Chapter Twenty-seven

Miss silver was enjoying the peaceful hour which follows afternoon tea. Louisa had been recalling a number of those family events which never seem to lose their interest for elderly ladies. Together they had recalled how Fanny’s wilfulness had precipitated her into that disastrous marriage, and moralised over the painful consequences of Roger’s determination to go to China. Louisa had been able to supply some hitherto unknown details in the matter of Millicent’s divorce, and to assure her cousin that there was no truth whatever in the scandalous rumour that poor Henry had committed suicide. Miss Silver knitted and listened. Everything that people did or said was of interest, and Louisa was able to throw quite a fresh light upon both Henry and Millicent, Miss Arnold had just observed that, ‘What the housemaid said was, of course, quite conclusive,’ when the telephone bell rang. Louisa, lifting the receiver, heard Stephen Eversley’s voice. ‘Oh, is that you? Could I speak to Miss Silver?’

‘Of course, my dear boy. I hope there is nothing wrong?’

‘I’m afraid there is. Look here, Cousin Louisa, she does take things on professionally, doesn’t she?’

‘Who – Maud? Oh, yes, she does – but I really don’t know – ’ Miss Silver put down her knitting and came across the room. As she approached the instrument she could distinguish th sound of the man’s voice, and that he seemed to be in something of a hurry.

‘Oh, no!’ said Louisa Arnold in a shocked voice. ‘Oh, yes, of course – but I don’t suppose… Well, perhaps you had better speak to her yourself.’

Rightly judging this to be her cue, Miss Silver took possession of the receiver. As she put it to her ear she heard Stephen Eversley say,

‘I would like to come and see her at once if I can.’

With a faint preliminary cough she said,

‘Miss Silver speaking. Am I right in thinking that you wish to see me?’

‘Yes – yes, please.’

‘Then you had better come round here.’

‘Yes, I’ll come at once.’

She hung up. Louisa was agog.

‘Maud – he says Cara Benevent is dead! Some sort of accident! Do you know, I thought he sounded quite upset! And if he is, that must mean that he is really interested in Candida Sayle!’

When Stephen arrived it was clear that no secret was to be made of this interest. He said they were engaged, and went on, still with that hurry in his voice,

‘Miss Silver – ’

Miss Arnold broke in on a twittering note.

‘My dear boy – what has happened? Poor Cara!’

He would rather have spoken to Miss Silver alone, but this was plainly impossible. Cousin Louisa was overflowing with interest, commiseration, and kindness, and he must endure them with as good a grace as he could muster. He said,

‘I’ve been out all day, going into those plans with Lord Retborough. When I got in, there was a message to ring up Underhill. Burdon answered the call. He told me Miss Cara was dead – some sort of an accident. And he fetched Candida. She said’ – he began to pick his words with care – ‘she said Miss Olivia was very much upset.’

‘Oh, she must be!’ said Louisa Arnold. ‘Oh, poor Olivia! It must be dreadful for her! She did bully Cara, but of course she was devoted to her too! That was why she was in such a state when people were saying that Cara meant to marry Alan Thompson! Of course there couldn’t have been any truth in it, but it would upset her dreadfully all the same!’

Stephen went on with what he had been going to say.

‘Well, she is so much upset now that she says she can’t stay in the house.’

‘My dear!’

‘Not even for a single night.’

‘Oh, my dear Stephen!’

He nodded.

‘Actually, she has gone already.’

‘Gone! Where?’

Miss Silver had not spoken. She stood there quietly and listened. Stephen threw up a hand.

‘It seems that she owns a house in Retley. It’s been let, but the tenants went out a week ago. She has taken Joseph and gone there. Anna is to follow later.’

‘My dear Stephen!’

He spoke directly to Miss Silver.

‘You see how it leaves Candida. She can’t stay there alone with Burdon. I have come to ask if you will go to her.’

Miss Arnold was prompt in hospitality.

‘But she must come here! The room has just been spring-cleaned, and Eliza shall put bottles in the bed.’

He really did feel grateful, and preoccupied as he was, he managed to show it.

‘How frightfully good of you! But she doesn’t feel that she ought to come away. I did say that when you knew we were engaged – you’ve been so kind about everything – but she thinks she ought to be there. You see, she comes in for everything now, and she feels responsible – she says it would look like running away. But she ought to have someone with her – like Miss Silver. Anna may have to go tomorrow, and you know how people talk. If Miss Silver only would, nobody could say a word.’

Miss Silver had picked up her knitting. She said,

‘Certainly, Mr. Eversley. I will just go and pack my things.’

While he was driving her out to Underhill Stephen was a good deal more explicit than he had thought it prudent to be in front of his Cousin Louisa. What she heard from other sources was beyond his control, but Miss Olivia’s monstrous accusation would not reach her through him. With Miss Silver there could be no concealments.

‘She has gone mad of course. I suppose it’s the shock or something, but she actually accuses Candida of Miss Cara’s death. You see, the police don’t think it’s an accident, and Miss Olivia is pretending to believe that Candida is in some way responsible. That is why she won’t stay in the house. And honestly, I’m thankful to feel that she isn’t there. If she is insane enough to think that Candida would harm Miss Cara, she is quite mad enough to be dangerous herself.’ Miss Silver said in a very composed voice, ‘Will you tell me just what happened, Mr. Eversley?’

‘That’s just it – I don’t know – nobody seems to. The maid, Anna, found Miss Cara lying at the foot of the stairs at seven o’clock this morning. The back of her head was injured, and she had been dead for some time. But she was lying on her face. Her own doctor and the police surgeon both say that she couldn’t have moved after an injury like that, and that it couldn’t have been caused by the fall. Miss Olivia is saying that Candida pushed her over the stairs, but quite apart from its being an insanely wicked thing to say, it makes nonsense in the face of the medical evidence. That is really all I know. I gather there had been rows, one with Candida and one with Derek Burdon, but she didn’t want to talk about it on the telephone.’

Miss Silver inclined her head in approval.

‘It is always better to say too little than too much.’

Chapter Twenty-eight

Miss silver had seen Candida Sayle across the drawing-room at the Deanery, her eyes bright, her colour high and pure. She had met her when the Miss Benevents brought her up to be introduced to Louisa Arnold, and she had admired the tone of her voice and her warm response to what Louisa had to say about her grandmother, the earlier Candida after whom she had been named. She took an interest in girls, and she had thought Candida Sayle a very charming one. She saw her now in the black dress which she had worn for Barbara, the bright colour all gone, the eyes with a look of strain that was painful to see. But the breeding held. Her thanks to Miss Silver for coming, her welcome, were all that the most exacting standard could demand.

The comfortable bedroom that had been prepared was next to her own. The bed, Miss Silver was glad to observe, was quite modern, and it was being warmed by two hot water-bottles. A small electric fire had been lighted. Her experience of country houses had not encouraged any great hope of such attentions, and while perfectly ready to do without them in the cause of duty, it was pleasant to find that they had been provided.