Murder in the Grotto (Lottie Sprigg Country House 1920s Cozy Mystery Series) by Martha Bond

Author:Martha Bond [Bond, Martha]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Darkfield Books
Published: 2023-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty

Back at the house, Lottie and Rosie went to the drawing room where Lord and Lady Buckley-Phipps, Barty and Mrs Moore were playing cards.

‘I'm so sorry to interrupt, my lord and lady,’ she said. ‘But I’ve found a secret tunnel.’

Everyone stared at her.

‘A secret tunnel?’ said Lord Buckley-Phipps. ‘Where?’

‘From the grotto. Mildred and I visited the grotto this evening.’

‘On a cold and snowy night? Why?’

Lottie didn’t want to admit they suspected the cook and had been trying to work out how long it took to get there from the kitchen. ‘We noticed it was snowing outside and wanted to go for an evening walk in it,’ she said. ‘We found ourselves by the grotto and decided to look inside. Just in case there were any clues in there the police had missed. We discovered a door at the end of the passageway at the back of the grotto.’

‘A door?’ said Lord Buckley-Phipps. ‘I don't believe there’s a door there.’

‘When did you last visit the grotto, Ivan?’ asked his wife.

‘I can't say it's a place I visit that often. I poked my head in there to look at the pretty lights during the Christmas Fayre, but I don't think I've been down that passageway for many years. I went maybe once or twice when I was a boy. But I found it a rather scary experience back then and didn't hang around there too long.’

‘I should think the same could be said for most people who visit that place,’ said Lady Buckley-Phipps. ‘I think I’ve only been in that passageway once, and I didn't stay for long either.’

‘So, there's a door at the end of the passageway?’ asked Barty.

Lottie nodded.

‘And you went through it?’

‘Yes. We were able to push the door open, and it led into a tunnel. It had a lot of steps and led uphill. I'm fairly certain it led to the house. But we found a door at the end of it which was locked.’

‘And you think that locked door could be in this house?’ said Lady Buckley-Phipps.

‘I can't be certain,’ said Lottie. ‘But I think it must be. I only wish we could have got through the door to find out.’

‘There's only one thing for it,’ said Lord Buckley-Phipps. He rang the bell for the butler.

‘You rang, my lord?’ asked Mr Duxbury as he arrived in the room.

‘Ever heard of a secret tunnel between the house and the grotto, Duxbury?’

‘No, my lord.’

‘Can you fetch me the house plans, please, Duxbury? I would like to examine them.’

‘Of course, my lord. I believe they’re in the attic, so it may take me a while to find them.’

‘Of course. Just do your best, Duxbury.’

‘A secret tunnel,’ said Barty. ‘Well, I never. Why don’t we know about it?’

‘I don’t know, Barty,’ said Lord Buckley-Phipps. ‘I’ve spent my entire life in this house and never knew a thing about the secret tunnel. As a boy, I wished there was a secret door, passageway or tunnel of some sort, but I never found one.

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