A Death in the Wedding Party (9 page)

After what seemed an age, the Countess stood giving the signal for the ladies to retire to the drawing room for tea. The men stayed behind for port and cigars.

I managed to catch the Countess on the way to the tea, and pleading fatigue, excuse myself from what no doubt would be a vicious round of polite gossip.

My bed called to me. All I wanted to do was lie down and sleep. Of course, as with all the simplest of my desires it was not to be.

I had barely opened the door of my chamber before Merry rushed towards me. She started grabbing pins from my hair before I had even sat down.

‘Where on earth have you been?’ she squeaked. ‘I’ve been waiting ages for you and I’ve got to do Miss Richenda and Lady Stapleford next.’

‘They are still downstairs having tea. I doubt they will be up for a while.’

Merry slowed her frantic pace. ‘Honestly?’

‘It’s not like Stapleford Hall,’ I said, ‘there is a trifle more to occupy the guests here. Mostly by being mean to each other.’

Merry slumped down on the bed. ‘So I’m going to be up half the night waiting for them and still expected to be up early?’ I nodded. ‘And here was me thinking coming to this big fancy house was going to be fun. It’s all right for you play-acting at being one of the nobs.’

‘I can assure you I’m not enjoying the experience.’

‘Shouldn’t that be one is not enjoying the experience?’ I threw a hairbrush at her. Merry dodged. ‘Miss Richenda’s done that once too often to me for you to catch me out. She’s being right temperamental at the moment.’

‘Has she said where she will be living after the wedding?’

‘Well that’s the thing,’ said Merry picking up a discarded cushion and making herself comfortable. ‘She wants to go back to Stapleford Hall. Tippy wants her to go home with him to the Tipton seat, wherever that is, but she hates his mother.’

‘From what I saw I can’t imagine anyone liking Amelia Tipton much. She called Tippy the runt of the litter.’

‘Well, toffs is funny about children. It’s not like they raise them themselves. It’s all wet-nurses and nannies and boarding schools. And besides he is a bit of a runt. I bet Richenda will squish him to pieces on their wedding night. Either that or he’ll have to climb …’

I stuck my fingers in my ears and began to hum. Merry pulled my hands away. ‘All right. It’s not like you to be squeamish.’

‘You’ve certainly come a long way since you were fond of George Layfette.’

Merry tossed her head. ‘That was a silly crush. Merrit and I, we are very serious. We both like looking at views,’ she added ambiguously.

‘Merry, you haven’t?’ I said startled.

‘Even if I had what business would be it of yours?’ Her face flushed and she bit her lip, but she kept her chin up. I could have said something about her being a maid in my care as housekeeper, but I suspected that would only make her withdraw further. So I just said, ‘Be careful, Merry.’

‘Anyway,’ said Merry picking up the previous thread of our conversation as if nothing had happened, ‘the real issue is where Lady Stapleford is going to live. For what I can gather the late Sir Richard didn’t leave her much. He wanted it all to go to his eldest son and she thinks he thought she’d leave anything she had to Bertram.’

‘You mean she’s destitute?’

‘Nothing as bad as that. But Suzette says she’s been going through the money at a fair old rate. She wants to live like she thinks a lady should, but she’s not got the budget. So now she’s thinking of basing herself at Stapleford Hall and none of the children want that.’

‘Are you and Suzette friendly?’ I asked surprised.

‘Not friendly like you and me, but we rub along okay. She’s been showing me how to do hair more fashionably. Reckons I could train to be a lady’s maid for real and not just when we’re short on staff.’

‘I’d miss you,’ I said seriously.

‘Well, I was thinking how Richenda doesn’t have a proper lady’s maid and I don’t think her mother will put up with sharing Suzette for long.’

‘Do you think Suzette will stay with Lady Stapleford if she chooses to stay at Stapleford Hall. There’s nothing going on in the country.’

Merry nodded. ‘I wondered about that. But she said how she was very grateful to Lady Stapleford and would be happy to stay with her. I reckon she thinks her ladyship will start doing the rounds of weekends away, so she won’t have to stay at the Hall all the time.’

‘Why would she do that? She’s never been interested in visiting around the country before.’

‘I think that might have been more the late Lord Stapleford. With the hours he worked weekends away weren’t possible. Besides she’s been widowed a decent time now. She’ll be thinking of marrying again. It’s the only way she’s ever going to improve her situation.’

