Finished Off (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 2) (20 page)

Reggie drew up at the foot of the wide steps and leapt down to help the ladies out of the carriage.

"We shan't be more than a few minutes," Meredith told him, "so don't wander too far away."

Reggie touched his cap with the tips of his fingers. "I'll just go for a short stroll, m'm. I'll be within earshot if you need me." He gave her a significant look, as if assuring her he would be there to come to her rescue if required.

Meredith sincerely hoped that wouldn't be necessary as she led the way up the steps and tugged on the bell rope.

Chester, the butler, opened the door, wearing the customary disdainful expression.

At first, Meredith thought he would refuse them entry when she asked to speak to Mrs. Pettigrew. After a moment's hesitation, however, he drew back and allowed them to enter.

Essie's gaze swept the grand hallway, then focused on the gleaming crystal chandelier with its intricately patterned gas shades. "Heavenly," she whispered.

Felicity seemed unimpressed and ill at ease. She kept glancing down the hallway to where the butler had disappeared. "Houses like this make me uncomfortable," she muttered. "Can't stand all this highfalutin nonsense."

"I think it's beautiful," Essie whispered, gazing in awe up the sweep of staircase soaring to the first floor. "I'd love to see it all."

"Then ask Will Barnard to show you," Meredith whispered.

Just then the butler returned, his nose tilted a shade higher. "Step this way, madam," he ordered, and proceeded to lead them to the same room where Meredith had met with Mrs. Pettigrew earlier.

The widow stood by the fireplace when they entered, and made no effort to come forward as the butler announced their names.

Meredith stepped forward and offered a smile. "I'm sorry to intrude on your morning," she said, "but my companions and I are seeking volunteers to help with the Christmas pageant at Bellehaven in December. We were wondering if you could oblige."

Mrs. Pettigrew flicked a glance at Essie and Felicity. "You are all teachers?"

Felicity answered. "We instruct future debutantes in cultural and social activities, yes." Her tone dared the woman to cast aspersions on such a noble cause.

"Is that so." The widow turned back to Meredith. "I admire your fortitude, Mrs. Llewellyn. It can't be easy soliciting volunteers for such an ambitious project. I'm afraid, however, that I'm unable to participate. I always spend the Christmas season in London. On the other hand, I can offer you some refreshments before you continue your search." She reached for the bell rope and tugged it. "And this time I insist. If you would all care to take a seat?"

Meredith would have preferred to do without refreshments, but she didn't want to risk offending the woman, and she still had to find a way for Essie to meet Will Barnard. "Thank you," she murmured, signaling to her friends to sit down, "you are most kind."

The refreshments, brought in by a smiling housekeeper, consisted of Welsh rarebits and custard tarts, a pot of tea, and a decanter of sherry.

Meredith waited for a decent interval in the conversation before asking, "If I might inquire, I wonder if your nephew might be willing to assist us with the pageant? Since we are mostly women in our establishment, it is difficult to find enough strong hands to work with the backdrops and scenery."

"We can certainly ask him." Once more Mrs. Pettigrew reached for the bell rope. "Though I must warn you, my nephew always has a full calendar over the Christmas season."

The poker-faced butler appeared and was dispatched to fetch Will Barnard.

Stealing a glance at Essie, Meredith noticed she had hardly touched the food on her plate. No doubt she was nervous again, now that her task was about to begin.

When Will Barnard entered, though, Essie seemed
pleasantly surprised. He, in turn, was most receptive to her charms, bending over her hand far longer than the brief touch Meredith and Felicity had received.

"These charming ladies wish to know if you would be willing to help them with their Christmas pageant," Mrs. Pettigrew announced as her nephew took a seat next to Essie.

Will looked at Essie, his eyebrows raised. "You teach at Bellehaven, Miss Pickard?"

"I do." She gave him her sweet smile. "You seem surprised, sir."

"I am. Most happily so." The look he gave her made her blush. "In that case, I shall be happy to be of assistance in any way I can."

"Splendid!" Felicity's hearty approval took them all by surprise. Especially so since her eyebrows worked up and down in an obvious signal to Essie.

Meredith hastened to attract Mrs. Pettigrew's attention away from her friend. "These are delicious tarts. So delicate in flavor."

