‘The maid says Miss Olivia couldn’t bear to have anyone remark on Miss Cara not being well.’
Warrender nodded.
‘Eccentric old party,’ he said. ‘Autocrat. Bullied her sister by all accounts. Up against the niece because she couldn’t bully her, I shouldn’t wonder.’
‘She’s up against her all right. But Miss Sayle isn’t the only one she’s up against. You haven’t looked at the butler’s statement yet – Joseph Rossi. He is married to the maid Anna, by the way. He came in on rather an odd kind of scene yesterday morning. There was some sort of quarrel between Miss Olivia and the young fellow Derek Burdon whom they call their secretary. She had him into the study immediately after breakfast. Miss Cara was there too. Joseph says he had occasion to come in and see to the fire, but if you ask me, I should say he was eavesdropping. Anyhow he says he heard voices raised. He heard one of the ladies say, “Is this your gratitude?” and just as he was wondering whether he should go away and come back later, Miss Olivia screamed and Miss Cara cried out, “No – no!” He opened the door and saw Miss Cara lying on the floor with Derek Burdon standing over her, and Miss Olivia was saying, “You’ve killed her – you’ve killed her – you’ve killed her!” ’
‘What had he done?’
‘His account of it is that Miss Olivia wanted him and Miss Sayle to make a match of it, but they didn’t see it that way. They are very good friends, but Miss Sayle is engaged to somebody else, and so is he. He told Miss Olivia he was engaged, and that he was planning to get married and go into a garage business. She lost her temper, Miss Cara fainted, and Joseph came in. All quite straightforward, and much more likely than that there was any violence on Burdon’s part. It links up with Miss Olivia striking Miss Sayle, and with what Joseph says further on. Here – down at the bottom of the page.’
‘What – this bit?’
‘Yes, sir. It’s what happened this morning.’
Warrender read aloud: ‘ “I came into the hall, and saw Miss Cara lying at the foot of the stairs. Miss Sayle was down on her knees beside her and Mr. Derek was looking over her shoulder. My wife Anna was sitting on the bottom step. She was crying. Miss Olivia came down the stairs in her dressing-gown. When she got to the bottom she stood looking at Miss Cara, and she said, ‘Which of you killed her?’ ” ’ He broke off and said,
‘Rather given to jumping to conclusions, isn’t she? And a bit free with the temper. I suppose she didn’t push Miss Cara over herself?’
‘Well, sir, she had every reason not to, the property all going past her to Miss Sayle.’
Major Warrender nodded.
‘I suppose so. All the same, dishing out accusations of other people always seems a bit fishy to me.’
He went on reading Joseph’s statement.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Miss silver was enjoying the peaceful hour which follows afternoon tea. Louisa had been recalling a number of those family events which never seem to lose their interest for elderly ladies. Together they had recalled how Fanny’s wilfulness had precipitated her into that disastrous marriage, and moralised over the painful consequences of Roger’s determination to go to China. Louisa had been able to supply some hitherto unknown details in the matter of Millicent’s divorce, and to assure her cousin that there was no truth whatever in the scandalous rumour that poor Henry had committed suicide. Miss Silver knitted and listened. Everything that people did or said was of interest, and Louisa was able to throw quite a fresh light upon both Henry and Millicent, Miss Arnold had just observed that, ‘What the housemaid said was, of course, quite conclusive,’ when the telephone bell rang. Louisa, lifting the receiver, heard Stephen Eversley’s voice. ‘Oh, is that you? Could I speak to Miss Silver?’
‘Of course, my dear boy. I hope there is nothing wrong?’
‘I’m afraid there is. Look here, Cousin Louisa, she does take things on professionally, doesn’t she?’
‘Who – Maud? Oh, yes, she does – but I really don’t know – ’ Miss Silver put down her knitting and came across the room. As she approached the instrument she could distinguish th sound of the man’s voice, and that he seemed to be in something of a hurry.
‘Oh, no!’ said Louisa Arnold in a shocked voice. ‘Oh, yes, of course – but I don’t suppose… Well, perhaps you had better speak to her yourself.’
Rightly judging this to be her cue, Miss Silver took possession of the receiver. As she put it to her ear she heard Stephen Eversley say,
‘I would like to come and see her at once if I can.’
With a faint preliminary cough she said,
‘Miss Silver speaking. Am I right in thinking that you wish to see me?’
‘Yes – yes, please.’
‘Then you had better come round here.’
‘Yes, I’ll come at once.’
She hung up. Louisa was agog.
‘Maud – he says Cara Benevent is dead! Some sort of accident! Do you know, I thought he sounded quite upset! And if he is, that must mean that he is really interested in Candida Sayle!’
When Stephen arrived it was clear that no secret was to be made of this interest. He said they were engaged, and went on, still with that hurry in his voice,
‘Miss Silver – ’
Miss Arnold broke in on a twittering note.
‘My dear boy – what has happened? Poor Cara!’
He would rather have spoken to Miss Silver alone, but this was plainly impossible. Cousin Louisa was overflowing with interest, commiseration, and kindness, and he must endure them with as good a grace as he could muster. He said,
‘I’ve been out all day, going into those plans with Lord Retborough. When I got in, there was a message to ring up Underhill. Burdon answered the call. He told me Miss Cara was dead – some sort of an accident. And he fetched Candida. She said’ – he began to pick his words with care – ‘she said Miss Olivia was very much upset.’
‘Oh, she must be!’ said Louisa Arnold. ‘Oh, poor Olivia! It must be dreadful for her! She did bully Cara, but of course she was devoted to her too! That was why she was in such a state when people were saying that Cara meant to marry Alan Thompson! Of course there couldn’t have been any truth in it, but it would upset her dreadfully all the same!’
Stephen went on with what he had been going to say.
‘Well, she is so much upset now that she says she can’t stay in the house.’
‘My dear!’
‘Not even for a single night.’
‘Oh, my dear Stephen!’
He nodded.
‘Actually, she has gone already.’
‘Gone! Where?’
Miss Silver had not spoken. She stood there quietly and listened. Stephen threw up a hand.
‘It seems that she owns a house in Retley. It’s been let, but the tenants went out a week ago. She has taken Joseph and gone there. Anna is to follow later.’
‘My dear Stephen!’
He spoke directly to Miss Silver.
‘You see how it leaves Candida. She can’t stay there alone with Burdon. I have come to ask if you will go to her.’
Miss Arnold was prompt in hospitality.
‘But she must come here! The room has just been spring-cleaned, and Eliza shall put bottles in the bed.’
He really did feel grateful, and preoccupied as he was, he managed to show it.
‘How frightfully good of you! But she doesn’t feel that she ought to come away. I did say that when you knew we were engaged – you’ve been so kind about everything – but she thinks she ought to be there. You see, she comes in for everything now, and she feels responsible – she says it would look like running away. But she ought to have someone with her – like Miss Silver. Anna may have to go tomorrow, and you know how people talk. If Miss Silver only would, nobody could say a word.’