Heirs of the Body(66)

“I was,” Alec said dryly. “Geraldine decided to make a party of it, to invite all her guests to visit the town and the cathedral. So I explained that I merely hoped to speak to the chief constable.”

“Who is—I think I may claim—a friend of mine.” Geraldine blushed; she actually blushed. Surely she couldn’t be carrying on a flirtation with Sir Nigel? “You’ll be surprised, I don’t doubt, to hear that I’ve applied to become a justice of the peace.”

“Goodness!”

“I have such an excellent staff here at Fairacres that I simply haven’t enough to occupy me. I really don’t care for bridge, I’m afraid. And a number of women have become magistrates in recent years. One doesn’t have to have to be trained in the law, you know. I approached Sir Nigel. I was already acquainted with him socially, of course. He has agreed to support my application.”

“Geraldine, what a wonderful idea!” Daisy went over and kissed the blushing cheek. “I’m sure your years of nailing schoolboy culprits will stand you in good stead.” She sat down. “Naturally you were interested in why Alec wanted to see Sir Nigel.”

“I hope I’m not nosy, but yes, I was curious. Now I’m horrified, to think one of my guests, one of Edgar’s relatives, may be attempting to kill the others!”

“May be,” Daisy stressed. “That’s the trouble. Alec can’t ignore what’s happened, but nor can he do anything official about it.”

“Yes, I understand the situation. You, too, are convinced there’s something to worry about?”

“I’m convinced Alec ought to report his suspicions to someone. Sir Nigel is the logical person.”

“All right.” Geraldine sighed. “I must tell Edgar. You won’t mind that.”

“All to the good,” said Alec. “He’ll be another pair of eyes on the lookout for trouble.”

“Since his net is involved in the latest incident, he may take an interest in the matter, especially as he’d be very upset if harm came to the boy. He’s taken quite a liking to Benjamin. Very well. If you have no objection, I should like to be present when you speak to Sir Nigel.”

“As you wish.”

“Would you like me to ring him up and make an appointment?”

Alec looked decidedly taken aback. “No, thank you. I’d better do that myself.”

Geraldine inclined her head. “I believe it will be best if I go ahead and invite everyone to come to Worcester. ‘Camouflage’ is the word the forces used in the war, I understand. Many of the boys are—were—very keen on the notion. Especially the Boy Scouts.”

Grinning, Alec said, “Camouflage let it be.”

“I’ll tell them I have business in town and give them a map of historical sites, so that they won’t expect me to dance attendance. No doubt you are an expert, Alec, at simply fading away.”

“By far the most useful weapon in the detective’s arsenal.”

“And I,” Daisy said mournfully, “shall undoubtedly be stuck touring the shops with Laurette.” She would have liked to be present at the interview with the chief constable, but being ninety-nine percent sure Alec would say no, she didn’t bother to ask.

Sure enough, as soon as Raymond, Frank, and the Vincents had agreed that a day in Worcester sounded like a pleasant outing, Laurette said to Daisy, “You and I, we will look at the shops while the men see the sights.”

Daisy politely agreed, though she couldn’t bring herself to enthuse.

Martha was in no shape for sightseeing or window shopping. She asked Geraldine’s permission to invite Violet to spend the morning with her, and permission was gladly given. “If Lady John is busy, I’ll get on with sewing for the baby,” Martha said without regret. She really was a most placid person.

Daisy remembered their first meeting, with Martha in floods of tears. Was her change of spirits attributable to the progressing pregnancy, or could she, as Alec suggested, have heard from her Sammy?

Edgar, unsurprisingly, declined to accompany the party. The children, turning up for breakfast in spite of their earlier raid on the kitchen, decided they’d rather hunt insects with him than waste a beautiful morning in viewing fusty old buildings.

“I’ll keep an eye on them,” Edgar promised.

Ben, who had lost his bandage already, looked disappointed. Obviously the decision was Derek and Belinda’s. They had both seen more than once what Worcester had to offer, but Ben might never have another chance to visit an ancient cathedral city. Daisy resolved to arrange a visit later, with a promise of ice cream and buns to lure the others.