Snobbery With Violence - M. C. Beaton [36]
He turned again and surveyed the room. Then he went over to the bed, stripped off the covers and threw them on the floor, and then pulled up the thin mattress. “Bring the candle over here,” he ordered.
Daisy held her candle high as she joined him. Lying under the mattress was a silver locket, a cigarette case, and a piece of fine lace.
“Do you think she stole those items?”
“I think she put them there for safekeeping,” said Daisy. “Lady Rose gave me a bracelet and I keep it under my mattress here in case anyone tries to steal it.”
“Odd,” said Harry. “Did you ever talk to her?”
“Only a little when our ladies were out for a walk. She was talking about morals and saying about the cards on the bedroom doors being there so that the gentlemen would know which room to visit during the night. But she said young ladies were strictly protected. I said that since the party was mostly young ladies, there’d be no goings-on. Something like that. And she said, ‘But some of them can fall. I know...’ And then Miss Bryce-Cuddlestone called for her shawl, so I never did find out what she was talking about.”
Harry stood still for a moment. Then he replaced the mattress and the bedclothes. “You’d best keep quiet about this for the moment,” he said.
“If Miss Gore-Desmond was murdered and Colette knew something and was maybe paid to go away,” said Daisy, “you wouldn’t cover up something like that, sir?”
“No, I couldn’t. Is the superintendent resident in the castle?”
“No, sir, he’s at the Telby Arms.”
“I’d better see him sometime early tomorrow morning,” said Harry, half to himself. “That will be all, Daisy. Let’s go.”
They left the room and began to walk back along the corridor and downstairs.
“Why did you decide to become a lady’s maid?” asked Harry.
“Lady Rose offered me the job.”
“And do you like it?”
“Yes. Ever so.”
“Is anyone courting Lady Rose?”
“Not yet. But they will.”
“Yes, I suppose she will not stay single for long. Society has short memories.”
Although Daisy had promised not to say anything, she thought that promise only concerned the other servants and so told Rose what had happened.
“This is fascinating,” said Rose when she had finished. “Do you know what time Captain Cathcart plans to leave in the morning?”
“I could find out from Becket, his manservant.”
“Would you do that, Daisy?”
“I’ll try. But if he’s retired for the night, I can’t go to the men’s quarters.”
“See if you can find him.”
Daisy went downstairs to the kitchens where the staff were preparing dishes of sandwiches. “Has anyone seen Becket? Captain Cathcart’s man?”
“His master has just rung for him,” said the butler.
Daisy went back upstairs from tower to tower, studying the names on the doors until she found the right one. She retreated a little way and hid in an alcove. At last, she heard the door opening and Becket’s voice saying, “Seven in the morning. Certainly, sir.”
Daisy moved out of the alcove. “Mr. Becket,” she whispered. “I need to talk to you.”
Harry stood in the courtyard in the morning, waiting for Becket to bring the motor car round.
“Good morning, Captain Cathcart.”
He started and turned round. Rose was standing there, heavily veiled, accompanied by Daisy.
“Why are you about so early, Lady Rose?” he asked.
“To accompany you to see the superintendent.”
Harry glared at Daisy, who blushed and muttered, “I only told my lady.”
“And why should you want to see the superintendent?”
“Because I can be of help,” said Rose. Although outwardly calm, Rose was inwardly frightened he would refuse. She was sure he had been invited to try to hush things up and she was determined to see that he did not do so.
He stood looking at her thoughtfully. Then he said, “You may be of use. But do not interrupt when I am talking to the superintendent.”
Superintendent Kerridge was just sitting down to a breakfast of black pudding, kidneys, and bacon and eggs when the landlord informed him that there was a party from the castle to see him.
“Send them