was about to settle down with a storybook, thought Fina.
“My mother died when I was quite young. None of the family knew what happened to my father – much less anything about him. My mother died in disgrace because I was illegitimate, as they say. She had been disowned by the family when she found herself in trouble. The family urged her, apparently, to give me up for adoption. It was fortunate that she didn’t because who knows what would have become of me. My aunt and uncle took me in. They provided for me in every way – posh schools, well-fed and well-clothed. But, as happens so often with toffs that have enormous amounts of money, they give you everything but love and affection. Though I am to blame for what followed, I also know that I felt desperate about not really being wanted, I suppose.”
Charles’ eyes began to well up. Clenching his jaw, he continued. “In any case, I left home and fell in with what I suppose would be called a ‘bad lot’. Drugs, petty theft, drinking – the usual. One day, we planned something spectacular – at least for us. A jewel robbery. It all went pear-shaped, and I was left – literally – holding the bag of stolen emeralds. I took the fall for it and went to prison for three years. When I got out, I wanted to go to university. I was accepted to Oxford, but when they found out about my time in prison, they withdrew the offer – just a week before the term started. So I went into service. One day, this position at Pauncefort Hall turned up and I applied. I’ve been here almost ten months now. And I’m grateful for the job.”
“What you say rings true, Charles, but I can’t help but think there’s more. Why here? Why now?” said Ruby, in a kind but firm voice.
“Ah, I forget that you two are not only amateur detectives, but you’re actually, ah, spies, aren’t you?” he said with a sardonic grin. “You always know there’s more beneath – even with my convincing and true story.”
Hunching over his shoulders, he stared at the rug and continued. “Yes, the judge who sent me down was Justice Henry Sykes-Duckworth, also known as the Earl of Malvern and father of Charlotte, Edgar and Granville. That was before he decided to spend nearly all his time in the Caribbean, so he could concentrate on swelling his own coffers, blast him!”
He took a deep breath and carried on. “I know you’re thinking that it’s too much of a coincidence that I started working here. And you’re right. When I saw the position open up, I jumped at the opportunity, thinking that I would get my revenge, somehow – after all, he does come home once a year or so. I had no idea what I would do, though, or how. Once I took the position I was surprised to find that it suited my temperament. I was content. I also had let go of a lot of my anger, believe it or not! At any rate, if I were to want to murder someone, it would be Henry Sykes-Duckworth, not his son.”
“You could have thought it would be better revenge than killing him directly – make him live through the suffering of a loss of a child,” responded Ruby.
“Yes, I see your point, except for one thing. Granville and his father were not close. From the staff gossip, I’ve gathered that the two of them never got on well. Even when he was a child. Apparently it all became much worse once Granville’s mother, Catherine, died suddenly. But they had already been on that path for a while. No, if I had wanted to hurt him through hurting his kin, I would have targeted Charlotte or Edgar. Both of them dote on their father and he feels quite close to them. I have to admit that I’ve become fond of them as well.”
“Thank you, Charles, for being honest with us,” said Fina as he looked up from the fascinating rug. “Now that we have cleared that up, let us move on to what you found after your search – other than the Bluegate papers, of course.”
“Disappointingly little, as it happens. The Badarur sisters had some letters from their mother, but they were mostly just family gossip.” He said the words lightly, but with an air of suppressed excitement, as if there was more to come.
Ruby cocked her head inquisitively. “What about the poison?” she asked. “Could you find traces of it anywhere?”
“Oh yes,” he said with a slow smile.
“Go on,” said Ruby.
“Tell us, you miscreant, as the Earl would say,” Fina said, crouching down as if it could increase her sense of hearing.
“It was in the back of Julia Aston’s wardrobe.”
Fina choked on her cocoa.
“Interesting,” was Ruby’s only reply.
“Interesting?” said Fina, somewhat desperately. “Is that all you can say? She must be the murderer! She had every chance to do it – and she must have hated him much more strongly than she let on.”
“Perhaps,” said Ruby, apparently lost in thought.
Charles eyes grew wide as he sat back in disbelief. “You don’t seem to think it important, Ruby. Why not? Julia must be the murderer.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Fina saw a shadow lurking. Whipping her head around, she saw it was Grimston.
“Ladies,” he said, bowing in a calm voice. “Charles, please make haste. There has been an unfortunate occurrence upstairs.”
33
On the landing outside of the Countess’ bedroom, Fina spied Grimston, Charles, and the Earl and Countess, huddled in a tight circle. The circle parted to swallow up Fina and Ruby as they approached.
“By the number of times you pulled your bell pull, I ascertained this summons was of an urgent nature,” said Grimston, breathless, but in his still-perfectly-level voice.
