A Death by Arson Page 5

  The meal wore on; course after course. I lost count after seven. I could see that even Bertram, who was seated some way down the table on the opposite side, was beginning to struggle with the amount of food he was expected to consume. Adopting the woman’s prerogative, I ate only mouthfuls of each course. I abhorred the waste of food, but it was either that or I would have to ask Enid to cut me out of my dress that night.

  Finally, we were getting to the stage when the ladies could expect to retire while the gentlemen drank their port. It was also my chance to slip away to my room for an early night. Bertram would doubtless drink port into the early hours if his host allowed, and apart from Richenda there was really no one I would want to converse with. Of course, I was a companion and would have to take my lead from my employer, but hopefully the journey, coupled with her interesting condition, would make her head for bed.

  I cast about trying to work out who the highest ranking lady present was, but having removed myself from society – or rather my mother having rather spectacularly removed herself from the upper echelons by her youthful folly of marrying my father – I could only identify a few of the women present. I did remark that Lucinda positively glowed with happiness. On more than one occasion, I saw her cast admiring glances at her groom-to-be. As far as I could tell these were sincere. Never before had the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder seemed more apt to me.

  However, it was not a lady who rose but Sir Richard himself. He tapped his knife lightly on the side of his crystal glass and called for silence. ‘It seems,’ he began, ‘that the cat is out of the bag and that many of you have discovered, one way or another,’ – he paused to give his audience what I assume was meant to be a comic look. I shuddered – ‘that this New Year’s celebration is more than a little gathering to mark my engagement, but you will also all be guests at my wedding on New Year’s Day when I have the good fortune to marry Miss Lucinda Hessleton.’

  Whatever he was going to say next was lost in a round of applause and cheers; some men present, who had obviously enjoyed the wine too well, went as far as to bang their forks on the table. Eventually Sir Richard managed to hush the crowd and continue. ‘Now, this might appear to be unseemly haste, but ladies and gentlemen, while my darling bride-to-be is in the first blush of youth, I am not so fortunate.’ He reached out to take Lucinda’s hand. ‘Once I had found her, I did not wish to waste a precious moment before I took her as my wife. I want our association to be as long as possible.’

  ‘And as fertile!’ heckled a man’s voice from further down the table.

  Lucinda turned a fiery red. I saw Richard hesitate, but then he seemed to decide to take it as a joke. He kissed Lucinda’s hand. ‘I have no doubt I will have many happy years of fatherhood to look forward to, but first my bride must have her day. When I told her of my Scottish castle, then nowhere else would do for her wedding, and as you were all already coming up for New Year – well, the rest as they say is history.’

  There was more applause and some positive braying, from those who I could only assume were Richard’s fellow financiers rather than the more elite members of society.8

  ‘Gentlemen, gentlemen,’ cried Richard over the racket. ‘As my wife-to-be wishes for a Highland wedding, upon your return to your rooms you will all find I have supplied a Highland rig out. The ladies, of course, will no doubt look charming in whatever they intended to wear for New Year. Until then, please feel free to enjoy the facilities of my estate. My servants will be arranging whist and bridge leagues for the ladies. My gillies will be happy to escort any who take a fancy to see our lovely glen. There will be, my cook promises, glorious meals. My mother-in-law is keen to put on a play, should any be inclined to indulge her. There is a well-stocked library, a billiards room, a flower room and much more. Simply ask for whatever you seek and my servants will be happy to supply it. Over the coming three days Lucinda and I will endeavour to spend time with all of you individually, welcoming you to our home. Our hope is that in the run-up to our wedding you will have a relaxing and luxurious three days, before, in the New Year, we all return to the business of our everyday lives.’ He paused. ‘Well, not I,’ he said, ‘for Lucinda and I are off on a romantic tour.’ Then he put his finger to his lips and said, in what I assume he thought was a coy fashion, but one I found merely lecherous, ‘not that the young lady is allowed to know the surprises I have in store for her!’

