will see if Lord Bellevue will speak with you.” He looked down his nose at Samuel. “You may wait in the kitchen until your mistress is ready to leave.”
Cecily opened her mouth to protest, but Samuel was too quick for her. “I prefer to wait in the carriage,” he said stiffly.
“Suit yourself.” The butler turned and headed across the wide entrance hall to a narrow passage beyond.
“Samuel, see if you can find a gardener to show you where the gamekeeper died,” Cecily whispered. “Take a good look around and see if you can see anything out of the ordinary.”
“Very well, m’m.” Samuel marched off, his head held high.
Glowering at the butler’s back, Cecily followed him to a small room off the library. Left alone, she studied the china figurines in the curio close by her chair. The delicate pieces were quite beautiful, and she was still staring at them when the butler opened the door.
“Lady Marion,” he announced, and stood aside to allow the woman to enter.
Surprised that the lord’s wife had come in the place of her husband, Cecily sprang to her feet. “Please forgive me for this intrusion, Lady Marion. If it were not for the dire circumstances I would not have disturbed you at this time.”
“I quite understand. My husband thought it better if I talk to you.” Lady Marion seemed a little pale but otherwise quite in control of her emotions. With her auburn hair and wide green eyes she was an attractive woman, regal in her stature and graceful in her movements.
“Please,” she said, taking a seat on the davenport, “tell me how I can help you. I’m told you are assisting in the investigation of this dreadful spate of crimes.”
“Yes, I am.” Cecily sat down and folded her hands in her lap. “I was hoping you could tell me more about what happened. I know it’s all terribly upsetting but-”
“It’s all right, my dear. I’ll do the best I can. I really don’t know that much, however. Harry…” Her voice broke and she took a moment to compose herself. “My gamekeeper was shooting pheasants for a dinner party I’d planned for this evening. Apparently one of the gardeners found him…” Again she paused. “Please excuse me. The shock, you know.”
“Of course.” Cecily gave her a moment, then added, “I heard he was shot with his own gun.”
“Yes, I believe he was.”
“And the gardeners saw no one lurking around the grounds? No sign of a horse, or a carriage?”
“No one.” She shuddered. “This is all so terrifying.”
Cecily could see the conversation was causing the woman some pain and hurried to bring it to an end. “Do you know if Mr. Farnsworth was acquainted with a man named Thomas Willow?”
Lady Marion seemed startled. “Thomas? Yes, of course. He made Harry’s shoes as well as my husband’s.” She shook her head. “It’s hard to believe Thomas has gone as well. He’s been a mainstay in the High Street for so many years. I never liked the man, too caustic by far, but he had his reasons. I suppose anyone would be ill-tempered trying to keep a struggling business running.” She looked up. “I understand Lester Salt is taking over for him.”
“So I heard.”
“Such a capable man, though I feel sorry for him. The poor man has inherited nothing but debts. I must say, he seemed to be handling everything quite well when I spoke to him.”
Cecily raised her eyebrows. “When was that?”
“Just the other day. He brought my husband’s new shoes.” Lady Marion frowned. “He’s all right, isn’t he? I mean, he’s not…”
“No, no. Lester is quite well as far as I know.”
“Thank goodness.” Lady Marion patted her throat. “This is all such a terrible nightmare. With everything that’s been happening, one wonders if anyone is safe. My husband has been keeping one of Harry’s shotguns by his side ever since we heard the dreadful news.”
“Did Mr. Farnsworth know Colin Mackerbee, the pig farmer?”
Lady Marion looked confused. “I don’t understand. What does any of this have to do with Harry’s murder?”
“Maybe nothing.” Cecily paused, then added, “Though there’s a possibility that all these men died by the same hand.”
Lady Marion sat up, her eyes wide with fear. “Great heavens! What kind of maniac do we have in our midst?”
Cecily did her best to reassure her. “I don’t wish to alarm you, Lady Marion. I’m quite sure that whoever killed your gamekeeper is far from here by now.”
Fanning her face with her hand, Lady Marion sank back on the davenport. “I certainly hope you are right.”
“Can you think of anyone who might have wanted to hurt Mr. Farnsworth?”
Lady Marion’s eyes filled with tears. “He was the gentlest man I know. He had the wit of a joker and the soul of a child. All those who knew him loved him. I shall miss him dreadfully.”
Something in the way she said it made Cecily wonder if the woman’s fondness for her gamekeeper went beyond a normal relationship between an employer and a member of her staff.
In the next moment she decided she was being uncharitable and unnecessarily suspicious. “Well, thank you, Lady Marion. I will pass your comments on to P.C. Northcott in the hopes that it might help in his investigation.”
Lady Marion rose, steadying herself with one hand on the arm of the davenport. “You will let me know if this beast is caught? I shall not have a moment’s peace until I know he is safely behind bars.”
“Of course. I shall make sure you are notified.” Cecily sent a last glance at the curio. “I’ve been admiring your figurines. They are quite beautiful.”
The other woman managed a wan smile. “Thank you. They are from Royal Doulton, in Staffordshire. I started to collect them while on holiday there.”
Cecily was about to turn away when her glance fell on a photograph of Lady Marion and her husband dressed in evening clothes. “What a lovely gown! I saw one just like it at my dressmaker’s house the other day.”
“That was most likely my gown.” Lady Marion picked up the silver frame. “Was it in shades of maroon and black?”
“Yes, it was.” Cecily took another look at the photograph. “Of course, I should have known. Caroline said it was a Paris original.”
“It’s my favorite gown.” Lady Marion put down the frame and walked to the door, prompting Cecily to follow her. “Caroline is a very good seamstress. She’s a nervous little thing but has an excellent command of her talent. Most accommodating, as well. She delivered the gown herself. I must admit, when Pauline told me she would be spending the month in London I was quite dismayed, since I had torn the hem and it needed expert attention. Caroline, however, came to my rescue.” She paused at the door, one hand on the bell rope. “I shan’t be wearing it this evening, after all. I have canceled the dinner party. I just couldn’t face it with Harry gone.”
She pulled the rope, saying, “Jarvis will see you out. Thank you for your efforts in finding who did this. I hope you are successful in your quest.”
“I hope so, too.”
The door opened to reveal the butler, his face still stark with disapproval.
Cecily turned once more to Lady Marion. “Thank you for your help in this. I just have one more question. Was your husband as fond of Mr. Farnsworth as you were?”
Her question was directed at the other woman, but out of the corner of her eye she watched the butler. She thought she saw a flicker of alarm cross his face, but it was gone so quickly she couldn’t be sure.
“Of course he was.” Lady Marion’s voice had sharpened. “As I said, everyone loved Harry. Including my husband.”
Cecily nodded. “Then good day to you. I shall see that you are informed when there is any news.” She followed the butler to the door, and quickly stepped outside.
Samuel was pacing around the carriage when she reached it. Despite his hat and warm scarf, his face was pinched and his shoulders hunched against the wind.
“You would have done better to wait in the warm kitchen,” Cecily said, as she stepped up into the carriage.
“I don’t like being ordered about by a butler,” Samuel said stiffly.
Cecily could understand how he felt. Most people didn’t understand the relationship she had with her stable
