A Dirty Death (34 page)

The vicar’s neck grew mottled. ‘Well, of course, these things can be ascertained—’

‘
You
knew, didn’t you?’ Roddy suddenly accused. ‘You came snooping round here, and overheard us in the office that day, when we found that letter. Bloody hell – did
you
tell him?’

The vicar cringed back, his face a dark red, the picture of guilt and fear.

‘Roddy, wait,’ Lilah stopped him. ‘That was
after
Sam died, remember? That wouldn’t explain it.’ She paused, and her eyes widened. ‘But Jonathan knew. He’s always known. Redstone belonged to his father before we bought it. He
must
have known. It would have been on all the sales paperwork.’

‘And he told Mr Larkin, and Mr Larkin told Barbara and
she
told Terry.’ Roddy stared at the vicar. ‘Which means it was
your
fault that Sam was killed,’ he added viciously.

‘Roddy, don’t,’ said Miranda. ‘Facts are facts. It wasn’t the vicar’s fault.’ She looked at the miserable clergyman with a kindly scorn. ‘Perhaps you’d better go now,’ she said. Like a rabbit released from a snare, he leapt up and bolted for the door. Without a word he was gone, though there was clear expression of his feelings in the slamming sound which echoed through the house behind him.

‘He’ll get over it,’ said Miranda. ‘His sort always do, especially when God’s on their side.’ 

‘But what about us?’ demanded Lilah. ‘When are
we
going to get over it?’

Miranda moved to the sofa, and sat down in the middle of it. ‘Come here,’ she told them. When they joined her, one on either side, she put an arm around each pair of shoulders.

‘We’ve got each other,’ she said. ‘And I’ve decided to try and keep the farm. It’s what Guy would have wanted. And Sam. We’re going to keep the cows, and make a go of it. We’ve got friends who’ll rally round. We can’t give up now, can we?’

‘Not even now that everything’s over and done with?’ queried Roddy, uncertainly.

‘It isn’t over and done with, Rod,’ said Lilah, hugging her mother. ‘It’s only just beginning!’

It was true. Lilah felt as if she were emerging from an overlong childhood, to begin her adult life. Day by day she watched Den recover, sitting quietly with him, playing gently with his long fingers, thinking of nothing. Before going home, she would lean over and kiss him. His mouth was dry, tasting of hospital and the bland food they gave him.

Jonathan took Tim to the village pub that evening. ‘Come on, man,’ he encouraged, as Tim stared morosely into his beer. ‘She’ll come back. You’re the sort of couple that thrives on breaking up and getting back together. You’ve done nothing but fight since you got married.’ 

‘I don’t blame her, really. It’s a bugger living with someone like me. She’ll never forgive me for not quitting the service altogether. I thought a compromise would work, but I was only fooling myself.’

Jonathan shook his head, and drank some more beer, grimacing as it went down. ‘This stuff’s vile. This must be the worst pub in England.’

‘It’s not meant for enjoyment. Just a place to be quiet after a day’s work. I like it. It’s real. Sarah loathes it.’

‘Well, I’m on her side in that.’

Jonathan forced down the rest of his beer, musing on the events in which he’d become an unwilling player. All they could do now was pick up the pieces and carry on as best they might.

Cappy had taken it upon herself to befriend Lilah, offering her a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. After a few days, the girl had given into her insistent offers and gone over for a talk. But when it came to it, she could think of little to say. Only one unresolved emotion remained.

‘It’s Sam,’ she blurted. ‘That’s what makes me saddest. We were his whole life and we killed him, between us. I don’t think I’ll ever get round that.’ She wept then, fast-flowing tears, with scarcely a sound to accompany them.

Cappy got up and put an arm round her shoulders.

‘I know, Lil,’ she said. ‘I know.’

R
EBECCA
T
OPE
lives on a smallholding in Herefordshire, with a full complement of livestock, but manages to travel the world and enjoy civilisation from time to time as well. Most of her varied experiences and activities find their way into her books, sooner or later. She is also the author of the Cotswold Mysteries series featuring Thea Osborne.

www.rebeccatope.com

T
HE
C
OTSWOLD
M
YSTERIES

A Cotswold Killing

A Cotswold Ordeal

Death in the Cotswolds

A Cotswold Mystery

Blood in the Cotswolds

Slaughter in the Cotswolds

Fear in the Cotswolds

A Grave in the Cotswolds

Deception in the Cotswolds

Malice in the Cotswolds

T
HE
W
EST
C
OUNTRY
M
YSTERIES

A Dirty Death

Dark Undertakings

Death of a Friend

Grave Concerns

A Death to Record

The Sting of Death

A Market for Murder 

If you enjoyed
A Dirty Death
, you’ll love our
other books by Rebecca Tope …

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www.allisonandbusby.com
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