A Death in the Wedding Party (23 page)

‘I’m not sure. I’m still working it out,’ I said.

‘Give me a plan now or I will have to leave.’

‘Right. This might work. Take me with you. People can see me leave. I’ll wear a hat with a veil and a long coat.’

‘You’d need to. You’re a mess,’ said Fitzroy.

‘Thank you, ‘I said. ‘You can take me in whatever vehicle you were leaving in anyway at some nearby inn. I’ll change back into my housekeeper clothes. Then I’ll make my way back here later when there has been time for news to reach me. Richenda has no living relatives. I can say I have come to act as companion for her.’

‘Hmm, that could work. I’d have to take you further afield than you think and you’d have to arrive as a housekeeper. That means either you change while we are on the move or in a bush.’

‘You could deliver the Princess to a railway station,’ I said hopefully. ‘I could change in the Ladies’ powder room.’

‘Alright,’ said Fitzroy. ‘We’ll sort out the final details on route. You will owe me for this. Don’t imagine for one moment I won’t reclaim this favour.’ He picked up his valise. ‘I’ll come back with you to your room so you can get your coat and hat.’

‘I can manage,’ I said.

‘I have to ensure no one sees you.’

‘What if they do?’ I asked.

‘Then I’ll have to kill them.’

‘This is no time to joke,’ I said angrily. ‘A man is dead by his own hand.’

‘What makes you think I am joking?’ said Fitzroy.

I followed him out of the room, well aware I was completely out of my depth. Not that I would let him know this, of course.

What we did, and how I changed from Princess to housekeeper, are not for the pages of this book. I will say Fitzroy was as ruthless efficient as ever and at no time spared my blushes, but he did help me. He even showed me how to darken my hair. Also, I am thankful to say, he did not kill anyone in the process.

Late the next afternoon I arrived at the servants’ entrance to the Court. I was neatly dressed, devoid of make-up and the very kind of servant no one would look at twice. Fitzroy had suggested I did my best to stay within the confines of the servants’ quarters when I was not attending Richenda and I intended to adhere to his advice. He made me give my word I would not reveal how and with what means we had left. I knew this would anger Rory, but I could see no other way than to accept his rules.

To my great surprise Merry opened the door. She threw her arms around me. ‘Thank goodness you’re back,’ she said half strangling me. ‘Rory is being impossible. He’s convinced you eloped with Lord Milford.’ Then she let go and stood with her hands on her hips. ‘I told him not to be so blithering stupid.’

‘Thank you.’

‘You didn’t, did you?’

‘No, of course not,’ I said incensed. ‘I have no intention of eloping with any one.’

‘Well, come on in then and prepare yourself for a frosty reception.’

I followed Merry into the servants’ quarters. Before I would have thought them clean and well-lit now, after my time above stairs, they seemed mean and small. The quarters must have been specially built for servants. The ceilings were low and the walls either painted in a dull green or tiled in white. The floors were bare and cold. The lack of colour struck me most.

Merry bustled along a passage way and took me into what I assumed was the butler’s pantry. ‘Stay ’ere,’ she said. ‘I’ll fetch Rory.’

‘Won’t Robbins mind me waiting here?’ I asked.

Merry stopped. ‘’Course, you don’t know. It was ’im that found Mr Tipton swinging in the music room. Had an ’eart attack.’

‘Tipton?’

‘No silly. He was already dead. Robbins.’

‘Oh my goodness,’ I said. ‘Did he die.’

‘No, but he’s right poorly. Rory has been acting a butler.’

‘Rory! But surely they had other staff here ready to step into Robbins’s shoes?’

‘Rory cut down Tipton. Got the doctor sent for. Got Robbins into bed. And generally handled the situation to the Earl’s liking.’

‘Gosh,’ I said, thinking that it might be difficult to marry if we were working in different houses.

‘Yeah, I know,’ said Merry. ‘Some people land on their feet. Won’t be a mo.’

I sat down in a chair that must once have graced the upper rooms, but one too many wine stains and a spring that stuck you in an entirely improper place must have relegated it to the servants’ quarters. All about me I could hear people moving about their duties. The kitchen must be down here too, but we hadn’t passed it on our way in. I began to understand that the servants’ quarters here were vast. If Rory took a position here it would be the height of his career.

I gave myself a shake. Here I was thinking only of my romantic life when there had been two deaths in this house and no good answers given. Hopefully, having been on the spot Rory would have some idea of what was occurring.

