Heirs of the Body(100)

Also, she could tell Vi that Martha was unwell and hoped for a visit.

Oliver and Miranda couldn’t walk all the way, though. That meant taking the double pushchair. Getting the contraption over the hill while keeping the toddlers from straying too far was really a two-man job. Belinda would willingly help, but she had gone with the boys, Edgar, and Bill Truscott (and, no doubt, Nana and Pepper) to inspect the boat, so Nurse Gilpin would have to go with Daisy.

Mrs. Gilpin’s disapproving presence would probably squelch any bright ideas at birth. However, the other reasons for the expedition still stood, and once conceived it could not easily be abandoned.

Daisy hoped her subconscious mind continued to work on the problem, because the twins had such fun on their outing that she almost forgot about Raymond’s death and the inexplicable events that might or might not be connected. The dowager made it plain that she considered the whole affair beneath her notice.

In a low voice, Vi asked nervously about Derek’s safety.

“Alec’s letting Belinda stay.” Daisy recalled the time she had broken off their engagement because he accused her of endangering Bel. “As far as we can tell, Ben himself isn’t really in danger. In any case, he’s safer when the others are with him. There’s a bobby keeping an eye on them, not to mention Ben’s stepfather, and Edgar, and Ernest, too, when they’re indoors.”

“Ernest?”

“The footman. He’s been very helpful. And Derek’s such a help with Belinda and Ben, but of course if you’d rather he came back here…”

Violet glanced at their mother, who had obviously had quite enough of toddler antics. “No. He’d better stay with you. I wish John were here!”

“He’ll be back tomorrow, won’t he? Martha was in the seventh heaven when Sam turned up at last. I presume the bush telegraph brought you the news?”

“Yes. I look forward to meeting him. Mother’s dying of curiosity, too, though she won’t admit it.”

“You’ll meet at Edgar’s birthday party.” If Sam hadn’t been arrested by then. “If not before—Martha’s feeling a bit seedy today and wondered whether you might be able to drop in later.”

“I will, but it won’t be till after tea. We have a luncheon invitation, and then Mother’s dragging me on a round of calls.”

“Rather you than me. Oliver, Miranda, it’s time to go. Say bye-bye nicely to Grandmother and Aunt Violet.”

“We go home now, Mama?” Miranda asked.

“To Uncle Edgar’s house, darling.”

“Go now,” Oliver said firmly and darted towards the door.

“Master Oliver!” Mrs. Gilpin’s stern voice, from the corner where she lurked, stopped him in his tracks. “Say good-bye like a gentleman.”

Whatever her drawbacks, there were times when Daisy was very, very grateful for Nurse Gilpin.

When they returned to the house, Nurse whisked the babies upstairs for a nap. Daisy went to see Martha. She was lying on the chaise longue, wan and woebegone.

“It’s awful being so miserable when Sammy just arrived,” she said forlornly. “I told him it’s no good sitting here worrying, he should go and get to know his new relations. So he went away.”

Though she sympathised, Daisy couldn’t find a good response to that. “Isn’t the tea helping?” she asked, gesturing at the pot and cup on the table at Martha’s side.

“No. Lady Dalrymple—Cousin Geraldine—came to see me and she suggested hot water bottles, but they’re no help either. I’m too hot already. I just feel … awful. Sick, and standing up makes me dizzy.”

“I’m going to call the doctor. If Dr. Hopcroft is still stuck in the floods, he’ll have arranged for a locum by now.”

Daisy went down to the telephone in the hall and got through to Mrs. Hopcroft.

“Yes, the water’s gone down already, Mrs. Fletcher, leaving several inches of mud in the streets. The doctor is out on his morning round but I’m expecting him back any minute for his lunch. I’ll tell him about … Mrs. Samuel Dalrymple, is it?”

“That’s right. A sort of family gathering.”

“So I’ve heard.” Mrs. Hopcroft paused, as if hoping for further information. Daisy did not oblige. “The doctor will call at Fairacres this afternoon without fail.”

Daisy thanked her. As she hung up, Ernest appeared.

“The chief inspector has returned from Worcester, madam, with two detectives from Scotland Yard. He’d like to see you in his lordship’s study when convenient.”

Surprised and pleased, Daisy hurried to the den. She had rather expected to be shut out of the investigation when Tom Tring and Ernie Piper arrived.