A Death by Arson by Caroline Dunford Read Free Book Online Page A

strangely flat. ‘The previous owners could not face restoring the property, so…’
    â€˜Sir Richard found himself a bargain,’ I said brightly. ‘He is a very shrewd businessman, I believe.’
    â€˜Yes, miss,’ said Mrs Lewis, turning to leave. ‘The bell is there if you need anything. It does take the maids a few minutes to reach this level, but we are more than adequately staffed to fulfil all our guests’ needs. Dinner tonight will be a formal affair in the Great Hall. I believe Sir Richard will announce the schedule for the visit then. Drinks before in the Red Salon. If you come straight down the stairs there will be a footman at the bottom to direct you.’
    With that, she was gone. Only a few moments later a maid knocked on my door and asked to unpack for me. I allowed her to do so and asked that a dark blue dress might be pressed for me to wear for dinner.
    â€˜I could also do with a cup of tea,’ I said. ‘We have been travelling for such a long time. Perhaps you could manage them both at once, if you were careful?’
    The maid, who I judged to be no more than sixteen, freckled and with the flaming red hair that is only found north of the English border, bobbed a little curtsey. ‘That’s nice of you, miss, but we’re all used to running up and down the stairs. Keeps ye trim! So don’t be worried about pulling the bell. I’m here to help!’
    â€˜I see…?’
    â€˜Enid, miss.’
    â€˜Thank you, Enid. Are Mr and Mrs Muller on this level too?’
    â€˜No, miss. They’ve been put on the other side, so they can be nearer the nursery for their daughter. It’s Miss Hessleton on this level, along with her friend Miss Grantham. But don’t worry about getting lost. There’ll be footmen patrolling the corridors to direct people.’
    â€˜Surely not on the ladies’ floor!’
    â€˜Well, no, miss. But one will be in the hall, at the bottom of the stairs. And ye’ve got the bell. Sir Richard has thought of everything. He’s done the place up right nice.’ She then blushed furiously and bowed her head. ‘Sorry, miss. Mrs Lewis is always scolding me for being too familiar.’
    I dismissed this comment with a wave of my hand. ‘So you find Sir Richard to be a good master?’ I asked.
    Enid looked back up at me, her eyes shining like stars. ‘Och, the very best, miss.’
    Later, I made my way down the stairs. They were uncarpeted stone, but each tread had been carefully restored. The result was authentic – and cold; much as I imagine a real castle to be. At the bottom a man dressed in livery bowed and escorted me to a pair of double doors, which he opened to reveal the Red Salon. There was already a crowd of perhaps twenty or more people standing around with drinks in their hands. I nodded to the room as I entered and made my way across towards where the drinks were being dispensed by yet another footman. This room was large, square, and fitted out with dark panelling, and carpeted in a shade all too close to the colour of blood. The ceiling was ornately plastered with images I could not study without craning my neck and looking like a lost giraffe. A row of tall windows looked out not onto the courtyard, but onto a misty vista of green hills with the shadows of what I assumed must be mountains beyond. At one end, a large fireplace, taller than I, roared as it consumed a couple of tree-like logs. Despite this, and the number of guests, the room still felt cold.
    Suddenly, a drink was pressed into my hand. Bertram’s voice spoke into my ear. ‘I know things up here come a lot cheaper, but how the hell is my brother affording all this?’
    It was a question that, as a lady, I should have ignored, but my interest too had been piqued. ‘I have no idea,’ I whispered back. ‘And who is Miss Hessleton? You knew about the marriage. What do you know of the