Almost as if my thoughts had summoned him, Rory appeared in the doorway. He was impressive in the new butler uniform of the Court. He stood in the doorway, unsmiling.

‘The uniform suits you,’ I said standing.

‘Why are you here, Euphemia?’ he asked and his voice was colder than I had ever known it.

‘Isn’t the question rather why did I go?’

‘I think we know the answer to that one,’ he said. ‘Fitzroy. I told you he had his eye on you, but I never thought …’

I took two steps across the floor and slapped him hard on the face. He flinched and put up his hand to touch his reddening cheek. ‘How dare you,’ I said. ‘How dare you, who should know me better than anyone, believe that I would do anything so morally outrageous.’

‘You disappeared without a word. What was I supposed to think?’

‘I woke up with no servants in sight, the place crawling with police and no one but Milford, Fitzroy, whatever he is calling himself now, on hand to answer my questions.’

‘So he suggested that a wee jaunt would be just the thing?’

‘No,’ I said icily. ‘It was my idea.’

‘Yours?’ said Rory, looking for all the world like the universe was dissolving around him.

‘I asked him to help me get the Princess away from here. With two deaths there was little chance that I wouldn’t be unmasked. I knew the real Princess and he were supposed to have had an affair, so I thought if he supposedly helped me get away and back to my own country that people would accept it. I never, ever, ever entertained the thought that you would think I had eloped!’

‘I see I might have been a wee bit hasty,’ said Rory, side stepping to put himself out of my range. ‘But you have to think how it looked.’

‘It looked how it was meant to look to those upstairs,’ I said angrily. ‘You knew it was really me. You should have trusted me.’

‘Aye well. These have been worrying times. I was ferit for yer. The safest thing I could think o’ was for yer to be with yon spy mannie.’

‘You’re going alarmingly Scotch again,’ I said. ‘Could it be you are rethinking your position. Might I suggest that an apology might be in order?’

‘Aye well. I do think yer could a left me a note. I was out o’ my mind with worry, yer ken?’

‘So do you still love me?’

‘Oh lassie, that was never in question. It’s what we do now that’s the problem.’

Rory’s face fell as he said this last piece. All the anger was gone, but in its place was a look of sorrow. I felt a cold hand clutch at my heart.

But our discussion was rudely broken in on by Merry. ‘Sorry! Sorry!’ She said, ‘But you have to come upstairs and here what Suzette’s got to say. It changes everything.’

Tipton’s Secret

Merry ran out again at once, so we had no real choice but to follow her. In the corridor Rory leaned in close to speak to me. ‘We can’t marry,’ he said softly. ‘Nothing you can say will change that.’

‘What? I told you nothing happened with Fitzroy!’ I said alarmed and breathless. Merry was setting a furious pace.

‘I saw you above stairs. The way you looked, the way you spoke, the way – everything. It’s clear you belong with them not me. You should accept Mr Bertram’s offer.’

‘But I don’t want to marry Bertram!’

‘He’ll give you a far better life than I ever could. My mind’s made up.’

‘I am not a coat or a hat that can be handed out willy-nilly,’ I said angrily. ‘I love you. I want to be with you.’

‘Sssh,’ said Rory, ‘let’s not be telling everyone our business.’

‘We have to discuss this Rory,’ I said. ‘I don’t want to be lady …’

‘That doesn’t matter. You are one.’

‘What are you two whispering about?’ said Merry over her shoulder. ‘Whatever it is, it will have to wait. Come on!’ And she began to clatter up the servants’ stair. Conversation was now impossible. I tried to slip my hand into Rory’s, but he pulled away.

Merry led the way to the small study where I had been interviewed by the police. She threw the door open dramatically to reveal Suzette, Richard and Bertram! The expression on her face told us she had not been expecting this welcoming committee.

‘Ah, I heard you were back,’ said Richard. ‘I’m not sure why you thought it was necessary, but it will save me a trip.’

Bertram gave his half-brother a quizzical glance, but came forward to greet me warmly. ‘I am very glad to see you safe and well,’ he said. ‘Suzette, my late mother’s maid, has courageously made a full statement to the police and it clears matters up completely.’

‘What? What on earth could she have said to do that?’

