[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

mysteries. She d read about your college in the News of the
World and remembered about the story when you came
here. She wanted to ask you directly whether you were
involved, but the arrival of Wilson made the task easier. She
talked to him. He told all.
 All?
For some reason Matthew could make an educated
guess Coppersmith looked as if his stomach was turning
over three times.  He said that you d been threatened by the
murderer because of your interest in the case. By the
expression of relief on Orlando s face, not all had been told.
 Wilson has asked us to keep our ears and eyes open
again. Would you be inclined to join us?
Ainslie laughed.  Do you think the police would really
welcome their chief suspect taking a close interest in the
case?
 If you re the chief suspect, I don t think we can be far
behind; not if the interrogation I received or the look in le
Tissier s eye is anything to go by. Stewart smiled ruefully
and drained his glass.  By taking action, we can hasten the
pace at which our names are cleared.
The proposition appealed, not least because it gave
Matthew something constructive to do, some way of
making amends with his father.  So what assignment did
you have in mind for me, gentlemen?
 You ve been quite friendly with Miss Sheringham
 Gwendolyn? Indeed. Although you understand what
127
Charlie Cochrane
my motives were. Pragmatic, not romantic.
 She doesn t know that, and we suspect she still has
rather a hope or two in your direction. She does know,
however, that her father received some information about
you. We re aware that when the police were questioning
him yesterday, they had in mind the possibility of
Sheringham being the blackmailer. Dr. Coppersmith thinks
that s unlikely, don t you, Orlando?
Coppersmith nodded.  It seems far too obvious. If that
were true, the man wouldn t have been trumpeting to his
family the fact that he d heard some things to your discredit.
Not if he d any intention of using this information for what
is an illegal activity.
 There s some merit in that notion. Matthew shivered
at the thought of those letters, of the disgusting allegations.
 So, is there anyone else who might have had access to
the same stuff? There s always his family, although I find
them even less likely in the role of blackmailers than the
father.
Stewart chimed in.  Orlando, we ve said this before,
often. Who always, apart from the Mrs. Tattersalls of this
world, knows exactly what s going in any establishment?
 The staff. Coppersmith looked as if light had at last
dawned in this case.
 Exactly; the staff. I bet that someone like Greenwood
could glide in and out of anywhere. He d always have a
valid excuse, as would the chamber maids. Matthew, would
you know by any chance who  does the Sheringhams
rooms?
 I would indeed. Gwendolyn told me, when we walked
down to the quay, that it was a nice coincidence that the
same girl attended to both our rooms. Alice, I believe her
name is. She s a pretty little thing, if that s your
inclination.
 Would it be your inclination to chat to her, Mr.
Ainslie?
 Such things are rarely done, Dr. Coppersmith,
128
Lessons in Desire
although they re not unknown. Asking a maid to walk out
was nothing compared to the other improprieties he was
being accused of.  I dare say I could ask her for a walk on
her afternoon off. I believe that s tomorrow, as a different
girl turned down the sheets the day&  He stopped, recalling
the events of the previous Monday, only a week past but
already feeling a lifetime away.
 Tomorrow would be most welcome, if you re up to it,
Matthew.
 I ll broach the subject tonight should I see her.
Ainslie stretched out his sturdy limbs, pushing his chair
back from the table.  Now I could do with a walk and some
fresh air. Feel like I ve been cooped up in that hotel for a
month.
 We could walk down to the beach. Orlando will teach
you how to catch shrimps, he being a world renowned
expert. Stewart laughed and punched his friend s arm.
When they wandered down to the place where they d
walked so happily the week before, Coppersmith stopped,
astounded.  Where s the beach gone?
 You ve reckoned without the changing of the tides, Dr.
Coppersmith. Matthew laughed, feeling at ease for the first
time in weeks.
 Ah well. Jonty pointed airily up the cliffs.  Let s go
and pick Hare s-tails to take home for Mama.
 I ve met your mother, I believe that s if she s Helena
Stewart. Ainslie, like many a man before him, recalled the
lady with awe.
Jonty snorted.  I m not sure that there is anyone in
London who hasn t heard of my dear mama. Or been
shouted at by her. Or boxed around the ears. How did you
come across her? I suppose she ran you down in her chariot.
Was it the one with the knives on the wheels?
Matthew felt worried that he d hit on some tender spot
with his new acquaintance, but was reassured when he
observed the large smile accompanying all these
pronouncements.  No, indeed, he ventured,  it was only
129
Charlie Cochrane
the smaller vehicle that she uses on Sundays. To his
delight Jonty laughed heartily at this response; even
Orlando smiled.  My father and she have had a mutual
friend. Lord Hardley.
 If you will excuse the pun, he is hardly the sort of man
that anyone would be proud to claim friendship with. That
business with poor Lady Hardley scandalized society.
Mother refused to talk to him after that. Stewart s eyes
narrowed.  Said plenty about him though.
Ainslie stiffened slightly, tension constricting his voice.
 I must insist that, for all his faults, my father had nothing
to do with the affair.
Jonty gently laid his hand on Ainslie s arm, something
Orlando seemed to find annoying.  I know that already,
Matthew. His Lordship ran away with the maid, I think that
sensible people appreciate that. According to Mother, Lady
Hardley wouldn t be able to even spell the word adultery,
let alone commit it. She s a poor innocent little thing, so the
tale tells.
 It s not just that, Jonty. I know that my father had
achieved a bit of a reputation for himself with the cards, but
he never played fast and loose with the women. He was true
to my mother for as long as she lived. The lump in
Ainslie s throat threatened to unman him.  She adored him,
keeping him on the straight and narrow as much as she
could. Things deteriorated when she died.
Stewart clapped Ainslie on the shoulder then murmured
comforting words, two more things that earned him a dirty
look from Orlando.
The three men walked back to the station pretty much in
silence, barely speaking while the train took them to St.
Aubins. The appearance of  The Misses on the road to the
hotel sparked them into conversation, most of it along the
lines of how they could avoid talking to the girls. Matthew
knew a little back path which brought them up into the
130
Lessons in Desire
gardens, a diversion for which the two younger men were
very grateful, not wanting to be nabbed this, or indeed any,
day.
Back in their room, the fellows of St. Bride s took
stock. They now had an ally in the hunt for the murderer,
assuming he wasn t the killer himself, something which
Orlando wasn t entirely convinced about. The Hardley
connection having been eliminated, as Jonty had sworn it
would, the identity of the blackmailer seemed the next
important thread to unravel. Coppersmith s thoughts still
nagged him, however, about Ainslie senior s behavior on
Sunday night. Stewart had put the man s agitation down to
cheating at cards, but had it really been to do with
something else?
 Jonty, a week ago tonight, you thought that Ainslie
senior was trying to pull a fast one at the tables. Are you
sure? In the light of what we now know, given that the man
was murdered only a day later, is there anything else that
could have cause his erratic behavior? You said you weren t
sure what was going on.
Stewart closed his eyes, trying hard to remember what
had occurred the previous Sunday evening.  I remember
seeing all sorts of things. Ainslie junior looking at your [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

razem.keep.pl