A Death In The Asylum Part 13

*So where do we go from here?' asked Rory.

*Wherever Mr Edward sends us,' I replied.

*Wherever that may be,' muttered Rory darkly, but I was heartened to hear he did not correct my p.r.o.noun. It was a tacit agreement to help. But then I knew he would never let me go into danger alone. Really, I was as manipulative as Miss Wilton.

I got my answer sooner than I expected. A telegram arrived the next morning from AE. It said: Advise visiting _____ Asylum in the county of _______. Late SS advisor and regular donator. Noted in family papers.

AE.

There was no mention of Miss Wilton's notebook. I sighed. How exactly was I meant to travel so far? I would have no choice but to show the telegram to Mr Bertram and I rather feared that in his current mood he would forbid me to go, which would make the journey all the more awkward. I decided to seek Rory's advice.

*There's only one way we can do this, Euphemia,' he said casting his eyes over the paper. *We'll have to take the automobile.'

*But Bertram?'

*You've not told him?'

I shook my head. *I told him of my intention to visit Mr Edward, but he appears to think it was only my natural shock and distress at discovering yet another corpse.'

*Doesn't know you as well as he thinks he does, does he?' said Rory a trifle smugly.

*His mind is elsewhere, but not sufficiently that we can confiscate his vehicle. Why he is out in it most days!'

*He'll be part of the funeral cortege, won't he?'

*We can't! Not then!'

*They'll never notice if you're at the back of the church or not,' said Rory. *You certainly won't be getting any thanks for all the work you've done.'

*But I need to pay my respects.'

*You didn't like the woman.'

*All the more reason,' I said stubbornly. *I regret I wasn't kinder.'

*Look at it this way; you're honouring her by following her line of enquiry.'

*But I don't know that this was her line of enquiry!'

*If Mr Edward is advising you to go there then you can be a.s.sured it's something to do with this mess. It can't be coincidence that it's another asylum he's suggesting.'

*Merrit will have to drive. What do we tell him?'

*Leave that to me,' said Rory.

I did not at all like our plan and on several occasions I determined to tell Mr Bertram all, but each time we spoke, and this was far from frequently, he was clearly preoccupied and grieving. I, in turn, was unreasonably short tempered because of my guilt and, in short, our relationship a whatever it was a was not going well. The day of the funeral advanced relentlessly towards us and I knew I could not tell him on such short notice. Rory had been most noticeable in his absence from my office.

It was the afternoon before Miss Beatrice Wilton's memorial service and of our clandestine adventure when Rory reappeared with a tea-tray.

*I've something to tell yous and I think yer gonna need a biscuit,' he said depositing the tray on my table in the middle of my papers.

*Rory!'

*Donna tell me meist of the work is not already done?'

*You're being alarmingly Scotch,' I said. *What's the matter?'

*I had a wee thought about yon Tipton being away from the hall. I don't know if you know this but there are several men's servants' clubs in the city. I managed to track down the one Tipton's valet belongs to and, after a sufficient number of pints, I managed to extract some information from the man. Seems Tipton had sent him back to town when he learned of the funeral.'

*Rory, you're a marvel.'

*Aye, well,' said Rory pouring the tea. *It wasnae that hard. The man fair loathes his master and was well up to moan about him. I tried not to make my questions too direct, so I got a lot of useless stuff about Tipton's vanity and his weak nature.'

*It might not be useless,' I said. *Anything that gives us insight into his behaviour.'

*There was a lot of talk about how Tipton would come to his room and shout about how unfair the world was to him. How no one appreciated what he did for them. Not many specifics. A lot of rage against Lord Stapleford.'

*That he wouldn't ever say to his face! What a coward.'

*Don't forget he was arguing with him on the night of Mrs Wilson's attack. Although, from what the valet said that does seem very out of character.'

*Like he'd reached breaking point?'

Rory nodded. *What's more he'd been known to throw things at the valet when in a temper. Typical action of a coward. Striking someone who cannot strike back.'

*Was the man hurt?' I asked in horror.

*No, he said all Tipton's servants knew they needed to be nippy on their feet when he was in a mood. But it was more brushes or gla.s.ses. Small things that lay to hand. I understand they keep his apartments especially tidy.'