Waving the aubergine-coloured sleeves of her dressing gown with the flourish of a conjurer, the Countess snapped, “Yes, Grimston, urgent does not begin to describe this atrocity.” Fina noticed her Chelsea-bun hair had finally given way and it looked as if it were ready to attack the nearest victim.
“Dearest Alma,” said the Earl – who had the adjoining bedroom, as Fina remembered – put his arm on his wife’s shoulder. “Begin from the beginning, please.”
With a sharp intake of breath, the Countess exhaled a stream of words. “I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard footsteps outside my door. Then the doorknob began to turn. When it did not give way – as I had locked it – the doorknob began to rattle violently. Then the door shook. Obviously someone was throwing their weight against the door to knock it down. It was horrible!”
The Earl squeezed her shoulder, encouraging her to continue.
“Fortunately, I had blocked it with a heavy desk
before retiring for the night. During this time I pulled the bell pull frantically. I was so terrified that I couldn’t scream.”
“Calm yourself, my dear,” said the Earl. Turning to Grimston, he said, “Did you see anyone in the corridor when you rushed to the Countess’ door?”
“No, milord. I am afraid I did not see the malefactor,” intoned Grimston. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Fina smiled inwardly at the choice of his words.
Grimston peered at the carpet and bent to retrieve an object. He straightened up to reveal a thread in his hand. He held it out for all to see. It was green. To Fina’s trained eye, it looked like it was a thread from a tweed item of clothing.
Ruby took the thread from Grimston and rubbed it between her index finger and thumb rapidly. It did not pull apart. She peered at it more closely and then handed it around to the rest of the gathering to inspect.
“I think it’s best we all return to our rooms,” said the Earl, quietly. “We need not wake the other guests. We’ll assume they have barricaded themselves in as well. That is the best we can do. Grimston and Charles, I want you two to stay up all night on guard. I suggest you keep your watch on this floor as it will be easier to travel either upstairs or downstairs. You should stay together and take turns sleeping,” he said, pointing to a large decorative sofa outside the Countess’ door.
“Yes, milord,” said Charles and Grimston in unison.
Bleary-eyed and bedraggled, Ruby and Fina returned to Fina’s room. The fire gave out a dying spark that made them both jump.
“I’m going to stay up the rest of the night, Feens,” said Ruby as she began to pace in a small looping pattern in front of the fireplace.
Speaking through a yawn, Fina said, “Why would you do that? We need rest for tomorrow. Besides, I don’t think I could do it.” She flopped down on the bed on her back. She could feel her limbs melting into the soft eiderdown.
“Because… because… well, for two reasons. You can go to sleep – I’ll stop pacing in a minute and will install myself in your chair. The first reason is that I think someone might try to attack us, or at least search our rooms. If I hear anything going on in my room, I can be there in a flash.”
“And the second reason?”
“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to protest once you know. Promise?”
“Yes! I promise.”
“I still have to think on it, but I’m fairly certain I know the identity of the murderer.”
34
“Ruby, wake up!” said Fina as she shook her friend lightly in the chair. So much for staying awake all night. She felt guilty – Ruby looked so peaceful in her blue silk sleeping scarf, wound around her head. She felt doubly guilty as this situation was so often reversed, Fina sleeping in and Ruby awake at the proverbial crack of dawn.
“What? Umph. What time is it?” Ruby said. “And why are you the one waking me? That’s supposed to be my routine,” she said with a blurry smile.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. It didn’t help that you wouldn’t let me in on your secret,” Fina said, pretend-pouting with her lower lip stuck out at an angle.
“Silly, I told you I needed to think about it…” said Ruby, mumbling. She drifted off again into unconsciousness.
Deciding this called for extreme measures, Fina marched over to the bedside to fetch her one of the two steaming cups of tea on a breakfast tray. She returned to the chair and let the smell of the tea waft under her nose. “I went down to breakfast to bring this to you especially,” she said.
With an exasperated sigh, Ruby opened her eyes. “You win, Feens. I shall awaken.” She straightened up and arranged a pillow behind her back. Then, as she gracefully piloted the cup of tea to her lips, a look of pleasure spread across her face. It was as if someone had turned on an electric torch, thought Fina.
“Now, what do you want to know?” Ruby said, casually.
“What do you mean what do I want to know? Who the murderer is, of course!” said Fina playfully, though the note of impatience was not completely absent from her voice.
“Ah, yes. Well, I cannot answer that. Or at least not for certain until I have a look in the Countess’ wardrobe.”
Fina blinked. “The Countess’ wardrobe? But the poison was in Julia’s wardrobe – surely that’s what you mean. You’d better drink your tea so your brain will begin to function properly.”
“It’s functioning perfectly, thank you,” said Ruby with a mischievous smirk. “I meant what I said. Do you think you can arrange with your boyfriend – I mean Charles – for me to have a quick peek?”
