High Marks for Murder (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 1) (17 page)

"What is it?" Meredith leaned forward to peer out the same window. "What did you see?"

"Miss Montrose. She's over there talking to Reggie. I hope he's not telling her where he's taking us."

Meredith frowned at the two people on the other side of the courtyard. They had their heads together in a suspiciously conspiratorial manner. "I didn't know she was acquainted with Reggie," she murmured.

Felicity sat back with a look of triumph. "I knew there was something peculiar about that woman."

"She's most likely asking him about a repair," Essie pointed out. "After all, he is responsible for the maintenance of the building."

"Well, I shall ask him when he gets over here." Felicity scowled at the window. "If he ever gets over here."

She was still frowning when Reggie approached the carriage and opened the door. "Good afternoon, ladies!" He grinned at them all. "All ready for our little jaunt to the Silkwoods' manor, are we?"

"We've been sitting here twiddling our thumbs for at least ten minutes." Felicity glared at him. "What was so important you kept us all waiting like fools while you talked to that dratted woman?"

Reggie looked surprised. "Miss Montrose? She wanted to know if there was a place in the village where she could buy nails."

"Nails?" Meredith stared at him, as did her two companions. "What on earth would Miss Montrose want with nails?"

Reggie shrugged. "Beats me. I told her as how I had nails she could have, but she said she wanted a lot of them
and preferred to buy them herself. I sent her down to Wilfred, the ironmonger. He's got plenty of nails in his shop."

"Did she happen to ask for hammers, too?" Felicity wanted to know.

"No, she didn't." Reggie frowned up at the clear blue sky. "Wonder why she didn't."

"We don't have time to worry about that now," Meredith said sharply. "Make haste, Reggie. I'm quite anxious to be on our way."

"Yes, m'm. Right away, m'm." Reggie touched the brim of his cap with his fingers, then climbed up onto his seat. Gathering up the reins, he clicked his tongue, and Major slowly pulled forward, his powerful shoulders straining to take the weight of the carriage.

Inside, Felicity settled back against her seat. "Well, I hope the Silkwoods are at home after all this."

"It might be as well if they are not." Meredith turned her head to gaze out of the window. "It would give us a better opportunity. . . ." In that instant she quite forgot what she'd started to say.

They were passing the flower beds, and she could see quite clearly the white cloud with Kathleen floating in the middle. She seemed agitated, shaking her head in such a vigorous manner Meredith wondered for a moment if it would fly off her transparent body.

A tremor of apprehension shook Meredith's body. Was Kathleen trying to warn her? Was she leading her friends into danger at the Silkwoods' mansion?

Chapter 14

"Meredith? Whatever's wrong with you? You look as
white as a . . ."

Felicity's voice trailed off and Essie uttered a soft shriek. "Ghost! You were going to say ghost, weren't you." She stared wide-eyed at Meredith. "Did you see Kathleen again? Did you?"

Meredith leaned back. "Just a trick of the light, I'm sure." She smiled at Essie. "Are you ready to talk to the Silkwoods' butler? Have you rehearsed what you will say to him? You will need to be careful how you phrase your questions."

Seemingly reassured, Essie shook her head. "I'm sure it will come to me. I have no trouble talking to men." She slid a glance at Felicity from under her eyelashes. "Unlike some people."

Felicity sniffed. "When you know as much as I do about men, you won't want anything to do with them, either."

"I know more than you think." Essie smoothed her
gloves more securely over her fingers. "Enough to know that the right words and gestures can get you almost anything."

"Nothing but trouble in my experience." Felicity's face was grim as she stared out the window. "Nothing but terrible trouble."

Essie was immediately contrite. She leaned forward, and laid a hand on Felicity's knee. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

Felicity shook her head. "You didn't." She shifted her knees away from Essie's hand. "I'm quite sure you will get the answers we need."

"I hope so," Meredith murmured. "I would dearly love to get this matter settled once and for all, then perhaps we can all find peace with Kathleen's death." Including Kathleen, she added inwardly.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all to find out Victor Silkwood killed her. He is such a despicable creature." Felicity shuddered. "Heaven preserve us all from such monsters. They should be banished from the earth."

