Murder at the Manor: A 1920s cozy mystery (A Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mystery) by Catherine Coles

Author:Catherine Coles [Coles, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inspired Press Limited
Published: 2020-07-30T22:00:00+00:00

The police met them at the side door to the house, having been alerted by Jack Partridge who had run back up to the house. They had left Dr Mainwaring with the body. Not because there was a single thing the man could do for Eddie, but because it was not right to leave him lying on the moor all alone.

“What happened?” Detective Inspector Andrews, the most senior of the two policemen, addressed Tommy directly. “How could this have happened?”

“An accident,” Isobel said, repeating what she had said directly after the incident.

“Wait in the drawing room,” the detective said, then to his colleague: “Go with them and stay with them. I need to call for backup.”

Malton and Mrs Chapman stood off to the side, their usually carefully arranged features horrified. Evelyn herself was shocked. Her legs trembled, and she felt as though if she didn’t sit down soon, she would fall.

“Can we have tea in the drawing room, please?” she asked. “And something light to eat. Perhaps some sandwiches, if Mrs O’Connell has the time.”

“Very good.” Mrs Chapman paused, caught herself, then continued, “My Lady.”

Evelyn flushed. She hadn’t made the request because she was ‘lady of the house’ but because she herself felt in need of refreshments and thought everyone else probably did too – regardless of the fact the household had officially already had afternoon tea once that day. Lillian would have to be told the news, and Evelyn needed to keep up her strength to deal with her sister-in-law.

Aunt Em was already seated in the drawing room as the dumbstruck group began to slowly trail along the corridor and into the room. The old lady rose as they came in and walked up to Evelyn. “My dear, what a terrible shock. How are you?”

Evelyn nodded. It would be poor form to pretend to be grief-stricken because, of course, she wasn’t. She hadn’t liked Eddie at all. “What happened was very distressing. It was an appalling thing to see. Where is Lillian?”

Aunt Em shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Is she aware of what has happened?”

“I do not believe so.”

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. The police detective opened it to reveal Doris standing on the other side, looking petrified. She looked around the room and settled on Evelyn who hurried over to where the girl stood.

“Doris?”

“Mrs Christie, you asked me to watch Lillian,” Doris whispered. “She sat in here for a time after you had all left and then became unwell.”

“Unwell?” Evelyn considered this for a moment. “It’s all right, Doris. Do not worry about what you’re saying. Just tell me the truth as it is.”

Doris nodded. “Agnes had to help her upstairs because she was absolutely sozzled. I believe she’s still in her room.”

“Thank you very much,” Evelyn said. “You’ve been very helpful.”

Doris bobbed her head. “Shall I take Nancy?”

Evelyn had been so upset by what happened, she had not realised Nancy had faithfully trotted at her side and now lay next to the sofa where she had been sitting before getting up to speak to Doris.

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