Read Online 1 A Motive for Murder by Morgana Best - Free Book Online
Authors: Morgana Best
Ads: Link
investigating the vaccine when she infiltrated the Sultan's harem in Constantinople. Vaccine for smallpox was unknown in Europe at the time, and when she returned home she caused public controversy by advocating it."
"Lady Mary was ahead of her times, an amazing woman; you would have liked her," Douglas said to me.
"Sounds like you knew her!" I turned to Douglas, but instead of laughing, his face had turned red and he looked stricken. I had no chance to ponder this as the guide was walking past me now and speaking.
"The Dining Room holds portraits of members of the Divan Club. The membership was open to those who had visited the Ottoman Empire and was founded by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, and Sir Francis Dashwood. You would all know John Montagu as the Earl of Sandwich - he is the one said to have invented the sandwich."
While the guide was speaking, she led us back though the entrance. I wondered again at the painted ceiling.
"That concludes our tour of the lower part of the house. The family lives here, and the upstairs section is private. All of you, please feel free to walk around the grounds and the Lake. You will see Classical architecture from Greece and Rome. You will see the beautiful Temple of Music on an island in the lake, based on the Temple of Vesta in Rome. Keep an eye out for the Temple of the Winds, an octagonal tower based on the Tower of the Winds in Athens. If you follow the path around the lake, you will come to the Temple of Flora, which is a hidden summerhouse, and the Temple of Daphne. Another hidden temple is the Round Temple, and then closer to the house, you will find the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Diana. See that equestrian statue up there on the hill; it looks real, doesn't it!"
We all agreed.
"It's fiberglass. It was put here by a film crew and Sir Francis Dashwood - not the original Hellfire Club Sir Francis, the late Sir Francis who passed away recently - asked them to leave it here." With that, the guide thanked us and left.
Douglas steered me down to the lake by my elbow. "You know, that last part isn't correct. Sir Francis bought that fiberglass statue from Pinewood Studios - he only paid eleven bottles of champagne."
"Did you know him?"
"No, not that Sir Francis. I'm just interested in the Dashwoods."
Douglas's statement didn't make sense. "Which Sir Francis did you know; how many were there?" I asked.
The tense expression was back on Douglas's face. "What? Oh sorry, I was distracted. Let's go to the lake."
Douglas hurried me around the lake. We went so fast I'd felt like I'd been to the gym. I decided to come back by myself in a week or two to have good look around. We were already back at the car when the other tourists were still about a quarter of their way around the lake.
Douglas unlocked the car and opened the door for me. "I suggest we see the Hellfire Caves tomorrow; that'll give you an insight into Sir Francis Dashwood. If you like, I can detour to my home on the way back; I have a portrait of Sir Frances which shows much of his character."
"Is that like asking me up to see your etchings?" I wished I hadn't said it; I was sure my face was turning beet red.
Douglas laughed. "You never know your luck."
As we sped out in the direction of Oxford, judging by the roadside signs that is, I wondered what sort of house Douglas lived in. I had guessed it would be expensive; I just hadn't realized quite how grand. I had my first idea when the Bentley stopped outside huge, solid, metal security gates. At the touch of a control in the car by Douglas, the gates opened to a curved gravel driveway winding its way between lime trees through manicured lawns and immaculate gardens. There in front of me was what an Aussie could only describe as a mansion.
"Welcome to Rosebery Abbey," Douglas said as he escorted me to the front door. "It's a Georgian country house. It was built out of stone from the ruins of the original abbey. Rosebery Abbey is an example of
"Lady Mary was ahead of her times, an amazing woman; you would have liked her," Douglas said to me.
"Sounds like you knew her!" I turned to Douglas, but instead of laughing, his face had turned red and he looked stricken. I had no chance to ponder this as the guide was walking past me now and speaking.
"The Dining Room holds portraits of members of the Divan Club. The membership was open to those who had visited the Ottoman Empire and was founded by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, and Sir Francis Dashwood. You would all know John Montagu as the Earl of Sandwich - he is the one said to have invented the sandwich."
While the guide was speaking, she led us back though the entrance. I wondered again at the painted ceiling.
"That concludes our tour of the lower part of the house. The family lives here, and the upstairs section is private. All of you, please feel free to walk around the grounds and the Lake. You will see Classical architecture from Greece and Rome. You will see the beautiful Temple of Music on an island in the lake, based on the Temple of Vesta in Rome. Keep an eye out for the Temple of the Winds, an octagonal tower based on the Tower of the Winds in Athens. If you follow the path around the lake, you will come to the Temple of Flora, which is a hidden summerhouse, and the Temple of Daphne. Another hidden temple is the Round Temple, and then closer to the house, you will find the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Diana. See that equestrian statue up there on the hill; it looks real, doesn't it!"
We all agreed.
"It's fiberglass. It was put here by a film crew and Sir Francis Dashwood - not the original Hellfire Club Sir Francis, the late Sir Francis who passed away recently - asked them to leave it here." With that, the guide thanked us and left.
Douglas steered me down to the lake by my elbow. "You know, that last part isn't correct. Sir Francis bought that fiberglass statue from Pinewood Studios - he only paid eleven bottles of champagne."
"Did you know him?"
"No, not that Sir Francis. I'm just interested in the Dashwoods."
Douglas's statement didn't make sense. "Which Sir Francis did you know; how many were there?" I asked.
The tense expression was back on Douglas's face. "What? Oh sorry, I was distracted. Let's go to the lake."
Douglas hurried me around the lake. We went so fast I'd felt like I'd been to the gym. I decided to come back by myself in a week or two to have good look around. We were already back at the car when the other tourists were still about a quarter of their way around the lake.
Douglas unlocked the car and opened the door for me. "I suggest we see the Hellfire Caves tomorrow; that'll give you an insight into Sir Francis Dashwood. If you like, I can detour to my home on the way back; I have a portrait of Sir Frances which shows much of his character."
"Is that like asking me up to see your etchings?" I wished I hadn't said it; I was sure my face was turning beet red.
Douglas laughed. "You never know your luck."
As we sped out in the direction of Oxford, judging by the roadside signs that is, I wondered what sort of house Douglas lived in. I had guessed it would be expensive; I just hadn't realized quite how grand. I had my first idea when the Bentley stopped outside huge, solid, metal security gates. At the touch of a control in the car by Douglas, the gates opened to a curved gravel driveway winding its way between lime trees through manicured lawns and immaculate gardens. There in front of me was what an Aussie could only describe as a mansion.
"Welcome to Rosebery Abbey," Douglas said as he escorted me to the front door. "It's a Georgian country house. It was built out of stone from the ruins of the original abbey. Rosebery Abbey is an example of
Similar Books