"I am blessed with an excellent pastry cook." Mrs. Pettigrew reached for another tart. "She quite spoils me, I'm afraid." She gestured at the plate. "Do have another."

Meredith glanced at the clock. "I'm afraid we must take our leave shortly." She glanced at Essie, but the young woman's attention was fully focused on whatever Will Barnard was murmuring to her. Apparently she had forgotten they were pressed for time. Felicity seemed about ready to leap up any moment and say something outrageous to jog Essie's memory.

In desperation, Meredith said loudly, "I was telling Miss Pickard what a beautiful home you have. She was quite anxious to see it, weren't you, Miss Pickard."

Cheeks flushed, Essie started as if she'd been scalded. "Oh, yes, yes! It is just as lovely as Meredith described. I do so love majestic houses like this one."

"Then you shall see all of it." Will jumped to his feet. "Allow me to give you the grand tour."

Felicity let out her breath on an explosive sigh, while Meredith leaned back in relief.

Essie rose to her feet, smiling at Mrs. Pettigrew. "I do hope you won't mind?"

"Not at all." The widow glanced at her nephew. "Don't take too long, Will. These ladies are no doubt anxious to be on their way."

Meredith smiled at Will. "We do have another appointment, but I'm sure Miss Pickard will enjoy a
short
tour of your lovely home." She sent Essie a warning glance.

Looking worried now, Essie followed the young man out the door, while Meredith watched in growing concern. Until now she hadn't really thought things through. She had been so intent on getting answers that she hadn't considered the risk involved. If Will Barnard was guilty of setting the fire, Essie could be in real danger if he realized she suspected him.

Cursing herself for her lack of common sense, Meredith could only hope that Essie got the answers to her questions without arousing the young man's suspicions. All she could do now was pray Essie returned safe and sound.

Chapter 15

Although Meredith kept up a pretense of enjoying
the conversation between herself and Mrs. Pettigrew, punctuated by an occasional comment from Felicity, she found it increasingly difficult to concentrate as the minutes ticked by.

Felicity kept glancing at the clock, which only intensified Meredith's discomfort. All sorts of sinister scenarios coursed through her mind as she murmured a vague
yes, no
, or
indubitably
in what she hoped were the right places.

Visions of Essie fleeing from a murderous Will Barnard, trapped in a corner fighting for her life, lying lifeless on the floor, tormented her . . . the last gave her such chills she actually shivered.

"You are cold?" Mrs. Pettigrew inquired. "I shall have Chester stoke up the fire." She glanced at the fireplace, where large chunks of coal glowed a fierce red.

"Oh, no," Meredith exclaimed, "I am quite warm, thank you. I was just wondering what is keeping Miss Pickard."

"I'm wondering the same thing," Felicity said grimly. "Perhaps I should see if I can find her."

She started to rise, but just then the door opened and Essie sailed in, laughing at something Will had said as he followed closely behind her.

Weak with relief, Meredith rather resented the fact that Essie appeared to be having such a good time while they'd sat so long worrying about her.

One look at Felicity's irate face, however, banished Essie's smile. She sent a guilty look at the clock. "Sorry. I didn't mean to take so long. Will . . . ah . . . Mr. Barnard was so very kind as to show me the gardens. They are absolutely divine."

"Thank you." Mrs. Pettigrew gave her nephew a rather stern look. "Perhaps you will show the ladies out, Will. I'm sure they are more than ready to be on their way."

Feeling remorseful, Meredith rose. Obviously her distraction had not been as inconspicuous as she'd hoped. "Thank you for your kind hospitality, Mrs. Pettigrew." She glanced at Will. Either Essie had failed to get answers from him, or the answers she had got had exonerated him from the crime. She couldn't wait to get outside and find out.

Will chatted with his vivacious companion all the way to the front door, and it was quite obvious they had taken to each other. Meredith hoped for Essie's sake that he'd been able to clear up any suspicions about his involvement in the Lewis fire.

They had barely reached the foot of the steps when Meredith could contain her curiosity no longer. Making sure the door was firmly closed behind them, she drew Essie to a halt. "Well? Did you ask him the questions?"

