Murder at the Village Fete by Coles Catherine

Author:Coles, Catherine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inspired Press Limited
Published: 2020-10-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

As soon as Tommy returned from his ride with Sidney Payne, he telephoned down to the village to see if Ernest Franklin was still resident at the Dog & Duck Public House.

He was able to speak to George Hughes, the proprietor, who confirmed that Mr Franklin had not yet checked out. Tommy asked the pub landlord not to let his guest know he was coming to see him.

Usually Tommy would have walked the relatively short distance into the village but as it was not too long until dinner, he had asked Arthur Brown to bring the car round. When Tommy had stayed at Hessleham Hall that summer, prior to him becoming Lord Northmoor, Brown had doubled as second footman and Tommy’s valet.

Tommy had found the temporary valet a very likable chap and had discovered he had a great interest in cars. Although he was occasionally needed to serve as a footman, his more usual role these days was to act as chauffeur for the family.

“Jolly decent of you to take me to the village. I know you must be exceptionally busy with the extra visitors in the house.”

“It is my pleasure, My Lord,” Arthur Brown answered. “And the car did need a run out, it’s been standing still for a few days now.”

They pulled up outside the Dog & Duck, and Tommy glanced quickly at the church clock at the end of the street. “I shall be as quick as I can, Brown, then we can get back in time for us both to change for dinner.”

Tommy jumped out of the car and hurried towards the old country pub. He knew George Hughes from the infrequent times he had stopped for a pint in the hostelry on his way home from work when he lived in the village.

“Long time no see!” the landlord greeted Tommy as he walked through the door. “My Lord, is it now?”

“That’s right, George.” Tommy grimaced. He was still very uncomfortable hearing himself referred to that way.

It seemed acceptable to him for old men, such as his Uncle Charles, who blustered their way through life accepting titles as their birthrights and the deference that went with them. Sadly, there had needed to be a good deal of family deaths via the war, the Spanish flu and finally cold blooded murder before the title had landed in Tommy’s hands.

Tommy longed for George to refer to him as ‘Christie’ as he had back in the early summer when he had last visited the pub for a drink. However the rules of succession and etiquette had been in place long before he was born. His years of duty and service in the police force, and latterly the army, meant that although he may not understand why things were the way that they were, he did at least respect the traditions that had lasted many hundreds of years.

“I’ve kept a quiet table free in the corner so you can have a word with young Franklin. Not been bothering those guests you’ve got up at the manor, has he? He seems a nice enough fella.

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