01 - Murder at Ashgrove House (12 page)

‘Even so, Constance, I think –.’

‘No, William,’ Lady Withers said firmly. ‘I’m not going to think or talk
about it anymore. Lord knows I’ve got enough on my plate as it is, making sure
that all the servants do everything properly so as to avoid Marjorie
complaining or making one of her nasty, snide little remarks.’

‘Very well, Constance, but on your head be it.’ The seriousness of Sir
William’s tone startled her and she turned to stare at him.

‘William, everyone, especially that husband of hers, needs to stop
mollycoddling Edith all the time. It’s been twelve years. She can’t expect
everyone to keep walking on egg shells around her forever. Of course I feel
very sorry for her, we all do, but everyone lost someone they loved in the war,
she’s got to start getting over it.’

‘There are times, Constance, when you can be quite heartless,’ said Sir
William coldly. ‘You haven’t a clue what Edith’s been through. You’ve no idea
of how much she’s suffered.’ With that, Sir William walked out of the room and
Lady Withers was left staring helplessly at the empty space where he had been
standing, half wondering whether she should call out to him. She was so very
unused to them arguing over anything that her eyes immediately welled with
tears. Before she had decided quite what to do, she heard him marching across
the landing to the stairs.

Constance turned and looked at herself in the dressing table mirror.
‘He’s still in love with her,’ she said softly to her reflection, ‘after all
this time, he’s still in love with her.’

A few doors down the corridor, Lady Belvedere walked into her husband’s
bedroom.

‘Henry, did you know Edith would be coming to stay at Ashgrove this
weekend?’

‘What’s that, Marjorie?’ The Earl of Belvedere stood in front of the
mirror trying to tie his bow tie. It was no good, however much he tried, he
could never tie it properly himself. He sighed. In the early days of their
marriage, Lady Belvedere had used to do it for him; nowadays he had to resort
to his valet.

‘I said, did you know Edith would be here?’

‘What? I say, what the devil makes you ask that?’

‘You were so insistent that we come down to Ashgrove this weekend. It’s
not at all like you. Usually I can’t tear you away from your library. Anyway,
it’s a simple enough question, did you know that woman would be here?’

‘Of course not, Marjorie. I just wanted to see the children, that’s all.
Lavinia hardly ever comes home to Sedgwick, as well you know. I just thought
this would be a good opportunity to see her. Wonderful that Cedric’s come down
as well, jolly pleased to see him too, of course.’

An uncomfortable silence lingered in the air. Both knew, although neither
said as much, that the reason Lavinia and Cedric came so seldom to Sedgwick
Court was because they did not wish to encounter the countess.

‘Does it matter so much, Marjorie, Edith being here?’

‘I can’t stand the woman, I never could when we were girls, and I doubt
whether she’s changed. But it’s not me I’m thinking of. I thought
you
might
mind.’

‘Me? No, of course not, why should I mind?’ Lord Belvedere stopped
fiddling with his bow tie and looked at his wife curiously. ‘It’ll be nice to
see her after all these years, it’ll just be like old times, what.’

‘All the same, I wish she wasn’t here.’ Lady Belvedere took a deep breath
and closed her eyes for a moment. I’m scared, she thought, I’m scared about
what might happen.

By the time that the house parlour maid, acting as lady’s maid, had
finished dressing Lavinia and doing her hair, Rose was fully dressed and ready
to go down.

‘Oh, I’m awfully sorry, miss,’ Martha said, puffing a little as she came
into Rose’s bedroom. ‘It took me longer than I thought it would to see to Lady
Lavinia and now I see that you’ve managed quite well without me.’

‘No need to worry. But tell me please, will I do?’

‘I think a
demi-toilette
is highly appropriate for country-house
visiting, miss, and I see as you’re wearing real pearls and your hair is done
all nice and simple, so I’d say as you’re turned out very well.’

‘You don’t think I’ll look a bit underdressed, do you?’ 