“You are the limit, dear Ruby. Yes, by all means,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “Then will you tell me the identity of the murderer?” she said as if she were a small child begging for just one more iced lolly.
“Perhaps,” said Ruby. Responding to Fina’s hurt look on her face, she continued, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you my suspicions. It’s just that it’s better this way. I need to gauge some reactions to see how we should proceed. And since I’m the one who would be ultimately tried for these murders if and when those ghastly police ever arrive, I think it is appropriate that I am the one who gets to decide. I am afraid that you might inadvertently reveal something to Charles before the time is right. Even if you stay silent, your face is so expressive and beautiful that you might give something away.”
She laid a hand on Fina’s hand.
“Well,” said Fina reluctantly, “I suppose I understand. But you have to know it is terribly maddening for me.”
“Yes, I understand. You will know soon, very soon,” she said, draining the last bit of tea from her cup. “As will the rest of the household. But I can’t say a word until we’ve got everyone together, in the right frame of mind to listen.”
“How should I act? And how much do we tell?”
“I expect we’ll have to tell a great deal. If I nod in your direction, you can assume it’s safe to tell what you know, including why we’re really here this weekend.”
“You don’t think the killer will try to harm you once you reveal their secret?”
Ruby looked thoughtful. “No,” she said in a whisper, “I think I’ve taken precautions in that area.”
A deep sigh came from Fina, half of relief, half of frustration. After looking again at her forlorn companion, Ruby said, “All right. I’ll give you a clue. My suspicions were confirmed by the colour green.”
At this, Fina could only stare. Her own little grey cells, she felt, were failing her miserably. She took another sip of tea in the hope that the stimulation would bring enlightenment.
A short time later, at Ruby’s request, Charles and Fina stood guard in the hallway while she searched the Countess’ room. Fina noticed the sun was streaming through the outside hall windows. It was a robust sunshine, not the sickly pale sunshine of late, pushing through the snow flurries. It made her feel hopeful until she realized it meant the snow would melt. The snow had been their downfall and their protection. Without it, the police would arrive.
She felt a rising anxiety, moving through her stomach up through her shoulders and her neck. She felt lightheaded. The police. The memories. Charles must have noticed her distress as he turned toward her and lightly touched her shoulder. He said, “Are you ill, Fina? Here, come sit down.” He guided her to the nearest chair. Her head felt better, but she still had a knot in her stomach and what felt like clamps on her neck and shoulders.
“I expect it’s nervous anticipation,” she said. “I just want this whole business to end.”
Ruby slipped out of the door at that moment. Her face was set in a grim line. “It’s as I expected. Let’s go down to breakfast. I assume everyone is assembled there, Charles?”
He nodded and they marched slowly, as if following a funeral coffin down the stairs.
As promised, everyone was assembled in the dining room for breakfast. The same smells that had so entranced Fina that first morning at Pauncefort now made
her slightly queasy. As she and Ruby settled at the table, they both only took tea and some lightly buttered toast. The atmosphere was glum, despite the sun. Conversation was sporadic and hushed.
The Earl, ever the jovial host, tried to put the party at ease. “The sun’s out today and that means the police will arrive. I must say I never thought that would be good news, but dash it all if it isn’t. They’ll find the green man.” An anaemic murmur of agreement went around the table.
Finishing her last slice of toast, Ruby put down her napkin and slid back her chair. Standing up, she proclaimed, “As we all seem to be finished with breakfast, I propose we reconvene in the saloon. I have some important news to share with you about the murders – I know who committed these crimes, and it certainly was not the elusive so-called green man. It was one of us.”
Cyril and Julia gasped. Charlotte blinked. The two sisters stared at one another in wonderment. Edgar remained still, clearly still suffering the double effect of alcohol and the assault. Ian sat still with his hands folded neatly in his lap.
The Earl banged on the table. “What do you mean, you have news about the murderer, Miss Dove? Have you been holding this back from us?” he yelled, his face turning crimson.
Ruby said in a calm voice. “I assure you, Lord Snittlegarth, I just had my suspicions confirmed this morning. Fina and I will join you all in the saloon in thirty minutes.”
35
Charles had arranged the chairs and sofas in a semicircle around the fireplace. It looked like they were convening a council of war, thought Fina’s political-historian brain.
Everyone, with the exception of Julia, was dressed in rather sombre navy, brown and dark grey tones. Julia looked defiant in a tangerine silk, low-cut blouse and high-waisted charcoal slacks. Fina took her place on an end chair, facing directly across from Charles and diagonally from Ruby. Ruby stood at the fireplace, hand laid on the mantel, resplendent in a cream-coloured form-fitting dress of silk crêpe. Despite the obvious toll the last few days had taken on her face, she looked ready for the coming storm – quite marvellous, thought Fina.