The Ledbury Lamplighters by Kerry Tombs

Author:Kerry Tombs [Kerry Tombs]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780709099208
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2012-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

‘Well, sir, and what did you make of the old banker’s will?’ asked Crabb, helping himself to another piece of cheese in the snug at the Feathers.

‘It was certainly a most interesting document. The only one who stands to benefit substantially from the will is Mrs Montacute. Maurice was quite clearly upset when he learnt that he had acquired neither The Gables nor his father’s money, although his share of the bank must amount to something. Poor Rupert stood to gain nothing from either the new will or the old will – and I wonder why his father treated him so harshly?’ replied Ravenscroft, warming his hands in front of the roaring fire.

‘Probably his father thought that Rupert would only drink away any monies left to him.’

‘Possibly but it was unusual for him not to have been provided for in some small way. It was almost as though the old man was punishing him for being his son.’

‘As neither of the two sons stood to gain by old Montacute’s death, there would have been no reason for either of them to have killed him,’ suggested Crabb, before taking a drink of his ale.

‘And likewise we can discount Rivers, Mrs Chambers and Major Onslow, as they only received small sums and had nothing to gain by Montacute’s death. Then there was Catherwood. Why the devil did he turn up for the reading? He surely cannot have expected anything from his old enemy. The pound he was left was clearly meant as an insult. No, as I said, the only person who stood to gain by Montacute’s death was his wife,’ said Ravenscroft, sitting down at the table and breaking a piece of bread.

‘You think she killed him?’

‘If she did, she would not have been the first wife who poisoned her husband in order to obtain his wealth – but she was clearly well situated and provided for by her husband and seems genuinely saddened by his death. One can understand why the old banker changed his will so that his new young bride would be taken care of when he died. After all, Montacute was over sixty. No, I think you could say that none of the people present at the reading today would have killed old Montacute in the expectation of becoming richer as a result.’

‘With the exception of Catherwood,’ interjected Crabb.

‘Yes, I agree with you, Tom, but although Catherwood stood to gain nothing financially by the old man’s death, he could still have acted out or revenge or hatred.’

‘There is still Leewood.’

‘Indeed, yes, Leewood. Although I cannot see Leewood resorting to poison, he nevertheless cannot be ruled out until he has been secured and questioned. I had hoped that the reading of the will would have provided us with some indication as to who murdered old Nathaniel Montacute, but I have to confess that the mystery appears to grow cloudier with each hour that passes. We seem to be no further forward in our investigations than when we first began,’ said Ravenscroft, sighing and looking into the flames of the fire.

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