Free Murder Has No Class by Rebecca Kent Page A

pay for the crime, for he would be guilty of taking the lives of not one person, but two.”
    Essie looked confused. “How so?”
    Meredith sighed. “The murder of Howard Stalham and the subsequent execution of his son, James.”
    “Oh.” Essie’s brow remained creased. “So what are you going to do about it?”
    Meredith glanced at Felicity, wincing at the look of disapproval on her friend’s face. “I’m going to pay a visit to the Stalham country estate. This afternoon. I shall give my students an assignment while I’m away.”
    Felicity pursed her lips. “Are you sure that’s wise? Or even necessary? What if your ghost has given up the idea of asking for your help? Your investigation would be a complete waste of time.”
    “It’s never a waste of time to see justice served on the guilty.” Meredith rose to her feet. “If a misjudgment has been made, then it should be put right, whether or not James Stalham returns.”
    “Meredith is quite right,” Essie said, nodding her head. “After all, we could have a killer roaming around the village. Just think of the danger our students might face.”
    “If there is another killer,” Felicity said, pushing herself up from her chair, “which I seriously doubt, he would most likely have departed these parts some time ago. Especially if he was well acquainted with the Stalhams, which I suppose he would have to be if he was not obliged to force his way into the house. The Stalhams’ main residence is in London, is it not?”
    Meredith nodded. “According to the article, they only used the country estate for weekends. Apparently Lord Howard enjoyed hunting, and in fact, he had planned to join a hunting party the next day, had he not died. His wife, Lady Clara, had remained in the city, and was informed of his death the following day.”
    Essie uttered a cry of distress. “How awful! The poor woman. To lose her husband and her son in such swift succession.”
    “Indeed. It must be very difficult for her.” Meredith walked to the door. “Which is one of the reasons I feel compelled to ferret out what really happened. I intend to pose as a prospective purchaser and ask to look over the estate.”
    “Don’t they have agents for that?”
    Meredith smiled at Felicity’s frown of concern. “They do, but there is no reason why I shouldn’t act on my own. In any case, only a few members of the staff remain in the mansion. I’m sure someone will accommodate me.”
    “I just hope you know what you are doing.”
    Without bothering to answer her, Meredith opened the door.
    The truth was, she had never been confident in her ability to investigate a crime. It was largely by luck that she had solved the previous two cases, with perhaps just a little perceptive thinking thrown in. She could only hope that her luck held in this event. Just in case the ghost of James Stalham decided to return.
    Having ordered Reggie Tupper, her loyal, if somewhat capricious handyman, to bring around the carriage, Meredith waited on the steps for him to arrive. She had dressed conservatively in a black skirt, white lace waist, and black velvet jacket to guard against a cool wind that still bore traces of a departed winter at times.
    Her gloves were showing signs of wear, she noticed, as she fastened her silk scarf more securely about her throat. Soon she would have to purchase more. The wide brim of her hat shaded her face, and she tilted her chin at the sound of horse’s hooves.
    Reggie’s face glowed with excitement as he climbed down to open the door for her. Leaning toward her, he whispered hoarsely, “Are we going after another murderer?”
    She tried to look surprised. “Goodness, Reggie, whatever makes you think that?”
    “You don’t usually go out without Miss Cross and Miss Pickard, do you. I thought you might be off on one of your investigations.”
    “I’m merely going to look at some property that’s for sale.”
    She climbed up onto her seat. “So you can stop