The Mitford Secret--A Mitford Murders Mystery by Jessica Fellowes

Author:Jessica Fellowes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Louisa was encouraged: for whatever reason, it looked as if Charles was prepared to open the door to her investigations into a link between Mrs Hoole and Joan. It wasn’t much for her to grasp at, but she needed to talk to those in the family who had been there when Joan was alive.

Musing on this, Louisa followed the group around the hangar, not paying much attention to the Spitfire, although she could see Maisie out of the corner of her eye hugely enjoying the spectacle. Group Captain Nesbit, resplendent in his uniform, was in the cockpit, telling them what the various buttons did. Unity was gasping with delight at everything he said, unaware of the irony that this plane was one of many designed to drop bombs on Germany, the country she had once loved to the point of near-fatal obsession. Oddly, this sensation seemed to affect them all. Singing patriotic songs and praying for the soldiers to come home safely was one thing. Seeing the instruments of war up close was quite another. When another RAF officer came around the corner, a stern look upon his face, Louisa felt saved by the bell. The officer motioned to Nesbit to disembark from the cockpit immediately and beckoned him to one side. They weren’t able to hear the conversation but it was obvious from their gestures that Nesbit should not have issued such a generous invitation to the base. He came over when the officer had marched off.

‘Terribly sorry, chaps, but I’m afraid that’s the end of the tour. I’ve got to go and do something and there isn’t anyone else to show you around. I hope you don’t feel it was a wasted trip.’

‘Oh, no!’ said Unity. ‘We loved it. Didn’t we?’ She turned to look at everyone’s faces but did not seem to notice the looks of mild relief.

‘It was awfully kind of you,’ said Deborah. ‘I’m sure it was far too much trouble for you to have taken on our behalf.’

‘No, no.’ Nesbit made vague protestations as he started to walk them back to the squat building at the entrance, his pace too fast for any of them to keep up with him.

‘What was that all about?’ said Nancy to Louisa.

‘I think we must have come here without permission. I did think it was a little odd that we were all allowed in, given the circumstances.’

‘I suppose I always assume I’m allowed anywhere,’ said Nancy, with a wry smile. ‘The question is, why was he trying to impress us? What favour is he trying to gain in return?’

‘We don’t know yet,’ replied Louisa, ‘but I’m sure we will.’

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