Murder at Mansfield Park - Lynn Shepherd [67]
‘Were there any other marks or blemishes on the body, Miss Crawford,’ he continued, ‘that particularly engaged your notice?’
Mary’s feelings had been in such a tumult, that she could not have articulated a sensible answer, had the same question been put to her on the spot; but now, under the influence of his questions, her mind was becoming calm, and her recollections exactly defined.
‘I did notice her hands.’
‘Her hands?’
Mary nodded slowly. ‘Miss Price was always rather vain of her hands. But her finger-nails were broken, and there was mud under them. And there were cuts on both her palms.’
‘And you concluded from this?’
Mary could not remember concluding any thing at all at the time, but she found herself replying before she was aware, ‘I suppose it is possible that she attempted to defend herself.’
‘Quite so, quite so. That is very likely, I should say.’
‘There was also the question of the clothes,’ continued Mary, hesitatingly.
‘Go on.’
‘She was wearing a very handsome pelisse, trimmed with fur, which I believe had been given to her by her uncle, just before he left for Cumberland. And underneath that, a white muslin gown. Her boots, also, were of very fine leather—’
Maddox waved his hand. ‘I am sure all this is most fascinating for you young ladies, but—’
‘If you would allow me to finish Mr Maddox, I was going on to say that her boots were caked in mud. They were not designed for walking any great distance, but I believe that is what she must have done. The weather had lately been very wet.’
‘I see—’
‘Moreover, the front of the gown was stained with mud. In particular, there were two large dark patches on the skirt.’
It was Maddox’s turn to look bewildered.
‘Do you not see the significance, Mr Maddox? Miss Price was discovered at the bottom of the trench, lying on her back. I was present at that dreadful moment, and I can attest to that. But the marks on her gown would suggest that she had also, at some point, fallen forwards, onto her knees.’
Maddox looked at her with new respect. ‘Was there any thing else about her appearance that you noted? Was she, for instance, wearing a wedding ring?’
‘No.’
‘Was she carrying a purse?’
‘No. Nor, I believe, was one discovered in the trench.’
‘So she had no money about her at all?’
‘No, Mr Maddox, none.’
This exchange was succeeded by a silence of some minutes. Mary was suddenly aware of the sound of the clock on Sir Thomas’s desk, and the crepitation of the subsiding fire.
‘Now, Miss Crawford,’ said Maddox at length, ‘we come to what we might call the heart of the matter. It is clear that you are not a young woman given to fits of the hysterics. Nonetheless, these are not pleasant subjects. Not pleasant subjects, at all. Would you like me to fetch you a glass of water, before we proceed?’
‘No, thank you, Mr Maddox. I am perfectly composed.’
‘Quite so, quite so. My next question, then, returns to the subject of her clothes. You have given ample proof of a discerning eye, Miss Crawford, so tell me, was her dress in such a state as you might expect to find it?’
‘How so, Mr Maddox?’
‘Was it, shall we say, torn, or rent in any way?’
‘There was, I believe, a small tear to the collar of her pelisse. The trim had come away in one place.’
‘It was her dress I enquired after, Miss Crawford, not the pelisse.’
‘In that case, the answer is no. Apart from the stains I described, it was unharmed.’
‘And when you washed the body, you noticed no other injuries, beyond those you have described? None, shall we say, of a more intimate nature?’
Mary shook her head, feeling her face must be like scarlet; so this was why he had wanted to question her alone. Much as she resented being indebted to him on any account, she could not but be grateful that Edmund was not in the room at that very instant. Maddox gave her no time to recover her composure; indeed, he gave no sign of having perceived her confusion.
‘And what