Duck Season Death by June Wright

Author:June Wright [Wright, June]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781891241987
Publisher: Verse Chorus Press

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Dinner that night was quite a lively meal. There was an air of tacit celebration about it. What with the good bags obtained at the opening of the season and the result of the inquest, everyone felt at temporary peace with each other. Even Charles’s past behaviour was overlooked, with Mrs Dougall setting the example by addressing him with gracious condescension.

McGrath was accepted without curiosity as someone who had heard by chance that there was a free room at the Duck and Dog. Only Ellis showed any signs of scepticism, making one or two of those quizzical little remarks with which he liked to prove his awareness of anything unusual. “Quite a happy coincidence!” he remarked when McGrath was introduced, “but we don’t hold with coincidences, do we, Charles? Quite against the rules!”

“What rules?” asked McGrath stolidly. He was presenting an amiable, ox-like front to the company which Charles secretly applauded—especially when Ellis’s bland barbs fell short. At first he wondered if Shelagh had told her father of the new guest’s identity, but a hurried consultation with her at the servery window reassured him. In fact, she gave the impression that Charles’s affairs were of less moment than the exact timing of adding a glass of port to the ducks cooked ‘en casserole’.

“I had the misfortune to be waylaid this morning by our good doctor’s wife,” Ellis announced presently. “A truly redoubtable woman! She held me transfixed until she extracted my promise to attend some arty-crafty tea party she is conducting tomorrow.”

“What do you mean—arty-crafty?” demanded Mrs Dougall with a booming, slightly self-conscious laugh. “I met Mrs Spenser too. She wants me to give her guests a talk on some of our Indian experiences. One must do one’s bit, you know.”

“So long as it’s only a bit,” murmured Ellis as he turned to Charles. “The things that woman made me promise! She talked down any objections I had before I could even produce them. I found myself finally suggesting all sorts of items to help her wretched soirée, or whatever it is. You, Charles, are to give a talk—your presence here delights her more than it does her spouse. What have you done to offend our medico, I wonder? Of course, it is most regrettable that Mrs Spenser is not able to capture a greater literary lion. She tried so hard on past occasions with your poor Athol. The naughty fellow was quite brutal in his snubs, so do be complaisant like a good chap.” He switched his mocking gaze to McGrath, who was enjoying his dinner solemnly, apparently impervious to his surroundings. “And our latest acquisition to the Duck and Dog! Such a pity that time will not allow us to discover some latent talent which I feel sure lurks behind that phlegmatic exterior—eh, Mr McGrath?”

The detective merely grinned politely and went on masticating.

“Ellis smells something,” Charles muttered in McGrath’s ear as they left the dining room. “Trust him! Look, I’m going to get out of the way. They won’t loosen up while I’m around.

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