The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth

‘Do you know, I’ve absolutely no idea,’ Neville answered. ‘A couple of days, perhaps? Unless one knows the pathologist involved. And in this instance we don’t.’

‘So what you’re saying is we’ll just have to wait,’ Will interjected.

‘That’s right,’ Neville replied, ‘and how he died doesn’t really matter to us, does it? In the meantime, I just want to say that I for one will not be sending any condolences to the grieving widow, if indeed she is grieving. Finnister led me to believe there was an estrangement in that marriage.’

‘And I won’t be offering any sympathetic words either,’ Edward announced in a sharp voice. ‘In view of the fact that we never received any condolences when our fathers and brothers were murdered in Carrara, Neville.’

‘Now, gentlemen, shall we repair to my club for a few drinks before dinner?’ Neville suggested. ‘I think it might be rather nice to raise a glass to each other, under the circumstances.’ Neville shook his head, then remarked, ‘It’s a pity Oliveri’s not here.’

‘It is rather, I agree,’ Edward murmured. ‘But his mother is in hospital and he wanted to go and visit her. However, we can toast him, can’t we? After all, it looks as if he might well inherit Masters’s job.’

‘Indeed he might,’ Will agreed. ‘Let’s face it, this sudden death might very well play in our favour.’

At seven o’clock that same evening, Edward arrived at Lily’s house in Belsize Park Gardens. As he alighted from Neville’s carriage he said to Will and Johnny, ‘Enjoy your dinner, and come back around ten o’clock, please. Is that all right, chaps?’

Johnny grinned at his cousin, and saluted. ‘Yours to command, sire.’

Edward laughed as he went up the steps to the front door. It was Lily who answered his knock, not the housekeeper, and she opened the door wider, her smile radiant. ‘I’m so glad you were able to come tonight, Ned. I must admit, I’ve missed you.’

As the door closed behind them he took off his overcoat, chuckled and shot back, ‘I saw you on Saturday afternoon for tea, at Vicky’s for goodness sake!’

‘But we weren’t alone,’ she reminded him in a low voice; slipping her arm through his she led him into the drawing room. ‘Would you like to have a whisky?’

Ned shook his head. ‘No, thanks anyway. I had several at Neville’s club earlier.’

As usual he went and stood in front of the fire with his back to it, looking across at her. She had seated herself on the sofa, and he couldn’t help thinking how lovely she looked in the pale blue silk gown with pearls on her neck and ears. He wished he had money so that he could buy her a gift.

‘You’re looking rather pensive, darling. Is something wrong?’

‘No, Lily, nothing’s wrong now that I’m here with you. I was just looking at you and thinking how beautiful you are, and wishing I had some money so that I could buy you diamonds and emeralds, cover you in jewels.’

Shaking her head, giving him an indulgent look, Lily laughed. ‘Don’t be so silly, you don’t have to buy me anything! I have everything I could possibly want.’ She patted the sofa and said, ‘Come and sit down, tell me about your day.’

He did as she asked and seated himself on the loveseat, gazing at her intently. ‘You look like a rose in full bloom, Lily, your skin is perfect, your eyes are sparkling…simply ravishing, that you are. But a little different somehow.’ Leaning forward, he kissed her on the cheek, and sat back. ‘Well, you asked about my day, and I can only say that it’s been a bit hectic. Aubrey Masters died last night, very suddenly.’

‘Oh my goodness!’ Lily’s eyes narrowed, and she went on swiftly, ‘Wasn’t he the head of the Mining Division? The one you had the huge argument with about your father’s office?’

‘He was indeed.’

‘Was he ill?’

‘Oh no—well, as far as we know he wasn’t. John Summers told us that Masters had chest pains last night, and that by the time the doctor arrived he was gone.’

‘Masters wasn’t very nice to you…’ Lily slowly shook her head. ‘My mother always said God doesn’t pay his debts in money,’ she added pithily.

Before Edward could respond, there was a light knock on the door and Mrs Dane poked her head around it. ‘Dinner’s ready, madame,’ the housekeeper said, and added, ‘Good evening, sir.’

‘Evening, Mrs Dane,’ Edward responded, smiling, and stood up, offered his hand to Lily, brought her to her feet.