*I see,' I said thoughtfully. *So a man who might lash out in rage, but not a fighter.'

*But there's more,' said Rory. *It turns out Tipton was in town on the day Miss Wilton died. The valet says Tipton was in a right mood about coming up as if it wasn't his idea at all, but it was all done in a terrible rush. It quite caught him out because he'd been in London only two months ago between the 12th and 19th and Tipton had sworn he hated the place and was never coming back. And guess where he stayed?'

*Here,' I said.

*Correct,' said Rory.

*Are we really suggesting Tipton could be a killer?' I asked.

*Weak men can surprise you when they are pushed hard enough, but I can't see it myself.'

*You don't happen to remember what colour his eyes are, do you?'

*Ach, Euphemia, it's rare to notice anyone's eye colour. It's one of those things you see all the time, but tend not to pay attention to.' He turned his head away. *What's mine?'

*Why, green,' I said astonished. As if anyone could miss his strangely luminous and attractive eyes. *What's mine?'

*Grey,' he said gruffly.

I felt myself blushing. *I suppose we have been in each other's company much more frequently than either of us has been with Mr Tipton.'

*I suppose so,' said Rory.

*I cannot believe Tipton is a killer. Besides, what reason would he have?'

*Tipton,' said Rory slowly, *is very much Lord Stapleford's p.a.w.n.'

*Richenda.'

*Aye, maybe. She'll be a rich woman soon.'

*Isn't she already?'

Rory pulled a face. *I don't like spreading gossip.'

*What have you heard? It might be important.'

*You know the late Lord Stapleford set up a mighty odd bit in his will?'

I nodded impatiently. *We've been over this.'

*Aye, but that's about the hall and grounds. There's a lot more to the Staplefords than that.'

*Of course,' I said feeling very stupid. *The bank and armaments investments.'

*I don't rightly know what it is, but I do know both brothers received their share on the death of their father.'

A cold chill swept down my back a so that was how Bertram had bought White Orchards! After all his protestations about not using or accepting blood money!

*However,' Rory continued, *Miss Richenda, being a woman, has to wait until she reaches a suitable age. This autumn, it turns out. Until then her money is held in trust by her brother. But if she marries, it will go directly to her husband's control.'

*What!' I gasped astonished.

*It's the normal way of things, Euphemia.'

*But that's terrible! How did you find out?'

*Merry heard her raging about it.'

*And told you?'

*You know Merry and I were getting along. I told you I fancied she wanted a wee bit more. Which is why I was gey glad Merrit appeared on the scene. She's a lovely la.s.s, but not my type at all. Besides, it wouldn't have been professional.'

*Of course not,' I said coldly. *We servants are not allowed lives of our own, let alone relationships.'

*Would you want one?' asked Rory.

*I hope one day to marry and have my own family,' I said as evenly as I could.

*I'll bear that in mind,' said Rory.

I felt myself blushing from my head to my toes.

Chapter Nine.

A Stapleford Secret

*I'm sorry, sir,' I said gently. *I don't believe it would be proper.'

*Fine. Suit yourself.' Bertram turned on his heel and walked away quickly without a backward glance.

Rory appeared beside me. *Did I hear the man asking you to be his escort for the funeral?'

I nodded. There was a lump in my throat too large to speak.

*The man's out of his mind! You're a servant not his equal.'

*I don't think he sees it like that.'

*Well, he should,' said Rory angrily.

*I like that about him,' I said equally angrily.

*Good G.o.d, Euphemia! Don't you see? Everyone would think you were his mistress! And besides the sheer bad manners of bringing his mistress to his lover's funeral it would ruin your reputation for life!'

*His mistress?' I gasped.

*I'm the one who used to belong to the communist party and I wouldn't do such a thing in his position. You're constantly courting disaster around that man. He doesn't think.'

I bowed my head. *I believe you were right when you told me not to accept the position at White Orchards.'

*Aye, well,' said Rory in a mollified tone. *Now the n.o.bs are away let's get on with the real business of today.'

Merrit was waiting for us in the automobile. Rory opened the door and handed me in. He tapped on the gla.s.s and Merrit drove off without a word.

*I told him where we're going,' said Rory, *but not why. He won't ask any questions.'