Southampton Row - Anne Perry [43]
But they were safe, and even if that was not what seemed most important to her, it was to Pitt. He had felt the possibility of danger, and to bring the children here was the only way now in which she could help.
She heard a noise behind her and turned to see a pony and trap coming up the winding track just below them. There was a man driving it, face wind-burned, eyes narrowed against the brilliance of the light, as if searching for something. He saw them, and as he drew level he looked at her more closely.
“Arternoon,” he said pleasantly enough. “You’ll be the lady as ’as come to rent the Garths’ cottage over yon.” He nodded, but it was a statement that seemed to require an answer.
“Yes,” Charlotte agreed.
“That’s wot I told ’em,” he said with satisfaction, picking up the reins again and urging the pony forward.
Charlotte looked at Gracie. Gracie took a step after the man, then stopped. “Mebbe it’s just interest, like?” she said quietly. “There can’t be much ’appens ’round ’ere.”
“Yes, of course,” Charlotte agreed. “All the same, don’t let the children go out of sight. And we’ll lock the doors at night. Safer, even out here.”
“Yeah . . . o’ course,” Gracie said firmly. “Don’t want no wild animals wanderin’ in . . . foxes and the like, or wotever. I dunno wot they ’ave ’ere.” She stared into the distance. “I’nt it . . . beautiful! D’yer think mebbe I should keep a diary, or summink? I might never see anyfink like this again.”
“That’s a very good idea,” Charlotte said instantly. “We all will. Children! Where are you?” She was absurdly relieved when she heard their answer and all three of them came chasing back over the tussocky grass. She must not allow herself to spoil their happiness with fears for which there was no reason.
CHAPTER
FIVE
The day after the murder of Maude Lamont the newspapers gave it sufficient importance to place it on the front page, along with election news and foreign events. There was no question that it had been a crime rather than an accident or natural causes. The police presence confirmed as much, but there had been no statement issued beyond the fact that the housekeeper, Miss Lena Forrest, had summoned them. She had refused to speak, and Inspector Tellman had said only that the matter was being investigated.
Standing by the kitchen table, Pitt poured himself a second cup of tea and offered to do the same for Tellman, who was moving impatiently from one foot to the other. He declined.
“We’ve seen half a dozen of the other clients,” he said, frowning. “They all swear by her. Say she was the most gifted medium they’d ever known. Whatever that means.” He threw it out almost as a challenge, as if he wanted Pitt to explain it. He was deeply unhappy with the whole subject, and yet obviously whatever he had been told since Pitt had last seen him had disturbed the simple contempt he had had before.
“What did she tell them, and how?” Pitt asked.
Tellman glared at him. “Spirits coming out of her mouth,” he said, waiting for the derision he was certain would follow. “Wavering and sort of . . . fuzzy, but they were quite sure it was the head and face of someone they knew.”
“And where was Maude Lamont while this was going on?” Pitt asked.
“Sitting in her chair at the head of the table, or in a special sort of cabinet they had built, so her hands couldn’t escape. She suggested that herself, for their belief.”
“What did she charge for this?” He sipped his tea.
“One said two guineas, another said five,” Tellman answered, biting his lip. “Thing is, if she’s just saying it’s entertainment, and they won’t bring a charge against her, there wouldn’t have been anything we could do anyway. Can’t arrest a conjurer, and they paid willingly. I suppose it’s a bit of comfort . . . isn’t it?”
“It probably