  There were positive shouts of enthusiasm at the end of this remark. Fortunately, as I was by now feeling distinctly queasy, one of the older matrons, all dark colours and diamond jewels, rose, and all the ladies followed suit. She hesitated and I realised she had no more idea than the rest of us where the Withdrawing Room was. A footman opened the door to usher us forward and the redoubtable lady marched out with her head held high. There was a general scraping of chairs as the gentlemen stood and the ladies made their way out of the room. It was distinctly disorganised, and clearly showed that the people present were not all of the same set.

  I was peering around trying to pick out Richenda in the general exodus, when a footman came up to me. He was well over six foot and had to bend low to address me. ‘Miss St John?’ I nodded. ‘Sir Richard has asked that you join him and the rest of the family in the Stuart Room in fifteen minutes. I am instructed to escort you.’

  There appeared to be no way to decline this invitation. There was nothing inappropriate in the man’s behaviour, but he was tall and broad enough to exert a commanding presence. ‘Are you sure they want me at a family meeting?’ I asked in a half-hearted attempt to get away.

  ‘Indeed, ma’am. I was asked most specifically to reassure you that your presence is greatly desired.’

  I sighed inwardly and gestured to him to lead on. Over the next few minutes, I was conducted along a confusing mishmash of corridors and vaulted passageways. I tried hard to keep track of the route we were taking, but after the fifth turn I was too dizzy trying to work out in which area of the castle we now were. The footman must have noticed my confusion. ‘Please don’t be concerned, ma’am. Being a mixture of the old and the new, the castle is a confusing place for guests. Sir Richard has ensured that there are to be servants on watch day and night to help conduct the ladies and gentlemen until they get their bearings.’

  ‘I don’t know that I ever will,’ I said candidly. ‘I have no idea how you remember the way…’

  ‘Rupert, ma’am,’ responded the footman, ‘I have the advantage of having worked previously at the old castle, so I have only had to memorise the new buildings, and they, if I might say so, are quite straightforward in comparison to the older remnants.’

  ‘What happened to the old castle?’

  ‘An unfortunate fire, ma’am, but please, have no fear. Sir Richard has put in place the most modern of safety features.’

  ‘That must have been quite a fire to destroy so much,’ I said. ‘How terrifying. I do hope no one was injured.’

  ‘We are here, ma’am,’ said Rupert, his hand placed on the door handle. He gave a little cough. ‘I fear I have spoken too freely. Sir Richard does not like to be reminded of how he acquired the castle. Miss Lucinda is afraid of ghosts and he does not wish her to hear any stories. And, well, it is still a source of distress to the local people. We are all most grateful to Sir Richard for acquiring and modernising the castle. It has always been the main provider for the livelihoods of the local people.’

  I saw real fear in his eyes, and realised that the staff were perhaps beginning to get the measure of how ruthless Richard could be. ‘I won’t say a word,’ I said.

  Then he opened the door and I stepped into a smaller, comfortably furnished salon with a fire blazing and a tea set out on a table by a window. Otherwise, the room was empty. I moved towards the window in an attempt to peer behind the drawn curtains and get my bearings. As I did so, I heard the door click shut behind me as Rupert departed. The vista before me held nothing but blackness and the reflected images of the room. I let the curtai
n drop again and, feeling suddenly cold, I went to stand by the fire. Inside my head, a small voice whispered that it had not been wise to agree to go off alone in Richard Stapleford’s castle. We had been adversaries for a long time and I had no doubt he would take any revenge that chance offered him. I eyed the silver sugar tongs, wondering if they could be used as a weapon. Doubtless Fitzroy, the spy I had the strange habit of encountering, could have used them to deadly effect, but I doubted I could give anyone more than a bad pinch. Still, anything was better than nothing.

  My fingers had barely closed around the tongs when the door burst open and my worst fears were realised. Sir Richard Stapleford strode into the room. ‘Euphemia! At last!’ he said, and gave me a smile that chilled me to the marrow.

  * * *

  8Though after enough wine it seems to me that most men forget what class they spring from.

  Chapter Nine

  The Staplefords squabble

  My fear was short-lived as Lucinda tripped into the room behind him. She ran over and embraced me, kissing me on both cheeks. ‘I know how important you are to Richard’s family,’ she said. ‘And that you are to be treated as family, yourself.’