I reached up to unfasten my necklace; one lent to me by Lady Stapleford. I was surprised to find I was feeling sorry for her. She was a vain, arrogant, dislikeable woman, but she had been left in poor circumstances by a man who must not have cared for her very much. ‘Do you know why Lord Stapleford married her?’ I asked.

Merry giggled. ‘You mean because it couldn’t have been for love? I think she was meant to add a bit of class to the family. She had aristocratic French connections. George Layfette was related to some posh folks.’

‘I thought he was related to the first Lady Stapleford.’

‘That lot is all related to one another somehow,’ said Merry shrugging. ‘They’ve got their own little world and we’ve got ours. Only ours is bigger, dirtier and more difficult to live in.’

‘There’s a Renard Layfette here,’ I said musingly. ‘I wonder which side he’s related to. I thought he looked a bit like Bertram.’

Merry’s mouth fell open. ‘Renard, here?’ she said. ‘Gawd almighty, that’ll put the cat among the ruddy pigeons.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He’s the what-do-you-call-it, the black cow of the family.’

‘Black sheep?’ I suggested.

‘Black something or other. All I know is that Lord Stapleford banished him from Stapleford Hall. He’s been living abroad, or so George told me, and he made it sound as if he’s been earning his way not quite in the normal manner.’

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know. George said it was too much for my tender young ears, which means either he didn’t know or it was something bad. Lady Stapleford wouldn’t even have his name mentioned in her presence. She took against him so much I wondered if there had been something a bit – you know – between them.’

‘But he’s the same age as Richard!’

‘No.’ Merry shook her head. ‘He’s about ten years older than that. In his forties, and Lady Stapleford will only own to be being in her late forties herself. Claims she was a child bride.’

I heard a light tap on the door. Suzette came in. ‘Any sign of their ladyships coming up?’ she said.

Merry looked at the clock over the mantel. ‘Lord, we’ve been gassing on for ages.’

‘There’s a church rehearsal tomorrow,’ said Suzette, ‘so everyone will want to be up early.’

‘Good grief,’ I snapped, ‘how on earth do they intend to keep up this charade if they don’t tell me anything.’

‘Well, I’ve just told you, haven’t I?’ said Suzette. ‘Ten o’clock at the church. The motors will be waiting to take you across at quarter to.’

‘Can I assume this message hasn’t been somewhat delayed in reaching me?’ I asked frostily.’

Suzette dropped a wonky curtsey, ‘So sorry, your jumped up highness.’

There was a rap on the door. It didn’t open. I gestured to Merry, who opened the door a crack. Baggy Tipton stood there. ‘Where’s your mistress?’ he asked.

He caught sight of me behind Merry. Suzette had backed silently into a corner. ‘Mr Tipton,’ I said, ‘this is most unseemly.’

Baggy Tipton elbowed Merry out of the way and stuck his head through the door. ‘Just wanted to say,’ he said in the loud whisper of a very drunk man, ‘that you’re doing splendidly and no one suspects a thing.’

‘Go away,’ said Merry, pushing him sharply in the ribcage. ‘You’ll ruin everything.’

‘My, you’re a sparky little thing. Want to come keep my bed warm on my last night of freedom, what?’

‘No,’ said Merry, as she managed to shove him through the door frame. She slammed the door in his face.

‘I’m in the West Garden Room if you change your mind,’ shouted Tipton far too loudly for comfort.

‘If I ain’t almost sorry for Richenda,’ said Merry, leaning her back against the door and folding her arms. ‘What’s the matter with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’

I turned to see Suzette had gone very white. ‘Are you well?’ I asked.

‘I’m fine,’ she snapped. ‘First time I’ve seen Miss Richenda’s new husband to be. Bit of a runt, isn’t he?’

‘His mother would certainly agree with you,’ I said under my breath.

This time no one knocked. Lady Stapleford strode into the room. ‘I should have known I would find you here gossiping. The lower classes always gravitate to each other,’ she said with a nod in my direction. ‘Suzette, I need you and Merry go and help my step daughter she has a big day ahead of her.’

‘But I’ve not finished with Euphemia,’ said Merry casting an anxious look at my complicated evening dress.

‘Well, you should have thought of that before. Shoo! Both of you, out of here.’

She turned to me. ‘I see we can put you in fine clothes, but you will always revert to your own type. We shall see what my son has to say about this.’

