Death of a Penniless Poet (Miss Busby Investigates Book 2): A 1920s Cotswolds Murder Mystery by Karen Baugh Menuhin & Zoe Markham

Author:Karen Baugh Menuhin & Zoe Markham [Menuhin, Karen Baugh & Markham, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Cat Publishing Ltd.
Published: 2024-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

‘Tell Miss Busby what you told me about Martin, Anthony,’ Lucy prompted.

‘Oh, yes. I forgot about him when you first mentioned Chipping Common. Bit of a rogue by all accounts, if it’s the same chap. Hung around with Cameron a fair bit. Handsome sort.’

Richard spluttered into his stout.

‘Not to me,’ Anthony laughed. ‘But it’s why I remember him. And why half of the girls in Belgium do too I shouldn’t wonder. He was very popular among the ladies.’

‘Anthony, that’s enough of that,’ Richard scolded.

‘Martin is rather striking, I agree,’ Miss Busby confirmed, waving Richard’s objection away. ‘If rather abrupt in his manner. But his mother was adamant he wouldn’t have had anything to do with Alice.’

‘Oh, mothers always are,’ Adeline said dismissively. ‘Rose Harrison was just the same in defence of Alice.’

‘It’s the age, I’m afraid,’ Lucy said. ‘The youngsters, I mean, not the mothers. Caught between two states, if you will. Old enough to get themselves into trouble–’

‘And die on the battlefield,’ Anthony pointed out solemnly.

‘Yes, but still young enough to seem like children in their parents’ eyes,’ Richard concluded.

Adeline considered a moment. ‘Madeleine Spencer is little more than a girl herself, yet she was equally protective of Cameron.’

‘Adeline paid her respects to the Spencer family at Hayle Court this morning,’ Miss Busby explained.

‘Do tell!’ Anthony leaned forward as all eyes turned keenly now to Adeline, who suddenly sparkled.

‘Well, I went at the appropriate “visiting hour” although there weren’t many there, despite the elaborate mourning wreath hung on the door. All the Spencers save Madeleine were too distraught at the loss of their matriarch to receive,’ she began with aplomb, enjoying being the centre of attention.

Miss Busby recalled Mrs Olivia Spencer’s fierce stare in the church the previous day, alongside her daughter’s announcement that she was unable to speak. She attempted to attribute both to grief. It was rather a stretch.

‘I was shown into the drawing room,’ Adeline continued with a wave of the hands. ‘Absolutely beautiful decor, mirrors duly covered in the Victorian style, and all the clocks were stopped – but no refreshments!’ She widened her eyes at that. ‘I suspect young Madeleine was rather overwhelmed,’ she added graciously. ‘I offered my sincere condolences, naturally, explaining that I played bridge with Lady Felicity some years ago, and often ran into her at the opera. In truth, I had always found her to be rather difficult, but naturally didn’t say so, given the circumstances.’

Lucy gave a light laugh.

‘They say people improve with age,’ Anthony remarked. ‘And never more so than when they die – then they positively augment.’

Miss Busby smiled into her sherry.

‘Madeleine thanked me, naturally,’ Adeline continued. ‘And she passed me a beautifully handwritten invitation with details of Friday’s service. It was the most luxurious sort–’

‘And did you manage to ask about Alice?’ Miss Busby nudged her along.

‘I was coming to that, thank you, Isabelle.’ Adeline sniffed, then took a moment to sip her drink. ‘I asked how her brother, Sir Cameron, was keeping, and then rather casually threw in that Chipping Common seems to attract mystery.

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