The Missing Diamond Murder by Diane Janes

Author:Diane Janes [Diane Janes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2019-05-21T16:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

When Eddie enquired over lunch whether the ‘lady detective’ would be available for a walk that afternoon, Fran requested instead that Eddie run her into Avemouth, if it was not too much trouble.

‘No trouble at all. As I said on Day One, consider me completely at your service.’

Nothing further was said about her request until they were driving out of the main gates, when he enquired, ‘May I ask if this is linked with your detective work, or merely a shopping expedition?’

‘It’s a little bit of detective work,’ Fran said. ‘I’m just tying up a loose end. There was a maid working at Sunnyside House who was dismissed, not long after your grandfather died and as I’m speaking to all the staff, I need to speak to her too.’

‘Leaving no stone unturned, eh? That would be Connie, I suppose.’

‘You remember her?’

‘Of course. She was with us for about a year.’

‘What was she like?’

‘In what way?’

‘Was she pretty?’

‘I suppose so. She knew it too, used to simper at any passing male when she thought Jamieson wasn’t looking; lowered her head and batted her eyelashes, if one met her in the corridor. Can’t say I took to her.’

‘I understand that she works in a tea room called the Copper Kettle now.’

‘So you’re going to pop in and order a pot of tea,’ Eddie said. ‘In that case, it will probably be better if I lose myself for half an hour. She’s far more likely to open up if I’m not there, don’t you think?’

‘Actually I do,’ Fran said. ‘But I feel rather badly, leaving you to sit in the car while I drink tea.’

‘Don’t trouble over me. I will be perfectly able to amuse myself. I may take a walk along the quayside. There’s always something to see down there.’

‘That’s very sporting of you.’

‘Not a bit. Haven’t I said that I am to be considered your willing slave in this business? Your wish is my command.’

‘In that case,’ Fran said, ‘would you mind telling me what the Sidmouth affair is?’

‘Aah.’ Eddie made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.

‘I thought you were going to tell me about it that day when we went to see your house, but then we met your sister and Miss Trenchard.’

‘You’re absolutely right – as usual. Though of course I thought that you already knew – until you told me otherwise. You see, I assumed that my brother had explained the legacy Grandfather left for Mrs Headingham.’

‘I have never even heard of Mrs Headingham.’

Eddie took a deep breath. ‘Mrs Headingham was the governess at Sunnyside House, when my aunts were growing up and my grandfather became very fond of her. Naturally this was all a very long time ago. Grandfather was still a young man when his wife died and Mrs Headingham came to the family as a young widow. One half wonders why they never married … anyway, for some reason they never did. My aunts grew up, but Mrs Headingham stayed on as part of the household.

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