She turned on her heel and with only a very slight wobble to suggest that she hadn’t only been drinking tea, she left. The door closed with a click behind her. Ladies, as my mother, had taught me, do not slam doors even when unreasonably provoked.

I hoped Merry would return later to help me, but as the hands of the clock marched forward, no one came. I began the unequal struggle of a lady trying to rid herself of her vestments without her maid.

Well, I do not think the dress was greatly torn, and besides, I would not be wearing it again at The Court, or anywhere else for that matter. The Staplefords would just have to put up with the damage.

I found the last of my hairpins when I laid my head upon the pillow. I pulled it out, noting blood on my finger and flung it petulantly across the room. No doubt it would stick in my foot later. Enough was enough. If I was to play the lady then play the lady I would. I rang my bell long and hard.

After far too long, Merry arrived at my door breathless and wide eyed. ‘You’d better come,’ she said urgently, ‘there’s all hell breaking loose out here. Lady Stapleford and Richenda are having a right cat fight.

A Breakfast Never to be Forgotten

I stared open mouthed at Merry. A scream echoed down the hallway. ‘C’mon,’ shouted Merry and ran off. I scrambled out from under the heavy bedclothes and into a dressing gown. More shouts and screams came from the open doorway. I wasted precious time untangling my tassels and tying them properly. A lady would never let the world see her nightdress. My fingers were annoyingly clumsy as I rushed. All I could think was please, please, don’t let there be another murder. I can’t face another death. I can’t. I can’t.

Finally fit to be seen I dashed out into the corridor only to see Lady Stapleford and Richenda exit into their own rooms slamming their doors loudly.

Hesitantly, I went to Richenda’s door and tapped. ‘Are you alright?’ Loud sobs were my only answer. I tapped again. Merry answered the door. She slipped out. ‘You’re too late,’ she said.

‘What was it all about?’

‘I have no idea,’ said Merry. ‘But when Richenda decided to threaten her stepmother with a poker I thought I should get you.’

‘Did she strike her?’ I asked in horror. There was no sound coming from behind Lady Stapleford’s door.

Merry shook her head. ‘Suzette got it off her. Got right between them like she was breaking up a fight in a pub. I don’t know what would have happened if she hadn’t.’

‘But you must have heard what it was about,’ I insisted.

‘I was coming back upstairs with Richenda’s evening cocoa. She hadn’t liked the way the housemaid had done it. They were already at it by the time I got back. Richenda was shouting something about Lady Stapleford being a liar and how she wasn’t her real mother. By that point Lady Stapleford was in full retreat. When Richenda loses it, she really loses it.’

‘You should get back to her,’ I said. ‘We’re lucky we haven’t had the whole house up here by now.’

Merry nodded and slipped inside. I made my way quickly back to my room. I tripped over a cup of cocoa that had been left outside my door. It splashed across the ivory and blue carpet. I kicked it again and went in and shut the door. Within minutes of laying my head on my pillow I was asleep.

I awoke to the sound of birds calling and sunlight on my face. A small figure was laying a fire in the grate. I sat up. The morning air rested cold against my face.

‘Ooh, sorry, your miss-ship. I didn’t mean to wake you,’ said a small blonde maid. Her features were fine and bird-like. She peered over the end of the bed at me rather like a Robin caught by a gardener. I guessed she was no more than fourteen years old.

‘What time is it?’

‘Not quite time for morning tea. If you were wanting it, your miss-ship.’

I was about to refuse when it occurred to me that no one had ever brought me tea in bed. ‘That would be nice,’ I said instead.

‘Lucy’ll be up with the trays in a short bit. I could go and hurry her if you like?’

I shook my head. ‘I don’t want to get you into trouble for waking me. What’s your name?’

‘Daisy.’

‘We have a Daisy …’ I stopped myself just in time, ‘at the summer palace.’

‘Ooo-er, wait till I tell me mum. She’ll be right impressed.’

I couldn’t think of a reply to this, so I lay back down. It felt very odd and distinctly uncomfortable to be resting while a child worked on readying my room. But she was good at her job and within a few moments I heard the crackle of flames bursting into life. I sat up once more. ‘Is this house cold all year round?’

‘Pretty much,’ said Daisy. ‘It’s the old stones, that’s what Mrs Merion says. They spend all winter soaking up the cold and damp and then eke it out over the summer. We’re right in the open, but this place never seems to soak up the sun.’