Murder in Style (8 page)

‘She's Polish. They wear their wedding rings on the other hand.'

‘Do they? Oh, well, that explains it.'

‘You don't really think he could be a suspect?'

‘No. Not really. Now: Trixie. Trixie seems to think more about going into films than about losing her mother. Although, to be honest, I think she might well have what it takes to go before the cameras, not as a clothes model, but … Oh, what do I know about such things?'

‘And Clemmie?'

‘She's treated as a servant. She's not Gordon's daughter, is she? So whose daughter is she and how …? Oh, this whole thing is making my head ache.'

‘Why should it make your head ache?' Lesley really wanted to know.

Ellie stared at her friend, not knowing how to answer.

Lesley paced up and down. Impatient.

Ellie tried to think clearly. ‘Juno is afraid. Clemmie is, too. The senior Cordovers certainly are. I can smell it, almost taste it.'

‘Smell? Taste? How about evidence?'

‘Celine, the manageress of the shop. She's afraid, too, but she says there's nothing to be done. Why? It seems to me that the situation is fluid but that it could be sorted out with a redistribution of money. If Juno pays off Ray and Trixie, which she could well do …'

‘Would that be what Poppy wanted?'

Ellie took a deep breath. ‘No. You're right. It wouldn't. That's why Poppy didn't update her will, isn't it? She was going to divorce Ray. About time too, if you ask me, though normally I really don't think divorce is the right way to go. But, in this case, because Poppy was protecting herself from an addict …? Oh, I really don't know. As for sending Trixie to drama school, well, that might not be what that brat wants, but I suspect Poppy could have managed it if she didn't have Ray acting as an open drain on her purse.'

Ellie tried to think. ‘In a way, Poppy keeping her will that way actually protected her from her greedy family. At least,' she qualified, ‘it would have done if they'd known about it. Then again, we're supposed to believe they didn't know, that they had no idea that she hadn't made a recent will, but … suppose they did know?'

She drew her hand across her eyes. ‘Cancel that. Neither of them knew. Take it from me, it came as an unpleasant surprise to both of them.'

‘But if they didn't know, then both had a motive.'

‘Mm. Clemmie and the senior Cordovers both think, and even go so far as to say, that Ray did it. But they then add that he's got an alibi, so he couldn't have.'

‘It's true. He does have an alibi. What a mess!' Lesley flung herself into a chair. ‘I'd like to bang their heads together and leave them to it, but I can't because my instinct tells me that whatever poison brought Poppy to her death is still there, and still working away in the background. Everything about the way they behave rings alarm bells. I'm convinced that if nothing is done, there'll be another death. You say Juno is frightened? She didn't strike me as fearful when I interviewed her. Shocked, yes. Frightened for her life? No. Does she think she's next for the chop?'

Ellie argued, ‘Why should she be? Who would benefit? If Juno died and her existing will was sent for probate, what would happen? Her father would get the lot. No, that's not the answer.'

‘Then what is?'

Ellie wondered, ‘It's over a week since her sister died and Juno, of all people, was in her sister's confidence. She knew what Poppy's will contained because they'd made identical ones. I'm beginning to wonder … What's the betting that she's already done something about hers? Those two women worked hard, expanded their business. Neither of them was a fool. Juno must have thought about changing her will and, if she hasn't done so, then there'll have been a very good reason why not. Is she protecting herself from her husband? He's not my idea of a caring, thoughtful spouse, but who knows what happens in a house when the front door is shut on the world? Maybe they're still devoted lovebirds. And yet … No, he twitted her on not having changed her will so … I have absolutely no idea what's going on there.'

Lesley tapped her teeth. ‘I can't see where the threat is coming from. If Ray were to kill Juno, it wouldn't ease his finances, would it? And Clemmie's not the type … though, in my experience, anyone can be driven to kill.'

Ellie inspected her fingernails. They were pretty clean at the moment, considering the amount of time she spent in the garden, but they could do with some attention. ‘Lesley, to change the subject, at least partly … what I'm about to say could be taken as blackmail—'

‘What?' Lesley burst into laughter. ‘You!'

