Free Walking Into Murder by Joan Dahr Lambert Page A

I’m sure,” she clucked. “But where were you going, to get lost like that?”
    “To Torrington Manor. It’s a bed and breakfast place.”
    “No wonder then,” Maude said, shaking her head with a knowing look. “It’s a hard place to find, down those twisty roads and then that long drive.
    “I’ve heard it’s very grand at the manor,” she went on. “My girl Daisy used to clean there, but that was when the old Baron was alive.”
    “The old Baron?”
    “Died a few years ago. They had to find the next Baron then, and it took them a while, I can tell you! No sons. All killed in the war, only distant relations left.” Maude shook her head again. “Isn’t the same, is it, when they haven’t lived here all their lives? Mind you, though, the new Baron isn’t bad. He’s restored the manor and the old church, though if you ask me, it was the Baroness who got him to do it. Still, he loves his horses and that’s good.”
    She stopped. “Here I am, talking away, and you wanting to get on with your scones and all. My Anthony says I talk too much and he’s right.”
    “Oh, but I’m very interested,” Laura answered quickly. “The manor seems like such a fascinating place.”
    “That it is,” Maude agreed obligingly. “The family has lived there for hundreds of years, and there’s been some interesting stories. Fellow who came here once wrote a book about all the nobility that visited, the rebellions they got involved in and all that. They even built a secret passage back then, the book says.”
    Laura was intrigued. If she ever got back to the manor, she would look for it.
    For the moment, however, she was eager to get back to the present family. “How long has this Lord Torrington lived there?”
    “Not quite sure,” Maude answered, thinking hard. Her brow cleared. “It was when my Daisy’s first was born, that’s right,” she declared. “Almost six years ago now, it was. Time for another, I’d say, but she won’t hear of it. It’s different these days, isn’t it? Sad, if you ask me. Clothes and such is all they care about.”
    “Yes,” Laura agreed, searching for another way to get back to the manor. “Lord Torrington’s wife certainly has beautiful clothes,” she remarked casually.
    Maude sniffed. “If she is his wife. Common tart if you ask me. Beautiful clothes, but that’s about it. Ought to keep them on, that’s what I think! You should hear all the rumors. There’s that groom, at least that’s what they call him, for one thing. Too big for his boots and doesn’t know a fig about horses. Comes to town and gives orders like he’s a lord himself, and never passes the time of day at the King’s Arms. That’s the pub down the lane, you know. No pints for him at the bar; drinks wine instead and goes right off to sit by himself in the corner. Never had a groom like that before. But that Antonia likes him, never mind poor Lord Torrington. My Daisy went up to the manor to see if she could do the cleaning again and there they were, big as life, kissing each other and who knows what else – the groom and Antonia, I mean.”
    Laura’s eyebrows went up. Thomas wasn’t the only one, then. Did Antonia make a habit of seducing men?
    “He’s not the only one, either,” Maude went on, echoing her thought. “There’s another I could name around here who’s been taken in by her. Terrible shame, that was, but it’s over now I guess.”
    “Who was that?” Laura asked, intrigued. Surely he couldn’t be Thomas. As far as she knew he hadn’t been here long enough. Or had he?
    Maude hesitated, obviously struggling between discretion and her desire to tell all. For once, discretion won the battle. “That I can’t say,” she replied primly. “No point raking over old gossip, is there? I mean, it’s all over and done with now, poor man.” She pressed her lips tightly together, as if to reinforce her decision, and Laura dared not ask more questions. Maude must like the man to keep