A Death in the Highlands by Caroline Dunford Read Free Book Online Page A

door. I did the only thing I could and slipped into the room ahead of me, fervently hoping it was unoccupied. Merry and I had been given the layout of the bedrooms, but Rory was charged with allocating them to the guests, so I really had no idea of what I might find within.
    In this, luck again was not with me. A portmanteau stood neatly on one side and a fine suit was hung over what I believe is called a gentleman’s valet, but denotes a wooden frame rather than a servant. I had entered McGillvary’s room. There were no sounds from the adjoining bathroom, so I crossed my fingers and waited for Rory to move on. Shortly afterwards the footsteps did begin to fade and I heard the bootboy’s voice, this time repeating nervously the occupants of each room. I was about to make my escape when I caught sight of the book on the bedside table. It was a compendium of conjuring tricks. Without thinking what I was doing I picked up the book and began glancing through it. All I could think was how much Little Joe would enjoy this.
    Before I could bring myself to the consideration of the impropriety of my actions there was a noise at the door. I tore my eyes away from the fascinating intricacies of how to make a lady in a palanquin vanish 4 and saw to my horror that the door handle had begun to turn.
    4 To this day I do not know how the trick is done.

The Nature of Gentlemen
    ‘That’ll do, Bobby. If you forget, you come and ask me. I’d rather you did that than I had gentlemen coming to me bootless and angry.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Right, off you go. Supper is due and that looks suspiciously like mud under your fingernails. You’d better get cleaned up before Miss St John sees.’
    ‘Oh, right you are, Mr McLeod.’
    The door handle stopped turning and I began to breathe freely once more. I mastered my desire to flee immediately, but I still exited the room all too soon. On my headlong flight towards the kitchen I ran straight into Rory.
    ‘It is not necessary, Euphemia, to attempt to knock me flat on my back to get my attention,’ he said, the faint touches of his Scottish burr softening his words. ‘Likewise I suspect it is not necessary, nor seemly, for you to appear so flustered. Our guests deserve a calm environment. It appears to me, with the exception of your behaviour, all is running well, no?’
    ‘How can you say that?’ I answered breathlessly. ‘Susan almost caused a serious incident this morning.’
    ‘I think that is open to interpretation,’ said Rory, frowning.
    ‘What else could it be? She hadn’t wiped the beeswax off the treads properly and Mr Bertram almost fell. I noticed in time and called to him to stop.’
    ‘People do make mistakes. The last owner said she was an exemplary worker.’
    ‘I have this feeling she doesn’t like the Staplefords much.’
    ‘Be very careful, Euphemia. There is enough ill will here without you implying such a serious accusation.’
    ‘But …’
    ‘When I said you should be stricter with the staff I never meant you to forget they are people – hard-working people – and sometimes we all make mistakes. I understand this is new to you and you need to make your authority felt, but accusing the staff of attempted murder is not the right way to go about it.’
    ‘I’m not saying she meant to kill him,’ I began.
    ‘Aren’t you?’
    ‘I don’t think she’d thought it through. And when she learned it was Mr Bertram, not Lord Richard, she was very upset. Ask him, if you want. He’ll tell you the same.’
    ‘I am not in the habit of bothering the family with below-stairs issues and I trust neither are you.’
    I sighed. ‘Look, all I am saying is, I don’t think she would have minded if Lord Richard had fallen on his – his … er …’
    ‘Arse? You may have something there. I’ll have a wee word with her myself. As you foiled her terrible scheme,’ he grinned, ‘she’d be a fool to try anything like it again. I do not believe we have anything to worry