The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks by James Anderson

Bradley?'
    'Firstly, I want to inform you that I have been told by Miss Mackenzie, Mrs Saunders' companion, that shortly before her death my client expressed a wish to be buried in the family plot at Alderley parish church.'
    'Really? That's surprisin'. Always thought of her as very much a townee. Never showed much interest in Alderley that I can recall. It's not as though her husband's buried here; he was cremated, I seem to remember.'
    'Yes, indeed, and I suppose his not having a grave elsewhere made her feel that somehow she would be closer to him there. You have no objection, I trust?'
    'Good gad, no. She has a perfect right to be buried here. And at least it'll save me and my family a trip to town.'
    'Of course, though it will not be so convenient for the other mourners. However, I understand there are frequent trains to Alderley Halt.'
    'Yes, and they stop here if requested. That's an old right we have, going back to the days when the first railway company got permission to run the line through our land. And the church is only a hundred yards or two from the station. D'you expect many to come?'
    'Impossible to say at this stage, but I should imagine a fair number. Although most of her contemporaries have passed on, she was held in high esteem. I imagine, however, that they will be mostly personal friends and relations, and it may perhaps be possible, at some later date, to arrange a memorial service in London, which members of Society and representatives of the various organisations and charitable institutions that she and her late husband, and indeed your family generally, have been associated with, might attend in order to pay their respects.'
    Managing, with some difficulty, to hack his way through the dense undergrowth of this sentence, Lord Burford nodded absently, then, remembering that Bradley could not see him, said hastily: 'Yes, yes indeed.'
    'There is one other thing, my lord. I have to inform you that you, Lady Burford and Lady Geraldine are beneficiaries under Mrs Saunders' will.'
    'Oh, that was kind of her.'
    'Now I have a great favour to ask you. To the best of my knowledge, the other major beneficiaries - nine in total - will be attending the funeral, and as it might present some difficulties for them all to be gathered at the same place at any other time, I am wondering if it would be convenient, after the funeral, for the reading of the will to be held, er—' Bradley hesitated.
    The Earl came to his rescue. 'To be held here, you mean, at Alderley?'
    'Precisely, my lord. I realise it is a great imposition.'
    'Not at all. I see no problem.'
    'That is a great relief to me, my lord. I do appreciate it.'
    'Not at all. Glad to help. Nine other beneficiaries, you say? Possible to know who they are?'
    'Of course. I have a list here, somewhere. Bear with me for a moment, if you please.' There was a few seconds' silence, punctuated by the sound of rustling paper, before Bradley came back. 'Here we are. Apart from yourselves, the principal beneficiaries, in alphabetical order, are Mr Gregory Carstairs, MP, Mr Thomas Lambert, Miss Jean Mackenzie, Miss Agatha Saunders, Mrs Clara Saunders, Miss Dorothy Saunders, Miss Penelope Saunders, Mr Timothy Saunders, KC, and Miss Stella Simmons.'
    The Earl, well aware that his wife and daughter would be interested in this information, was scribbling furiously.
    'I see. Well, thank you, Bradley. We'll look forward to seeing them and you on - oh, I suppose the date hasn't been fixed yet?'
    'Unfortunately not, my lord. I will, if I may, telephone you again as soon as I have finalised the details with your rector and the undertakers.'
    The Earl said good-bye, rang off and went to find the Countess.
     
    * * *
     
    'Of course, we are going to have to invite them all back here.'
    ' All of them, Lavinia? Not just the beneficiaries?'
    'No, all the mourners — all who come to the funeral.'
    'But d'you think that's really necessary? There might be dozens of 'em.'
    'It can't be helped,