Death Comes to Bath by Catherine Lloyd

Author:Catherine Lloyd
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Edward Benson came back into the study where he’d left Robert drinking a restorative brandy.

“It appears that Brandon has disappeared. I’ve sent our servants out to look for him and insisted that Arden stays here.”

“Good thinking.”

Robert finished his brandy. It was barely midday. Since the Bensons had entered his life his drinking had increased substantially. When Lady Benson had swooned, Lucy and the maid had assisted Dr. Mantel in taking her back to her bedchamber—with the door into the dressing room securely locked so she couldn’t accidentally venture in there and have another screaming fit.

Edward helped himself to a large glass of brandy. He looked rather pale, which wasn’t surprising considering what was going on in his household as he sat opposite Robert.

“I hate to ask you this, Sir Robert, but what was Brandon actually doing when you surprised him in the dressing room?”

“He was emptying out a box of his stepfather’s possessions. When he saw me he threw the box at my head.”

“Dear God,” Edward exhaled. “I was in Father’s bedchamber yesterday speaking to Mr. Tompkins. The room was spotless, and everything was stored away.”

“That’s what my butler, Foley, told me when he came to help Mr. Tompkins finish the packing,” Robert replied. “I have to suspect that Brandon decided to go through everything he could get his hands on and didn’t care about the mess he was making.”

“That boy has been no end of trouble,” Edward groaned. “He’s been expelled twice from school and has the most violent temper imaginable.”

“Do you think he took his temper out on Mr. Tompkins?” Robert asked.

“God knows. It’s possible.” Edward shoved a hand through his thinning hair. “Mr. Tompkins was an old man, but he would’ve defended my father’s possessions from anyone.”

“Do you think Mr. Tompkins was the kind of man to kill himself?”

“No. He was devastated by my father’s death but was determined to do the right thing and bring him home to be buried in Yorkshire soil.” Edward grimaced. “And now we will be burying both of them.”

“Then if you think Brandon might have had a hand in Mr. Tompkins’s death what do you intend to do about it?” Robert inquired.

“I think it is too late to try to pretend that Brandon isn’t dangerous. If we can’t locate him ourselves I intend to contact the authorities to see if they can find him. It’s probably pointless to attempt to keep this within the family. There is nothing missing from Brandon’s room, and he ran off without his hat and coat. At some point—unless he has a considerable amount of money in his pocket, which I doubt—he will have to come back here and face us.”

“I agree.” Robert placed his glass on the silver tray. “Would you object if I spoke to Arden before I leave?”

Edward frowned. “May I ask why?”

“I was a cavalry officer during the war and often dealt with junior officers and enlisted men with very little sense and a lot of overconfidence. I suspect that the key to finding Brandon is his brother.

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