Heirs of the Body(82)

“Vincent has a son,” said Daisy. “Benjamin has a brother.”

“It’s all very puzzling.”

“It is indeed, sir,” said Alec. “I hope the queries I’ve put out will bring some clarity. At best, we’ll find it’s just a fortuitous series of accidents, though what Sir Nigel and Superintendent Crane will have to say in that case, I hate to think!”

“You let me worry about Sir Nigel,” Geraldine said staunchly.

“As far as the Super’s concerned,” said Daisy, “you can blame it all on me. He probably will, anyway.”

Alec gave an ironic bow. “Thank you for your protection, ladies!”

“That’s all very well,” said Edgar, “but it seems to me we ought to be thinking about how to protect young Benjamin. Little though I want to send him away, God knows, perhaps it would be safest.”

“Alec and I have discussed that. We didn’t really come to any conclusion, did we, darling? But on the whole I think he’ll be safer here, where we can all keep an eye on him. I’m going to talk to Belinda and Derek—”

“Edgar should talk to Derek,” Geraldine said, “and Benjamin, come to that. Unless he’s lost his touch—”

“Really, my dear, I trust not!”

“—he’s extremely good with boys that age and I’m sure can make them see it as an adventure.”

“Then I wish you’d include Bel, Edgar. She enjoys expeditions with you just as much as the boys do.”

“By all means, Daisy. She’s a very sensible young lady.”

Alec nodded in agreement and consent. “I wonder whether it’s worth trying to get Frank Crowley to take a hand. His sense of responsibility towards Ben has limits I have yet to fathom.”

“He spends a good deal of time at the Wedge and Beetle,” Geraldine said austerely.

“He feels more at home there,” said Alec. “I can understand that. Perhaps he’ll find a fellow spirit in Sam—”

“And they’ll go off carousing together! Though I must admit, Mr. Crowley has never come back visibly intoxicated.”

“I was going to say, who’ll keep him closer to home. Unless, of course, they’re trying to kill each other.”





TWENTY-FIVE





Martha came down on Sam’s arm to tea on the terrace. She was radiant as, with obvious pride, she introduced him to everyone. Daisy felt happier just looking at her. Geraldine was every inch the gracious hostess. She invited him to sit beside her and plied him with tea and questions.

“I hope you had good weather for your voyage. When did you arrive in England?”

“Just a couple of days ago,” he said cheerfully, without hesitation. “I’ve been in America.”

“So I heard.”

Sam grinned. “Yes, well, a successful trip, though not without a bit of excitement. Then I had a fair amount of business to be done in Jamaica. I was lucky to get a first mate’s berth for an Atlantic crossing when I did. Sometimes you have to wait quite a while, or settle for second officer, but my friends were looking out for a place for me.”

Frank joined in the conversation. Vincent and Laurette listened, but they kept looked round, as if wondering where Raymond was. Martha, her fond gaze on her Sammy, sipped her tea and pulled a face, then drank it at a gulp, as if it were medicine. Either it was the wrong kind of mint again or her taste buds were still out of order, Daisy guessed.

Alec had asked Daisy, Edgar, and Geraldine not to announce Raymond’s death to the others. He wanted to see who would ask after him first, and how each would react to the news. Geraldine was to keep a close watch on Sam and Martha, Daisy on Vincent and Laurette, and Edgar on Frank Crowley, while Alec had a good view of everyone from his seat on the wall.

Laurette grew more and more disturbed and at last said, “Daisy, do you know how Raymond goes? It seemed to me that he was à peine—not much—shaken by his fall, but he hasn’t come to tea. Does he find himself unwell?”

“I’m afraid there’s bad news, Laurette. Edgar was going to tell everyone after tea, so as not to spoil Sam’s welcome, but since you ask…” She glanced at Edgar who, well-primed by Alec, nodded assent. “Raymond died on the way home.”

Laurette was aghast. “Mais, ma foi, c’est inouï! Impossible! A small fall, it does not cause the death.”

“Did you see him fall?” Alec asked.

“Non, non. I was with Daisy. We were not close and the tramway blocked our view. We saw that something happens. The policeman blows the whistle. All vehicles cease to move. But Raymond we did not see until a policeman helps him to the pavement. He felt himself weak from shock. This is natural. But to die … impossible.”