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Heirs of the Body(84)


“Oh yes, and Vincent too. Not suffering from grief, I would say, but shocked and horrified. I wondered whether they were thinking that his accident could have been a serious attempt on his life.”

“I see he’s not using his walking stick. What about this morning?”

“He did say something about not wanting to tackle the steps up the tower. I don’t remember if he had his stick. “

“Damn, neither do I.”

“But he might have taken it in case of need for a walk of indefinite duration round the town, yet not for a stroll in the garden.”

“True.” He looked up as Ernest came out. The footman bore a silver salver on which reposed a pinkish-buff telegram envelope and a paper knife. “What now, I wonder?”

Ernest presented the telegram to Geraldine. “The evening post has come, my lady. Mr. Lowecroft said to bring you this immediately.”

“Thank you, Ernest. Fresh tea and hot water, please. Please excuse me,” she said to her immediate neighbours, slitting the envelope. The message took only a moment to read. She refolded the form and asked Ernest to take it to Alec.

“With her ladyship’s compliments,” he said, lowering his voice to add, “If there’s anything doing, sir, you know as I’m game.”

“I do, Ernest. I’ve not forgotten your assistance. Nothing at present, but I’ll keep your offer in mind.”

The footman bowed with a grin, then wiped it from his face and, with a suitably impassive expression, took himself off to collect teapots and hot-water jugs.

“Pearson can’t make it down here till Thursday evening,” Alec told Daisy, showing her the telegram.

“Bother! That means we’ll have to wait till then to know what documents Sam has up his sleeve. Can you make him show you?”

“Questionable. Even if this turns out to be a case for the police, I’d probably have to get a court order. Unless there’s strong evidence that they’re relevant to a criminal investigation, which seems unlikely.”

“But it may show us who’s the real heir!”

“I must have a talk with him anyway.”

“I’ll take notes,” Daisy said eagerly.

“No notes. An informal chat to put him in the picture.”

“And winkle out as much information as you can.”

“Of course. Perhaps he’ll voluntarily tell me about the heirs. Assuming he knows. Pearson didn’t actually say so, I gather.”

“He’s a cautious lawyer. I’m sure … pretty sure that’s what he meant. I can’t see why Sam wouldn’t be willing to tell us—”

“Not ‘us.’ I don’t want you getting any deeper into this imbroglio than you are already.”

“But darling—”

“No. Great Scott, Daisy, most of these accidents have been minor, but now a man’s dead!”

“And that’s why we need to know who’s the heir. In fact, everyone should be told. Then we can concentrate on protecting that one person. As it is, we can’t possibly keep watch over all of them!”

“We can do a pretty good job with Ernest’s help. Has it dawned on you that if Sam is the heir, he’s not particularly keen to announce it and make himself a target?”

“Oh! No, it hadn’t occurred to me. It would apply to all of them, too.”

“Great Scott, Daisy, I hadn’t thought of that!” Alec admitted with a wry smile.

“So, you see, you need me.…”

Edgar came to join them, sitting on the wall beside Daisy. “Are you comparing notes?” he whispered.

“Not exactly, sir. It’s a bit too public out here.” Two could keep their voices low enough not to be overheard, but three made it difficult not to look conspiratorial rather than merely casually conversing. “Also, I’m hoping for a word with Samuel before I report my observations.”

“You won’t give him a hard time, will you, my dear chap? Don’t want to upset Martha.”

“I’ll do my best. Sometimes it’s difficult to judge what will—”

Ernest reappeared. “Mr. Fletcher, you’re wanted on the telephone, sir.”

“Who…? No, never mind, I’m coming.”

A chilly little breeze had sprung up. Martha shivered.

Sam jumped up at once. “Come on, sweetie, let’s get you indoors. We can’t have you catching a chill.”

“If you don’t mind, Cousin Geraldine,” Martha apologised. The rough edges natural to her upbringing had smoothed during her stay in Hampstead.

“Of course, dear, you mustn’t catch cold. Unless anyone would like some more tea, I shall go inside now myself.”