Part 5 (1/2)

*To highlight that they were going to launch an attack on the staff tonight?'

*No, of course not.'

*So you'd have the Staplefords or others deciding to hire someone to attack Mrs Wilson in the two hours after dinner and arranging to get the man here? It's not possible.'

*So you agree that it was her reaction to that message that led to her attack?'

*Och, Euphemia, I don't know. I need rest and so do you.'

*Dr Simpson said she had a child a Mrs Wilson.'

*He'd never have told you such a thing,' said Rory shocked.

*Well, no,' I admitted, *but he implied it.'

*That's you and your bad arithmetic again.'

*You weren't there. He a he a tried to warn me before. Said he didn't want me to suffer the same fate.'

*Euphemia, you have a right bad tendency to go borrowing trouble. When will you learn that the only way to be a good servant is to leave them upstairs to their own lives? Don't get so involved.'

*We're all G.o.d's creatures,' I said quoting my father. I could feel my eyes closing.

*I sometimes doubt that,' said Rory and closed the library door softly behind him.

I awoke to find Merry re-doing the fire. Sunlight streamed in through the window. I winced and turned my face away. *What would Mo-dame like for breakfast?' enquired Merry. *A chicken wing and a gla.s.s of bobbly?'

*Bubbly,' I corrected. *And what mademoiselle would like is a cup of weak tea and a slice of toast.'

Merry sat back on her heels and looked at me. *I can try,' she said, *but Mrs Deighton is all for cooking you a full cooked. At the very least she'll want you to have beef-tea. Reckons you'll need your strength to talk to the police.'

*Oh, are they here?'

*A local copper took statements last night, but Dr Simpson wouldn't let anyone see you, so they've sent someone over special this morning.'

*I'm honoured,' I said sourly.

*I was wondering if you'd like me to help you dress after breakfast?'

*Don't take the joke too far, Merry,' I said sitting up. Immediately the room rocked around me. I pressed my hands against my head.

*Here, steady,' said Merry, jumping up to help me lay back down. *I'll tell them you're not up to it. You're right white. Pally-wally, Rory said, or something like it.'

*No, I'd like to get it over with. If they stand any chance of getting the intruder then the earlier I tell them the little I know the better.'

*Be it on your head,' said Merry, frowning.

And so, after I'd managed to force a little breakfast between my lips and Merry had helped me into proper attire, there was a knock on the library door and in walked the police.

*Why, Sergeant Davies!' I said in astonishment. *How nice to see you.' I blushed. *I don't mean the circ.u.mstances are nice, but ...'

*Miss St John.' The sergeant pulled up a chair and took out his notebook. He licked his pencil in preparation and took a deep breath. *So, what's this I hear about you tangling with Bolsheviks again?'

*Bolsheviks? Good G.o.d,' I exclaimed with anger. *Surely no one is trying to pa.s.s off that old line again!'

*Just my little joke, miss. Though it's interesting to see how you never believed the official line about the late Lord Stapleford's death. Endorsed by my inspector it was. But there you obviously know better, being an exceptionally bright young lady.'

I sank back into my pillow and tried to compose my thoughts. On our last encounter I had suspected Sergeant Davies of being perceptive, intelligent, cunning, but straight as a die. I saw no reason to change my opinion. *I would hardly claim to know better than the police, sergeant,' I said politely. *I'm very sorry if I gave you that impression.'

*Just tell me you 'aven't been hauling any dead bodies around by the leg this time?'

*I wasn't aware we had any dead bodies,' I said shortly. *Oh no, is Mrs Wilson ...?' I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence.

*Not as far as I know, miss. Dr Simpson tells me it's touch and go. In the hands of the Lord, as they say.'

*Poor woman. I never liked her,' I said bluntly, *but I'd not wish this on my worst enemy.' Something struck a chord in my mind, but it was fleeting and gone in a second. The sergeant was speaking.

*If the toffs a I mean, the ladies and gents a are to be believed nothing occurred during the seance except a little high spirits.' He laughed at his own joke and then suddenly stopped. *But I was thinking 'ow it might all be connected. What do you think, Miss St John?'

*Mrs Wilson was certainly very upset at being included. She reacted badly to the messages.' I hesitated unsure of how much to say.

*Anything in particular?'

*One about a child not being wanted by its mother.'

Sergeant Davies blew out his moustache. His pencil hovered over the page. *Now that sounds like a keg of powder if ever there was one.'

*Indeed,' I said.

*I want you to think carefully, Miss St John, do you know anything about this delicate matter?'

*No,' I said slowly. *I don't know anything.'

*But you've heard rumours and you have ideas?'

I decided it was time to change the subject. *You're not a local man, are you, sergeant?'

*No, miss. I'm a Londoner. I married a young woman in service, much like yourself, and she came from this part of the world and had fancy to be near her family, so I transferred down.'

*I bet you regret that now.'

*Since I've had the pleasure of making your acquaintance I've been more and more inclined to that way of thinking.'

*So you never knew Mrs Wilson when she was young a and if there was ever a Mr Wilson?'