A Death in the Wedding Party Read Online Free

just telling Lord Stapleford, you never know when you might get another. Makes the place most unsuitable for a grand function.’
    ‘You idiot! He might well sell the Hall.’
    ‘Rubbish! the three of ‘em want this Hall mighty badly. It’s their father’s prize. Goodness knows why. I’ve suggested we have the plumbing system thoroughly cleaned and investigated. It needs a good going over if you ask me.’
    ‘And I suppose they will find newts?’ I said.
    ‘Pockets here and there,’ said Rory.
    ‘But this just delays things. It doesn’t solve matters.’
    ‘A delay is all we need,’ said Rory. ‘Miss Richenda is determined to be wed on her birthday and that Hall plumbing certainly can’t be refurbished by then.’
    ‘You think you’re very clever, don’t you?’
    Rory gave a self-satisfied shrug. ‘All I know is I want the wedding off Mrs Deighton’s shoulders and that wee weasel-faced shy–’
    ‘Thank you, I get the idea. I have no more liking for Mr Tipton than you.’
    Rory’s face clouded. ‘It’s more than that,’ he said. ‘I tell you, Euphemia, there’s something deeply wrong with that man.’

Chapter Four
The Bride Triumphs
    ‘I’m beginning to wish I had never started this,’ said Rory. His shoes and his trouser cuffs were unsuitably muddy. We were standing in the kitchen late at night when the family was abed. Rory was holding two buckets full of newts.
    I gave him a smile. ‘You didn’t think this through, did you?’ I said. ‘As soon as they think there is any chance the house will be fine, the wedding invites will be sent out.’
    Rory sat down. ‘We’ve been through some daft schemes, you and I, but this is the daftest yet.’
    ‘Don’t include me. This is entirely your plan. And to be honest I’m surprised at you. It seems outwith your normal character.’
    Rory stirred one bucket with the end of Mrs Deighton’s second best spoon. ‘They would have got rid of her, you know,’ he said. ‘Probably without a pension too. I’ve seen it done before. She’s got nae family, you know.’
    ‘I’m afraid all you have done is delay the inevitable. Mrs Deighton is getting too old to run the kitchen of a large house.’
    ‘Once Richenda and her husband have moved out …’ began Rory.
    ‘Who says they will? I hope it as much as you, but you know that ridiculous will for inheriting the Hall states that the children must stay in residence until they produce a legitimate heir, and whoever does so will inherit the Hall.’
    ‘Aye, and don’t tell me, it’s about inheriting their father’s blessing or some such nonsense rather than the Hall.’
    ‘I am told that in London the name of Stapleford Hall, built by the Stapleford bankers, counts for something.’
    ‘Aye right,’ said Rory. ‘But you’re right it doesn’t solve Mrs Deighton’s problem.’
    ‘We need to get her an undercook. I might have been able to argue for that if the wedding had been here.’
    ‘So you’re saying it’s all my fault?’
    I leant over and touched Rory’s hand briefly. ‘You’ve risked your reputation and your position to protect an old lady from destitution. Your plan is ridiculous plan, but it is nobly ridiculous.’
    ‘Och, well,’ said Rory becoming alarmingly Scotch. ‘I need away to tend to my newts.’
    I retired to my chamber and began to wrack my brains for a solution. Goodness knew that the servants here had been the first to show kindness to me when I showed up at their door, dripping wet and then began to tug dead bodies around by the leg. It seemed so long ago. In two years I felt I had aged twenty. I certainly felt the weight of responsibility for my staff, but as I finally slipped into sleep I owned to myself that not only was I making no progress in bringing the Staplefords to justice, somehow along the way I had given up. I had lost myself in everyday activities. I lived my role as a housekeeper to the full and I was good at it. I was becoming a good servant.