Page 11 of Miss Morton and the Missing Heir (A Miss Morton Mystery #4)

“I ’m not sure what you’re implying, sir.” Mr. Scutton looked down his nose at Inspector Ross. “I have no idea how the Brigham brothers got into this house, and I resent you suggesting that I had anything to do with it!”

It was the morning following Mary’s murder.

Inspector Ross had returned to the house to continue his interviews with the staff and Mr. Scutton.

Caroline hadn’t intended to be present when the inspector spoke to Mr. Scutton, but after his rudeness the previous evening, she’d reluctantly remained in the drawing room to make sure Mr. Scutton behaved himself.

“It is my job to ask the difficult questions, Mr. Scutton,” Inspector Ross said.

“One might think you would be willing to cooperate with my inquiries in order to find your sister’s murderer.

” He glanced down at his notebook. “You asked to be excused from the dining room before we had our glass of port. Where did you go?”

“That is none of your business.”

“I’m merely trying to establish whether you might have caught a glimpse of the Brighams arriving at the house, or if you saw anything that didn’t strike you as unusual at the time but that might turn out to be significant later.”

Mr. Scutton set his jaw. “I went into the garden. I preferred my own company to Mrs. Frogerton’s choice of dinner guests.”

“And you saw no one else there?” Inspector Ross asked. Caroline was impressed by his determination not to take offence. “Was there anything in the garden that seemed out of place?”

Mr. Scutton frowned. “Now that you mention it, the gate at the end of the garden leading to the mews was ajar. The latch was banging against the frame in the wind, and I went to close it.”

“I assume that gate is normally locked?” Inspector Ross looked over at Caroline, who was trying to remain inconspicuous in the corner.

“Yes, Inspector. Mrs. Frogerton is very careful about such matters,” Caroline said.

“Then one has to assume that might be how the Brighams entered the property,” Inspector Ross said. “Thank you, Mr. Scutton. That is most helpful.”

“You’re welcome.” Mr. Scutton looked impatiently toward the door. “Have you finished with me now?”

“Not quite.” Inspector Ross consulted his notes. “I under stand that you paid off Mr. Brigham’s debts.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I expected him to come here and murder his wife.” Mr. Scutton glared at the inspector. “I was attempting to alleviate her distress and hoped Brigham would take the chance offered to him and leave us in peace.”

“That is quite understandable, sir.” Inspector Ross nodded. “You have obviously known Albert Brigham for some years. Would you consider him a violent man?”

“Hardly, or I would never have allowed him to marry my sister,” Mr. Scutton snapped. “He was a little loud and vulgar for my personal taste, but Mary seemed to like him, and I tolerated him for her benefit.”

“How did Mr. Brigham end up in such dire financial straits that you were obliged to pay his debts?”

“How the devil should I know?” Mr. Scutton demanded. “And what in God’s name does that have to do with him murdering Mary?”

“Excuse me, Inspector.” Caroline cleared her throat. “I was under the impression that Mrs. Brigham believed her husband was given bad financial advice by her family, which led to his incarceration.”

Mr. Scutton turned to look at her. “With all due respect, Lady Caroline, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from commenting on my family.

It’s bad enough that I have to allow you to be here during this pointless interview, but presuming to air your views about a matter you know little to nothing about is beyond the pale. ”

Ignoring Mr. Scutton, Inspector Ross looked at Caroline. “Did Mrs. Brigham tell you that herself, my lady?”

“Yes, she did,” Caroline confirmed. “She was very upset about it.”

Inspector Ross wrote something in his notebook while Mr. Scutton scowled at both of them. “Did you know Mr. Brigham’s brother well, Mr. Scutton?”

“Hardly at all. He lives in Ireland with the rest of the family and rarely visits.”

“Then one has to wonder why he was here now,” Inspector Ross murmured. “Did his brother send for him, or was his appearance simply propitious?”

“One might think you are paid to answer such questions, Inspector.” Mr. Scutton said. “Not me.”

“Oh, I will answer them, sir.” Inspector Ross smiled as he put his notebook away in his pocket. “Don’t you worry about that.” He turned toward the door. “Thank you for seeing me, and for the descriptions of the Brigham brothers. I’ll return as soon as I have news.”

Caroline followed him out into the hall and waited as he picked up his tall black hat. He didn’t have to wear the navy and black uniform of his subordinates, but he tended to wear similar colors to blend in.

“It appears that Mr. Scutton has no liking for me or my profession,” he said as he headed for the front door. “Perhaps his attitude will change when I apprehend the Brighams.”

