Part 23 (1/2)
The lady's maid, Turner, waited to be summoned by Rose. When no summons came, she went to Rose's bedchamber. Finding it empty, she checked the sitting-room and then Daisy's room.
Turner became very worried. Only the other day, Lady Polly had threatened her with dismissal if she tried to cover up what Rose was doing.
She went down to the breakfast room. ”My lady,” she said, ”Lady Rose is not in her rooms. Neither is Miss Levine.”
The earl and countess stared at her in alarm.
Brum gave a discreet cough. ”The coachman was saying this morning that the ladder that was left in the garden was now in the lane by the mews. Also there are footprints of ladies' boots in the mud in the mews.”
”d.a.m.n the girl!” roared the earl. ”Get Cathcart!”
As they both walked down from the gallery, Rose said, ”This, I feel, is a dangerous mistake. I think we should leave.”
”Me, too,” said Daisy, heaving a sigh of relief.
They had to wait in line. The paris.h.i.+oners were shaking hands with the rector at the church door.
When it came their turn, Rose put out her hand and said, ”We were in the neighbourhood and thought we would visit your charming church.”
She held out her hand, determined to give his a brief shake and move out to the waiting carriage as quickly as possible. But he held her hand in a firm grip. ”You must stay and take some refreshment. Ah, here is my wife. Mrs. Tremaine, do take the ladies indoors.”
”I am afraid we really must go,” said Rose, trying to extricate her hand. ”Our carriage is waiting.”
He turned round. ”I do not see any carriage.”
Rose stared across in dismay. ”I told him to wait. No matter. It is a fine day for a walk. Come, Daisy.”
”Now, you cannot walk,” said Mrs. Tremaine. ”Do but step inside the rectory and our carriage will take you.”
She looked her normal friendly self. I'm imagining things, thought Rose.
”Very well. Just for a few moments. Most kind of you.”
Harry was telling Kerridge about the murder of Will Hubbard. ”That's too much of a coincidence,” said Kerridge. ”We'll go down there and sweat it out of those servants after we arrest the Tremaines. If they see the master arrested, then I think they might talk.”
Judd entered and said lugubriously. ”Lord Hadfield has just called. He wishes Captain Cathcart to attend him immediately.”
”I am busy at the moment. Is all well with Lady Rose?”
”He says his daughter has disappeared. The staff believe she left during the night by climbing over the garden wall.”
”Now what?” Harry looked at Kerridge in dismay. ”Where would she go?”
”I hope it's anywhere but Apton Magna.”
”Oh dear. I have an awful feeling that's just where she would go. She wanted to come here this morning and I wouldn't let her. Lady Rose, being as stubborn as a mule, has probably decided to investigate the Tremaines for herself.” He turned to Judd. ”Tell Lord Hadfield I am sure I know where his daughter has gone. I am going to collect her. Kerridge, we'll take my car. It's faster.”
”I'll phone the Oxford police to get out there.”
”No,” said Harry. ”If the Tremaines are guilty, something might happen to them if the police go cras.h.i.+ng in first. We'll call on them in Oxford and get them to follow us.”
”How kind of you to visit us again,” twittered Mrs. Tremaine over the teacups. ”Such an honour.”
The rector and his son said nothing.
”Most kind of you,” said Rose, ”but we really must leave.”
”Our carriage will be here shortly. Have another cake.”
Daisy's green eyes were wide and frightened. Why did I come here? thought Rose desperately. No one knows we are here. But what can they do? I am not now going to ask Jeremy about his prison visits.
The rector spoke at last. ”Who were you visiting in the neighbourhood?”
”We weren't really visiting anyone,” said Rose. ”The countryside here is so pretty, and after London, we felt in the need of fresh air.”
”I am surprised,” said Mrs. Tremaine, ”that a great lady such as yourself should travel into the country in a hired cab with only your companion.”
”I do like a little freedom sometimes. Now we really must go. If the carriage is not ready, we will walk.” She got to her feet. ”Come, Daisy.”
”Just another moment or two,” said Mrs. Tremaine. ”I am still mourning my poor daughter. Why, only the other day, I found a number of Dolly's things in one of the attics. It turns out the poor girl kept a diary.”
Rose decided this was too good a chance to miss. ”Perhaps I may see her diary?”
”By all means. Follow me.”
”You wait there, Daisy,” said Rose.
”I'm coming with you.”
Mrs. Tremaine led the way to the top of the house. She opened a low door and stood inside. ”Go ahead. You will find her things in here.”
Rose and Daisy walked into the room. As the door slammed behind them and the key turned in the lock, Rose realized they had been tricked.
They hammered on the door and screamed and shouted. Surely one of the servants would hear them. But they had not seen any servants. Mrs. Tremaine had made and served tea herself.
”Jeremy!” said Rose. ”He must have run out of the church and dismissed the servants for the day. Then he must have told his mother what he planned. I don't think she was in church when we arrived. She must have turned up towards the end of the service.”
”The window's barred,” said Daisy. ”We've got to get out of here.”