Read Online A Death by Arson by Caroline Dunford - Free Book Online Page B

Mary Hill has retired yet, and if she has not, request her to join Miss Lucinda in her rooms.’
    The footman gave her a look filled with disdain, but nodded curtly. The maid threw Bertram and me a furious look and helped Lucinda out of the door.
    â€˜I say,’ said Bertram, ‘that was jolly well out of order.’
    â€˜Which bit?’ I asked distractedly.
    â€˜That maid! The way she looked at us. Like it was all our fault.’
    â€˜What else was she to think?’ I replied. ‘We were the only two left in the room. You don’t think it could be the same Mary Hill, do you?’
    â€˜Same?’ asked Bertram. Then realisation dawned in his eyes. For all Bertram can, far too frequently, and especially around his family, perform an excellent impression of an idiot, he has a quick and active mind. ‘Mary Hill, the suffragette, who you were in jail with and who you wrongly accused of murder?’
    â€˜We accused,’ I said automatically.
    â€˜It was your idea to do the confrontational tea.’
    â€˜Confrontational tea! What a way of putting it.’ I sighed and rubbed a hand across my tired eyes. ‘But yes, you’re right. Really, this New Year is getting better and better.’
    â€˜Never mind,’ said Bertram, patting me on the shoulder awkwardly. ‘At least no one is dead.’
    â€˜Yet.’
    â€˜Don’t. Just don’t, Euphemia,’ warned Bertram.
    â€˜Do you honestly think Richard is going to sit by and let his sister take the country seat from him?’
    â€˜He doesn’t need it. He’s got all this! And probably more.’
    â€˜It’s never been about the money,’ I said. ‘Owning Stapleford Hall is an obsession with him. He killed twice to get his seat in Parliament.’
    â€˜I say, hush,’ said Bertram. ‘You can’t go around saying things like that. Nothing was ever proved against him.’
    â€˜There’s only us here,’ I said. ‘And you know it’s true. Or do you think we have been misjudging your half-brother all these years?’
    Bertram sat down in a wing-backed chair. ‘No,’ he said, sighing deeply. ‘My half-brother is as black-hearted as they come.’
    â€˜The question is whether he is black-hearted, as you so poetically phrased it, enough to kill his pregnant twin sister?’
    Bertram made a gargling noise and went rather pale.
    â€˜You have developed the most alarming habit of letting your jaw go slack when you are startled,’ I said. ‘It is most unattractive and makes you look quite stupid.’
    â€˜Since you have become Richenda’s companion,’ snapped Bertram, ‘you, Euphemia, have changed a lot and not, I may add, in a good way. When I think of the sweet little maid I first found searching my room…’
    â€˜That’s better,’ I said. ‘You think so much better when you’re annoyed than when you are startled.’
    Bertram raised his eyebrows at me and poured himself another scotch. ‘Do you really think he would murder Richenda?’ he asked, taking his seat by the fire and motioning me to join him.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ I said slowly. ‘It would be difficult to do. I mean, there are a lot of people in the castle and once she has returned to the Muller estate I am sure Hans can keep her safe.’
    â€˜You put a lot of trust in Muller,’ said Bertram grumpily.
    â€˜However, it occurs to me that in a crowded castle with so many alterations, twisting staircases…’
    â€˜He might find her alone and off her?’ finished Bertram dramatically.
    â€˜No, but he might arrange for a slight accident.’
    â€˜How would that help him?’ asked Bertram.
    â€˜I meant a fall.’
    Bertram shrugged. ‘I don’t see how getting her bruised would help him. He’s always been the kind of mean little sneak that would put trip wires across stairs when