"We shouldn't jump to conclusions," Meredith reminded her. "Though I do think we should be on guard while we are there. A desperate man will stop at nothing to hide his sins."

"Don't I know it." Felicity glanced at Essie. "You will be careful?"

"I shall be extremely careful," Essie assured her.

The carriage jerked to a halt, surprising them all. "We are here already?" Meredith stared through the window. "Goodness, that didn't take as long as I thought." She didn't want to admit as much to the others, but now that they were actually at the steps of the Silkwood mansion, butterflies were battling each other inside her stomach.

Perhaps she had been a trifle hasty in insisting that they visit a suspected murderer. What if something dreadful happened to them? She would never forgive herself for leading her two friends into danger.

She was on the verge of telling Reggie to turn about and return to the security of Bellehaven, but Felicity had already jumped out of the carriage and was marching up the steps. Chills chased down Meredith's spine as she saw her friend grasp the bell pull and give it a firm tug.

Essie ducked her head and stepped down to the ground, then turned to look at Meredith. There was nothing left to do except climb down after her.

Reaching the ground, she looked up at Reggie, who had rather belatedly arrived to give the ladies a hand. "Wait here for us," she told him. "If we seem to be taking an inordinately long time, please do feel free to inquire after us."

Reggie looked surprised at this unusual request, but gave her a quick nod. "Very well, m'm. How long do you think I should wait?"

"When Major starts getting restless should be a good time." Feeling only a little less apprehensive, Meredith started up the steps to join her friends.

The door was opened, as she expected, by the butler—a tall, well-proportioned man with graying hair and keen dark eyes. Much to her satisfaction, she saw his gaze linger on Essie a fraction longer than necessary. It seemed the young woman would have no trouble engaging the man in conversation.

Handing the butler her calling card, Meredith announced, "I and my fellow tutors wish to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Silkwood, if it's convenient."

The butler glanced at the card, then ushered them into
the spacious foyer and asked them to wait. As he disappeared down a narrow hallway alongside the impressive sweep of staircase, Essie whispered, "He's rather imposing, don't you think?"

"Bosh," Felicity said rudely. "The way the man looked at you it's obvious he'll fall under your spell the minute you flutter those ridiculously long eyelashes of yours."

Essie had the grace to blush. "I hadn't noticed," she murmured.

Meredith's heart was thumping so uncomfortably she hardly took in what they were saying. She watched with anxious eyes for the butler's return, and when he reappeared, she had to clear her throat to speak. "I do hope we are not intruding at an inconvenient time?"

The butler bowed his head. "Not at all, madam. Mr. Silkwood will be happy to receive you in the drawing room. This way."

He crossed the foyer and grasped the handles of two very tall doors. Pushing them open, he walked inside the room and stood back to allow them to enter.

Meredith led the way, her fascination chasing away her fears. The room glowed with color. Purple velvet curtains hung at the lofty windows, and several paintings, splashed with vivid hues, hung on the pale lilac walls.

The cream satin chairs and peach ottoman added a pleasant contrast to the colorful Persian rug spread in front of the marble fireplace, and a large aspidistra spread its leafy arms across one corner of the room.

The butler waited until they had seated themselves, then, with a slight bow, he withdrew, leaving them to gaze around in silence.

Felicity was the first to speak. "A little gaudy, don't you think?"

"I like it," Essie declared. "It's quite bright and cheerful."

"So is a circus ring," Felicity muttered, "but I wouldn't want to live in it."

Meredith was saved from answering by the return of the butler. Standing just inside the door, he announced, "May I present Mr. Victor Silkwood."

He stood back and a portly gentleman entered, wearing a brilliant peacock blue waistcoat under his dark jacket. He wore a monocle in one eye, and his red nose bore testimony to his fondness for spirits. "Good afternoon, ladies."

All three tutors chorused a greeting.

"My wife offers her apologies," he said gruffly. "Unfortunately, she is indisposed at present."

