A Brush with Death Page 6

  We kissed on both cheeks as she said, ‘Is Alexander with you? I can’t think where the devil he’s gone. It’s unusual of him not to return at the end.’

  As we drew apart Diana went straight in to shake Ben’s hand, not leaving a moment for anyone else to say a thing. ‘Hello Ben. And who’s this handsome young man?’

  ‘This is Henry Dunstan-Sherbet.’

  ‘How do you do, Henry, I’m Lady Greengrass. You won’t know me but I used to know your mother. Princess Violet?’

  ‘Really?’ said Henry in a surprised voice.

  Then, with admirable calm, he gently explained. ‘Lady Greengrass, I am very sorry to tell you there has been a shocking incident during the service. It’s my sad duty to tell you that your husband has lost his life.’

  Diana didn’t seem the least bit upset. It was as if she had misheard Henry.

  ‘How can you be so sure?’ she asked forthrightly.

  ‘Henry’s a doctor,’ I said. ‘There was nothing he could do by the time we came across Alexander. I am so sorry, Diana.’

  ‘For heaven sake, there’s obviously been a mistake,’ insisted Diana. ‘Show me where he is.’

  I grasped her now slightly trembling hand. ‘An ambulance is on its way and so I think we should wait for it to arrive.’

  ‘No. I’d like to see my husband.’

  I could see Antonia was striding towards us with Bella dangling off her arm and Ronnie by her side. Ben set off at high speed to shoo them away as I reluctantly took Diana to the spot where Lord Greengrass lay.

  Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as our hands slipped apart and her entire body heaved. Diana looked at her husband’s lifeless body but she didn’t attempt to touch him. Softly, I put an arm around her shoulder and without resisting she let me lead her back to the bench.

  We sat side by side and I let a lump burn its way through my throat as my heart went out to the Greengrasses.

  Ben and Henry made their way back to the bench, accompanied by a policeman who looked a bit younger than me. Large feet, gangly body and a goofy expression. Crouching down to our eye level, quivering as he did so, he spluttered out what he had to say, ‘I’m Officer Moss. Detective Inspector Grey will be here any minute. In the meantime I’ll carry out a few routine procedures.’

  ‘Where’s the ambulance?’ blurted Diana.

  Officer Moss immediately stood upright and pointed over the low, flint wall which ran along the south side of the graveyard. ‘There it is. It’s going to park at the Glebe House.’

  Ben, Henry and I were distracted by the morbidly comic sight of two paramedics rushing through the graveyard, slightly crouched and with legs bent as if in someway they would be less visible in this position. Any one of us could have easily let out a giggle, one of those inappropriate outbursts that brew up just when they are not meant to. Thankfully we were saved by a short, balding, cylindrical man, dressed in lay clothes and repetitively pushing the bridge of his glasses up his nose, walking towards us. His legs didn’t allow him to move at any great speed but his voice was loud enough to write off the last few steps.

  ‘Detective Inspector Grey.’

  ‘Hello, Inspector,’ said Ben. ‘This is Lady Greengrass, Susie Mahl and Dr Henry Dunstan-Sherbet.’

  ‘The deceased is your husband, Lady Greengrass?’ asked Inspector Grey.

  Diana nodded.

  ‘I am sorry we have to go through this straight away but I have a few necessary questions that must be answered before I can let you all go.’

  ‘Thank you, Dr Dunstan-Sherbet,’ finished Inspector Grey a while later, having ascertained Henry’s medical credentials, which Officer Moss verified. Henry had described the incident from beginning to end including, in a whisper so that Diana was spared, the fact that Alexander’s privates had been exposed. Nodding respectfully, Inspector Grey shut his notebook. ‘Always handy to have a doctor on the scene,’ he concluded. Then he swivelled on his heel, and asked Ben exactly the same questions.

  ‘Susie and Henry were the only other people here. I had my dog Situp on a lead but he’s back in the house now,’ said Ben.

  ‘Anyone else around before we got here?’ asked Inspector Grey.

  ‘My wife and daughter and Ronnie from the Horn came as far as the gate, but I sent them away before they got any further. There was no time to explain so I just whispered to Antonia that there had been an incident and I would be back home as soon as I could.’

