Free A Death in the Asylum by Caroline Dunford

with more care. Rory arrived even more breathless than Merry had been and with a wild look in his eye. ‘Euphemia!’
    ‘I’m fine,’ I said being even less careful with my words. After the very Scotch eruption had finished I explained my predicament with Bertram and Miss Wilton.
    ‘Oh aye, I can see why that might be considered an emergency,’ he finally admitted.
    ‘But what do I do?’
    ‘I take it your personal history would make it as difficult as mine to seek another situation.’
    ‘I fear so,’ I said grudgingly. ‘I’ve never actually been accused of murder, but I’m aware that fingers have been pointed in my direction.’
    ‘Aye, if you’ve come to general attention upstairs – and it has been mentioned elsewhere …’
    ‘Miss Richenda,’ I said sighing.
    ‘I couldnae confirm or deny, but …’
    ‘I need a wage for my family.’
    ‘Then yer’ve no choice but to go along with it, but I’d recommend not seeing anything or offering any thoughts. Be as dumb as Beatrice Wilton thinks you even if it hurts your pride. This is a mess, Euphemia, and unlike Lady Grey I’ve nay doubt yer’ve a keen brain, but this is no tangle for the likes of us to untangle.’
    He regarded me with an odd expression. I smiled. ‘I’m not angry. You’re right. But if I must go along with this, can I – can I rely on you?’
    ‘Of course, lass.’
    ‘I mean, if I do see things that–’
    ‘It would be hard to keep tae yerself?’
    ‘Yes and I won’t be able to help putting it all together or trying to.’
    ‘Making six out of four as usual,’ said Rory with a grin.
    ‘I’m out of my depth.’
    ‘I’ll be here for yer, lass. You can tell me anything.’
    ‘And if you think I should go to the police?’
    ‘I’ll tell you, but if I’m honest I think you’ll find a whole lot of speculation and possibilities and nothing strong enough to stand up in court. That’s how it is with them upstairs.’
    ‘I could try Mr Edward. He told me how to find him.’
    ‘He did, did he?’ said Rory. ‘Fitzroy too?’
    I shook my head.
    ‘Well, that’s something,’ muttered Rory darkly. ‘But honestly, lass, I doubt you’ll come across something that affects the security of the nation.’
    ‘With the Staplefords you can never be sure,’ I said wearily.
    ‘Aye, I’ll gie yer that.’
    *
    We set out in Mr Bertram’s motor in two days’ time. Miss Wilton was keen to be gone and it took both Dr Simpson and Rory’s combined efforts to delay the expedition for as long. As it was the world still had a slightly underwater feel to it. When I exited by the servants’ door small, suitcase in hand, only to be told by Miss Wilton I was to be sitting in the Dickie seat I put my foot down. I was as polite as I was haughty and, by the time Bertram appeared on the scene, we were within moments of drawing hat pins and duelling. I wouldn’t normally have considered Mr Bertram a quick-thinking man. He was certainly impulsive, but those impulses often seem to display a lack of intelligence rather than a surfeit. However, in this case he surprised me. ‘But, ladies,’ he said calmly, ‘we are not taking my car. I’ve arranged to borrow one of Richard’s. Merrit will drive it for us and Euphemia will sit up the front. Exactly where a lady’s mai …’ He encountered my eye. ‘A lady’s companion would sit.’
    Waiting for us in a smart chauffeur’s uniform was Merrit. ‘I didn’t know you could drive,’ I said as he gallantly handed me into my seat.
    ‘How hard can it be?’ said Merrit.
    I must have blanched, because he chuckled. ‘Cheer up, Miss St John. We’ve got ourselves a nice jolly away from the house of doom.’
    I glanced quickly behind us. There was a clear pane of glass in between. ‘They can only hear us if they use the speaking tube,’ said Merrit. ‘It gives an illusion of privacy.’
    ‘For whom?’ I asked sharply.
    ‘Both,’ said Merrit. ‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to