Murder at Elm House: A totally unputdownable historical cozy mystery (A Miss Underhay Mystery Book 6) by Helena Dixon

Author:Helena Dixon [Dixon, Helena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800195400
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2021-06-06T16:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Matt took his lunch with Kitty in her office as she finished off some of her tasks for the day. By mid-afternoon with no word from Inspector Greville they went to take afternoon tea with Kitty’s grandmother.

Mrs Treadwell was naturally very shocked at the news of Mrs Pearson’s death. ‘How very extraordinary. I really wish Millicent would either find another convalescent home or agree to stay here for a while until she is fully back on her feet. It is quite worrying if Doctor Carter is concerned that poor Mrs Pearson may not have met her end by natural means.’

‘Inspector Greville said he would call here this afternoon to tell us of any progress in the case,’ Kitty said. She and Matt had agreed that they wouldn’t tell her grandmother about there being a possible link between Elm House and the Hammetts. She was already opposed to Kitty potentially being exposed to further danger and there seemed no point in worrying her any further on that score.

Mrs Treadwell checked the time with the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘He must be busy. The inspector is fond of his stomach and it is most unlike him to dally if there is the prospect of something to eat,’ she observed drily.

Before Kitty could reply the telephone rang and her grandmother crossed over to her bureau to take the call.

‘Lottie, my dear, I’m sorry, do slow down.’

Kitty looked up from her contemplation of an extra scone to see that her grandmother’s complexion had paled. Lottie Jenkins was one of her grandmother and Mrs Craven’s close circle of gals. She wondered what the woman could be telling her grandmother to make her look so anxious.

‘I see. How dreadful. Yes, quite. I know, I have tried reasoning with Millicent too, but she will not give way. Perhaps she will now change her mind.’ Mrs Treadwell replaced the receiver and walked slowly back to retake her seat beside the fire.

‘What is it?’ Kitty asked. ‘What’s happened?’

‘I hardly know what to say. It’s really quite terrible.’ Her grandmother’s hands trembled as she pulled her lace-edged handkerchief from her pocket.

‘Mrs Treadwell, may I get you something? Some more tea? Something has clearly shocked you.’ Matt exchanged a concerned glance with Kitty.

‘Inspector Greville has been called back to Elm House. Lottie was visiting Millicent this afternoon when it seems there was the most dreadful accident. Poor little Nurse Hibbert—’ Her grandmother broke off and pressed her handkerchief to her lips in an effort to compose herself. ‘The girl is dead. She appears to have fallen to her death from the roof of the home.’

Kitty gasped aloud. ‘That’s horrible. We only saw her just before we left there this morning.’

‘How could she have fallen? And from the roof?’ Matt placed his empty cup back on its saucer.

‘Why would she have been up there?’ Kitty shivered as she remembered looking back at the home only a few hours earlier. The turret rose a good few feet above what she realised now must be a flat leaded area before the steep slope of the tiled main roof of the home.

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