  ‘Who has been near the body?’

  ‘Henry, Susie, me and Lady Greengrass.’

  ‘Anyone else?’

  ‘No.’

  Ben answered with confidence and clarity. I was impressed with both his and Henry’s handling of the situation.

  As Ben strode towards the lych-gate I was struck with the thought of how peculiar it was to have seen Ronnie accompanying Antonia and Bella. Yesterday Antonia had made it pretty clear that he was not her favourite person when she said to me, ‘Ronnie’s a gossiping old flirt. I’ve told Ben to socialise with him in the pub and never at our house.’

  Diana sniffed, her interview had begun and I was apprehensive about Inspector Grey’s approach. He fired questions one after the other.

  She replied with a weak voice but there was not much she could add to Henry and Ben’s statement, and his questions ceased when she said, ‘I was inside the church for the entire service, Inspector. I AM the organist.’

  It was now my turn and I couldn’t help but notice that Inspector Grey’s attention seemed caught on my woollen mini-skirt.

  ‘Susie Mahl.’

  ‘Is that Susan or Susannah in full? Any middle names?’

  I explained that my middle name is Susan and my first is Victoria.

  Diana looked at me with surprise as I had never mentioned this to her.

  ‘I’ve always preferred the shortening of Susie rather than Vicky.’

  ‘How do you spell your surname?’

  ‘M.A.H.L.’

  ‘Thanks, Vicky.’

  ‘Susie,’ I corrected.

  Inspector Grey had a string of questions: Age? Occupation? Home address?

  As I answered, neither policeman took any notice of Diana, who sniffed and snivelled into her handkerchief.

  I was longing for the interview to be over so as I could offer her some comfort but Inspector Grey didn’t draw breath.

  ‘Where was the body when you first saw it?’

  ‘On the ground.’

  ‘Did you interfere with it in any way?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Who else has seen the body?’

  ‘Henry, Ben and Diana.’

  ‘Are you acquainted with the deceased?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve been friends with the family for five years.’

  I put a hand on Diana’s knee with the intention of stopping the interview going on any more. It worked.

  Inspector Grey looked down on Diana. ‘Right, My Lady.’ He listed the next steps, using his fingers.

  Forefinger: ‘The body will be taken to the mortuary after we have examined the scene.’

  Middle finger: ‘There will be a post-mortem.’

  Ring finger: ‘You can expect a telephone call by the end of the day.’

  Pinky: ‘And a medical report within the next few days. There will also be an inquest.’

  Then Inspector Grey thanked Diana and me, and made his way towards Henry, who was still wandering amongst the graves. Officer Moss followed and the three of them stood talking.

  I let the silence settle us both, and then I offered Diana a lift home.

  ‘That would be awfully kind, Susie.’

  As the two policemen and Henry went to stand before Lord Greengrass, Diana and I walked down the path and through the gap in the yew hedge to the Glebe House.

  I opened the passenger door of my car for Diana to get in, before I rushed inside to grab my stuff.

  ‘Susie!’ Ben and Antonia were sitting at the kitchen table looking uncomfortable.

  ‘
I’m so sorry,’ I said, ‘but I am going to have to pack my stuff and go. Diana’s in the car and I’ve offered to drive her home. Thank you for everything. It’s just terrible it’s ended like this.’

  ‘Would you like me to come with you?’ asked Antonia, as she made to get up.

  ‘No it’s okay, thank you. Diana is remarkably calm under the circumstances.’

  I raced upstairs, stuffed everything in my suitcase, and trotted back through the kitchen with a final ‘thank you’ and a wave that indicated that they shouldn’t get up to see me off.

  As I padded across the gravel towards the car I could see Diana in the passenger seat looking miserable and with her head hung low. She sat up a little when I got in but said nothing.

  I adjusted the rear-view mirror, which had been knocked askew, and started the engine. As I turned my head to reverse I tried to catch her eye to give her a little smile but she wasn’t looking. She’d disappeared into herself and I knew I had to get her home as soon as possible.

