A Corpse at the Castle by R B Marshall

Author:R B Marshall
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Eden Press
Published: 2020-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

Craig put his elbows on the table and looked at me over the top of his coffee cup. “So I couldn’t tell you on the phone, but the estate manager called me up to the castle for a meeting, and, would you believe it, he said that, subject to the Queen’s approval, they’re going to make me Stud Manager to replace Hamish!” His smile slowly grew, reaching from one ear to the other and lighting up his whole face.

“That’s great!” I said, finding his enthusiasm rather infectious, even though his news gave him prime reason to murder his ex-boss. “But you thought that might happen?”

“Well, aye, since I was Hamish’s second-in-command. But they could always have advertised the job outside. I mean, I’ve only been here a couple of years, so they mightn’t have thought I had enough experience.”

“True. Well, congratulations, then,” I said, raising my coffee cup and clinking it against his. I had no real appetite to drink it, though. All this suspicion was wreaking havoc with my insides, and I was finding it hard to behave normally around Craig. Acting had never been my strong point. “Is the Queen’s approval just a formality? Like parliament? Surely she delegates stuff like this. Otherwise she’d be doing nothing but paperwork.”

“Aye, but she’s more involved with the stud, since horses play such a big part in her life. She used to meet with Hamish once or twice a year, to go over the breeding plans. So I’m no’ sure if it’s a formality or not.” An anxious look flitted across his face.

“Have you met her before?”

He nodded. “When she’s been up in the summer, aye, once or twice. I’ve saddled her horse ready for her to ride, held it while she got on.” He could see the next question in my face. “She was okay wi’ me, I suppose. Even cracked a wee joke, one time.”

“That’s good then. But surely the new job means your duties will change?” I asked, trying to keep him talking.

“Aye.” He set his cup down and stared at his drink for a moment before meeting my eyes again. “I’ll have more to do wi’ the stud, and less time up the hill.” His mouth set in a line.

“Will you miss it?”

“I suppose I will, yes. I like being up there wi’ the garrons. Even when the weather’s bad it’s still spectacular up there.”

“I can imagine.”

Craig caught my hand across the table. “You should come up wi’ me sometime. Join in one of the shoots.”

With a shudder, I shook my head and snatched my hand away. “I couldn’t do that. I’m okay knowing in theory that it happens, I know that deer numbers need controlling. But I wouldn’t want to see it in person.”

Looking a little crestfallen, Craig nodded slowly. “Okay, that’s fair enough. Some of the guns can be a bit boorish. Or boring. So at least you’re saved from that.” His face brightened. “We could just go for a hill walk together on a day off.

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