Page 23 of Miss Morton and the Missing Heir (A Miss Morton Mystery #4)

“I’m Sarah Smith. Jude’s sister. Mrs. Scutton might have mentioned me.”

“Yes, of course,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “Will you please join us for tea?’

Caroline opened the door into the small morning parlor and nodded for Jenkins to bring some refreshments.

“Are you from Epping?” Mrs. Frogerton inquired.

“That’s right. I keep house for the Scuttons.”

“We are so sorry for your loss,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “Everyone who has spoken about your brother says he was an admirable man.”

“He did his best, ma’am, in difficult circumstances.” Miss Smith pressed her lips together. “He was loyal to a fault.”

“What message do you have for Mrs. Scutton?” Mrs. Frogerton asked. “Would you prefer to write it down, or will you trust us to repeat your words to her?”

“I trust you, all right.” Miss Smith looked at them both.

“First off, tell her we were sorry to hear of Mary’s death, which we read about in the Epping Gazette .

” She paused. “It would’ve been nice if she’d written to tell us, but I suppose we’re not good enough anymore now she thinks her son will be an earl. ”

“Mrs. Scutton was bedridden after Mary’s death,” Mrs. Frogerton tried to explain. “The shock of her daughter’s murder—”

“Murder?” Miss Smith blinked. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Mrs. Brigham was murdered by her husband.”

“No.” Miss Smith shook her head. “Albert adores her.”

“There were witnesses to the fatal attack, Miss Smith,” Caroline said.

“Good Lord.” Miss Smith sat down very suddenly, one hand pressed to her bosom. “I don’t believe it! We saw Albert not three days ago!”

“In Epping?”

“Yes. He came by to collect the rest of his clothing.” Miss Smith looked shaken. “He seemed perfectly normal and didn’t mention a thing about Mary, except to say she was keeping well.” She paused. “Now that I think about it, he was remarkably tight-lipped.”

“Did he mention where he was going?” Caroline asked.

“I believe he was headed for his family home in Ireland,” Miss Smith said. “He said he and Mary were intending to live there. How could he have been so brazen? My poor, dear Mary. Dead at his hands. She was always Jude’s favorite.”

“She spoke very highly of him,” Mrs. Frogerton said.

“Oh, dear Lord.” Miss Smith fanned her face. “I’m coming over all peculiar.”

“I’ll fetch some brandy, ma’am.” Caroline was already moving toward the door where she almost collided with Jenkins and the tea tray. “There’s a decanter in the dining room.”

Miss Smith was coaxed into taking a small glass of brandy followed by some heavily sweetened tea. She slowly recovered her equilibrium.

Mrs. Frogerton leaned forward to replenish her teacup. “Do you still wish to leave Mrs. Scutton a message? Whatever you have to say must be important if you came all the way to London to deliver it.”

“It doesn’t feel right anymore.” Miss Smith made a face. “I was angry with her for not telling us about Mary herself. Now I understand why she might not have felt ready to share such a terrible thing, even with her own family.”

Mrs. Frogerton nodded sympathetically. “Still … is there anything you wish us to pass on?”

Caroline had to admire her employer’s persistence.

Miss Smith took a restorative breath. “When we were unpacking Jude’s belongings, we found several items and letters he’d been keeping for Mary. We think she must have given them to him to take back to Epping.”

“As he tragically didn’t leave London, I assume they weren’t found on his person,” Mrs. Frogerton said.

“No, he’d packed them in his trunk, which was delivered to our house in Epping by carrier the day after he was supposed to have arrived. We were concerned because he hadn’t returned himself. We only found out he was dead when Mr. Scutton sent us an urgent message that very evening.”

Mrs. Frogerton made sympathetic noises and reached over to pat Miss Smith’s gloved hand.

“I intended to ask Mrs. Scutton if she wished the items to stay with us in Epping or if she wanted them returned.” Miss Smith paused. “I suppose you could still ask her that without causing offense?”

“Certainly.” Mrs. Frogerton paused. “Are there any details about those things you wish me to share with Mrs. Scutton?”

“I think she needs to see them for herself.” Miss Smith rose to her feet as the clock chimed the quarter hour. “I have to go.”

“Thank you for coming, Miss Smith.” Mrs. Frogerton shook her guest’s hand. “I’ll tell Mr. and Mrs. Scutton you called.”

“Don’t tell him. I’ll write to her when I get back to Epping.” Miss Smith had almost reached the door when she turned back and took in a deep breath. “In fact, I’ve changed my mind. I’d be obliged if you didn’t mention I’d been here at all.”

Mrs. Frogerton frowned. “You don’t want me to give Mrs. Scutton any message?”

“You’ve been very kind, but on reflection, my presence here won’t make anything better, will it?

Mr. Scutton won’t appreciate my interference, and I don’t want to deal with his temper.

Both Jude and Mary are dead now, and there’s no need to upset Mrs. Scutton any further.

I’ll write and tell her what we found and leave it up to her if she wants to reply to me. ”

She left the room, and shortly after, Caroline heard Jenkins showing her out the front door.

Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton regarded each other in some disbelief.

“How odd,” Mrs. Frogerton said.

“Yes, indeed, ma’am.” Caroline said. “It does make one wonder exactly what Mary entrusted Jude with.”

“That is a puzzle, isn’t it?” Mrs. Frogerton said. “I wonder if Mary had more jewelry?”

