The Maid of Kent Murders (Marsh and Daughter Book 9) by Amy Myers

Author:Amy Myers [Myers, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2022-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Never be surprised at how quickly a situation can change. The golden rule in any investigation. Against the odds, Georgia felt she could now deal with Sir Edward Colduggan. It was the family lunch ahead that was the challenge. She was bursting to tell Peter about her encounter with Edward Colduggan, but with Elena there her lips must be sealed, even though Jill had been fully occupied with him when she left.

When she reached the bar a reprieve awaited her. Peter arrived alone, over half an hour late, with no sign of Elena. Tony, Peter told her, had steered him through the corridors, treating him en route to a chat about Porsche 356SCs plus the soaring costs of repairs to the pub and then had insisted on a detour to admire it in its converted stable home. There Tony had treated him to a debate on whether or not the hotel deal would go through quickly enough for him to go ahead with a pricey down-to-bare-metal restoration of the Porsche. It was vital, he maintained, that this took place before the end of the rally season.

‘I don’t know what kind of financial arrangements they have with Percival at present,’ Peter concluded, ‘but I presume every penny they have goes into keeping the Maid of Kent from falling down.’

‘That must mean an awful lot of pennies,’ Georgia commented. ‘Now tell me what’s happened to Elena. I know where Jill is — or was.’

‘Your mother abandoned my humble wagon for a chauffeured car to Canterbury which also contained, to my understandable surprise, Sir Edward Colduggan and Jill. I gather you weren’t included in this remarkable expedition to a Michelin-starred restaurant. Did you know about this?’ Peter enquired.

The stranger with the Daily Mail had disappeared from the bar and so her guess that he was Sir Edward’s chauffeur had been right. Her guilty relief at hearing Peter’s news, however, was tempered with slight annoyance at their own exclusion from this expedition.

‘Yes and no.’

‘No, will do. You’d have to explain a yes, but Colduggan can wait,’ Peter told her. ‘I’ve other news. The Maid of Kent is soon to be blessed by a visit from none other than Howard Green. He’s lunching with Percival, the latter in a foul temper.’

‘The great Howard himself?’ This was certainly interesting news — though not to be compared with her own which she was bursting to tell Peter, but that would have to wait a little while.

‘The very same. Son of the MD of Paul Green Country Hotels, whom I left chatting to Will Whittan and DI Cotton in the village hall.’

‘Are they all lunching here?

‘If so, we’re not invited. But we are meeting Howard at 2.30 pm. Bernie and Tony will be there too, as well as Percival. Apparently all of them would like us to be present. I suspect the reason for this unexpected bonhomie is that they want witnesses if the hotel deal is on the table. We are classed as being independent.’

‘But why are you so eager we should go?’ Georgia asked.

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