"I do trust it's not a serious ailment? Perhaps this basket of fine delicacies from our cook will help improve her constitution." Meredith met the cold gaze with a little shiver. She was quite sure that Mrs. Silkwood had not been informed that the tutors from Bellehaven were present in her home.

Victor Silkwood could only guess at the reason for their visit, and no doubt suspected that his dallying with Deirdre Lamont was the cause. He would not want his wife to hear what he would undoubtedly deny, should they bring up the subject.

Meredith longed to tell him what she thought of his behavior, and indeed was afraid that Felicity would do just that, judging by that lady's furious expression. She hurried to forestall her friend before she could blurt out an accusation that would surely land them in hot water.

"We shan't keep you long, Mr. Silkwood. Our business here today concerns the annual Harvest Festival concert held at Bellehaven."

Silkwood's expression would have been comical had it not been for the seriousness of the situation. His eyes
widened, allowing the monocle to drop from his eye and swing lazily at the end of its chain bouncing against his protruding stomach.

He snatched it with one hand, and at that moment Essie rose to her feet.

"Pardon me," she said, her voice trembling. "I find myself in a great need to use the powder room, if I may?"

Silkwood eyed her with far too much familiarity, in Meredith's opinion. She dare not look at Felicity to see her expression.

"Of course," Silkwood said, his thick lips curving in an ingratiating smile. He reached for a velvet pull rope and gave it a sharp tug. "Summersby will escort you, my dear."

"Will you manage alone, Miss Pickard, or would you like me to accompany you?" Meredith asked, giving Essie what she hoped was a meaningful look.

Essie gave a slight shake of her head. "I can manage," she said bravely. "Thank you, Mrs. Llewellyn."

The door opened once more, and Summersby filled the doorway.

"Please escort this young lady to the powder room," Silkwood said, devouring Essie with his eyes. "See that she returns safely."

Summersby bowed his head, then took a step back and waited for Essie to pass by him before closing the door behind him with a gentle click.

Meredith found that she had been holding her breath, and she let it out on a soft sigh as Silkwood advanced deeper into the room.

"Now," he said, fitting his monocle back in his eye. "What's all this about the Harvest Festival?"

"We were wondering if you and Mrs. Silkwood would care to attend the concert." Meredith opened her pink silk
handbag and took out the tickets. Holding them up, she murmured, "The price is very reasonable."

Silkwood stared at her for a long moment, while the silence in the room thickened. Meredith became aware of the loud ticking of a clock on the mantelpiece. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Felicity plucking at her skirt—a sure sign she was agitated.

"And is that the real reason for your visit?" Silkwood asked bluntly.

Startled, Meredith dropped the tickets. She bent down to retrieve them from the floor, her mind desperately searching for a suitable response. She could hardly accuse the man of murder with nothing but her own suspicions for evidence.

As for his liaison with Deirdre, that had been dealt with, and much as she longed to do so, a reprimand at this point would only cause more trouble for everyone, particularly if the loathsome man was innocent of Kathleen's demise.

Nevertheless, he obviously expected her to answer him, and the longer she hesitated, the more suspicious he would become. Taking a deep breath, she straightened and looked him in the eye.

Staring into Silkwood's icy gaze, she made an effort to speak calmly. "Why yes, Mr. Silkwood. We are trying to sell as many tickets as possible to raise funds for the school."

It wasn't exactly a lie, she consoled herself. Although tickets were usually reserved for families of the pupils, now and then a few were sold to the villagers if there were enough left over.

Silkwood continued to stare at her in a manner that made her most uncomfortable. She looked at Felicity for
help, but her friend sat stone-faced, her eyes fixed on the door as if willing it to open.

Meredith looked back at Silkwood. "We'll quite understand if you'd rather not attend."

His face darkened, and she wondered uneasily what she'd said to further upset him. At that moment, however, the door burst open and Essie rushed in.

"Do please excuse me," she said breathlessly, coming to an abrupt halt. "I was so afraid you'd leave without me." She looked at Meredith and wiggled her eyebrows up and down in an urgent signal that announced to one and all she had significant news to impart.

Victor Silkwood apparently had interpreted the message. He stared hard at Essie, his lips pressed together in an ominous thin line.