Death by Diamond: A 1920s Cozy Mystery (Lady Ellen Investigates Book 5) by Kelly Mason

Author:Kelly Mason [Mason, Kelly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Orchard Press®
Published: 2025-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Ifelt rather cheered after leaving Dawkins and made my way to the village hall. I was quite full after the huge slab of cake I’d eaten and would not be requiring any refreshments, light or otherwise. I stopped as I passed the cottages where the Chase family lived. The cottages here were much humbler, the thatches sagged and the fences around them were not so well kept. Laundry hung on lines which stretched across the narrow gardens and upon them, shirts and aprons blew in the breeze.

“Hello, Lady Ellen,” Edward Chase’s aunt said as I reached the village hall door where the sounds of chatter drifted out. “Have you come to see Helen?”

“Yes. How is Mrs Chase?” I asked.

“She’s heartbroken over Eddie, even if he was a bad sort. I heard you’re investigating the matter as you think Eddie had an accomplice.”

The gossip really has travelled, I thought.

“We all read about you in the newspapers, my lady. Of how you’ve solved those mysteries in Branden Bay. We’re very proud of you, you know.” She smiled at me. “Our lady, famous!”

“Why, thank you,” I said a little embarrassed. “Although I prefer a much quieter life!”

She turned and called out to her sister. “It’s her ladyship to see you, Helen.”

“Oh,” Mrs Chase said as she approached me. “Thank you, Your Ladyship. I didn’t expect you to come, what with my late Eddie being a trouble to you. But I was told you were at the service. Come this way, so we can talk.” She led me to a table with some chairs arranged around it, which I presumed were reserved for family. Most people were congregated around a table holding food and drink.

“I’m so sorry for the trouble my Eddie caused,” Mrs Chase said once we were seated. “I tried my best with him, but he was always a rascal. I’m still so upset at the way he died. Totally his own fault, of course, but it was probably that he never had his father around. Him having died so young.”

“He made his own way in life, Mrs Chase,” I said. “You were always a wonderful mother and if I recall correctly, your other children are all doing immensely well.”

“That they are. I suppose Eddie was always mischievous, always chasing an adventure.” She sighed. “We all thought he’d turned over a new leaf.”

“So you kept in touch with him over the years?” I asked.

“Yes, he popped and visited me a good few times. And I met him in Bristol from time to time. Obviously, us family kept it to ourselves, he wanted it that way.”

“I imagine that wasn’t easy in Ashcombe. Did anyone else know he visited you?”

“They knew, I’m sure, but no one directly mentioned it to me. Eddie wanted to keep his head low, especially after he came out of prison so I never spoke to anyone about it. But I told the vicar, so he could include it in the service. I didn’t want people thinking my Eddie abandoned me.

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