“Or if she placed all her personal papers in his care. I found nothing of that ilk in her belongings.” Caroline frowned. “But why would she do such a thing?”

“To keep everything safe from Mr. Brigham? Although it sounds as if he was nosing around Epping anyway.”

“I must write a note to Inspector Ross to inform him of what Miss Smith told us about Albert’s whereabouts and plans,” Caroline said.

“And why didn’t Miss Smith want Mr. Scutton to know what was going on?”

“Yes, she was quite adamant about that,” Caroline agreed. “Perhaps she and Mr. Scutton don’t get on.”

Mrs. Frogerton pursed her lips. “I think we should take a trip to Epping, lass. I’ve always been a great admirer of nature, and a drive through the forest will set me to rights.”

“Do you think it is wise to interfere, ma’am?”

“If it helps clear up this muddle without inflicting further distress on Mrs. Scutton, then yes.” Mrs. Frogerton held Caroline’s gaze. “And I’ve thought of a way to manage it without telling a single falsehood.”

Caroline raised a skeptical eyebrow.

Mrs. Frogerton smiled. “We’ll offer to take Mary’s belongings back to Epping and save the Scuttons a journey.” Mrs. Frogerton sat back, looking very pleased with herself. “Now which of them do you think we should approach with this good news? Mr. Scutton or his mother?”

After dinner that same evening, they gathered in the drawing room, and Mrs. Frogerton smiled at Mr. Scutton. “I do hope you and Mrs. Scutton will be able to amuse yourselves tomorrow. Caroline and I have to visit an old friend of mine in Theydon Bois who is rather poorly.”

“Theydon Bois?” Mr. Scutton looked up. “That’s quite near Epping.”

“Is it?” Mrs. Frogerton asked. “If it is close to your home, perhaps we could offer our services to deliver letters to your kin?”

Mr. Scutton looked over at his mother. “What do you think, ma’am? Is there anything you need from home?”

“Not particularly, Thomas, but I have started writing a letter to Sarah that I could finish tonight.”

“Is Sarah your housekeeper, Mrs. Scutton?” Caroline asked.

“Yes, but more importantly, she is Jude’s sister. I have been sadly remiss in keeping her informed about recent developments in the family.”

“You have been unwell, ma’am, and under a great deal of stress,” Caroline said. “I’m sure she’ll understand once you write to her.”

Mrs. Scutton stood up. “If you would be so kind as to deliver the letter for me, I’d be most grateful. I’ll finish it now, and I’ll write the direction on the back.”

“Is there anything we can do for you, Mr. Scutton?” Mrs. Frogerton asked after Mrs. Scutton’s departure. “If you are still concerned about Mrs. Scutton seeing Mary’s possessions in your room, we could deliver them to Epping.”

Mr. Scutton considered her, a muscle flicking in his cheek. “Out of sight, out of mind, eh?”

“And to be frank, it would make it easier for my maids to clean your room, Mr. Scutton. They are already complaining about the luggage collecting dust,” Mrs. Frogerton continued brightly. “Or perhaps you mean to move them to Morton House? That would be another solution.”

“No, take them to Epping,” Mr. Scutton said rather abruptly before he remembered his manners and attempted a smile. “If you would be so kind.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Frogerton nodded. “We’ll be on our way before breakfast. I’ll ask Jenkins to bring everything down from your room so that we don’t disturb you in the morning.”

“Thank you.” Mr. Scutton bowed. “There’s no need to mention this to my mother. I don’t want to cause her further distress.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Mrs. Frogerton pressed a hand to her bosom. “The poor lady has dealt with quite enough in the past weeks.”

Mr. Scutton excused himself, leaving the drawing room to Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton, who looked rather pleased with herself.

“You see, lass? I can be quite the diplomat when I put my mind to it.”

“I think Mr. Scutton has already been through Mary’s possessions, taken what he wants, and is happy to have the rest in Epping,” Caroline said.

“Out of sight, out of mind, indeed.” Mrs. Frogerton nodded her agreement. “But it does give us a legitimate reason to visit the Scutton family home and perhaps form a clearer picture of what is going on.”

“If there is anything going on,” Caroline reminded her. “Inspector Ross seems to have the matter in hand. He already has one of the perpetrators in custody.”

“He’s being his usual competent self, but he can’t be everywhere, can he?” Mrs. Frogerton asked. “We’re simply investigating matters outside his sphere of influence. I’m sure he’d approve of that.”

Caroline was certain Inspector Ross would not approve, but she’d never found a way to dampen her employer’s enthusiasm once roused and had resigned herself simply to making sure Mrs. Frogerton remained safe.

“I wonder why Miss Smith didn’t give Albert Mary’s things,” Caroline mused. “At that point she had no idea he was suspected of murdering his wife.”

“To be fair, we don’t know whether she did or not,” Mrs. Frogerton said. “All we know is that Mary left specific instructions about who might or might not see the things she entrusted to Jude. Miss Smith was quite insistent that Mrs. Scutton should be the recipient of that information.”

“Yes, and very reluctant to allow Mr. Scutton any knowledge of it.” Caroline sighed. “For a family that claimed to be so united, they seem remarkably at odds.”

“Every family has its secrets, lass.” Mrs. Frogerton rose to her feet. “Now, I’m off to bed. We have an early start in the morning, and I want to be well on our way before either of the Scuttons begin to doubt our sincerity in this matter.”