A Killing at Smugglers Cove (The Iris Woodmore Mysteries) by Michelle Salter

Author:Michelle Salter [Salter, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2023-07-09T23:00:00+00:00

18

‘When did my father meet Katherine?’ I sank heavily into the cushioned chair, feeling the combined effects of rich food, too much wine and lively dancing.

‘I believe they were acquainted as children.’ Elijah was watching Horace and Millicent gliding sedately across the dance floor.

Emile was dancing with a very pretty young lady while Percy seemed to have been landed with the girl’s mother.

‘You know what I mean.’ I narrowed my eyes at his prevarication. ‘I get the impression neither you nor my father are being entirely truthful with me. When did they start seeing each other?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘The first I knew of Katherine’s existence was when I visited the apartment in Paris where they were staying at the end of 1921.’

‘Iris. I can’t give you the answers you’re looking for because I don’t know.’ He paused. ‘If it matters that much to you, speak to your father. Or you could just leave things alone and be happy for them.’

Why couldn’t I leave it alone? Was I wrong to be suspicious of my future stepmother? A man’s body had been discovered at Smugglers Cove and he’d obviously been killed there during the time Katherine was living in the villa. Her husband appeared to be recovering and then he’d suddenly died. And now Captain Keats had been poisoned, a man who, according to Stephen Damerell, swindled Katherine out of her home.

I was about to put these points to Elijah, when he asked, ‘When did you first meet Emile?’

‘In June 1917, when I was volunteering at the Park Fever Hospital.’ I explained that Emile and Marc had been searching for Nathalie and Annette and my grandmother had helped to locate them.

‘How old were you then?’

‘I’d just turned eighteen.’

‘Did you mention Emile to your father?’

‘Why would I?’

‘He’s a handsome young man. Did you have a romance?’ he asked. ‘He certainly seems to remember you fondly.’

‘No, we didn’t. Emile and Marc were among hundreds of refugees who stayed at the hospital during the war. Why would I mention them to my father? He was probably away at the time.’

‘Your father also came into contact with many people during the war. Why do you think he should have mentioned them all to you?’

‘Not all – just any he became romantically involved with.’

‘He didn’t become involved with anyone.’

‘You just said you didn’t know when their romance started.’

‘Does it matter?’ He sighed and turned his attention back to the dancing. ‘This is the problem with holidays.’

‘What is?’

‘Too much time on your hands. Why don’t you go and visit some stately homes or go for bracing walks along the coast? If you’re really missing work, you can come up with some new ideas for the August editions of The Walden Herald. It’s always a quiet time of year. Otherwise, you’ll spend the whole month hanging around the magistrate’s court, hoping someone decides to do something more illegal than poaching.’

This gave me an idea. It might be worth visiting the local newspaper office to see if I could view old editions, specifically around December 1918.

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