  It wasn’t until we were drawing up to the front of Beckenstale Manor that I broke the silence to ask if there was anything I could do to help.

  Diana’s answer took me by surprise. ‘Susie dear, it would be a tremendous comfort if you could bear to spend the night.’

  I parked the car as close to the front door as possible. Turning off the ignition I looked across at Diana, and with a small smile, I said, ‘Of course I will spend the night.’

  Diana looked relieved. ‘Thank you, Susie. I knew you’d say that.’

  News had already reached Beckenstale Manor. Mary, the rather too-old-to-be housekeeper, and longstanding Nanny were right in front of us as we walked through the black and white tiled porch into the unlit hall. They stood comfortingly close to one another.

  ‘My Lady. I’m so sorry,’ they spoke at the same time, both glancing down at their feet as they did.

  Diana walked straight past them and on through to the drawing room without any sign that she had heard.

  I secured my handbag over my shoulder and said, ‘You’ve heard the terrible news, then,’ as they clearly had.

  Mary was most shaken by the circumstances. ‘Me and Nanny were having our Sunday morning coffee at mine as we always do, when the phone rang and Ronnie was on the other end. He told me his Lordship had died in the graveyard. Said police and ambulance were there.’

  Nanny stood by Mary’s side but didn’t ask me for any details.

  ‘Yes,’ I told them. ‘Lord Greengrass died this morning in the graveyard during the commemoration service. I think it would be best if you both go back to your house, Mary. Lady Greengrass has asked me to stay the night and so I’ll be here with her this afternoon and evening.’

  Mary nodded, and then said, ‘Lunch is all prepared on trays in the kitchen and there is a pan of soup which just needs heating up. Would you like me to do that for you? The bed is made up in your usual room and there are fresh towels in the bathroom.’

  ‘Thank you very much,’ I said. ‘There’s no need for you to do anything further.’

  Nanny finally spoke, with dread in her voice. ‘Who’s going to tell Arthur and Asquintha?’

  ‘Lady Greengrass will if she isn’t doing so right now. I think we must all keep Lord Greengrass’s death to ourselves for the time being as that will be kindest on the family.’

  ‘Of course,’ they agreed.

  I could see that Mary was about to lose her composure and I didn’t want there to be any risk of Diana seeing.

  ‘I’ll call you both if anything else is needed,’ I said, and took a small step in their direction to chivvy them on their way.

  ‘Thanks, Susie,’ said Nanny, leading Mary towards the kitchen, headed for one of several back doors.

  I crossed the hall into the drawing room. Diana was sitting in the corner of one of the sofas fumbling with a white handkerchief. I placed my handbag on a chair by the door and sat down next to her. It was as if death had chained itself to her, dragging her through reflective thoughts and confronting her with the unbelievable fact that yes, Alexander, her husband of many, many years, had died and was never coming back.

  If I sound brutal, this is because I know how deeply painful the thought is of someone never coming back. No goodbye and no warning. Poof, and a loved one is gone. The cruel fact that the deeper one’s attachment to that person is, the greater the pain, does not bear thinking about.

  I shouldn’t exaggerate Diana’s love for Alexander, now that he’d gone. They’d been married a long time, but he wasn’t an easy man. They had shared companionship, I sensed, rather than romantic love and ferocious passion. But Diana would be bound to miss Alexander, as anyone would who lost a partner they’d lived with for forty-five years.

  I was worried though how their son Arthur would take the news. I guessed that as he hadn’t been in the hall or come to find us, he didn’t yet know.

  ‘Susie,’ Diana said as soon as she saw me. ‘Can you pass me the telephone from over there; it’s on the table by the door.’

  Once I’d got it for her, she took a deep breath, pressed speed dial, and held it to her good ear. ‘Arthur, dear. Please can you come through to the drawing room as there’s something important I have to tell you.’

  It was not unlike Diana to telephone the annex and prey on Arthur and Asquintha’s good will. Her tactic, which I have seen quite a few times before, is to ask whoever picks up the telephone to come through. Then, having got them on her turf, she asks whatever favour she wants, which is impossible for them to refuse.

  This time I knew that poor Arthur was in for an almighty shock, one that I didn’t want to witness.

