01 - Murder at Ashgrove House (10 page)

There was a moment of silence when no-one moved or uttered a word as if
they did not know quite what to do. And then, as if to make up for the delay,
everything, to Rose, seemed to happen very fast indeed. Sir William sprang
forward and took Edith by the shoulders and helped her to her feet. Lady
Withers threw open the morning room door and between them they half carried,
half steered, Edith inside. Rose, left alone on the landing, looked down at the
upturned faces of the men below. Their expressions showed a mixture of shock
and bewilderment as they stood stock still, unsure whether or not they should
offer some assistance.

But what struck Rose most forcibly was the atmosphere. It was as if
something sinister and threatening lurked somewhere in the air, just out of
sight but clearly there. She fancied that out of the corner of her eye she may
even have caught sight of a door further along the corridor close softly and
she wondered suddenly whether it had been Lady Belvedere, roused from her
afternoon nap by the commotion on the landing. Whatever was causing her
feelings of uneasiness, it made Rose shiver. She put out a hand and clutched
the banister to steady herself, as she tried to take it all in. She had just
witnessed surprise, shock, even sadness, yes, but they were all emotions that
she would have expected given the situation. However, there seemed to her other
stronger emotions in the air that were engulfing Ashgrove House. And when she
cast her eyes below, both Cedric and Lord Belvedere were looking distinctly
nervous, which made her think that she was not alone in imagining it all, that
others felt as she did, that the house was haunted by something else. But what
was it? What was causing her feelings of dread? She was finding it difficult to
put her finger on it, although it seemed almost within her grasp, and then it
came to her all at once, suddenly and forcefully, this thing that had been
alluding her. She knew now what it was and part of her wished she did not. As
clear as day she knew what permeated Ashgrove; it was fear and hatred.

‘It appears,’ said Lord Sneddon, strolling idly over the well-kept lawns,
‘that we have been quite abandoned; we are all alone.’

Lavinia looked about her and felt a thrill of excitement. The weekend,
since she had first heard of her brother’s intention to visit, was so far going
even better than she could have hoped for. Lord Sneddon appeared quite
enchanted with her, hanging on her every word, and Lady Withers had very
obligingly taken Rose away so that there were no unnecessary distractions.
Lavinia congratulated herself for having had the foresight to pack two of her
best evening gowns. She was bound to outshine poor Rose; what was a dress of
plain black silk velvet after all compared with one of gold lame or silk satin.
Already, while half her attention was focused on Lord Sneddon’s conversation,
enabling her to nod, murmur agreement and giggle in all the right places, she
was already considering in her mind how to dress her hair that evening and
which of her jewels would best show off her gown. What a pity that her mother
had not seen fit to bring their ladies’ maids with her, Eliza was so very good
at dressing her hair. 

‘I have to say, Lavinia, I’m most impressed that you’ve managed to stick
out this shop lark. When Cedric first told me about your bet, I’m afraid to
admit that I didn’t think you’d last a week, indeed, I hate to tell you, but I
entered into a little wager with your brother to that effect.’

‘You never did, Hugh!’ Lavinia tapped him playfully on the arm with her
glove. ‘I hope you lost a packet because it will have served you jolly well
right for having so little faith in me. I would have you know that when I put
my mind to something, I rarely give up; I always get what I want.’

‘I’m sure you do.’ He looked her directly in the eyes, almost as if he
was issuing some sort of challenge and she could not help blushing. It occurred
to her then that she might be being a little too obvious in her intentions. She
knew that she was beautiful and that some men found her manner charming, she
was also very aware that a number of seasons were behind her and that, despite
her wealth, her mother was beginning to have concerns about her finding a
suitable husband.

‘What about you, Hugh, what are you up to these days?’

‘Oh, this and that, Lavinia, this and that,’ replied Lord Sneddon, in a
vague sort of way. ‘I’m afraid my father’s health is not so good. I fear it
won’t be long before I come into the dukedom and have to oversee the estates
and then my life will be quite taken over with duties and responsibilities. I
intend to make the most of my freedom while I have it. So I’m afraid that I’ve
just been rather enjoying myself.’

‘And you find my brother good company?’

‘Oh, exceedingly. Although Cedric is apt to take his studying a little
too seriously, I am sure I never did when I was at Oxford. I’m always trying to
encourage him to let his hair down a bit and have some fun once in a while. I’m
afraid that you must consider me a very bad influence on your brother, Lavinia,
but he has a very good influence on me and I must say, he does have the most
charming family.’

‘I trust you’re not referring to my mother?’ Lavinia smiled. How easy
this all was. Lord Sneddon was making absolutely no attempt to hide the fact
that he was attracted to her.    

