The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks by James Anderson Page B
Authors: James Anderson
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Detective and Mystery Stories, Police, Police Procedural, Aristocracy (Social Class), Burford; Lord (Fictitious Character), Wilkins; Chief Inspector (Fictitious Character)
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feathers, as it were, or explain and elaborate any conditions which might be attached to a bequest. It's really not satisfactory if the executor is not present.'
'Yes, I can see that. Well, I really don't know what to suggest.'
'Of course, and I hardly like to mention this, but if it were possible for the other beneficiaries to stay at Alderley overnight . . .' Bradley tailed away in a series of tentative little throat clearings.
Lord Burford did not reply for a moment. Eventually he said: 'Don't think that'll be possible, actually.'
'Oh. Then I'll just have to try and make other arrangements for some later date.'
They spoke for a few more seconds, then the Earl went to find the Countess.
* * *
'So naturally, Lavinia, I told him it wouldn't be possible. You agree, of course.'
'No, George, I do not. I think you should telephone Mr Bradley and tell him they are welcome to stay overnight.'
'But Lavinia, I don't want to have people staying here. After the last two house parties, we both agreed no more.'
'This wouldn't be a house party, George, it's nine guests for one night. By ten o'clock on Thursday morning they'll probably all be gone.'
'But the last two times we've had people here it's been disastrous.'
'This is quite different. These people are family, not spies and jewel thieves and blackmailers and film stars,' the Countess said, blithely grouping the four occupations in the same category. 'And when one occupies an historic house such as Alderley, where some of the most eminent men and women in the world have stayed, one cannot just shut its doors, because of a few unfortunate incidents.'
'I know you enjoy entertaining, Lavinia. And you do it jolly well.'
'I see it more as an obligation. And this will be a very good way of breaking the ice and getting back to normal again. After all, we do need to put an end to this stupid nonsense about a curse once and for all.'
'Yes, you're quite right, my dear, as usual. I'll telephone Bradley back and tell him we'll give 'em all a bed for the night.'
'I think perhaps you'd better make that nine beds, George, not just one.' It was unusual for the Countess to attempt a joke, however mild, and she looked quite pleased with herself.
'Oh, very good, Lavinia. Of course. Though it'll be ten, as I suppose Bradley himself will be staying as well. I'll go and put the call through now.'
'Ask Mr Bradley to tell them not to bring evening clothes. We will not dress for dinner that night. We do not want them all to have the bother of bringing large suitcases with them. This way most people should be able to manage with a small overnight bag. I'll have a word with Merryweather. I expect he'll be pleased. I'm sure he's missed all the organising.'
'Well, of course,' said Lord Burford, 'if I'd realised that I'd've arranged a house party months ago.'
He went out. Lady Burford considered. Ten people, most of whom she did not know. No couples, so ten bedrooms. Where would she put them? Ten very different people . . .
Chapter Eleven
The phone rang in Tommy's flat. He answered it in his usual way. 'What-ho.'
'Tommy, it's Penny.'
'Oh, hello, old girl. Nice to hear you. How's tricks?'
'OK. Tommy, did you hear about Great Aunt Florrie?'
'Yes. That's the one thing that's been helping me keep my pecker up.'
'Tommy!' The voice was reproachful.
'Oh, I don't mean her dying. I'm sorry she's gone, and all that, but, after all, she was about a hundred and fifty. It's just that apparently I'm remembered in her will.'
'Are you? So am I.'
'Really? You don't know what for, I suppose?'
'No.'
'Nor me. It's maddening. I mean, it might be only some old family heirloom, or something, but there's just a possibility it might be cash. Just a hundred smackers would be jolly useful.'
'Same here,' said Penny wistfully.
'Or even forty-seven,' he added unguardedly.
'Forty-seven? What a funny amount.'
'Oh, I meant fifty. Just saw forty-seven on - on a bus going past.'
'I see. So you're going to the
'Yes, I can see that. Well, I really don't know what to suggest.'
'Of course, and I hardly like to mention this, but if it were possible for the other beneficiaries to stay at Alderley overnight . . .' Bradley tailed away in a series of tentative little throat clearings.
Lord Burford did not reply for a moment. Eventually he said: 'Don't think that'll be possible, actually.'
'Oh. Then I'll just have to try and make other arrangements for some later date.'
They spoke for a few more seconds, then the Earl went to find the Countess.
* * *
'So naturally, Lavinia, I told him it wouldn't be possible. You agree, of course.'
'No, George, I do not. I think you should telephone Mr Bradley and tell him they are welcome to stay overnight.'
'But Lavinia, I don't want to have people staying here. After the last two house parties, we both agreed no more.'
'This wouldn't be a house party, George, it's nine guests for one night. By ten o'clock on Thursday morning they'll probably all be gone.'
'But the last two times we've had people here it's been disastrous.'
'This is quite different. These people are family, not spies and jewel thieves and blackmailers and film stars,' the Countess said, blithely grouping the four occupations in the same category. 'And when one occupies an historic house such as Alderley, where some of the most eminent men and women in the world have stayed, one cannot just shut its doors, because of a few unfortunate incidents.'
'I know you enjoy entertaining, Lavinia. And you do it jolly well.'
'I see it more as an obligation. And this will be a very good way of breaking the ice and getting back to normal again. After all, we do need to put an end to this stupid nonsense about a curse once and for all.'
'Yes, you're quite right, my dear, as usual. I'll telephone Bradley back and tell him we'll give 'em all a bed for the night.'
'I think perhaps you'd better make that nine beds, George, not just one.' It was unusual for the Countess to attempt a joke, however mild, and she looked quite pleased with herself.
'Oh, very good, Lavinia. Of course. Though it'll be ten, as I suppose Bradley himself will be staying as well. I'll go and put the call through now.'
'Ask Mr Bradley to tell them not to bring evening clothes. We will not dress for dinner that night. We do not want them all to have the bother of bringing large suitcases with them. This way most people should be able to manage with a small overnight bag. I'll have a word with Merryweather. I expect he'll be pleased. I'm sure he's missed all the organising.'
'Well, of course,' said Lord Burford, 'if I'd realised that I'd've arranged a house party months ago.'
He went out. Lady Burford considered. Ten people, most of whom she did not know. No couples, so ten bedrooms. Where would she put them? Ten very different people . . .
Chapter Eleven
The phone rang in Tommy's flat. He answered it in his usual way. 'What-ho.'
'Tommy, it's Penny.'
'Oh, hello, old girl. Nice to hear you. How's tricks?'
'OK. Tommy, did you hear about Great Aunt Florrie?'
'Yes. That's the one thing that's been helping me keep my pecker up.'
'Tommy!' The voice was reproachful.
'Oh, I don't mean her dying. I'm sorry she's gone, and all that, but, after all, she was about a hundred and fifty. It's just that apparently I'm remembered in her will.'
'Are you? So am I.'
'Really? You don't know what for, I suppose?'
'No.'
'Nor me. It's maddening. I mean, it might be only some old family heirloom, or something, but there's just a possibility it might be cash. Just a hundred smackers would be jolly useful.'
'Same here,' said Penny wistfully.
'Or even forty-seven,' he added unguardedly.
'Forty-seven? What a funny amount.'
'Oh, I meant fifty. Just saw forty-seven on - on a bus going past.'
'I see. So you're going to the
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