As they went across the hall to the dining room, Lily murmured, ‘I asked Mrs Dane to make some of your favourite things—roast leg of lamb and roast potatoes, and I had Fortnum and Mason deliver their best Scotch salmon and Russian caviare, Beluga actually, I—’

‘Lily, I’m afraid you’re spoiling me!’ he cut in, put his arm around her shoulders as they walked into the room together, smiling down at her.

After supper they retreated to the drawing room, and for a few minutes Lily fussed with pouring Edward a cup of coffee and then a balloon of Napoleon brandy. As she was doing so she said in a casual almost offhand way, ‘I’m thinking of buying a house in Kent, it’s not far from Stonehurst Farm and is rather charming. Fortunately, it’s in good condition, not a wreck like Vicky’s farm was when she bought it.’

Edward looked at her, his eyebrows drawing together in a jagged line. ‘That’s always a blessing, not having to engage in remodelling and such. But Lily, why on earth do you want to have a house in Kent? I never realized you had a partiality to the country. Or that you would ever contemplate living there.’

Lily realized at once that he was genuinely puzzled, and she replied quickly, ‘Oh, I do enjoy being out of town for part of the time, Ned, as long as there are friends nearby. However, I have another reason for buying the house.’ She cleared her throat, sat down on the small sofa, and continued, ‘There’s something I want to tell you, but please, I don’t want you to be upset. I’ll take care of everything, you won’t have to do a thing, I promise you.’

Frowning again, Edward asked in a puzzled voice, ‘Lily, what are you talking about?’

‘I’m pregnant, Ned,’ she announced calmly in a strong, steady voice. ‘I’m expecting your baby—our baby.’

He gaped at her in astonishment, and instantly experienced an extraordinary rush of emotion, a sudden sense of happiness. A huge smile spread itself across his face. ‘Lily, darling! We’re having a baby! And that’s what is different about you.’ He grinned from ear to ear. ‘You’ve put on weight, not a lot, but you are definitely a little plumper. Not that I mind, it’s rather charming.’

Rising, he went to sit next to her on the loveseat, encircled her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek in the most loving manner. ‘A baby. Well, fancy that, we’re having a baby.’

‘You’re not angry with me, are you?’ A look of worry crossed her eyes.

‘How could I possibly be angry with you of all people?’ Drawing away, gazing deeply into her face, he murmured, ‘I’m just as responsible as you are for making this child, and I will always feel and be responsible for him, or her.’

‘You don’t have to be, I mean in a financial way,’ Lily assured him. ‘And I do understand you can’t possibly marry me, I’m much too old for you. You will have to make an important marriage one day, you know. But, of course, it would make me happy if you could see our child, spend time with us, visit us.’ A gentle smile flitted across her face. ‘You must understand I’ll never make any demands on you, Ned. Never ever.’

There was an odd expression on his face, and he took her hand, brought it to his lips, kissed it, and held it between his own. ‘You’re the most extraordinary woman I’ve ever met. You are very special to me, my darling Lily.’

TWENTY-SIX

‘I’m certainly glad you’ve recovered from that nasty little attack upon your person, Mr Deravenel,’ Inspector Laidlaw said in his hearty voice, shaking Edward’s hand with a firm grip. ‘I’m afraid we came to a dead end on that, sir, no suspects, as you know. Mind you, we’ve not closed the case. It remains open.’

‘I’m perfectly certain you’ll never be able to pin it on anyone, Inspector Laidlaw,’ Edward replied and chuckled. ‘Those boyos were long gone that very night, wouldn’t you say?’

‘I would indeed.’

‘Now, Inspector Laidlaw, I would like you to meet my colleagues, Alfredo Oliveri and Robert Aspen. They both worked rather closely with Aubrey Masters, for a number of years. They’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, as will I.’

‘Pleased to meet you, gentlemen,’ Inspector Laidlaw said, shaking Alfredo’s hand and then Rob’s. ‘I do have a few things I would like to discuss with you both, and Mr Deravenel.’

The four men were standing in the middle of Edward’s office at Deravenels, and he now said, ‘I think we might be more comfortable over there near the window where we can all sit down.’ As he spoke he walked across the room and seated himself on the sofa; the other three men followed and each took an armchair arranged in a grouping close to the big leather sofa.

‘By the way, Inspector, do you have the results of the autopsy yet?’

‘Yes, I do, Mr Deravenel. Mr Masters died from the ingestion of digitalis.’