‘Indeed not, although I understand that she is a most charming woman. No,
I was thinking –.’

‘I say, Lavinia, Lord Sneddon,’ Sir William was making his way over to
them across the lawns, ‘Constance has decided that we should have tea on the
terrace. She’s tied up with Edith just now in the morning room, but she will be
down in a minute; the servants are bringing the tea things through now.’

Lord Sneddon, Lavinia noticed, was annoyed by the interruption although
trying not to show it, while she found that she herself felt a surprising sense
of relief. If she were honest, things between her and Hugh were going a little
too fast for her liking. She took a sideways glance at him to reassure herself.
Yes, he was very handsome and indeed charming company as well as being the heir
to a dukedom, in fact everything she could want in a husband.

‘Edith, my dear, how are you feeling now?’ enquired Lady Withers, patting
her friend’s hand in a vague sort of way which she meant to be comforting.
Edith was lying full length on the settee. ‘I realise that it must have been
quite a shock for you. We did try to warn you, but unfortunately we weren’t
quick enough. I hasten to add that Cedric invited himself down, I would never
have dreamed of inviting him to stay this weekend of all weekends. Indeed, it
seems to be quite a weekend for people inviting themselves down or just turning
up, what with Marjorie and –.’

‘Lady Belvedere’s here too?’ asked Edith, sitting up abruptly.

‘Yes, although don’t worry, I’m sure Cedric and his father won’t say
anything to her about this little … er … well, you know, they are both awfully
discreet, quite the gentlemen, both of them.’

‘Yes, I’m sorry, Constance, to have made such a fool of myself. It was just
the shock, you see, I thought I was over it all years ago, but it seems I’m
not. Please don’t fuss over me, you don’t need to, you know, I’ll be right as
rain in a few minutes. You must go down and see to your other guests. I’ll just
sit here for a while, if you don’t mind, gather my thoughts. Perhaps I could
take some tea here, if it’s not too inconvenient? I don’t think I can quite
face the others just yet, but don’t worry I’ll be absolutely fine by dinner, I
really will, I promise.’

‘Well if you’re sure you’ll be alright, my dear,’ said Lady Withers who,
if truth be told, was eager to get back to her guests if not least because she
was rather uncertain as to how best to deal with, or indeed what to do about,
Edith. ‘Now, you, rest a little, my dear. I’ll send the parlour maid up with
your tea. It’s just what you need, I think, a nice cup of strong tea with lots
of sugar in it, just the thing for a nasty shock.’ Even to Constance’s eyes,
Edith still looked dreadfully pale. Lady Withers wondered if it was really the
done thing to leave a guest alone in such a state. She suddenly noticed Rose
who had remained on the landing and was hovering uncertainly in the doorway,
wondering whether she should return to the gardens, or whether she ought to
offer some assistance.

‘Oh, Rose, I didn’t see you there,’ said Lady Withers, looking relieved
and, coming over to the doorway, lowering her voice a little, although she was
still clearly audible to Edith. ‘Would you mind awfully staying with Mrs
Torrington a little while, my dear, to make sure that she’s quite alright. I
don’t like to leave her all alone, but I must see to my other guests. My
sister’s probably down there now wondering where I am, and I’ll need to chase
the servants for tea. I’ll send yours up here too, shall I? I expect you and
Edith have a lot in common and it will be such a relief to me, quite a weight
off my mind to know my friend is being looked after.’

‘No, of course not Lady … eh ... Connie.’ In truth, it was the last thing
Rose wanted to do, as she could already imagine the uncomfortable silence that
would ensue between herself and Mrs Torrington as they both sat there waiting
for their tea to be brought up, wondering what on earth to say to one another.
However, it was the ideal opportunity to find out once and for all about the
cause of Edith’s fascination with Cedric, and why seeing him brought her so
much pain.     

Rose chose an easy chair covered in glazed chintz positioned at an angle
to the settee on which Mrs Torrington had previously been half reclining, but
on which she was now sitting very upright, her hands firmly balled as if she
were willing herself to be calm. Both women looked at each other every now and
then and when they happened to catch each other’s eye, they smiled shyly. It
occurred to Rose that, notwithstanding her long friendship with Lady Withers,
Edith felt as much a fish out of water at Ashgrove as she did herself.

‘I feel I must apologise to you, Miss Simpson, for your being called upon
to keep an eye on me when I’m sure you’d much prefer to be outside with Lavinia
and the others taking in the splendours Ashgrove has to offer, to say nothing
of this glorious sunshine,’ Edith said, at last. ‘You must think my behaviour
just now very strange; I feel I owe you an explanation least you think too
badly of me.’

