CHAPTER 10
Cecily awoke the next morning with a feeling of urgency. Christmas Eve was almost upon them, and once she got caught up in the festivities, there would be no time to pursue her search for Ian’s killer.
The sound of melodic voices drifted down the hallway as she hurried to her office. The carolers were rehearsing for the Christmas Eve carol singing around the Christmas tree.
Cecily couldn’t help the shudder that always ran through her at the thought of candles on the tree. At one time they had been lit as part of the ceremonies, but ever since the day she’d almost lost her life when the tree had burned down, she had forbidden anyone to light them.
At first, she’d wanted to have the trees decorated without candles, but they were so much a part of the tradition, the tree just didn’t look the same without them. In the end she’d asked Madeline to include them in her decorations, just as long as they were never lit again.
Still lost in the unsettling memories, she started violently when a man stepped in front of her in the shadowed hallway.
“Good morning, Mrs. B.” Archie Parker ran a hand across the bald patch on his head. “I was hoping to bump into you. I wanted to ask you about the unfortunate death of that young man. Must be upsetting for you.”
Cecily’s spirits plummeted. Perhaps she’d been naive to think they could keep it a secret from the guests for long, but the last person she wanted to hear of it from was the man standing in front of her. She had no doubt he’d be the kind of person who would delight in spreading the news.
“Most upsetting indeed,” she said, giving him a meaningful look. “Which is why I would hope that our guests do not hear of it. News like that would most certainly put a cloud over the celebrations of Christmas.”
“Oh, indeed.” Archie laid a finger against his nose. “Rest assured, Mrs. B. I wouldn’t mention a word of it to anyone else. Oh, no. Wouldn’t want to spoil it for everyone, now would I. Murder is such a nasty subject at the best of times.”
Cecily regarded him, disturbed once more by the little man’s audacity. “May I ask why you would think the man was murdered?”
Archie’s eyes gleamed in the reflection of the lamplight. “Just a slip of the tongue, Mrs. B. What I meant was, sudden death is never a popular topic of conversation, no matter how it happened.”
“Quite. In any case, at this point we are not in possession of all the facts. Therefore it would be unwise to make assumptions.” Cecily fixed him with a stern glare. “I certainly hope you won’t repeat your conjectures to any of the other guests.”
Archie seemed unfazed by her displeasure. Nodding emphatically, he assured her. “Mum’s the word, Mrs. B. You can rely on me to keep my mouth shut.”
Cecily seriously doubted that, but she couldn’t think of anything else to say that would convince him to keep quiet.
“Must be hard on his wife,” Archie said, his nose twitching. “Rotten time to lose a husband, it being Christmas and all.”
Taken aback, Cecily tried to gather her thoughts. It seemed everyone had sympathy for the grieving widow. It amazed her how fast the news could travel on the grapevine.
This man seemed to know far more than he was entitled to, though it wasn’t clear if he was referring to Gertie or Gloria when he’d mentioned a wife, and she could hardly ask him without saying too much herself.
Archie nodded, taking her silence for agreement. “Yes, indeed. Can’t be easy, what with his two little ones running around to remind her of her loss. I feel sorry for her, that I do.” He paused, looking up at Cecily with a sly expression on his mottled face. “I’d like to offer my help, Mrs. B. I’m… ah… rather good at ferreting out clues and such, and I’d be happy to make a few discreet enquiries on-”
“No!” Aware she’d spoken more sharply than she’d intended, Cecily summoned a smile. “That’s very kind of you, Mr. Parker, but-”
“Archie, please.”
Cecily drew a deep breath. “Thank you, Mr. Parker. But there’s really nothing to investigate. As far as we know, Mr. Rossiter’s drowning was an accident. The constable will be taking care of any necessary details when he returns, and until then, I suggest we all put the unfortunate matter out of our minds and concentrate on enjoying the Christmas season. Now, if you will excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend to and I’m running late.”
Brushing past him, she reached out for the door handle of her office.
“Very well,” Archie said quietly behind her. “I take it the matter’s closed then.”
She looked back at him. “Most definitely.”
Without another word, he turned and ambled away.
Staring after him, Cecily waited until he had disappeared around the corner before opening her door. There was something unsavory about that man. He’d be the last person she’d go to for a medicinal remedy, she was quite sure of that.
She had the distinct impression that his cures might well do more harm than good, and it was not a comfortable feeling to have what Madeline referred to as a charlatan mingling with her guests. All she could hope was that he didn’t attempt to offer his wares to any of them, or she might have a case of poisoning on her hands. On top of everything else, that would be a disaster indeed.
“All right, you two.” Gertie folded her arms and glared at the twins, who sat on the bed with stubborn looks on their faces. “I want to know what you got up to while I was gone last night. Lillian, did you play dress up last night with my clothes again?”
Lillian’s eyes grew wide. “No, mama. You told me not to touch your clothes.”
“She didn’t,” James put in earnestly. “She really didn’t, mama. I was watching her the whole time.”
Gertie frowned. She usually knew when the twins were lying. For one thing, they could never look her in the eye if they were telling fibs, but both of them sat there staring at her with all the innocence of newborn lambs.
Daisy was due any minute, and Gertie decided to give her offspring the benefit of the doubt until she could question the nanny. “Well, all right, then. You know what will happen if I catch you touching my things. One word from me and Father Christmas will fly his reindeer right over this roof without stopping.”
Lillian’s face filled with wonder. “How do all the reindeer fit on the roof?”
Gertie coughed. “They land in the roof rose garden, don’t they.” She wished Daisy would hurry up and get there. She never felt comfortable making up stories to her kids about Father Christmas. In her opinion it came perilously close to lying, and if there was one thing Gertie couldn’t abide, it was a liar.
“How does Father Christmas get all those toys for all the kids on his sleigh?” James demanded. “It would have to be a jolly big sleigh. It couldn’t fit in the roof garden with all the reindeer, could it?”
Gertie fidgeted with her hairpins, pretending to pin her hair under her cap. “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Father Christmas.”
“How can we ask Father Christmas when he won’t come until after we’re asleep?”
“Write a letter and send it to him.”
James’s doubtful expression changed to one of delight. “We can send him a letter?”
“Yes, you can.” Gertie smiled at them both. “Both of you. It might help to keep you out of mischief. Write them and I’ll post them for you.”
James looked suspicious. “Do you know his address?”
“Course I do, silly. Everyone knows Father Christmas lives at the North Pole.”
“P’raps the elf can take them to him,” Lillian said.
James gave her a hefty nudge. “You’ve been dreaming again, silly Lilly.”
Lillian pouted. “Don’t call me that.”
James jumped off the bed and started marching around the room chanting, “Silly Lilly, silly Lilly.”
Gertie reached out and cuffed his ear. “Stop that. Go and write your letter.”