The Mystery of the Royal Rogue: A 1920s Murder Mystery by CM Rawlins

Author:CM Rawlins [Rawlins, CM]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CleanTales Publishing
Published: 2024-08-29T00:00:00+00:00

As with so many things in life, those we fear, the ones that keep us up at night and tie our stomachs in knots, often turn out much better than expected.

In compensation, however, life is full of lots of unexpected shocks, often involving dead bodies in unlikely places. These rear up to catch us out just when we’re feeling rather good about things.

Darriby took the news very well indeed, declaring that he’d never heard of this fellow called Borrow.

“No dear, it’s Burrows, Alfie Burrows, your private secretary.”

“Never mind, my dear. Perhaps you could do a fellow a favour? My exercise is going splendidly and I don’t want to leave it. Would you have someone bring over some sandwiches and a bottle?”

“Beer or whisky?”

“Oh, perhaps both. While you’re here, my dear, do you want to see my work? It’s quite fascinating. You see, I’ve taken…”

“No, my dear, I wouldn’t dream of interrupting you at such an important point in your endeavours. I’ll do as you bid and see you later.” They kissed their farewell, Lady Darriby-Jones being surprised that her husband gave a little more than the usual peck on the cheek.

That, she considered as she walked back to the house, was even better than a pink gin.

By the time she returned and issued full instructions for lunch to be sent across to the sluggery, going in person to the kitchen to supervise its preparation, and thereby getting involved in a furious dispute between the royal staff members and that of her own kitchen staff concerning upcoming menus, she surfaced back upstairs to find that Alfie and Lady Alice had departed.

Smith came in to see her just as the lunch gong was being sounded.

“I saw them off on the train, milady. Funny thing is Mr Burrows insisted on buying third-class tickets. You know, even Mrs Smith goes second-class when she goes to see her sister. Those third-class seats are awfully uncomfortable, milady, and the class of person you get. Lady Alice looked proper disconcerted, milady.”

“I’m sure she did, Smith.” Lady Darriby-Jones had a delicious moment, thinking of her daughter slumming it all the way to London. Then, she remembered the mission they were about and, sensing that Smith needed further explanation, added that the pair of delightful young things were set upon a vital task of detective work.

“Oh, how exciting, milady. Please do let me help if there’s anything I can do.”

“There might well be, Smith, you never know.” There was nothing in their current plans concerning a chauffeur, other than a return trip to the station once the mission was complete, but you never knew.

That’s the point at which an addition to the plan started to settle in her mind, hence her words to Smith. Besides, she thought, why should Alfie and Ali have all the fun?

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