‘Yes. Hear me out. I know a way to find out more about the family—'

‘Then take it. You don't need my permission.'

‘Well, I do, really. You see, I'm very fond of Susan.'

‘So am I.' Impatient. ‘So what?'

‘You very kindly asked her to be a bridesmaid with your future sister-in-law, who has, I understand, a beautifully slim figure.'

‘Angelica, yes. She's something of a brat but it's family, you know how it is.'

‘Indeed I do. Angelica told Susan she was asked to choose the bridesmaids' dresses and she has done so. Now I'm sure she was only thinking of how well she'd look in the dress she's chosen, but the style doesn't exactly flatter Susan …'

Lesley frowned, but didn't interrupt.

‘So I said to Susan that perhaps we could find something in the same colour but a more suitable style for her at The Magpie boutique tomorrow morning, when they reopen. Susan refused, because she doesn't want to upset you.'

Lesley's face was a study.

Ellie stiffened her back. ‘Neither of us wants to cause you any aggro.'

Lesley laughed. ‘Liar! You are going to take her, anyway, aren't you?'

‘No, no! Not unless you feel you can tell her to choose her own dress, which might cause some problem for you with Angelica, who is, after all, going to be family from now on.'

Lesley looked annoyed. ‘Angelica is accustomed to having her own way. She's been spoilt from the word go. She is a brat and I suspect she may well have thought it amusing to choose a style which would make Susan look a fright in comparison with her. She's a size eight, isn't she? And Susan is probably a twenty-four.' A shrug. ‘So, all right. Let Susan choose something for herself.'

Ellie shook her head. ‘It's not that easily fixed, Lesley, and you know it. Yes, it's tempting to say that Susan should go ahead and find something to suit her, but if Angelica has always been indulged and her brother is fond of her, then perhaps it's not a good idea. For a start, it's the bride's family who usually pay for the bridesmaids' dresses, isn't it? So did your fiancé ask your permission to let Angelica make her own choice?'

Silence. Lesley grimaced. ‘He's very fond of her.'

‘That's not really an excuse, is it? Angelica chose a dress which you will have to pay for, right? She didn't ask you what you wanted her to wear, did she?'

‘Well, in general terms no, I suppose she didn't. I was supposed to go with her to see a dress she'd found, but then I got swept up in this last case so—'

‘So she got the dress by herself, and told Susan to go to the same shop and get the same dress in a larger size, right? An expensive shop?'

Lesley fiddled with a button on her jacket, not meeting Ellie's eye.

Ellie said, ‘Which means you're presented with a
fait accompli
. Your fiancé is probably relieved that he doesn't even have to think about it. He certainly wouldn't worry about the dress being suitable for Susan, and neither would his family. Your parents are no longer with us, and your sister has her own problems. She won't stand up for Susan. And it might be best for you not to raise any objections, either. Because, if you question Angelica's taste, I fear that her family will come down on you like a ton of bricks. And the last thing you need, just now, is to start a row in the family. Right?'

Lesley frowned and shrugged. Then shrugged again.

‘I'm serious, Lesley,' said Ellie. ‘A feud of this sort can carry on for years, with one side carrying a grudge against the other. If you do want to intervene for Susan's sake, well and good. But I don't see how could you do it, without seeming to criticize Angelica and, by extension, your fiancé. I suppose you could just have a quiet word with him to warn him you won't put up with Angelica's wanting her own way all the time once you're married. You could say that you think Angelica has slightly overstepped the mark, but Susan is being very brave and will put up with whatever Angelica has decided. Tell him that you'll pay the bill without quibbling, but say you hope the girl will be more tactful in future? But, if you'd rather not interfere – and Angelica will take it as interference, believe me – then Susan will cope and all will be peace and quiet.'

Lesley pulled at her button. It came off in her hands. ‘So I am to start my marriage by giving in to my husband, even though I believe he's in the wrong?'

‘It's a small thing. A little diplomacy now would calm the troubled waters.'

