Royally Dispatched: An Amateur Female Duchess Detective (The Duchess of Snodsbury Amateur Detective Series) by P.C. James & Kathryn Mykel

Author:P.C. James & Kathryn Mykel [James, P.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

13

INTERVIEWS

The following day, Mary invited her assistants to stay behind after the class ended and report on their findings. When the sleuths were all assembled, she had Barkley and Ponsonby join them in the library, a suitable environment for serious discussion.

“I’ve called you here to review what we’ve learned and attempt to find an answer to the puzzle we have,” Mary said. “We’ll start with everyone giving an account of what they’ve learned. Then, when we all have the same understanding, we can plan our next steps. Winnie, will you start us off?”

“I will, but before I do, Lady Mary, I have to tell you the other girls have taken it badly that we are working with you.”

“Very badly,” Margie said. “Snooping is how they see it.”

Mary raised her hand to stop Dotty interjecting and said, “When I said sleuthing was often dirty, I didn’t just mean mud. People do take it badly when they’re questioned about what they see is their business and no one else's.”

The three were silent for a moment before Winnie continued, “I mentioned it because it likely affects what we’ve learned. The girls have talked together and may have provided information that isn’t entirely correct.”

“I understand,” Mary said, “but you’ll find if you continue investigating puzzles, that people rarely tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We can only sift through what we have and try to get to the bottom of it.”

Winnie nodded. “Then I’ll begin. I’ve only interviewed one deb on my list so far, Daphne Sproat. She and I have never liked each other, and the interview went badly, so badly I couldn’t face doing another right away.”

Mary nodded sympathetically. “It can be difficult when personal feelings are against the sharing of confidences. Were you able to learn anything?”

Winnie frowned. “Nothing, but I have the impression she very much wants the ball to happen and her to be in it. Her family are bankers, you know, and will see this event as important to them. I can’t believe she or her family are behind the events we’re investigating. I did get some names who might speak for Daphne, though, and I’ll do that tonight.”

“Good,” Mary said. “We must hope the animosity you mention doesn’t affect our efforts.”

Winnie laughed uncertainly. “I’m more concerned it doesn’t affect my family. I learned after that we bank at the bank her father is the head of.”

“I’m sure it won’t,” Mary said, though she knew such things happened. “Now, Margie, what have you learned?”

Margie smiled. “I had more success than Winnie,” she said. “Two of my interviews went really well, and I can confidently say they and their families are not behind these murders.” She paused, her expression growing more serious. “Then I had an experience similar to Winnie’s, and I fear a long-standing feud I have with fellow deb, Ursula Mallory, has now grown worse.”

“Investigating has that effect sometimes,” Mary said. “How will you get around the difficulty?”

“I already have,” Margie said. “Mama and Mrs.

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