Read Online A Death in the Asylum by Caroline Dunford - Free Book Online Page B

me. ‘I have thought this through. I shall tell the police where we are going, of course, but ensure they keep it in confidence. And I am very sure no one will guess our errand.’
    The man was almost hugging himself with glee. ‘Were you hurt in the attack, sir? Did he strike you also?’
    Mr Bertram actually laughed. ‘No, no, Euphemia. You’re not the only one who can come up with a cunning plan. I’ve decided I shall help Miss Wilton with her next article.’
    ‘Her gossip column?’
    Mr Bertram laughed again. I had never heard him laugh so much so quickly. I began to be seriously worried. He sat down on the edge of the couch beside me and took my hand. ‘I know I can trust you, so I’ll explain. I’m sure Bea won’t mind,’ he stopped, ‘well, she might mind, but once she’s come to know you better it will be all right, so we’d better keep this between ourselves for now.’
    I had the sense of moving out of my depth. Whatever Miss Wilton had told him I was categorically certain she did not intend him to repeat it to his favoured servant. Especially not his favoured female servant. Rory’s warning had never struck me as more appropriate.
    I struggled to sit up. ‘Mr Bertram, you mustn’t …’
    ‘We’re going to help Bea out with her very first piece of investigative journalism. You and me. With our keen brains and her writing ability we’ll make her a star.’
    ‘She’s agreed to this?’
    ‘Well, not yet, but I’m not as obtuse as you think, Euphemia. We’ve been chatting and I think she’s not happy with her lot as a gossip columnist.’
    ‘Oh,’ I said. There didn’t seem to be anything else to say.
    ‘She mentioned she had a lead on something that would make a good story, but that she’d never be allowed to follow it. She said she didn’t feel strong enough to –how did she put it – challenge the bastions of the male-dominated press alone. So I immediately thought we could help her.’
    ‘And she likes the idea?’
    ‘I haven’t told her yet. She has no idea she set off this train of thought.’
    ‘I see,’ I said swallowing rapidly. ‘She has no idea. She just happened to mention to a man she barely knows her secret, heart-cherished ambition.’
    ‘I know,’ said Bertram leaping to his feet. ‘Isn’t it touching?’
    ‘What exactly does she wish to investigate?’
    ‘How we treat the mentally unbalanced in our asylums.’
    ‘How opportune.’
    ‘I don’t think that’s the word you mean, Euphemia. Opportune means–’
    ‘Never mind, sir, you believe she will accept my help? I am a servant after all.’
    ‘I thought we could start by telling her you’ll be acting as a chaperone. I’ll tell you what is happening and you can let me know your ideas. It will be quite like old times.’
    I was lost for words.
    ‘When the time is right I’ll let her know how helpful you’ve been. I won’t hog all the credit to myself, but if for a little while she thinks it’s only me and it brings us closer – oh, Euphemia, you will help me, won’t you?’
    ‘I am your servant, sir, and hardly in a position to refuse.’
    ‘Euphemia, when have I ever asked you to do anything you did not wish?’
    At this point I realised that Mr Bertram was not, as I had hoped, immune to the delightful self-deception that servants were delighted to serve.
    ‘Besides,’ continued my smitten master, ‘it’s only an idea. She may not agree.’
    ‘I’m certain she will accept your offer of help, sir,’ I said unwisely.
    ‘Thank you, Euphemia. You won’t regret it. We will have a grand time.’ And the besotted man burled from the room. I then did something I had never done in this house. I rang the servants’ bell.
    Within a very few minutes Merry was with me. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked breathless.
    I lay back on my pillows, breathless and hot. ‘I’m so sorry to ring for you, Merry, but I need to see Rory. It’s an emergency.’
    On reflection I could have chosen my words