Lesley considered the loose button. ‘I'm fond of Susan. She's a great girl who's had a lot to put up with. My sister is much older than me and we haven't much in common. She never really wanted a child, especially after her husband walked out on the two of them. And now she's got the menopause and her hip replacement has gone wrong and goodness knows what else and everyone's walking on eggshells around her. Poor Susan. I daresay she would put up with wearing something which makes her look a fright, but now that I know about it I'll always be aware that Angelica's made her look a figure of fun. And don't tell me Angelica will spare her feelings on the day, because she won't. Angelica is not kind. She will make remarks about pink elephants and the like. Such things can hurt most terribly. I'll have a word with Sir about this and I'll tell Susan, myself, that she should get herself something she'd like to wear.'

‘Go carefully, Lesley. I'm older than you, and have seen what family upsets can do. Sisters not speaking for twenty years, that sort of thing. If you have a word with your fiancé and he sees the point, then that's fine: Susan gets her own dress. But it might be a good idea to ask his permission before you tell Susan to go ahead.'

‘Ask his permission, indeed!' Lesley put the button on her pocket. ‘I can do without this! Who's paying for the wedding, anyway? I am. On his salary we'd have prosecco instead of champagne, and a tatty buffet in a pub rather than a sit-down meal.'

‘Yes, I know. But tempers can get frayed so easily just before a wedding. I'm beginning to wish I hadn't mentioned it. Susan is very mature for her age, and for your sake she'll play along. It's only for one day, after all.'

‘She might not find anything suitable at The Magpie boutique.'

‘True.'

‘You'll take her there tomorrow morning? Juno won't be there, will she? Did you say she was ill?'

‘Celine knows where the bodies are hidden, and I think she might open up to me, with a bit of luck.' And, Ellie would be out of the house again if Diana called round. Idly, Ellie wondered how much money her daughter wanted this time.

Lesley got to her feet. ‘I must go. The florist we'd chosen has broken her wrist and dropped out, so we've got to find someone else at short notice. You do realize that the person with the best motive for killing Poppy is her sister?'

‘Yes. But I don't believe it.'

‘It might have been an accident.'

‘Juno would have come straight out and said so, if it had been an accident. But I'll bear what you say in mind.'

E
llie wasn't at all sure she was doing the right thing by taking Susan to The Magpie boutique but, having got Lesley's permission to do so and, let's face it, because she was curious about the Cardover family, she went through with it.

Susan was ambivalent. ‘What if they don't have my size in anything?'

‘We'll know straight away whether or not they've got something suitable. If not, there's no great harm done and we'll treat ourselves to a coffee instead.'

The shops in the Avenue appeared to be thriving. There were two charity shops and three estate agents, but there was a butcher, and a baker and a … no, not a candlestick maker, but a bookshop and a library and dance studios and a fair number of good coffee shops.

The Magpie boutique was situated towards the middle. It looked prosperous, with gleaming paintwork and glass. It must be open, for the blind was up and a woman was going in as Ellie and Susan arrived. In the window were three outfits in white, grey and black, with vivid scarves thrown over their shoulders. Attractive. Some scarlet and green T-shirts were cleverly displayed on the rungs of a stepladder. Tasty.

Susan reared back, like a frightened horse. ‘It's meant for teenagers.'

Ellie pointed to a tailored suit on a model just inside the door. ‘For the Mother of the Bride?'

‘I couldn't wear that.'

Ellie pushed the door open and coaxed Susan inside.

Racks of clothes lined the walls, all colours of the rainbow and of different lengths. A wedding dress, complete with train, hung from a high rail, and next to it there was a flower girl's outfit. To one side there was a stand of elaborately decorated hats, and above that shelves of matching handbags and shoes. Next to the hats there stood a cabinet full of costume jewellery and even, gasp! A tiara!

Several small chairs had been dotted here and there for respite purposes, and for partners waiting for their loved ones to decide on purchases. A large notice at the back advertised ‘Fitting Room', and ‘Evening & Bridal Wear'. A heavy curtain concealed an entrance to what must be an extension to the shop. They were cramming rather a lot into a smallish space, weren't they?