“I doubt it,” Caroline said. “He seems to take your mere presence as a personal insult.”

Inspector Ross shrugged. “It’s not uncommon for people to treat the metropolitan police like that. Mr. Scutton has just suffered a terrible bereavement, and no one is at their best in such circumstances.”

“You are far more charitable than I am.” Caroline opened the front door.

Birds were singing in the trees lining the street, and the sun shone brightly.

Mrs. Frogerton had ordered the front shutters to be closed out of respect for the dead, and it was something of a pleasure for Caroline to see the light.

“Do you think you will apprehend the Brighams?”

“We have both their names and their descriptions, which is a distinct advantage. I’ll be back this afternoon to speak to Mrs. Scutton if your physician thinks she will be well enough to receive me.”

Caroline nodded. “I believe she is eager to speak to you.”

“That’s encouraging.” His smile was rueful. “Yet again I am visiting you in my professional capacity, Lady Caroline, and not as I truly wish.”

She smiled back. “In truth, I am just glad to see you, sir.”

He winked and tipped his hat. Then he walked down the steps and onto the street before heading toward the main road, where Caroline presumed he would look for a hackney cab. She went back into the house and discovered Mr. Scutton awaiting her in the hall.

“I assume he’ll be back to bother us again tomorrow?”

Caroline looked at him. “Inspector Ross is doing his job, sir.”

“His questions are far too intimate to be ignored,” Mr. Scutton snapped. “His impudence …”

“I would have thought you’d want your sister’s murderers to be caught,” Caroline said. “Inspector Ross is extremely successful at his job and due for another promotion.”

Mr. Scutton snorted. “He’s an aristocrat. He will receive advancement regardless of his abilities.”

“If you dislike him so intensely, sir, I suggest you visit his superiors at Scotland Yard and ask for someone else to deal with the case.” She walked toward the stairs and paused to look at him. “Now if you will excuse me? I need to speak to Mrs. Frogerton.”

She started up the stairs, leaving him staring after her. She had a sense there was a lot more he wished to say, but she wasn’t in the mood to listen to his complaints, and her sympathy for his loss was rapidly dissipating.

Mrs. Frogerton looked up as she came in. “Was Mr. Scutton helpful to Inspector Ross?”

“Not particularly. He seemed determined to take offence at every question Inspector Ross asked him.” Caroline sat opposite her employer. “He was most displeased at my presence during the interview as well.”

“I suspect he is feeling guilty,” Mrs. Frogerton mused. “He’s angry at himself for paying Albert’s debts, but he’s decided to take out his anger on poor Inspector Ross, who is only trying to help.”

“I think you are correct, ma’am. I don’t know how Inspector Ross remained so calm when he was treated so offensively.”

“One assumes that is why he is so successful at his profession,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “I hope Mrs. Scutton will provide enough evidence to ensure a conviction.” She glanced up as Mr. Scutton came striding into the room. “Good morning, sir.”

“Ma’am.” Mr. Scutton bowed. “I have decided to have my sister buried as quickly as possible and have spoken to the local vicar and the undertaker. The vicar can hold a funeral service tomorrow at three. I do hope you will both attend.”

“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Frogerton paused. “Do you think your mother will be able to come?”

“I doubt it, ma’am, and, in truth, it is probably better if she doesn’t in her current emotional state.”

“Have you spoken to her about the matter?” Mrs. Frogerton asked.

“I’m just on my way upstairs to do so. I saw your doctor in the hall, and he agrees that my mother should stay in bed.”

He left, and Mrs. Frogerton looked at Caroline. “Well. Mr. Scutton has been busy.”

“He strikes me as the kind of man who prefers action to inactivity.”

“I’m surprised he doesn’t want to take Mary back to Epping for burial,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “She has no roots here in London and will lie among strangers. It’s almost as if he wants to forget this tragedy ever happened.”

“My father was buried very quickly and without the ceremony normally afforded to a peer,” Caroline said. “Aunt Eleanor was worried that if she didn’t get him into sacred ground before the inquest into his death, he might be denied his final resting place in the family vault.”

“Which makes me wonder again why Mr. Scutton is in such a rush.”

“You can’t think he had anything to do with her death?” Caroline asked.

“I don’t know, lass.” Mrs. Frogerton grimaced. “I just feel there is something off with this indecent haste to bury his supposedly much-loved sister.”

“Grief can affect people in different ways,” Caroline said.

“That’s the truth.” Mrs. Frogerton sighed. “After he leaves, I’ll go and see how Mrs. Scutton has taken the news of her daughter’s quick burial.”