‘Isn’t that a heart medicine?’ Rob Aspen asked in surprise, looking at the Inspector. ‘I didn’t think one could die from it. My mother has a heart problem and the doctor prescribed digitalis last year.’

In his late thirties, Rob Aspen was a pleasant-looking man who appeared much younger than his years and wore his clothes with a bit of a dash. Women found him attractive, wanted to mother him, but so far he had eluded all of them and was still single.

‘It is indeed a heart medicine, Mr Aspen,’ the Inspector answered. ‘And that was one of the things I wanted to talk to you all about. Did Mr Masters suffer from a heart condition, do you know?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Alfredo answered, ‘but then Aspen would know better than I, because he works here in London all the time. I go back and forth to Italy, to Carrara, to be exact.’

Rob exclaimed, ‘I’m pretty certain he was in the best of health. He appeared to be, at any rate. On the other hand, how can I be sure? We were business colleagues not close friends, and he did not confide in me. Surely Mrs Masters would know about his health?’

The Inspector nodded, leaned back in the armchair, a reflective look on his face. After a moment’s considered thought, he continued slowly, ‘Mrs Masters insists that her husband did not have a heart condition, and therefore was not taking digitalis. She was most definite about this. I’ve also spoken to his physician, Dr Fortescue, and went to see him at his surgery. In fact, we had a long chat. The doctor cannot explain the reason Mr Masters took digitalis. He, too, is most baffled. Certainly he did not prescribe it, because Mr Masters did not have a heart condition. The doctor was most firm about that.’

‘Could there be another doctor involved, Inspector Laidlaw?’ Edward asked, giving the policeman a hard stare. ‘Perhaps Aubrey Masters wanted a second opinion, if he thought he had a health problem, and certainly he wouldn’t have wanted to offend Dr Fortescue. Or perhaps he didn’t want his wife to know he had developed a heart condition, and secretly went to see another physician or specialist.’

‘Or any kind of condition,’ Rob volunteered.

‘What are you suggesting, Mr Aspen?’ the Inspector asked, his eyes on the other man.

‘It’s something I’ve just remembered—’ Rob left his sentence unfinished, shaking his head. ‘No, no, it’s a long shot, I’m sure there’s nothing to it.’

‘To what?’ the inspector asked.

‘A remark Masters made to me about six months ago. I thought it was an odd comment, and quite out of character, not at all like him. Out of the blue one day, he muttered that life was so much easier for women, that all they had to do was lie down, whereas men had to stand to attention.’ Rob shook his head. ‘I was being something of a dunce that afternoon, I suppose, because I didn’t get the innuendo at first, not until he chuckled and winked at me. Frankly, I was astonished. I realized he was making a reference to his…sexuality, or perhaps I should say lack of it. About a week later I took some papers to his office, but he was out. I placed the files on his desk and it was then I noticed a writing pad on which he had drawn a number of hearts in red pencil, doodles really, and just below the hearts was the name Dr Alvin Springer. I thought nothing about it at the time, it just came back to me now.’

‘I will have that name checked out, Mr Aspen. Thank you very much indeed,’ Inspector Laidlaw said. ‘There’s a possibility that Dr Springer is a heart specialist, in view of those scribbles.’

‘It might be a clue, yes,’ Rob responded. ‘On the other hand, the doctor could be one who specializes in sex therapy. There are a few now practising in London, I hear from a friend of mine, who suffers from…well, er, shall we say a certain inadequacy. He has also been going to a psychiatrist, and, in fact, Dr Springer might well be a doctor who treats problems.’

Edward, who had been swallowing sudden and unexpected laughter, now glanced at Inspector Laidlaw. Immediately he saw the laughter in the policeman’s eyes, although his expression was one of total solemnity.

Rising, Edward walked over to his desk, trying to turn his spluttering laughter into coughing. A moment later, fully in control he said, ‘Do excuse me, I’m so sorry.’

The Inspector looked across at him, obviously suppressing his laughter, and said, ‘Do you need a glass of water, sir?’

Edward walked back to the sofa, shaking his head. ‘No, no, thank you, I’m fine.’

Laidlaw now said, ‘Mr Aspen, you’ve been very helpful, and I will personally speak to Dr Springer.’ Clearing his throat several times, he then went on, ‘I don’t suppose any of you would know if there was—well, another woman in his life?’

