The Poisoned Peer (Churchill and Pemberley Series Book 6) (Churchill and Pemberley Cozy Mystery Series) by Emily Organ

Author:Emily Organ [Organ, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-04-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

After a brief search, Churchill and Pemberley found Cairistiona in a window seat in the morning room.

“Oh, I was hoping you were the maid bringing in the coffee.”

“I think she’s been sent off to fold linen now.”

“What does one have to do to get a coffee in this place?”

“One might have to resort to making it oneself.”

She laughed, seemingly finding the thought inordinately funny. “You’re the two detective ladies aren’t you? Tryphena told me all about you. Mind if I smoke?”

“Not at all.”

“Aren’t you the lady whose skirt fell down at the garden party?” she asked, once her cigarette was lit.

“No, that wasn’t me.”

“I felt sure I remember the name Churchill being mentioned.”

“Perhaps it was, but it certainly wasn’t my skirt which slipped down. Now then, the outcome of your father’s will has been quite a surprise hasn’t it?”

“You can say that again.” She blew out a plume of smoke. “I thought the lot would go to Humphrey. I had no idea Papa would consider leaving it all to Surpant.”

“Were you hoping for a little more yourself?”

“Of course! Books and prints. After everything I did for that man? Clearly the housekeeper wormed her way into his affections. I can imagine her squirming like a worm, can’t you Mrs Churchill?”

“I can’t say I’ve given the image much thought.”

“She will have seduced him of course.”

“Cripes, do you think so?”

Pemberley tried to suppress a gagging noise.

“Why else would he leave her everything?” continued Cairistiona. “She crept insidiously into his life like a slow release of poisonous gas.”

“Gosh. Do you think she’s responsible for his death?”

“Yes! I think it’s quite obvious now that old Surpant poisoned poor dear Papa. And the police inspector wants more evidence! Can you believe it?”

“Well that’s Inspector Mappin for you.”

“I’ve a good mind to get Scotland Yard down here, they’ll soon have her charged. There’s absolutely no chance of this place falling into her hands, that’s for sure. How foolish does she think we all are?”

“You live some distance away, is that right?”

“Hoffmanner Manor. It’s the other side of Harneth Cublet.”

“Wherever that may be.”

“East of here, near Fidgeworth Dendelbury.”

Churchill glanced at the notebook in Pemberley’s hand and gave her a nod to write this down.

“You live some distance away, and yet—”

“Well I wouldn’t describe it as some distance, it’s quite near actually!” she interrupted with a laugh.

“I see. Well, it’s not exactly down the road is it?”

“No. What of it?”

“And yet your sister tells me that you’ve been a regular visitor to Gripedown Hall of late.”

“It’s my home!”

“It was your home as a child, Hoffmanner Manor is your home. You share it with your husband Mr Vigors-Slipcote, am I right?”

“Yes, to be honest with you, that’s why I’m often here. It’s because he’s always there.”

“I see. Your marriage is unhappy?”

“No it’s perfectly happy! As long as we spend as little time as possible together then we’re both as merry as larks.”

“I’m pleased to hear it. You do, however, appear to have spent an increasing amount of time at Gripedown in recent weeks from what your sister tells me.

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