The Mammoth Book of New Sherlock Holmes Adventures - Mike Ashley [30]
“Hear me out, I implore you.” Mabel Bertram laid aside her muff and clasped agitated hands. “I am not alone in being excluded from her door. My stepmother has suffered from an affliction of the lungs for many years and a doctor has been in constant attendance. Imagine my horror when I was informed by Dr Royce Miles that he no longer calls upon Lady Abernetty – at the request of her son Charles, and this after a professional attendance of many years.” Her lower lip trembled. “Mr Holmes, I fear for my stepmother’s life.”
My friend frowned. “Have you reason to believe your brother and sister have anything but the most loving regard for their mother?”
Mabel Bertram coughed discreetly behind a lace-trimmed handkerchief. “My stepmother has many admirable qualities, Mr Holmes, but I think it fair to say that with her children she was something of a Tartar. There was never any question of either Charles or Sabina marrying. Her formidable manner drove away any suitors or lady friends. Alice much preferred to have them at her own beck and call. Son and daughter have always been expected to stay close to home and Alice has always kept a tight grip on the purse-strings. Now I hear Sabina’s been seen gadding about in new gowns and Charles has joined the Footlights Amateur Dramatic Society.”
“Dear me!” Holmes smiled in amusement.
“Mr Holmes, I fear my stepmother no longer has the power to influence her children.”
“Would that be such a bad thing?” asked my friend, quietly. “Their indulgences seem innocent enough.” He suddenly lifted a piercing gaze to her companion. “In what capacity do you accompany Mrs Bertram, Mr Aston Plush?”
The gentleman hesitated. “As Mrs Bertram’s legal adviser and friend.”
“You are a solicitor then?”
“Mr Plush handled my late husband’s estate and before that his business affairs,” intervened Mrs Bertram. “He has been kind enough to act for me in this matter.”
“I have written several letters expressing Mrs Bertram’s concern and requesting access to her stepmother. Beyond that my hands are tied. There is no legal way we can obtain admittance to the house on Grosvenor Square. Were we to force entry the Abernettys would be quite within their rights to summon the police.”
“I did enter the house through the servants’ entrance on the first day I was refused admittance,” confessed Mrs Bertram, with a slight blush.
“You did not tell me this …” began the lawyer in a vexed tone.
“My dear, it was a humiliating experience. I was actually ejected by the butler. Charles and Sabina reacted with quite uncharacteristic hostility. Perhaps because I had seen evidence of their neglect of their mother.”
“Indeed, and what was that?” Holmes glanced at her keenly.
“It was Lady Abernetty’s custom to have a roll with parsley butter for her breakfast every morning. The cook had obviously prepared the tray, but there was the butter still standing on the table at noon with the parsley quite sunk into the butter. Alice always demanded a well-run, fastidious kitchen …”
“And when did this visit take place?” interrupted Holmes.
“On the first day of August.”
“And you have not seen Lady Abernetty since.” He returned his attention to Aston Plush. “Did you receive any response to your correspondence?”
“Two letters, one from each of the children and each couched in similar terms, reiterating that their mother wished no further communication with Mrs Bertram. There was no cause for alarm concerning Lady Abernetty’s health. Would Mrs Bertram please leave the matter as it stands?”
My friend returned his gaze to Mabel Bertram’s face. “But you feel you cannot do so …”
The lady leaned forward. “I see I must confide in you my darkest fears. You may think me a fanciful, even hysterical woman, but I fear my stepmother has met with foul play. Only tell me this isn’t so, Mr Holmes, and I will never