Murder at Ardith Hall: A Redmond and Haze Mystery Book 6 (Redmond and Haze Mysteries) by Irina Shapiro

Author:Irina Shapiro [Shapiro, Irina & Shapiro, Irina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Merlin Press LLC
Published: 2021-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Ardith Hall looked like a slumbering beast, its bulk resting on frost-covered ground amid the sprawling park that looked gloomy beneath an overcast sky. Despite its sizeable staff, there were no signs of activity, no sense of life passing behind the numerous windows. Jason pulled up before the entrance, jumped down, tossed the reins to the groom who’d materialized at his side, and knocked on the door.

When it finally opened, a startled Innes stared back at him, his surprise at seeing Jason again evident.

“I’d like to speak to Mrs. Tarrant,” Jason said.

“Ah, yes. Of course, sir. If you’ll just wait here a moment.”

Innes disappeared and returned a few moments later. “Mrs. Tarrant will see you in the drawing room, sir.”

Jason surrendered his greatcoat, hat, and gloves and followed the butler to the drawing room.

Mrs. Tarrant sat by the window, an embroidery hoop in her lap. Today she wore a simple gown of mauve wool trimmed with black velvet, and her hair was gathered into a hairnet held in place by matching black velvet ribbon. She clearly hadn’t been expecting any visitors and wore a put-upon expression. Mrs. Tarrant set the hoop aside and came forward to greet him, belatedly rearranging her features into an expression of welcome.

“How nice to see you again, my lord,” she said, holding out her hand as if this were nothing more than a routine social call.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Tarrant,” Jason replied, taking her hand and bowing over it politely. He had no wish to put the woman on her guard, if she wasn’t already.

“Do sit down. Can I offer you some refreshment?” Mrs. Tarrant asked as she settled on the butter-yellow settee.

Jason sat on a matching settee across from her. “Thank you, no,” he said.

Mrs. Tarrant looked at him quizzically, as if she couldn’t fathom why he was there.

“Mrs. Tarrant, I have a few more questions to put to you,” Jason said.

“Of course. How can I help?” she asked, sounding resigned to her fate.

“You told us on the night of the séance that Mr. Stillman, Mr. Forbes, and Lord Sumner were all business associates of your husband. Is that correct?”

“Yes, it is,” Mrs. Tarrant replied.

“Yet you also said that the men had never met before that night. I find that somewhat puzzling,” Jason said, watching the woman to see if she would become flustered. She didn’t.

“Yes, I see how you would find that odd, but it’s easily enough explained,” Mrs. Tarrant said. She looked perfectly calm, like a woman who had nothing to hide. “John never speaks to me of the business side of things. He doesn’t think I’ll understand, and frankly, I am not all that interested. I am, however, interested in any of his associates who might be unmarried, on account of Flora. That’s our daughter,” she hastened to remind him. “Flora is twenty-four and still unspoken for. She’s a source of great worry to us, Lord Redmond. It’s not that she lacks the necessary qualities to attract a man, but she holds some rather radical ideas that tend to put potential suitors off.

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.