A Grave Mistake by Ngaio Marsh

Author:Ngaio Marsh [Marsh, Ngaio]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: C429, Extratorrents, Kat
Published: 2010-01-22T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Point Marked X

Prunella was at home at Quintern Place. Her car was in the drive and she herself answered the door, explaining that she was staying at Mardling and had merely called in to pick up her mail. She took Alleyn and Fox into the drawing-room. It was a room of just proportions with appointments that had occurred quietly over many years rather than by any immediate process of collective assembly. The panelling and ceiling were graceful. It was a room that seemed to be full of gentle light.

Alleyn exclaimed with pleasure.

"Do you like it?" Prunella said. "Most people seem to like it."

"I'm sure you do, don't you?"

"I expect so. It always feels quite nice to come back to. It's not exactly rivetting, of course. Too predictable. I mean it doesn't send one, does it? I don't know though. It sends my father-in-law-to-be up like a rocket. Do sit down."

She herself sat between them. She arranged her pretty face in a pout almost as if she parodied some Victorian girl. She was pale and, Alleyn thought, very tense.

"We won't be long about this," he said. "There are one or two bits and pieces we're supposed to tidy up. Nothing troublesome, I hope."

"Oh," said Prunella. "I see. I thought that probably you'd come to tell me my mother was murdered. Officially tell me, I mean. I know, of course, that you thought so."

Until now she had spoken in her customary whisper but this was brought out rapidly and loudly. She stared straight in front of her and her hands were clenched in her lap.

"No," Alleyn said. "That's not it."

"But you think she was, don't you?"

"I'm afraid we do think it's possible. Do you?"

Prunella darted a look at him and waited a moment before she said: "I don't know. The more I wonder the less I can make up my mind. But then, of course, there are all sorts of things the police dig up that other people know nothing about. Aren't there?"

"I suppose so."

"My first reason for coming is to make sure you have been properly consulted about the arrangements for tomorrow and to ask if there is anything we can do to help. The service is at half-past-three, isn't it? The present suggestion is that your mother will be brought from Maidstone to the church arriving about two o'clock but it has occurred to me that you might like her to rest there tonight. If so, that can easily be arranged."

Prunella for the first time looked directly at him. "That's kind," she said. "I'd like that, I think. Please."

"Good. I'll check with our chaps in Maidstone and have a word with your Vicar. I expect he'll let you know."

"Thank you."

"All right, then?"

"Super," said Prunella with shaking lips. Tears trickled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said. "I thought I'd got over all this. I thought I was O.K." She knuckled her eyes and fished a handkerchief out of her pocket. Mr. Fox rose and walked away to the farthest windows through which he contemplated the prospect.

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