‘Well, perhaps a little compared to Lady Lavinia but, and I may be
talking out of turn, I’d say as she’s a little overdressed. Of course, I know
as the aristocracy is amongst our guests at Ashgrove what with the earl and
countess and the heir to a duke being here and all, but while Sir William and
m’lady always observe the custom of dressing for dinner even when dining alone,
I would say that Lady Lavinia’s evening-dress were probably more suited to a
ball. I might say that I did try and discourage her from wearing such large
diamonds, but she was most insistent.’

‘Is she wearing her pale gold silk satin gown,’ enquired Rose, her heart
sinking, ‘the one that’s backless?’

‘Indeed she is, miss, although I managed to persuade her not to wear
gloves which she seemed quite happy about seeing as she would have to remove
them anyhow as soon as she had seated herself at the dinner-table.’

‘Oh, dear. I suppose you’ve been put to a lot of additional work with so
many guests coming for the weekend?’

‘That we have, miss, and with so little notice we haven’t been able to
get in much help from the village today, so we’re all having to double-up with
regards to what we do. Still, I can’t say as I mind much myself, like, as it
means I get some practice hairdressing. You see, miss,’ the maid bent forward
and lowered her voice as if she intended to impart a great secret, ‘my dream is
to be a lady’s maid one day to some grand mistress. I’m trying to save up to
put myself through a hairdressing course and I’m teaching myself a little
French because I’m hoping to have an opportunity to travel, that’s my dream,
like.’ 

‘Well, I wish you every success,’ Rose said, sincerely. Before she could
add anything further, they heard the door of the room next door open, followed
by a rapid tapping on Rose’s own door.

‘Lavinia, you look wonderful.’

‘Do you think so?’ enquired Lavinia, throwing back her head and striking
a pose, the diamonds she was wearing glittering in the light from the room. ‘I
must admit that I do think I look rather good in this dress which obviously I
didn’t get from Madame Renard’s shop!’ She looked at Rose and smiled. ‘You look
awfully good too, you know. That dress really suits you and I love your pearls,
are those your mother’s, the ones that you were telling me about? Aunt will
thoroughly approve.’

Together they descended the stairs and went into the drawing room where
Lord Sneddon and Lord Sedgwick were awaiting them, the cocktails prepared and
put ready in wine glasses on the drinks tray. Both gentlemen, Rose thought,
looked handsome in their dinner-jackets and black bow ties. The old rule which
had stipulated white tie, tail-coat and white waistcoat be worn at all dinners
at which ladies were present, had generally now been abandoned except by the
old school.

‘Here they are,’ declared Lord Sneddon. ‘I say, Lavinia, you look swell
as they say in America and of course you too, Rose’ he added almost as an
afterthought. ‘Cedric, where’s that footman? I want him to get those things out
of the refrigerator that I gave him earlier. Ah, there you are,’ as Albert
appeared, ‘have you got them, my man? Good, and are they ice-cold? Put one in
each of the glasses and then hand out the drinks will you.’  

‘Goodness, Hugh,’ exclaimed Lavinia, ‘whatever are they, they look just
like silver balls.’

‘That’s exactly what they are, silver-plated hollow metal balls. They’re
called “silverice” balls and they come from America. One uses them in place of
ice cubes, the advantage being that they don’t dilute one’s drink.’

‘Oh, how clever, Hugh. Don’t you think so?’ asked Lavinia turning to Sir
William who had just entered the drawing room, ‘how would you like to put them
in your whisky, Uncle William?’

‘I think I’d prefer to stick with ice cubes, my dear, I’m not very good
with these new-fangled ideas,’ replied Sir William, good humouredly. Rose saw
that he was dressed in full evening dress of white tie and tails. ‘Ah, here’s
Constance.’

