they knew how the investigation was going, but decided that it wasnât tactful to ask.
Peter had no such reservations, however. âThe Stourdensâ plans might be relevant to Lauraâs murder,â he pointed out. âAnd your involvement also. The police will naturally be following that up.â
âOurs?â Dora went white with terror. âBut we had nothing to do with her horrible death.â
Peter explained. âI know how the police work. They have to consider every angle just in case. One possible avenue, unlikely though it seems, is the coincidence that Robert Luckhurst was a collector of Jane Austen memorabilia, and Laura Fettis was killed on the day of a Jane Austen gala. On the face of it, it might seem as though someone didnât want some facts about Jane Austen to come out. Thatâs the reason,â he added, looking very innocent, âthat both we and the police need to hear the story about the plans for Stourdens â if only for your own security.â
Gerald understood immediately. âYou mean this murdering devil might have a potshot at us?â
It took Dora longer, but then the message came through loud and clear. â Us ?â she shrieked. âYou mean someone might try to murder us just because of our modest contribution to the story?â
âItâs not impossible,â Peter said gravely.
Oh, how unfair, Georgia fumed, to use this kind of pressure. Surely Peter did not really think Laura was killed for that reason? It wouldnât make sense, as other members of the family would carry on where she left off. Or was Peter in earnest? It was a sobering thought, if so.
âGerald,â Dora announced firmly, âwe can explain more about the Assembly Rooms and their connection to The Watsons . Jennifer and Roy wouldnât mind that.â
âAll right, Dollybird,â Gerald said affectionately, putting his arm round her. âWeâll do just that. And Iâll have a word with Roy about the rest.â
The rest? Just what did it consist of? Peter did not comment, however, as they went into the corridor leading past the kitchens. The kitchens were on their left, although the one in use might be vastly changed from how it must have been in Jane Austenâs time. The fireplace, however, was original, except that it now sported a fine array of copperware rather than a fire and spitjack.
Gerald ignored the passageway leading to the right, which would have taken them back to the drawing room, and continued straight ahead until he came to an old but quite narrow wooden staircase. âThis takes us up to the first floor and through to the Assembly Rooms on the other side of the house,â he explained.
She saw Peterâs face drop. No way was his wheelchair going up there. Dora too had seen his expression. âDonât worry,â she said. âWe have a lift. Geraldâs mother lived here for some years and insisted on installing it. The staircase at the other end of this wing wasnât suitable for a stairlift, and nor was this one.â
âThe lift creaks a bit,â Gerald said cheerfully, âbut itâs regularly serviced.â
âThank you,â Peter replied gravely.
The stairs brought Georgia and Dora up to the first-floor landing where Peter and Gerald joined them â and then to a passageway leading along the wing. It was enclosed now, but Gerald explained it was once open, looking down to the courtyard beneath. At the end of the wing, it turned right into a small room which would, Georgia worked out, clearly eventually link up with the east wing, at least at this level. Under it must be the archway at the rear of the courtyard.
âThis is one of the former Assembly Rooms,â Dora announced with pride as they went into it. âIt was the tea room, hence the stairs to the kitchens.â
âItâs been used for all sorts of things since then, although not in