Cragside by Porter M J

Author:Porter, M J [Porter, M J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M J Publishing
Published: 2022-04-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Where did that come from?” Edmund’s shocked eyes round on me.

“It wasn’t the drawing room,” I’m already preparing to run to some new disaster.

“Was it Margot’s bedchamber?” I demand.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “The bedrooms are on that side of the house.” He moves to the drawing room. I hasten to follow him, noting as I go, that no one’s missing from the drawing room. All the people I’ve been talking to are in various stages of getting to their feet, eyes wide with terror. Rebecca is whimpering even more. Edmund and I shoot past them all, along the painting laden gallery, to be faced with a long hall, with bedrooms off to the left hand side. I’d rush to open all of the doors only a shocked housemaid stands far along the hallway, trembling from head to toe, eyes wide and pointing.

I hear the crash of Aldcroft boots as he takes the wooden stairs two at a time, and rushes to find the source of the noise, but my eyes are fixed on what’s so upset the young housemaid.

And what a horror it is.

Lady Margot Bradbury lies on the floor of the elevator, mouth agape, eyes forever staring. It’s clear what’s happened. The housemaid has opened the elevator to load a basket filled with sheets and towels to take to the laundry, but as she’s pulled back the door, she’s discovered the lift was already full.

“Let me through,” Aldcroft instructs, and he pulls up, mouth agape, to stare down at Margot. She’d been dressed for the day, but now her skirt is up over her knees, revealing her stockinged thighs, and one of her pink Mary-Jane shoes has come free as well.

There’s a pool of blood beside her. I swallow back my nausea.

I’d hoped to never see something like this again, but just as with my husband, Margot has been shot, just above her two eyes.

Edmund shudders beside me, a strange half gulp/shriek coming from his mouth and then he begins to scream. There’s no other word for it. He falls to his knees, reaching out to touch the still form of his wife, and I choke on my own sorrow.

Despite the events of the last few days, Margot has been my friend in another life. I hate to see the ruin of her life.

“Don’t touch,” Aldcroft words are surprisingly soft. “We need to examine her.” One of the police constables is there as well, hovering at the back of the group.

“Telephone for the police surgeon,” Aldcroft calls to him quickly. “And everyone else, please gather in the drawing room until I come and speak to you.”

My gaze seeks out Lilian. Surely, she’s been with Aldcroft when Margot was killed, but then, there’s no guarantee of when Margot has been shot. We weren’t summoned here by the gunshot but rather by the maid’s discovery of the body. I note Aldcroft arrives without Lilian. But how, I think, has someone managed to shoot Margot without anyone else hearing? If

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