A Death for King and Country - A Euphemia Martins Murder Mystery (Euphemia Martins Mysteries Book 7) by Dunford Caroline

Author:Dunford, Caroline [Dunford, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781783755400
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2015-01-25T16:00:00+00:00

Yours as ever,

F

I could only hope Bertram did not have a hang-over this morning. I foresaw I would need all the help I could get with this request.

My first sight of Bertram at the breakfast table was not encouraging. His cravat was floppy. His hair hung in lank strands, and the eyes raised towards mine were distinctly bloodshot. He was attempting to decapitate a boiled egg with little success.

‘Tell me,’ he said in a roughened voice, ‘tell me that we are finished and are now going home.’

I sat down and took the knife from him, sliced off the top of his egg, and passed it to him. Bertram regarded it solemnly.

‘Neater than Nanny,’ he muttered. He sighed. ‘I guess we are not yet finished.’

‘Because I helped you with your egg?’

‘No lady is ever that nice to me unless she wants something. In the normal order of things you would be berating me for being drunk.’

I felt myself redden. ‘I am hardly in a position to criticise after my escapade with the vicar.’

Bertram’s pale face broke into a grin. ‘That was rather funny. You are very giggly when you are drunk.’

My face absolutely flamed at this.

‘Tell you what,’ said Bertram, ‘Let’s keep these few days between us. I blame the ghoulish influence of Fitzroy. I won’t mention any of this to Richenda if you won’t.’

‘I have no intention of doing so. If you recall I was not even meant to tell you what was going on.’

‘And what is going on?’ A rasher of bacon finally parted under some incessant sawing. Honestly, it was looking as if Bertram needed his whole breakfast cut up.

‘Your co-ordination does suffer the next day, doesn’t it?’ I said putting off the moment as long as I could.

‘Nope,’ said Bertram. ‘My eyesight. Everything’s decidedly misty. Come on, fess up. What has does he want done now?’

‘He wants us to check he is actually dead.’

‘That shouldn’t be too hard,’ said Bertram brightening.

‘Especially as I was the one who confirmed he was dead.’ And I proceeded to tell Bertram what had occurred on the Carpathia.

‘They made you check the dead?’ asked Bertram, shocked.

‘But although the Carpathia seemed full to bursting a great many lives were lost before we appeared at the scene. The Titanic was far beneath the waves by the time we arrived.’

‘Did anyone know what had happened to him?’

‘I was forbidden from asking about him by name. Besides, we don’t even know what name he was travelling under.’

‘Sounds like the chances are that he is dead.’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I do not feel that I could have done more at the time with the conditions imposed on me.’

‘You do not sound convinced,’ said Bertram.

‘Maybe, after seeing so many dead bodies, it is hard to accept someone is dead when you do not see their corpse.’

At this point the waiter who had approached silently dropped the toast rack and slices of bread spilled out across the table.

‘Careful,’ said Bertram.

‘I am so sorry, sir,’ said the waiter.

I smiled at him. I knew Bertram had been referring to me.

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