The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall (Reeves & Worcester Steampunk Mysteries Book 4) by Chris Dolley

Author:Chris Dolley [Dolley, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Jeeves, Humor, Mystery, Holmes, wodehouse, Steampunk
Publisher: Book View Café
Published: 2016-02-09T07:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

fter breakfast I slipped out of the dining room while Lady Julia was having another go at Henry. I didn’t want to give her the chance to hand me Spinoza’s latest and confine me to the drawing room. Emmeline came flying out after me. By the time Lady Julia noticed our departure — signalled by a booming “Where’s that Roderick?” — Emmeline and I were legging it upstairs to freedom.

Reeves was waiting for us in my room, and I swiftly brought him up to speed with events.

“What do you think, Reeves? Have you heard of this Edison fellow?”

“I have, sir. While it is true that the gentleman in question is of a litigious nature, I have not read anything that would suggest he would engage in homicidal conspiracies.”

“There’s always a first time, Reeves. And just because he hasn’t been caught doesn’t mean he’s not been out there bumping people off for years. What about these automata of his? Are they as good as T. Everett says?”

“I have never encountered one, sir, but I have heard they are highly regarded.”

“It’s true what Henry said about motive though, isn’t it?” said Emmeline. “Except for Edison and his wish to get rid of a competitor, there just isn’t one ... unless...”

I could tell by the way Emmie looked at me that she’d just thought of a corker. “Unless what?”

“Unless there’s something odd in Sir Robert’s will,” said Emmeline. “What if Henry doesn’t inherit?”

For a fleeting moment I was as excited as Emmeline. Wills were always hot stuff when one was looking for an unexpected motive. But would Sir Robert have disinherited Henry? I couldn’t see it. I’d never heard a single harsh word exchanged between the two.

“Have you heard of any rift between Henry and his father, Reeves?”

“No, sir. The only discourse I have heard upon the subject of Sir Henry’s relationship with his father have been ones concerning the surprising lack of discord between the two men. A circumstance ascribed to the general affability of both parties.”

I pondered on this for a while. I liked the idea of a contentious will, but I agreed with the opinion of the servants’ hall — Sir Robert wouldn’t willingly disinherit Henry.

So...

“What if someone forges a new will for Sir Robert and places it in his study to be discovered after the murder?” I said.

“A forgery would be uncovered, sir. Especially if the beneficiary was an unexpected one.”

“Ah, but what if the beneficiary was a particularly litigious individual with deep pockets,” I said, waggling an excited finger. “Am I not right in thinking that such a person could keep the estate’s assets frozen for years while the dispute is settled in the courts? I’m thinking of that book by Dickens — Bleak Something?”

“Bleak House, sir,” said Reeves, looking, I have to say, rather impressed with the young master. “It contains the disturbing case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce where the entire inheritance was frozen for decades before eventually being exhausted by legal costs. It was believed based on the real case of—”

“Quite, Reeves.

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