Rose looked up expectantly. It was hard to know what to say, so she said
nothing, just smiled, but it appeared that a response was neither required nor
expected from her. 

‘Tell me, did Constance and the others say how I might behave if I saw
Lord Sedgwick?’

‘They inferred that you were likely to be very upset, that you had
encountered Lord Sedgwick a couple of years ago when you had been down at
Ashgrove, and that the encounter had left you distressed.’

‘Did they say why?’

‘No, and I thought it impolite to ask.’

‘What a sweet child you are. Lavinia is lucky to have you for a friend.
Will you pass me my handbag please, it’s to the right of you.’ Rose did as she
was bid. ‘Thank you. Look at this, and tell me what you make of it?’ Edith
passed Rose a black and white photograph that was severely creased. The subject
matter was a young man with blonde hair, dressed in an army officer’s uniform
of the Great War.

‘It’s Cedric,’ said Rose, confused, ‘but no, it can’t be. He’d have only
been a child when this photograph was taken, but it must be him, it looks
exactly like him.’

‘It’s not him,’ said Edith, quietly, ‘although it does look a lot like
him, doesn’t it? I’m sure though, that if you were to put them side by side,
you would be able to see a number of differences, but we’ll never know now.’

‘Who is he?’ Rose noticed that Edith’s eyes were filling with tears.

‘He was my son, Robert. He was killed in the war, not long after his
eighteenth birthday. It was near the end of the war. If only he’d been born a
few months later, he’d have been spared the fighting altogether and he’d be
alive now. He’d probably be married with a family of his own.’

‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Torrington.’ Rose leaned forward in her chair and half
stretched out her hand to Edith.

‘Thank you, my dear, that’s very kind of you. I know that I’m not the
only one to have suffered because of the war. I know that there’s probably not
a family in Britain that’s not lost someone. But you see, Robert was my only
child and I loved him so much. I’ve tried and tried for the sake of my husband
to get over it, but I just can’t. Part of me doesn’t want to get over it, you
see. It would seem disloyal somehow, as if I never loved him. I’m so afraid of
forgetting what he was like, the way he wore his hair, even the sound of his
voice.’

‘I understand,’ Rose said gently, moving to sit next to Edith on the
settee and taking her hand in her own, ‘it must be very hard, especially when
it must seem that everyone else has moved on.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ said Edith sobbing quietly. ‘I’ve only just met you, and
here I am making a complete fool of myself, and pouring out my life story to
you. But you seem so very kind and I find it all so difficult at home. I don’t
really have anyone to talk to about it, you see. I’ve tried and tried to talk
to Harold, my husband, but he just doesn’t want to know. He likes to keep his
emotions buttoned up, you see, you know, stiff upper lip and all that. He
thinks it best if we both try and be strong. It’s tearing my marriage apart.’

‘I can understand how hard it must be to see Cedric. He must remind you
awfully of your son and what you have lost.’

‘Yes. When I saw Cedric here a couple of years ago, he was the same age
as my son was when he went off to war, just a couple of months before he was
killed. I found it all too much. I convinced myself somehow that he was Robert
come back from the grave. I made a frightful scene, I’m afraid, I blush even
now to think of it. I must have frightened Lord Sedgwick dreadfully, but I’m
better now. It was an awful shock to see him just now because I wasn’t
expecting to, but I’m sure I’ll be alright at dinner. You never know, my dear,’
continued Edith, drying her eyes on her handkerchief, ‘this might be exactly
what I needed.’

Without warning, the door opened. Both women looked up expecting to see
the house-parlour maid coming in with the tea. It was something akin to alarm
then, when Rose saw that the newcomer was not the maid but the Countess of
Belvedere. Both women scrambled hastily to their feet, but not before Edith had
snatched the photograph of Robert back from Rose’s hand, almost tearing it in
the process as she stuffed it into her bag.

‘Hello, Edith, Constance said you were expected.’ Lady Belvedere had
followed Edith’s actions and turned her gaze to Edith’s handbag as if she
thought it held some wild animal.

‘Hello Marjorie. It’s been a long time since we were all together, hasn’t
it? It’s hard to remember that we all used to be inseparable.’ There was an icy
coldness to Edith’s voice which made Lady Belvedere look wary and, Rose was
sure she had not imagined it, afraid.

‘I’ll see you again at dinner, Marjorie. Rose and I are having our tea in
here. We must catch up later, I’ve so much to tell you.’

Lady Belvedere looked for a moment from one to the other, nodded and then
retreated, closing the door softly behind her. Rose looked at Edith in awe,
there was obviously more to this old school friend of Lady Withers than met the
eye.