Death Around the Bend by T. E. Kinsey
Author:T. E. Kinsey [Kinsey, T. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Historical, Crime
ISBN: 9781503940109
Google: vesuMQAACAAJ
Amazon: 1503940101
Barnesnoble: 1503940101
Goodreads: 33537535
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2017-06-08T06:00:00+00:00
There was, as always, a massive pot of tea at the centre of the table in the servantsâ hall. Lined up in close attendance, like eager acolytes around their glazed china master, were fresh cups, a milk jug, and a sugar bowl. It should have been a place of quiet relaxation and idle chatter. Of course, it wasnât.
There was quiet chatter, but the table was a hive of industry. Clothes were being mended, silverware polished, and one young maid was sorting candles into small bundles for delivery to bedrooms all over the house. There were two oases of calm: Mr Spinney was reading a newspaper, occasionally sharing titbits with Mrs McLelland, while Betty sat alone, staring into thin air. I squeezed in next to her.
âGood morning, Betty, fach,â I said. âYou were up early this morning.â
She smiled ruefully. âI was summoned. Mrs Beddows needed to get ready.â
âI thought they were playing tennis,â I said. âHow much getting ready does that entail? I just laid out a tennis dress and a pair of plimsolls.â
âAh, but Lady Hardcastle is calm and rational. And confident in herself. And not insanely competitive. There was hair to be set, make-up to be applied, muscles to be massaged. And that was before we got round to trying on six different hat-and-ribbon combinations. She brings two tennis rackets. Who owns two tennis rackets?â
I laughed. Mr Spinney caught my eye, clearly trying to decide whether to say something to a visiting servant about speaking so disparagingly about her employer. Unfortunately, Mrs McLellandâs face showed no such indecision â she was obviously very annoyed â and I was unable to stop myself from laughing again. Mr Spinney returned quickly to his newspaper, having decided the battle was over before it had begun.
âThatâs handy,â I said. âLady Hardcastleâs tennis racket was broken during our move to Littleton Cotterell. She never got round to replacing it. Her local friends arenât too keen on tennis.â
âMrs Beddows would never lend her a racket. Sheâs very particular about her tennis rackets.â
âShe sounds like a keen player,â I said. âIs she good?â
âSheâs rubbish. Absolutely hopeless.â
The maids and footmen were concentrating on their work, trying to pretend not to earwig, but their barely stifled laughter gave them away. Mr Spinney cleared his throat and rustled his newspaper, trying to regain control. Muted conversations were resumed.
âStill no news about Mr Dawkins in the newspaper, Mrs McLelland,â said Mr Spinney. âI must say, I find that rather odd. A man dies in tragic circumstances at one of the countryâs most important houses, and no one bats an eyelid. Most odd.â
âWould you rather they made a fuss? Stoked a scandal?â said Mrs McLelland.
âOf course not. Perish the thought,â he said quickly.
âWell, then. Just be thankful theyâre leaving it be. It was a tragic accident, thatâs all. And no need for a fuss.â
The maid with the candles looked up from her work. ââCept they says it wasnât an accident, Mrs McLelland,â she said.
âWhoâs âtheyâ, girl?â
âMorgan, for one. He says the brakes didnât work.
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