15 - Lady de Mandeville in Stickleback Hollow by Woolley C S

Author:Woolley, C S [Woolley, C S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781991170859
Google: gmcM0AEACAAJ
Publisher: Mightier Than the Sword UK Publications
Published: 2023-11-15T11:46:59+00:00

Chapter 11

The journey to Chester was a quiet one for Lady Sarah. It was clear to her that Mr Brown wanted to fill the carriage with conversation, but dark looks from Sylvia kept the American quiet.

Pattinson slept at her feet for the most part, but as the carriage rolled into the city, it was clear that he had been conserving his energy for the moment they arrived.

He barked excitedly and leapt out of the carriage the moment it stopped outside the house that Arwyn had told Lady Sarah belonged to the bank manager.

It was in one of the richer areas of the city, but not quite what one might expect from a man in such a responsible position. From what Lady Sarah had gleaned with her conversation with Arwyn before he had left for the police house, was that the bank manager was young, unmarried, but highly ambitious. Not the portly old gentlemen that one was used to associating with banking.

The house was still and quiet, a contrast to the busy street. People turned their heads at seeing such a large and exotic dog as Pattinson leaping about near the door and scratching at it.

Lady Sarah half-expected a butler or housekeeper to come and answer the summons of the dog, but there was no one, and after a particularly energetic leap at the door, it opened under the weight of the dog.

Pattinson bolted into the darkness of the house, and whilst Mr Brown found it to be highly amusing, Lady Sarah and Sylvia rushed after him with grim faces.

Inside the house, there was a smell of iron hanging in the air that made Mr Brown gag slightly as he came through the door.

Pattinson was on the second landing of a rather over-carpeted staircase, whining for his mistress to join him.

“I will go,” Sylvia said, half-knowing what awaited them at the top of the stairs.

“No, you stay here with Mr Brown. If he is to vomit, make sure he does it in the gutter,” Lady Sarah said under her breath, and then slowly began her ascent.

Pattinson was sitting at the top of the stairs by a closed door, scratching at it with one paw as he whined.

“Good boy,” Lady Sarah said as she patted the Akita and reached over his great head for the door handle.

The door opened with ease and revealed the body of the bank manager lying on the floor by his bed.

He was still dressed from a day at work, but what once had been a crisp white shirt was now stained with the dark taint of dried blood.

Lady Sarah sighed and stepped back out of the room, closing the door with her gloved hand. She took left Pattinson to guard the door.

She slowly descended, her face pale but showing no emotion, her spine ridged and her demeanour calm.

“Sylvia, if you would be so good as to take the carriage to the police headquarters and collect the Chief Constable, I would be grateful. Then have him send a policeman to Sir Charles to ask the duchess to attend as well.

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