‘Henry and Marjorie are just coming down,’ said Lady Withers as she
entered the room. ‘No sign of Edith, I see. I assume she’s still intending on
coming down for dinner. No doubt she’ll let one of the servants know if she
intends to take dinner on a tray in her room instead. Most unfortunate if she
decides to, as it will completely upset the seating plan, but Stafford’s made
up another one just in case and both he and Albert are on hand to re-arrange
the table settings if required. Ah, what lovely pearls, my dear,’ Lady Withers
said turning her attention from her husband to Rose, ‘are they your mother’s?
They look just the sort of necklace I would wear. Really, Lavinia,’ she said,
looking reprovingly at her niece, ‘are all those diamonds really necessary,
you’re not going to a ball, my dear.’

Lord and Lady Belvedere entered the drawing room and Rose thought that
both looked rather ill at ease. The earl especially, she noticed, looked
restless and fidgety; she wondered whether it was the result of being in his
wife’s company. Lady Belvedere made a beeline towards her son whom she had not
seen since his arrival. A look of reservation crossed Cedric’s face as he moved
forward. For a moment his eyes met Rose’s and the two of them exchanged a
smile. Cedric had to walk past her to get to his mother and as he did so, he
turned to her briefly. ‘I say, Rose, you look jolly nice in that dress if you
don’t mind my saying so,’ he said quietly, so that only she could hear. She
flushed with pleasure and noticed that his cheeks had also gone a subtle shade
of crimson.

Instinctively Rose looked up and saw that the countess was watching them
closely. The expression on her face showed that she was not best pleased by
what she had witnessed. Just then, Edith entered the drawing room and
everything stopped and went quiet. All eyes were turned on the newcomer, even
Lavinia’s and Lord Sneddon’s, despite the fact that up until that moment they
had been engaged in eager conversation, seemingly oblivious to everyone else. A
chilly atmosphere appeared to have invaded the room with Edith’s entrance and
Rose gave an involuntary shiver. Edith seemed fully aware of the effect of her
arrival on the assembly, because she hovered awkwardly by the door. Her eyes
sought out Sir William and she looked at him, Rose thought, almost pleadingly.
He came to her side at once and this had the effect of breaking the tension in
the room. Lavinia and Lord Sneddon took up their conversation and Lady
Belvedere commenced her interrogation of Cedric, who stood before her looking
uncomfortable. Only Lord Belvedere and Lady Withers continued looking at Edith,
who was now engaged in conversation with Sir William. She happened to be
smiling at something that he was saying and Rose caught the expression on Lady
Withers’ face. It took her by surprise because it was one of pain. Rose turned
back to look at Edith and Sir William, and wondered.

‘Dinner is served’, announced Stafford and they all filed out of the
drawing room to the dining room in precedence, each gentleman offering his arm
to the lady whom he was taking to dinner, followed by Lady Withers. Once they
had arrived in the room, the servants drew the ladies’ chairs out a little from
the table for them and Sir William, as host, remained standing until all the
guests had taken their seats. It being a small gathering, there were no name
cards on the table. Instead Sir William directed the gentlemen to their seats
and each lady sat on the right hand of the gentleman that had taken her to
dinner. This resulted in Sir William sitting at the head of the table with Lady
Belvedere on his right and Edith on his left. Lord Belvedere sat next to Edith
and opposite Lord Sneddon. On the earl’s left sat Rose and next to her Cedric,
and Lady Withers, at the other end of the table to her husband, sat next to her
nephew. Rose was pleased to find herself seated opposite Lavinia who in turn,
with no-one sitting on her right with whom she was expected to converse, felt
that she was fully justified in focusing her attention on Hugh, with the
occasional remark made to Rose for good measure.

Rose herself, could hardly believe her fortune. Not only had she been
taken in to dinner by Cedric, her arm resting on his which had caused a
delicious shiver to run up her back, but she found herself seated next to him.
As in the gardens, she found him delightful company and, while the dinner
itself was rather daunting with its many dishes and courses, she had no
difficulty in engaging Cedric in conversation for he seemed to find her
comments and observations amusing. The same could not be said of Lord
Belvedere, seated on her right, who appeared silent and uncommunicative
throughout the meal, disinclined to speak to anyone other than to exchange a
few words with Edith, out of politeness. Rose noticed that Lady Belvedere was
watching her husband keenly, as if she found his behaviour in some way
worrying. Every so often, the countess cast a glance at Rose and Cedric and if
she happened to catch Rose’s eye, she positively glared. This was in direct
contrast to the look she bestowed on Lord Sneddon and Lavinia when she saw them
engaged in animated conversation. Every so often Lord Sneddon broke off his
conversation with Lavinia and conversed with her mother as manners dictated.
The gist of their conversation from the snippets that Rose overheard suggested
that their discussions centred on what his parents, the duke and duchess, were
doing and also news concerning their mutual friends, many of whom appeared to
be titled.

