Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder by Catherine Lloyd

Author:Catherine Lloyd [Lloyd, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

As predicted, Joshua hadn’t gotten far. He’d tried to help himself to the petty cash in the butler’s pantry, which was where he’d been discovered by one of the maids, who screeched loud enough to wake the dead. Even though Lord Greenwood had him confined to the cellars, Caroline was well aware that her uncle didn’t really believe anyone had been murdered. In truth, he’d been quite angry with her when she’d approached him for assistance.

“You do realize this whole thing is ridiculous?” Eleanor paused her walking long enough to glare at Caroline. After hearing the news from her husband, who had departed in something of a huff for the stables, she had asked Dr. Harris and Caroline to present themselves in his study. “Mr. Woodford died in his sleep after the unfortunate incident in the cellar and Ines was simply old.”

Dr. Harris went to speak and then raised his eyebrows at Caroline, who reluctantly entered the conversation.

“Is it true you believed Mr. Woodford and his sister were selling items from the hall to enrich themselves, Aunt?”

“What?” Eleanor stopped pacing and swung around.

“Miss Woodford mentioned that she and her brother had received a letter from your solicitor threatening them with legal action.”

“Even if that was the case, what would it have to do with Joshua?”

“One has to suspect that if Mr. Woodford was taking items from the hall then he would need an accomplice—someone young and healthy like Joshua—to aid him.”

“And then Joshua murdered the man who was making him rich?” Eleanor asked, unconsciously echoing Joshua’s own argument. “Why on earth would he do that?”

“Perhaps he decided he could do better by himself,” Caroline said. “We also wondered if Great-Aunt Ines was helping them.”

Eleanor pressed two fingers against her temple and let out her breath. “We as in you and Dr. Harris, Niece?”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“Might I ask what any of this has to do with either of you?”

Caroline shared a quick glance with the doctor. “Even though I no longer live here, I wouldn’t wish for you or anyone in this family to come to any harm.”

“From the butler, an old lady, and a footman?”

“If they truly were conspiring together to defraud you, then yes, ma’am.” Caroline held her aunt’s skeptical gaze. “And if the footman decided to murder his coconspirators I’d prefer to know. Wouldn’t you?”

Eleanor took another brisk walk around the room and paused to look out of the window at the sodden garden beyond. Even with all the windows closed, the drumming of the rain and the howl of the rising wind were clearly audible.

“You will both come with me and speak to Joshua.”

“As you wish.” Caroline hesitated. “Do you want me to send someone to fetch another magistrate?”

“Not yet.” Eleanor was already in motion, her back straight, her chin in the air like a soldier advancing into battle. “Come along.”

Dr. Harris let Caroline walk in front of him as they descended the stairs into the kitchen wing and down again into the cold, echoing confines of the cellar below.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.