Suzette sneered slightly. ‘I told them as how I knew Mr Tipton from before. Cos he didn’t use his actual name. Had a nickname like most of the clients. Fitted him nice I thought it did. It was …’

Bertram put up his hand to stop her, ‘I don’t think we need to go into the details again, Suzette. Suffice it to say, Euphemia, that Suzette knew something very much to Tipton’s detriment. She told my mother, who tried to warn Richenda, who angrily rejected the news. Obviously, Tipton was afraid that with time Lady Stapleford would convince her, or perhaps Richard or myself, so he decided there was only one way to silence her. Later, when Suzette came forward with her evidence he must have realised that he would be caught and took his own life.’

‘You were blackmailing him when I saw you together in the garden,’ I said.

‘I was not,’ said Suzette angrily, ‘I was telling him to give himself up.’

‘But I saw him give you money,’ I said.

‘You little snip …’ started Suzette, then she glanced over at Richard. ‘He was giving me a letter to give to Richenda to explain everything, but it was so unpleasant I burnt it.’

Richard nodded approvingly. ‘My sister should never have heard of this matter.’

‘Bertram,’ I said as calmly as I could, for it was being a most trying day, ‘will you please explain what Tipton’s great secret was.’

‘He had syphilis,’ blurted out Merry and then clapped her hand over her mouth.

‘That would explain why he had been acting so oddly lately,’ said Rory. ‘In the final stages I hear men go mad.’

‘I’m afraid so,’ said Bertram. ‘Uncontrollable and violent rages. It explains many of his previous actions, ‘ he said added emphasis to the last words and I knew he was thinking of Mrs Wilson.

‘But this doesn’t make any sense,’ I said. ‘How did Lady Stapleford know?’

‘Cos I told her,’ said Suzette. ‘She ain’t very bright, is she?’

‘But how …?’ Then an image came to my mind, the very one I’d be searching for a long time, Suzette’s face the first time she saw Tipton. She’d been travelling with Lady Stapleford and had refused to eat her meals with the Stapleford Hall staff. The first time she had laid eyes on Tipton had been that time in my room, when I had seen her go white from shock. ‘You knew him from before, didn’t you?’

‘Might have done,’ said Suzette. ‘Certainly heard of him and his doings.’

‘Yes, you are one of my successes, aren’t you?’ said a voice from the doorway. It was Richenda, dressed in full black and looking like a thundercloud. ‘Those centres Daddy hated me setting up and working with. You remember, Euphemia?’

‘But that means Suzette used to be a whore!’ said Merry. As soon as she had said this she clapped both hands over the mouth.

‘I was a gentleman’s companion,’ said Suzette, ‘though never his. But I heard how he had it. There are signs.’

‘Enough,’ said Bertram. ‘We don’t need to sully the ladies’ ears with any more sordid details.’

Suzette shrugged. ‘Seems to me the ladies are better knowing what to look out for.’ I silently thought she had a point.

‘Enough,’ said Rory loudly. ‘I’ll no have the like of you in this house.’

‘Oh, I’m off alright,’ said Suzette. ‘Going to set meself up as a milliner. Might sell you an ’at one day ladies. I’ll give you a discount!’ And with that she left the room, her nose high in the air.

‘Thank goodness that’s over,’ said Bertram. ‘Merry, I’m surprised at you.’

‘Sorry, sir. It was the shock, sir.’

‘Yes, well, now we can put all this nastiness behind us.’

‘Did you tell Tipton what Suzette had told Lady Stapleford?’ I asked Richenda.

‘I did not,’ said Richenda firmly. ‘I didn’t believe a word of it and I wasn’t going to let anyone spoil my day.’

‘So Tipton had no reason to kill Lady Stapleford?’

‘You said yourself Suzette was blackmailing him,’ said Bertram.

‘It doesn’t feel right,’ I said. ‘I saw that after Lady Stapleford was killed. If she thought he was a killer would she have risked blackmail? And how did he know in the first place?’

‘The girl must have gone to him first,’ said Bertram.

‘Then why didn’t he just kill her?’ said Rory. ‘Far easier to get the police to overlook the death of a maid of dubious background than a lady. Instead of which he gave her money afterwards. That’s not the action of a killer.’

‘He wasn’t in his right mind,’ said Bertram. ‘We have to make allowance for that.’

‘He did not kill Stepmama,’ said Richenda stoutly.

‘Listen, of all you,’ boomed Richard suddenly, ‘I have had enough of this gossip and unpleasantness. The police have closed the case and I have paid Suzette a tidy sum so she doesn’t spread rumours about the kind of man my sister was prepared to marry.’

‘You take that back, Richard,’ said his sister.