A Death in the Wedding Party (20 page)

‘What!’ cried Richenda. ‘Tippy would never say anything like that!’

‘He asked me to help him find someone to fit up for the crime.’

Richenda went deathly pale. ‘He can’t … he can’t … but that would mean … Oh my God,’ she cried and fled from the room. Suzette followed at once, slamming the door.

‘I reckon she thought Tippy had done, don’t you?’ said Merry.

‘Yes,’ I said slowly. ‘I think she did and the two idiots have been trying to protect each other.’

‘Well, your hysterics were good for something after all.’

‘If we’re right,’ I said, ‘it means we need to rethink what we know about the crime. We’ve just lost our two main suspects.’

‘Look,’ said Merry, ‘if you’re feeling okay then I reckon you should go down to dinner. It might be that …’

‘Something is revealed over the oysters?’ I said, feeling a bubble of mirth rising within me again.

‘Now, stop that at once,’ said Merry. ‘I’m going to go below stairs and tell Rory about your latest adventure and if that doesn’t wipe the smile off your face you ain’t got no sense. He’s going to be downright furious with Tipton and you!’

‘It wasn’t my fault!’

‘You keep swanning off on your own and you keep getting pounced on. See any connection? ‘Cos if you don’t I’m sure Rory will.’

‘I am definitely going to go hide among the Earls,’ I said. ‘Help me dress, Merry.’

As she finished my hair Merry said, ‘It’s nice Tipton liked me, isn’t it?’

‘Oh yes,’ I responded, ‘he said he’d actually regret killing you.’

Merry froze for minute, not in shock as I first thought, but in thought, ‘He’s quite mad, isn’t he? I mean really mad. Do you think we should stop this wedding?’

‘I think someone already has that well in hand,’ I said. ‘We just need to find out who and why.’

‘Same old, same old,’ muttered Merry as she hustled me through the door. ‘Now don’t you go getting locked in with anyone else! No wondering off on your own!’

The effect of these strictures was to make me feel like a six year old playing dress up at an adults’ party. People were gathering the hall for drinks before dinner. From the top of the staircase I could see all the original faces I had seen when I first arrived, but this time voices did not echo around the chamber. Instead the conversation was more of a dull buzz. Many of the drinkers cast glances over their shoulders every third or fourth sip as if they expected an assassin to creep up on them from behind.

The Earls and the Countess stood alone to one side. All three countenances reflected a dismay and distrust of the situation before them. Richenda sat in one of the few grand chairs. Tipton hovered attentively at her side. From time to time the two regarded each other in a way that extinguished my already small appetite. While I dressed they had clearly forgiven each other of all suspicions. I had no more time to pick out anyone I had reached the bottom stair.

Immediately my arm was taken. ‘I have been hearing about your unfortunate times,’ said Fitzroy/Milford. ‘Come through this way and I will get you a proper drink.’

I instinctively stiffened. ‘Don’t worry,’ said Fitzroy, ‘not only will everyone see you leave with me, but I am probably – no definitely – the safest person you could be with right now.’

I did not go with him because of this argument, but rather because I feared making that total social faux par, causing a scene. As I accompanied him into one of the side chambers which proved to be yet another small study I reflected that if Fitzroy wanted me dead he would undoubtedly accomplish it more discreetly.

He poured and handed me a small Scotch with instructions to sip it slowly. ‘You don’t need to tell me you’re not used to that kind of drink,’ he said.

‘Not exactly a lady’s tipple,’ I replied, trying to suppress a shudder as the strong liquor hit my stomach. ‘Not what is it I can do for you?’

Fitzroy pulled forward a couple of chairs and indicated I should sit. He waited for me to sit first in the manner one would have done with a real lady, but then he knew who I was.

‘I don’t have all the facts,’ he admitted much to my surprise, ‘but I am hearing alarming rumours about the situations you have recently found yourself in. I brought you through here to advise you to leave the Court. I can arrange for a suitably impressive carriage to pick you up.’

‘Thank you,’ I said sincerely. ‘I know it is unlike you to engage yourself in such minor matters.’ Fitzroy gave a little snort of laughter. ‘Touché,’ he said.