Rose looked up the table towards Sir William. He had just finished a
conversation with Lady Belvedere to his right and now turned to his left to
address Edith. Whatever he was about to say to her froze on his lips and
remained unsaid as he glimpsed her face. From where Rose was sitting, it was
difficult to see the expression on Edith’s face, but it seemed sufficient to
alarm Sir William, for he lent towards her slightly and spoke to her in a voice
hardly above a whisper. This action caught the attention of both Lady Belvedere
and Lady Withers. A look of anguish shot across Constance’s face before she
turned to Cedric to enquire after his studies.

Mrs Palmer had stuck to the menu that she had put forward to Stafford
earlier in the day, which the scullery and kitchen maids had overheard her
describe and which had subsequently been agreed with Lady Withers. Rose found
that each course seemed to bring with it the offer of a different beverage.
Sherry was served with the clear soup, Hock offered during the fish course
before the champagne, which was served throughout the dinner along with port.
For those not drinking wine, there was the choice of whisky and soda, lemonade,
orangeade or barley water. Rose, unused to consuming vast amounts of alcohol
and conscious that she had indulged in a cocktail before dinner, moved to
lemonade after the sherry and one glass of champagne. Lord Sneddon, she could
not help but notice, was drinking rather heavily, as was Lady Withers. Lord
Sedgwick kept pace with the various beverages offered with each course but did
not appear the worse for drink. Edith, Rose noticed, left her glasses untouched
and instead requested a glass of water which was brought to her by Albert, the
white-gloved footman, and which she sipped at eagerly.

Once the final course had been served and eaten, Lady Withers gave the
signal for the ladies to leave the dining room by catching the eye of Lady Belvedere,
as the lady present of the highest rank, who threw one last glance at her
husband before rising from her seat. Rose and the other women present followed
their example and left the room in the same order in which they had entered it,
Lady Withers bringing up the rear. The gentlemen had risen and remained
standing by their chairs until the ladies had left the room and Sir William,
having opened the door for the ladies to depart, then shut it behind them and
returned to his seat. The other gentlemen closed up as near as possible to him
so that they could talk to one another more easily.

‘Help yourself to port, Cedric, and then pass it around.’

There ensued a period of contented silence as the gentlemen indulged in
their fortified wine and cigars and cigarettes.     

‘My sister seems to have made quite an impression on you, Hugh,’ Cedric
said at last, quietly enough so that neither Lord Belvedere nor Sir William
could hear what he said. This precaution, however, appeared unnecessary, for
both seemed lost in their own thoughts. ‘If you’re not careful, my mother will
have you both married off in no time.’ He spoke jokingly, with obvious
affection for his sister, but when Lord Sneddon replied, he appeared serious.

‘Would that be such a bad thing, Cedric? Wouldn’t you like to have me for
a brother-in-law?’

‘I wouldn’t have thought that Lavinia was really your type, old man. As
for having you for a brother-in-law, I wouldn’t mind so long as you promised to
treat my sister well.’ There was a slight edge to Lord Sedgwick’s voice, which
implied that he might have certain reservations about such a connection; this
was not lost on Lord Sneddon, who looked annoyed.

‘Enough of this marriage talk, Cedric. We’re here to have fun, aren’t we?
Harmless fun, of course,’ he added as he saw the warning look on Cedric’s face.
‘Anyway, enough about me, now what about you and Miss Simpson? Made quite an
impact on you, I wager.’