  ‘Diana, I’ll go and sit in the conservatory for a while.’

  ‘Thank you Susie,’ was all she could muster.

  I felt something of a coward as I moved quickly out of the room and across the hall, keen not to cross paths with Arthur. I was pleased to remember that I had a pencil and sketchbook in my handbag, as I felt I needed to draw something in order to take my mind off the haunting recurring image of Alexander’s prone body. Fortunately there was the most spectacular pink Phalaenopsis orchid in the centre of the conservatory’s marble-top table, which for a time absorbed my concentration and dispelled conscious thought.

  ‘Susie,’ said a quiet voice twenty minutes later. Arthur was standing in the doorframe.

  ‘I am so sorry,’ I said as I stood up.

  ‘Yes, it’s very, very sad. Mother said she has asked you to stay. Are you sure you are happy with this?’

  ‘Of course, although I don’t want to intrude on family privacy.’

  I didn’t know Arthur well but his ability to conduct this conversation without so much as a tear was the first time I’d seen any of his mother in him, apart from that wickedly curly hair.

  ‘I think you will be a great comfort to Mother. She has always spoken so fondly of your kind manner. Asquintha is not as comfortable as you are with her company,’ he replied.

  ‘I will happily stay a couple of days, but you absolutely must send me away if at any point you feel it is inappropriate my being here.’ I put my hand on the back of my chair trying to relax the distance between us.

  ‘Of course,’ said Arthur, who was twisting his signet ring on his finger, one way and then another as if what he was about to say was making him nervous. ‘Mother and I discussed that it might be best for you to sleep in Nanny’s spare room.’ He looked up at me. ‘She lives in Rose Cottage, which I am sure you have been to or at least passed in the walled garden.’

  ‘Yes, I know the one.’ I was relieved, thinking this was a much better arrangement than me sleeping in the house.

  Back and forth Arthur’s ring went, round and back round his finger. ‘If you are able to stay until Mother feels stronger then I would like to pay you for your time.’

  I was rattled by this unexpected offer. Of course I would stay for Diana’s sake, but I would never ever expect, nor want, to be paid. I was a bit shocked he’d ev
en suggested it. How can he possibly think of genuine comfort as a service that could be paid for? Then I told myself that he was a good and kind man who must have suggested it with the best possible intentions.

  I tried to answer without showing any offence had been taken. ‘It is thoughtful of you to offer payment but I absolutely won’t accept. It’s a privilege to be asked to stay. Your parents have been so kind to me over the years, and so I would like to do all I can to comfort your mother.’

  ‘If you insist,’ said Arthur. ‘Thank you very much. It is so kind of you and I need hardly say that it means a lot to all of us.’

  Despite the fact I’d been coming to Beckenstale Manor for five years, the last four of which Arthur and Asquintha have lived in the annex, I was still very much Diana’s friend rather than Arthur’s or his wife’s. I am much closer in age to Arthur and Asquintha but our difference in lifestyle and their children made me feel more akin to the older generation. I’d only ever been through to dinner with them once and would describe them as acquaintances rather than good friends. Right now this conversation felt a little sticky, particularly as what I really wanted to do was throw my arms around Arthur and console him. But I knew that such an action would be inappropriate on several levels, so instead I packed my drawing things back into my handbag and followed him to the hall.

  ‘Would you like me to carry your things to Rose Cottage as Butler Shepherd has a day off today?’

  ‘No, don’t you give it another thought. I saw Nanny not that long ago and I know she’s with Mary, and so I’ll pop in there on the way and let her know I’ll be staying.’

  ‘Please can you ask Nanny when you see her to come immediately to our annex?’ said Arthur. ‘Once I’ve broken the terribly sad news to Asquintha we shall both return to Mother and the boys will need looking after.’

  ‘Of course. Just so you know, Mary has left lunch in the kitchen.’

  ‘Thank you. I doubt we’ll eat it but do help yourself if you’d like.’

  I smiled at his kind offer.

  ‘Mother and I have discussed that it would be best for you to spend the afternoon making yourself at home in Rose Cottage and if it is okay with you that we shall all reconvene in the morning.’