The Tewkesbury Tomb by Kerry Tombs Read Free Book Online Page A

quietly spoken unassuming manner.
    ‘I am sorry for your loss, Miss Eames,’ interrupted Ravenscroft, observing the other’s composure.
    ‘I, er … I decided that I would like to travel for a while, something which I had not been able to do during my father’s long illness. I had always wished to see Bath. I thought that Tewkesbury would be a pleasant place to call upon during my travels.’
    ‘So you arrived here yesterday?’
    ‘In the early afternoon.’
    ‘And what happened in the evening?’
    ‘We went across to the abbey.’
    ‘No, before that.’
    ‘Oh, I see. During dinner my fellow travellers and myself were discussing the antiquities of the town and someone suggested that we should go and visit the abbey.’
    ‘Can you remember who proposed the idea?’ asked Ravenscroft.
    ‘I don’t really recall. Is it important?’
    ‘It would help us a great deal in our investigations if you could try and remember, Miss Eames,’ smiled Ravenscroft.
    ‘Oh yes, I think it was Major Anstruther.’
    Ravenscroft looked across at Crabb. ‘Major Anstruther you say. You are sure on that point?’
    ‘I think so, or was it Mr Ganniford? No, I do believe it was the major.’
    ‘It was rather late to venture out to the abbey, and on such an inclement night as well. Would it not perhaps have been more suitable to have delayed your visit until the morning?’
    ‘Yes, you are quite right, inspector. It was all rather foolish of us I suppose, particularly in the light of what happened. I did not really want to accompany the others, but I felt that now that the visit had been suggested and everyone was quite anxious to go, it would seem churlish of me not to have gone with them,’ replied the lady looking distractedly at the floor.
    ‘I quite understand. So you all walked over to the abbey together?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And what happened when you arrived there?’
    ‘We walked around the abbey, together, all six of us – sorry, five of us.’
    ‘It must have been very dark?’ offered Crabb.
    ‘We took two lanterns with us.’
    ‘Please continue, Miss Eames,’ encouraged Ravenscroft.
    ‘Well, we just walked, examining the various monuments, until we came to that dreadful open tomb with that poor man inside,’ replied the lady suddenly faltering in her speech and drawing a handkerchief to her eyes.
    ‘I’m sorry, Miss Eames. Perhaps you would like some water?’
    ‘Thank you,’ she replied, taking the glass from Crabb and sipping the liquid.
    ‘I appreciate this must have been all very upsetting for you,’ said Ravenscroft, trying to sound as sympathetic as he could.
    ‘I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I am not usually like this. It was just when I saw that man inside that tomb, I suddenly remembered the funeral of my poor late father—’
    ‘My dear Miss Eames, please do not distress yourself,’ said Ravenscroft rising from his seat and placing a hand upon her shoulder. ‘Perhaps you would prefer another time to answer our questions?’
    ‘Thank you. You are most kind. It might indeed be better. I’m so sorry. I am not usually like this,’ replied the lady, dabbing her eyes.
    ‘Crabb, would you please escort Miss Eames back to the other room. I am afraid I must ask you to stay with the others until we have completed our inquiries,’ said Ravenscroft, opening the door.
    ‘Of course, Inspector. I understand.’
    After the others had left the room, Ravenscroft returned to his desk where he busied himself in polishing the lens of his spectacles.
    ‘Well, she put on a fine act and no mistake,’ said Crabb returning from the outer room.
    ‘Tom, I do believe you are becoming rather cynical in your young age,’ smiled Ravenscroft. ‘I believe that she was genuinely distressed. I can appreciate that seeing that dead man lying in the open tomb must have been upsetting to her, coming shortly after the burial of her own father. Interesting though that she thought it was Jenkins who had suggested the visit