The Shadow at Greystone Chase (An Angela Marchmont Mystery Book 10) by Clara Benson Page B

but now was the time when she must go into the lion’s den itself. She was nervous at the thought of visiting Edgar Valencourt’s family home, although she could not quite say why. She quashed the feeling, however, and set her jaw. She had made the promise, and must carry it through. She would go to Greystone Chase and find out what she could, then report back to Mr. Gilverson. If she discovered nothing then that was as far as her investigation was likely to take her, for she could hardly prowl about the place with a magnifying-glass, looking for evidence that probably did not exist. A little voice whispered in her ear that she did not want to find evidence, but she ignored it, for that line of thought led down a path she did not wish to follow.

T HE NEXT DAY Miss Atkinson’s foot was much better, and she and Mrs. Hudd decided to take a trip to Canterbury, on which Angela was invited to join them. She agreed, partly for something to do, and partly because she was keen to spend a few hours away from the chill of the seaside. The little party spent a pleasant morning touring the city, and Angela was duly impressed by the Cathedral and its bloody history. After lunch, they spent a little time wandering through the cobbled streets, and returned to the hotel in time for an early tea. The napkins were just being laid out when Mrs. Hudd looked up and said:
    ‘Who is that person?’
    Angela glanced around to see whom she was talking about, and her eyes widened in surprise as she saw a young man standing in the doorway of the dining-room, looking about him as though seeking somebody. He had the air of someone supremely at ease with himself and the world. At that moment he spotted Angela, and she distinctly saw a smirk pass across his face as he made a bee-line towards the table at which the three ladies were sitting. Angela opened her mouth to speak, but was forestalled as he bent over, kissed her on the cheek and said:
    ‘Hallo, Mother. They told me I’d find you here. You might have let me know you were planning to go away.’
    Angela was too confounded to say a word, but sat with her mouth still open.
    ‘Well, don’t just sit there with a face like a fish,’ said Freddy Pilkington-Soames, before she could find her voice. ‘It’s not like you to forget your manners.’ He turned to the other two ladies, beamed angelically and said, ‘The name’s Wells. I see you’re keeping my mother out of trouble, and I’ve no doubt you’re doing a fine job of it. Delighted to make your acquaintance. Budge up and make room, old girl,’ he said to Angela, who did so without thinking. Freddy sat down and called the waiter to bring more tea.
    Mrs. Hudd and Miss Atkinson, thrilled by the new arrival and the possibility of discovering more about their new friend Mrs. Wells, who up until then had been somewhat circumspect about herself, were more than happy to shake his hand.
    ‘How do you do,’ said Mrs. Hudd. ‘Why, Mrs. Wells, I had no idea you had a grown-up son. You don’t look nearly old enough.’
    ‘I married very young,’ said Angela, with a glare at Freddy which would have caused anyone else to blush with shame. Freddy, however, was quite unembarrassable, and so merely simpered innocently at her.
    ‘Splendid place this, what?’ he said, with a wide sweep of his arm towards the large window with its view of the bay. ‘Just a little chilly, but I don’t mind that. Once one’s travelled to the Arctic Circle anything else seems positively balmy by comparison.’
    ‘The Arctic Circle? Do you mean to say you have been to the North Pole?’ said Mrs. Hudd.
    ‘Oh yes, twice,’ said Freddy airily. ‘Unfortunately, we were a little ill-prepared on the first expedition and got stranded on an ice-floe on the way back. We almost had to resort to cannibalism—had actually got as far as drawing lots, as a matter of fact—but happily just then the thing floated within jumping distance of land and we were saved. Lucky for old