  I looked across her, for she was some inches smaller than me at the head of the family. He merely beamed at me. I immediately regretted eating so much for dinner, as my stomach lurched in disgust. ‘How kind,’ I murmured to Lucinda.

  ‘I am afraid my bridesmaids are already chosen,’ said Lucinda, ‘but I have been trying to think of a special role for you in the ceremony.’

  ‘There really is no need,’ I protested. From the look on Richard’s face, he was enjoying my discomfort. Lucinda drew me over to a pair of chairs by the fire, chatting earnestly about her wedding plans and how I might be included. I only lent her half an ear. Firstly, because I was determined not to get involved in the ceremony, and secondly, because with an eagerness befitting a bride about to be married, she was bursting with far too many details and schemes.

  ‘Mummy and Daddy send their apologies, but they are early retirees. They hope to meet you at breakfast.’

  I smiled at her and let her ramble on. I did not have the heart to openly quash her plans. She seemed an eager little thing, keen to please and very friendly. There was no sign of malicious intent in her plans or her manner, something one would have expected to find in Richard’s true soulmate. All in all, she seemed a pretty, friendly, ordinary girl. As she was only interested in talking about the wedding it was difficult for me to assess her intellect, but as she had chosen Richard as a life mate I could only assume she was either mentally challenged or extremely naïve. I had certainly been ready to dislike Richard’s intended, but it was like trying to dislike a playful and appealing puppy.

  Fortunately, it was not long before Bertram, Hans and Richenda joined us. Richenda burst into the room, saying, ‘I hope this will not take long, Richard. This is the first night Amy has spent away from home and I want to see her settled.’

  ‘Haven’t you got my sister a nursery maid, Muller?’ demanded Richard. ‘I don’t know how your parents did things, but my sister and I were raised by servants in the correct manner. Bertram’s mother tried to interfere a mite too much when he was in the nursery, but our father soon put a stop to that. You can’t mollycoddle children if you want them to have any moral fibre.’

  ‘Good God!’ exploded Bertram. ‘I don’t know which part of that speech I object to most. You speaking about moral fibre? Ridiculous!’

  ‘My wife has all the servants she requires,’ said Hans in an obviously controlled voice. I knew him well enough now to know when he was using his preternatural aura of calm.

  ‘Honestly, Richard, you are being abominably rude,’ exclaimed Richenda. ‘I thought this gathering was all about mending bridges and trying to be a family. All you are doing is reminding me why I left Stapleford Hall in the first place. I pity your poor bride. She seemed harmless enough. I assume she doesn’t know you very well, and that she is a trade heiress. Slightly better than going for an American, but it’s really a pretty poor show, brother. It’s not as if you weren’t already rolling in the stuff.’

  ‘Richenda!’ said Hans shortly. He gave her a look that caused Richenda to blush fiery red.

  At this point Lucinda stood up and came forward. As I saw the expression on Richenda’s face, I realised that Richard had been blocking her view of the slight girl. ‘Thank you so much for coming to our wedding,’ said Lucinda in a gentle voice. ‘I too am hoping that we can all become a happy family.’ She turned to her fiancée, ‘Richard, I do think you could have postponed any family reunion until tomorrow. The others must be tired after their long journey. And I quite understand about Amy,’ she added, turning back to Richenda. ‘I have a little cousin who sometimes comes to stay with Mummy and Daddy, and though she has been coming for the past three years, she is always a little unsettled on the first night. Poor Amy! First night away from home in an enormous place like this! But I am sure you have chosen an excellent nanny. Richard has spoken of how devoted you are to your daughter.’

  ‘Adopted daughter,’ corrected Richard.

  ‘Richenda’s concern makes it very clear, darling, that she considers Amy as her own blood,’ said Lucinda. ‘And why not? I think it was a totally splendid thing of you and your husband to take her in.’

  Richenda went an even deeper shade of crimson and muttered something about Lucinda being very kind. Hans watched Richard’s bride-to-be with a puzzled expression on his face. Bertram was wide-eyed and slack-jawed. I felt unaccountably annoyed with him.