Edward thought he would burst into laughter at the preposterousness of this idea, but he managed to control himself, as did Oliveri and Aspen. Both of them looked as amused as he was; they simply shook their heads, as did Edward, and kept their faces straight.

After a moment, Edward turned to the Inspector. ‘If Aubrey Masters did have a heart condition, and had been prescribed digitalis, which is a heart medicine, then why on earth did he die because he took it?’

‘It was an overdose, Mr Deravenel. I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear at the outset of this conversation. Accidental or on purpose, we don’t know yet. And this leads me to another point, and that is Mr Masters’s demeanour. How was he in the last few weeks? Sad? Despondent about anything? Did he appear worried? Or did he perhaps behave differently in some way?’ He looked at Alfredo in particular.

‘He was totally normal, Inspector,’ Alfredo announced in a firm and positive voice. ‘Actually, he was in an especially good mood on Monday, although in a bit of a hurry to get away from the meeting we were having. He explained he didn’t want to be late for an appointment out of the office. The following day, Tuesday, we bumped into each other in the corridor here, and he was very cordial. But I must admit, he did appear to be preoccupied. That’s all I can tell you.’

‘He was very preoccupied, Inspector,’ Rob volunteered. ‘And I agree with Oliveri in that I myself thought he was in a good humour on Monday, and certainly normal in everything he did.’

Inspector Laidlaw nodded. ‘It’s probably all very simple really. No doubt he did have a heart condition he was hiding from his wife and everyone here at his place of work. He must have gone to Dr Springer for that reason, who put him on digitalis. The other night he more than likely misjudged the dose, took too much.’

‘Is there going to be an inquest?’ Edward asked.

‘Oh yes, of course, sir. It will be held next week according to the coroner.’ Standing up, Inspector Laidlaw thanked them for their cooperation. ‘I’ll be in touch with you, gentlemen, as soon as I have more information.’

Edward left his office with the Inspector and escorted him down the corridor in the direction of the grand staircase. As they walked along side by side, Edward said, at one moment, in a low voice, ‘There is the possibility he committed suicide, isn’t there?’

‘Yes, indeed, Mr Deravenel.’

‘I didn’t know Aubrey Masters well, but he didn’t strike me as the kind of man who would misjudge the amount of medication he should take. He was rather precise,’ Edward confided in the same quiet voice. ‘And yet he did take an overdose, didn’t he?’

The policeman nodded, and murmured in an equally low tone, ‘If you have any more thoughts or information to pass on, you can reach me at Scotland Yard, Mr Deravenel.’

When Edward walked back into his office a few minutes later, Alfredo and Rob were laughing hilariously.

‘What’s the joke?’ he asked, and then began to laugh himself. When he finally sobered, Edward said, ‘Honestly, Aspen, I thought I was going to explode. There you were, mincing your words, trying to be careful around the Inspector, being ever so discreet. You could have just come out with it and said Masters couldn’t get an erection. The Inspector was striving to suppress his own laughter. I saw that immediately.’

Alfredo pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes. ‘You sounded like your own maiden aunt, Aspen.’

‘I know,’ Rob admitted, looking chagrined. ‘It was foolish of me, but I was simply trying to say what I had to say without being—bloody vulgar.’

‘Inspector Laidlaw’s one of the boys, a good sport, I can tell you that,’ Edward remarked, grinning again. ‘I think he would have appreciated a good laugh, in fact.’

Alfredo walked over to the window and looked down into the Strand for a moment, then swung his head and said to Edward, ‘I think Masters might have committed suicide, because of the skimming. You and I both think he might be involved in that, and so does Aspen, by the way.’

Rob, who was leaning against the desk nonchalantly, nodded his head. ‘It’s bound to come to light in the next few months—unless there’s a real cover-up, unless they make it go away. It’ll be miraculous if they do.’

‘You’re correct in that,’ Ned answered, and went and sat down behind his desk. ‘I told Inspector Laidlaw that I’ll be in touch if anything comes to mind, so put your thinking caps on, my lads, and think hard. I’d like to help Laidlaw, if I can. He’s a nice chap.’

Alfredo said, ‘I couldn’t believe it when the Inspector asked if Masters had another woman. Can you imagine that—Aubrey Masters and a lady of the night.’

