Free A Death by Arson by Caroline Dunford

we were kids. I remember once when he got Mrs …’ he began to giggle. ‘All thin gangly legs and petticoats, she was coming down the stairs. Never seen anything like it. For ages afterwards I was convinced all women were half spider –’
    â€˜I meant,’ I said, cutting him off, ‘that a fall could bring on a miscarriage.’ I looked at his uncomprehending expression. ‘Not a missed carriage, Bertram, but a miscarriage of the baby. She could lose the baby.’
    Bertram paled. ‘My God, think what that would do to Muller! After his first wife lost all those…’
    â€˜I do not think it would be good for Richenda, either,’ I said waspishly.
    â€˜No. No. Bad all round.’ He stood up. ‘Right, there is only one thing for it.’
    â€˜It would be difficult to leave,’ I said. ‘We have no proof that Richard will do such a thing, and I recall that Hans needed to be here for business reasons.’
    â€˜Muller knows full well what kind of man my brother is,’ said Bertram. ‘But I didn’t mean that. Cause an awful fuss. No, what I meant was that you and I, Euphemia, shall have to guard my sister and her unborn child with our lives!’

Chapter Eleven
A midnight tryst
    I realised that this was the many glasses of wine Bertram had imbibed during dinner talking. ‘I completely understand that you wish to protect your sister,’ I said. ‘But we are not of the same ilk as someone who might make a decent protector.’
    â€˜Who better than her own kith and kin?’ stormed Bertram.
    â€˜Well, we know Rory is handy in a fight. But someone like Fitzroy would be better. I don’t suppose he is here? He has a habit of turning up when one least expects him.’
    â€˜That bounder!’ exclaimed Bertram. ‘I’d not trust him further than I could throw him.’ He looked me in the eye. ‘Not, I admit, that that would be very far. You are right that I am not exactly a man of action – thanks largely to my dicky heart – but I have my wits about me.’
    â€˜Yes, you do,’ I said more gently. ‘I suppose we must go and apprise Hans of our fears.’
    Bertram pulled a face. ‘I suppose we must, but the way he and Richenda were going on …’ He took a deep pull from his glass. ‘It was quite revolting. I can only imagine what they are…’
    â€˜Let’s not,’ I said hastily. ‘Why do you not seek out Rory and ask him to stand guard by their rooms tonight?’
    A sly smile spread over Bertram’s face. ‘He’s probably relaxing in the servants’ hall; flirting with the maids.’
    â€˜What is it with you two?’ I asked. ‘You have the strangest master-servant relationship I have ever encountered.’
    â€˜Pot. Kettle,’ said Bertram. ‘We can reconvene after breakfast. I will meet you at the Mullers’ room tomorrow at nine a.m. On second thoughts, let’s make that ten a.m. I’ll go set Rory to it.’ So saying he rose, put down his glass and wandered off, whistling tunelessly. I watched this, wondering if he had drunk even more than I had thought. Could I really trust him to find Rory and set him to watch Richenda? To convince him that it was necessary, even? For one dreadful moment, I found myself deeply missing Fitzroy.
    I made my way up to my room. To my surprise, I found it quite easily. The layout of the modern side of the castle was actually far simpler than I had thought. There were more floors, but they were generally smaller than those in the old section, and were connected with direct passageways and stairs.
    When I arrived in my room, I was delighted to see that Enid had been in already to lay my fire. Although the castle had been wired for electricity, Enid had lit a number of candles around the room, which gave it a warm and homely glow. I was glad of this. The new lighting system made me