‘I didn’t mean to be rude,’ I said struggling for the right words, ‘I meant that I understand that you are here to work and that you mustn’t compromise your identity.’

He nodded. ‘Correct. I wouldn’t interfere unless I felt you to be real danger.’

‘Even that surprises me,’ I said candidly.

A very faint blush stole into his cheeks. ‘You have been useful to us and I would like you to remain alive, so you can be useful again.’

I smiled with genuine appreciation and he broke off his gaze at me. ‘I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your offer,’ I said, ‘but the truth is I have nowhere to go but Stapleford Hall and I do not think my employers would thank me for abandoning them.’

‘Those damn bloody people!’ said Fitzroy. ‘Why the hell did you have to go and work there!’

‘They were the only people who would accept me without a reference.’

‘Which should have told you something!’

‘It told me,’ I said coldly, though I boiling with fury inside, ‘that I might have a chance of preventing my mother and younger brother from falling into destitution. My mother wrote repeatedly to my grandfather over the years and he never replied. Not even when he knew father was dead and we were homeless would he interest himself in us.’

‘Man’s a stupid oaf,’ said Fitzroy. ‘I could talk to him for you.’

‘You’d do that?’ I said amazement diluting my anger.

‘You have a remarkable ability to make me want to do things that I would normally not contemplate for anyone else.’

‘Good heavens,’ I said ironically, ‘is this a declaration of affection, Mr Fitzroy?’

‘Milford,’ he corrected automatically. ‘No, I don’t have time for romance in my business, but you remind me of myself. Or how I was when I first entered the service. You’re a survivor. You adapt to what life throws at you. It’s a skill that is all too rare. I appreciate your determination to seek justice even when the rules don’t seem to allow it ever to be found. What worries me is that you are untrained and unfit for the situations you blindly thrust yourself into.’

‘Tipton and Richenda have accidently alibied each other,’ I said. I succeeded in diverting him.

‘Really. And you believe them?’

‘Tipton asked me to find someone to take the fall for Richenda and when Richenda learned Tipton was trying to do this she immediately mended her argument with him.’

‘So she thought he had done it,’ said Fitzroy and gave a low whistle. ‘I must admit I didn’t see that coming. This is a far greater tangle than I had imagined. Whoever is behind this all is playing their hand with great skill.’

‘I agree,’ I said. ‘He or she is a formidable opponent.”

His face split into a grin. ‘I’m not going to get you to leave this alone, am I?

‘No,’ I said. ‘But I do appreciate the offer. Very much.’

‘I’ll watch your back as much as I can,’ said Fitzroy, ‘but I cannot promise to be on hand when the pieces start falling. You cannot rely on me.’

I stood up and held out my hand. ‘Oh, Mr Fitzroy,’ I said, ‘I would never do that.’

Fitzroy left the room before me and I chose to wait for a few moments before following him. He left the door slightly ajar, so I could hear the hum of pre-dinner conversation. I slipped out and went to stand at the back of the hall. I took a drink from a servant for form’s sake, but only let it wet my lips. I had a feeling that I would need to keep my wits very sharp from now. Fitzroy’s incredible offer only confirmed to me there games afoot that I knew little about.

Two male guests whose faces I recognised from the first night, but who had not been introduced to me were weaving their way across the hall. They had undoubtedly tried to take the edge of all events by investing heavily in the joys of Bacchus. I watched their progress with some little enjoyment when one of them caught my eye-line, nudged his partner, who attempted to bend his head to hear what his friend was saying and almost took his eye out on the cocktail stick in his bizarre drink. They stumbled together for a moment then like some kind of hideous four legged monster they adjusted course and made straight for me. It didn’t take me more than a moment to understand that alcohol had lessened their inhibitions for approaching a member of minor royalty and they were headed straight for me.

I did the only thing I could think of and slipped out into the garden. In my head I could hear Merry’s voice cautioning me about separating from the masses, but the thought of dealing with two drunken upper-class twits, who might at any moment throw up on my shoes was too much to bear. Also they were of an age where they might know some of the real Princess’s friends and, drunk or not, it would be quickly clear that I had no idea what Button-Nose or Squiffy had done last summer. In fact, with the nicknames these people insisted on giving each other I could never be sure if they were referring to each other, their pets or their horses.