‘Please don’t,’ Ned muttered, grimacing. ‘It’s certainly not something I want to think about, I can tell you that. Masters was rather a strange duck in my opinion, and also quite ghastly, actually.’

Rob chuckled. ‘You’re right, and it’s certainly hard to envision him as a ladies’ man, even when the lady isn’t a lady. Think of that.’

‘God forbid!’ Ned exclaimed.

TWENTY-SEVEN

He paused, his hand on the knob of the library door, listening acutely, wondering if he had been mistaken. No, he had not. He could hear someone sobbing, but he hesitated for a moment before entering. He was not sure who was in there but whoever it was sounded extremely upset.

Quietly, Edward opened the door and looked into the long, elegant room. In the dim light the dark green walls looked even darker at this early hour. Nevertheless, he saw his sister at once. Meg was bent over the mahogany reading table, her head down on her arms, weeping as if her heart would break.

He experienced a swift rush of love and concern for the fifteen-year-old girl, and went into the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Although he was tall and well built, Edward moved lightly and with grace; he was halfway across the floor on silent feet before Meg lifted her head and saw him.

Instantly, she jumped up and flew across the room, threw herself against his body. His arms went around her; he held her tightly, close to him, protectively.

Quietly, in a low, loving voice he attempted to soothe her, stroked her hair. Like many large men, Edward Deravenel was gentle, tender, and especially so with women and his younger siblings.

Within a few minutes her heaving abated, slowed to a few gasps, and bending over her, he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. ‘Too many tears for such a beautiful girl as you, Meg. Now, what’s this all about, my love? Why were you crying so hard?’

‘I don’t know,’ she began, her voice faltering, and shook her head. ‘I’m worried, I suppose—’ She broke off, compressed her lips and the tears welled again, fell down her cheeks unchecked.

‘And perhaps a little frightened, I suspect.’ Leaning into her, Edward wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips, kissed her forehead. Then he pulled a handkerchief out of his jacket pocket, and offering it to her, he told her, ‘Come along, blow your nose, and let’s go and sit over there and have a little chat.’

She nodded, took his handkerchief, did as he asked, and walked back to the circular reading table. Edward followed her, glancing around the room, thinking how peaceful and quiet it was on this sunny Saturday morning.

The walls were covered in a dark-green damask fabric, this colour offset by the white painted woodwork, ceiling mouldings, the door, the white marble fireplace, and the line of white-painted bookcases. These were filled with hundreds of volumes collected by his forebears. With its dark-green silk draperies, red leather chairs, Oriental rugs and a Chesterfield sofa covered with paisley-patterned fabric, it was a masculine room, yet not oppressively so.

Edward pulled out a chair next to Meg, and sat down. ‘Tell me what’s troubling you, sweetheart. Perhaps I can help.’

‘I suppose you were right when you said I was frightened, Ned. Such terrible things have happened lately…too many for one family to bear. Papa and Edmund murdered, Uncle Rick and Thomas as well, then the attack on you. You could have been killed, all those blows to your head.’ A deep sigh rippled through her before she added, ‘It’s as if the Grants are trying to kill off all the men in our line, render us helpless by turning us into a family of women.’

Edward’s blood ran cold as she said this, but nonetheless, he smiled at her and teased, ‘You and Mother are my Amazons, my warrior queens. Neither of you is helpless, Meg. Just the opposite.’ He said this in a mild tone, then when he noticed her frown he continued, ‘I’m not trying to make light of what you’re saying. A lot has happened, but remember bad things do happen to everyone at different times. Life is very hard, you know, and often comes back to hit one in the face. The most important thing is learning how to survive, to fight back, to hold one’s own. That’s what we must all do.’

‘I know, I must be brave,’ she murmured. ‘I’ll try.’ She stared at her brother intently. ‘I worry about George and Richard, and you, too, Ned, about your safety.’

‘Listen to me, Meg darling. None of the Grants are going to destroy me. I’m going to get them first, don’t you know?’ He grinned at her, his bright blue eyes full of sparkle. ‘As for George and Richard, the Grants wouldn’t go after children.’ As these words left his mouth he knew, with a sinking feeling, that they would if they had to in order to pursue their cause.

Wanting to calm her, he insisted, ‘You’re quite safe, Meg, you and the boys, here in this house with Mother and the staff. And me. Don’t forget, I live here, too.’