  Richard placed a protective hand on Lucinda’s shoulder. ‘It matters, my dear, because the first of us to have a legitimate child inherits the family seat at Stapleford Hall.’ He smiled down at her. ‘Something I am very much hoping you will help me do.’

  It was Lucinda’s turn to blush now, her radiant skin flushing a slightly rose-tinted hue. If anything, she looked lovely, and could not have made a worse – or better – contrast to poor Richenda’s ruddy complexion. I wondered if Bertram was about to start drooling again, but he managed to shut his jaw and mutter, ‘Some things one doesn’t talk about in front of ladies.’

  Richard went over to the drinks table and poured scotch for the men. Lucinda invited Richenda and I to join her in sitting by the fire, where she stared rather helplessly at the tea tray until Richenda took charge. Lucinda chattered on, but I barely heard her. Richenda’s face revealed a torrent of emotions stirring inside her. I tried to catch her eye. My stomach was churning. I feared all too well what she was about to do.

  Richenda smoothed down her skirts, took a deep breath, and said, ‘Actually, Richard, I think you’ll find Stapleford Hall will become mine.’ She smiled widely and patted her stomach. ‘You see, I am already with child.’

  Chapter Ten

  A severe attack of chivalry

  There is an expression ‘then all hell broke loose’, and this would not be an incorrect way of describing what followed Richenda’s announcement.

  Hans threw himself to the floor at her feet, begging her to tell him if this was really true. Bertram choked on his scotch. Richard bellowed, ‘Damn you, sister, this had better not be true or I’ll have your hide!’ Lucinda fainted neatly onto the sofa, unnoticed by everyone but me.

  Hans sprang to his feet and stood, fists clenched at his sides, in front of Richard. ‘How dare you address my wife in such a manner!’ he cried in an emotion-filled voice that was very unlike him.

  ‘Congratulations, sis!’ said Bertram, attempting to calm the situation. ‘Jolly well done, old chap,’ he said to Hans, tugging at his sleeve and attempting to defuse his confrontation with Richard.

  But it was Richard who broke away first, brushing rudely past Hans. ‘You know I will have my way, Richenda!’ he flung over his shoulder as he stormed out of the door. He slammed it behind him and, despite us being in a stone room, I swear I almost felt the walls shudder.

  ‘Richenda, you should have told
me,’ said Hans. ‘I would never have brought you up here if I had known.’

  ‘Don’t see you would have had much choice,’ said Bertram. ‘What with all the work on the house.’

  ‘What work?’ asked Richenda.

  Hans threw Bertram a cross look. ‘It was meant as a surprise. I am having the house converted to electricity. I am assured it is a much safer system than gas, and with a child in the house –’ he swallowed and corrected himself, ‘with children in the house it was the best course of action.’ Then he took both her hands in his and kissed them passionately. Bertram coughed uncomfortably, tried to kick a log on the fire and almost fell in.

  ‘I hate to mention it,’ I said, ‘but I think Lucinda did not faint out of etiquette. She is out cold.’ I slapped her hands. ‘She’s not coming to.’

  ‘Oh Lord,’ said Bertram, and rang the bell.

  ‘Probably the first time she’s seen Richard’s true colours. Bound to be a shock for the gal,’ said Richenda, but her gaze did not leave Hans’ face. ‘You are pleased, aren’t you?’ she asked him. ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before, but after speaking with the doctor today I wanted to wait a little longer until…’

  ‘I understand,’ said Hans thickly, and kissed her hands once more.

  Bertram grimaced. ‘If you don’t mind, old chap, I’ve had rather a lot to eat tonight and that’s a bit much to stomach.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Hans. He raised Richenda to her feet. ‘We will leave you. My wife and I have much to discuss.’ His eyes rested fondly on her. ‘My dearest wife, my darling Richenda…’

  ‘Oh Lord!’ said Bertram. Hans and Richenda left the room, practically floating on a cloud. Bertram edged towards the door.

  ‘Oh no you don’t,’ I said. ‘We have to do something about Lucinda.’