"I certainly did!" Essie's laughter floated up the steps. "I can't imagine how you could have suspected him of such a heinous crime. The man is utterly charming and such a gentleman. The time flew by so fast in his company. I was quite sorry for our tour to end."

"Oh, dear," Felicity muttered. "It appears we have an infatuation on our hands."

"Nonsense." Essie's cheeks grew pink. "I merely enjoyed his company, that's all."

Meredith felt like shaking her. "Well, what did he have to say?"

Essie danced down the last step and looked up at her. "Will was never in the Lewis home. He knew about the horses on the mantelpiece because his aunt gave them to George Lewis as a gift, after Mr. Lewis helped her with her finances."

Meredith let out her breath on a sigh. "And the gift to Will from his aunt?"

Essie turned away. "Ah, well, that was supposed to be a secret, but I managed to worm it out of him."

"Naturally," Felicity murmured.

Following Essie as she headed for the carriage, Meredith caught up with her. "What was the secret? Or did you promise not to divulge it?"

"No, I was careful not to do that." Essie halted once more. "Mrs. Pettigrew bought the headstones for the Lewis family's graves. She wanted it to be anonymous, and Will took care of the arrangements for her, without divulging who was responsible. She was so grateful she gave him the motor car, which had belonged to her husband."

Again Meredith puffed out her breath. "Well, that explains that. It appears that we can cross Mr. Barnard off our list."

"A short list, indeed," Felicity said. "That leaves only your bank manager, if I'm not mistaken."

"It does, indeed. We must make haste to reach the bank before it closes." Meredith hurried over to the carriage, where Major waited with his head down, his tail lazily flicking at the flies that landed on his back. Reggie was nowhere to be seen.

Meredith called out his name, and when there was no answer, Felicity cupped her mouth with both hands and bellowed, "
Reggie
!"

The sound of running footsteps answered and Reggie burst into view from around the corner of the mansion. "Coming! Coming!"

Essie and Felicity had already seated themselves by the
time he reached the carriage. His chest heaving in an effort to catch his breath, he got out a weak "Sorry. Fell asleep by the fountains."

"You need to get your proper rest at night." Meredith declined his hand and climbed up onto her seat. "Please hurry, Reggie. We must be at the bank in less than half an hour."

"Right you are, m'm." Still trying to recover his breath, Reggie saluted her, then leapt up onto his seat. Gathering up the reins, he shook them, shouted "Tally ho!" and they were off.

Being Saturday, Witcheston's High Street was less crowded than it had been on Meredith's previous visits. Reggie was able to pull up right outside the bank, and the three women alighted. Meredith gave instructions to Reggie to wait for them at the Pig and Whistle.

"I hope you all remember your parts," she said as Major clopped off down the street.

"I do," Essie said, still seemingly vitalized by her visit to the Sandalwood Estate.

"Of course you do," Felicity said gruffly. "After all, being able to charm gullible young men comes as second nature to you."

Essie seemed not to take offense. Instead, she gave Felicity a coy smile. "Be thankful that I am so accomplished at it, otherwise you might have to take my place."

"I'd rather be boiled alive." Felicity hunched her shoulders and stared at the door of the bank. "Let's hope we can do this without causing too much commotion."

"If we can't, then we are sunk." Meredith looked at Essie. "Give us no more than a moment or two. The bank will be closing in half an hour and we must be finished and out of there before then."

Essie nodded, then turned and sauntered down the street to the department store. Meredith waited just long enough to see her pause and stare at the window, then she beckoned to Felicity and hurried into the bank.

Desmond White was in his usual place, and Meredith
was relieved to see that he was alone behind the counter. Howard Clark wasn't due to return until late afternoon when the train arrived from London. All being well, they would have plenty of time to achieve their purpose.

Desmond recognized Meredith at once and called out to her. "Good morning, Mrs. Llewellyn. I shan't be more than a moment here." He finished serving the sole customer in the bank, an elderly man who seemed to take forever to finish his transactions.

At last he left, and Meredith approached the counter. She had barely opened her mouth to answer Desmond's greeting when Essie burst through the door in a high state of agitation.

"Oh, my, oh, my." Completely ignoring Meredith and Felicity, she stood wringing her hands and gazing at Desmond, despair written all over her lovely face.