I was not in a sociable mood. Frankly, I was fed up with this set, and if Rory had appeared from behind a tree and suggested we elope at that moment I would happily have gone with him. Moreover I would have made it a condition of our nuptials that we would both leave service and set up in a profession were we were more likely to meet decent people who weren’t forever trying to kill each other. A tobacconist’s seemed like a good choice.

Once I was in the garden I slipped behind a tree and crept like some weirdly sparkly creature from tree to tree until I was a little way from the house, but not without hailing distance. I would still be able to hear the dinner gong and join the crowd as they headed off to feed. Because goodness knows come hell or high water the upper class must dress for dinner and dine, dine, dine!

My father’s voice now joined Merry’s warning voice in my head. He berated me gently for thinking so little of my fellow creatures who were after all made in God’s image. This made me thankful my father was not present to hear my answers to such strictures.

I found a particularly broad tree and smooth backed tree (I had to watch my dress) and leaned back. I started to count my blessings as my father had taught me to do when I was in a vile mood. I couldn’t remember when I had been quite so angry, but as I mentally listed the people I had who cared about me, the kindnesses I had been shown, I felt unwanted emotion welling up inside me. After all that had happened it made sense that only my anger was keeping me from breaking down and weeping.

Whether I would have given in to my weaker emotions and whether or not I would have fled the Court down the lane and into a new life will never be known for at that moment I had the hair-raising sensation that I was not alone. Without thinking I hunched down at the foot of the tree as if I might be mistaken for a bush. (My only excuse for this foolishness is that by this point in our adventure I was extremely stressed as I hope you may realise.)

Fortunately the two people who had joined me in the garden were far too busy whispering heatedly from one another. They were also taking a strange, haphazard route though the gardens and I realised they were attempting to hide from the sight of the guests in the Hall. This made me feel a little easier. Here were two people certainly not hunting me, but in fear of being hunted themselves. I moved sideways into an actual bush and attempted to attain some sort of still squatting position. A shoot tickled the inside of my ear. I then became more worried about the thought that a spider or ladybird might be wandering along this shoot and into said orifice. If I moved I would give myself away. I willed the pair to hurry past.

As they grew nearer I forgot about the shoot and possible invasion of my ear, Tipton walked side by side with Suzette. Their heads were close and they were whispering furiously, each speaking over the other. I could not make out what they were arguing about, but then they stopped right in front of me. I held my breath, but they were far too busy negotiating to notice me in my bush.

‘I’ve kept me mouth shut,’ said Suzette. ‘But your good lady hasn’t offered me no job and a girl’s got to look after herself in this world.’

‘I do see that,’ said Tipton.

‘I’ve come a long way as you well know,’ said Suzette, ‘and I have no intention of going back.’

‘You’ve done well. Extremely well. And Lady S had no idea?’

‘Nope. None whatsoever. Your girlfriend knew me though. Took her a while, but she figured it out. Very good about it she was. I’ll say that for her, but as I said she ain’t offered me no job and with the other one gone I’m on me uppers.’

‘And we can’t have that,’ said Tipton. He took something out of his coat and passed it to Suzette, who immediately stuffed it down her bodice. ‘It’s on account,’ he said. ‘I won’t get my hands on the money until after the wedding.’

‘And the job?’ asked Suzette.

‘I know you think you’ve got me here,’ said Tipton, ‘but a fellow doesn’t get to where I am without learning a thing or two. We may be able to come to a financial arrangement, but I think having you on my household staff might be just a bit too dangerous, don’t you?’

Suzette’s jawline clenched. ‘If that’s the way you want to play it then I want more before the wedding.’

‘My dear girl,’ said Tipton, ‘you can ruin me at any moment of your choosing. Wouldn’t it make sense to let me get my hands on the dosh?’

Suzette lent forward and poked Tipton in the chest with one bony finger. ‘I’ve got brothers,’ she said. ‘Brothers who know where I am and what I’m doing. If anything happens to me then they’ll find you and your new missus.’

Tipton backed away. ‘Won’t harm a hair on your charming head,’ he said. ‘Word of a gentleman.’

‘Well, as long as we understand each other.’