British Manor Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

painting was easily ten or more feet tall with a massive carved gilt frame, which was smashed to bits. The canvas was also torn, but the figure of a bewigged gentleman in a red coat astride a prancing white horse was undamaged.
    â€œThis is going to cost a mint,” said the woman, shaking her head and sounding very glum.
    â€œThat’s the least of it. We’ve got to get this all cleared up before the house opens at ten,” said Perry, scratching his chin. He looked up and caught sight of Lucy and Sue. “Oh, do forgive me,” he exclaimed. “I’ve neglected you. Let me introduce you to my sister, Lady Philippa Maddox. These are my friends from New England, Sue Finch and Lucy Stone.”
    â€œWe’ve been expecting you,” said Lady Philippa. She looked like a smaller, feminine version of Perry, with frizzy blond hair and bright blue eyes. She was dressed in beige slacks, a much-washed blue cashmere sweater, and a string of pearls. On her feet, she was sporting a pair of bright neon-green running shoes. “Do call me Poppy. Everyone does.”
    â€œSo this is the general?” asked Lucy.
    â€œYes,” said Poppy. “Rather like Humpty Dumpty. he took a great fall and it’s going to take an awful lot of money to put him together again.”
    â€œWe were worried he was a person, perhaps even a relative,” said Sue. “I took a CPR course and we thought perhaps we could help.”
    â€œOnly if CPR is short for art restorer,” said Perry.
    â€œI’m afraid not,” admitted Sue. “Who is he? An ancestor?”
    â€œNo, he was a gift, presented to the eighth earl by the subject himself, General Horatio Hoare,” said Poppy.
    â€œA horrible fellow, by all accounts. He was killed in Canada in the Seven Years War and they sent his body home in a barrel of rum,” said Perry. “People at the time said he came home in much better spirits than he left.”
    â€œBut he was terribly fond of the eighth earl,” said Poppy.
    â€œExtremely fond, they say,” said Perry, with a raised eyebrow. “He promised that so long as his painting was on the wall no harm would come to Moreton Manor.”
    â€œOr you could say he jinxed the place,” said Poppy. “Take down my picture and I’ll make you sorry. Now that it’s fallen, I guess we can expect a run of bad luck.”
    â€œThat’s just a lot of nonsense. An old wives’ tale,” said Perry.
    â€œRemember what happened the last time it came down?” said Poppy gloomily.
    â€œNever mind about that,” replied Perry. “It was a long time ago.”
    â€œWell, I’d better make arrangements to have the staff tidy up. We can’t have the visitors stepping over bits of frame.” Poppy bit her lip. “I wish I could be as confident as you are,” she said to Perry. “I have a rather bad feeling about this.”
    â€œWhat happened the last time the general fell down?” asked Lucy as they all retraced their steps on the long passage to the kitchen. The servants must have done this dozens of times every day, she thought, noticing the worn linoleum.
    â€œThe ninth earl’s countess was found dead at the bottom of that big staircase in the hall,” said Perry.
    â€œThat would be a terrible fall,” said Lucy.
    â€œIt was never determined if it was an accident or suicide or foul play,” said Perry. “There were lots of rumors, of course.”
    â€œThe earl married his mistress in what was considered at the time to be indecent haste,” said Poppy. “The king banned the earl from court for several years.”
    â€œBut there was no trial or investigation?” asked Lucy.
    â€œNot back then,” scoffed Perry. “He was an earl and only the king had any power to touch him.”
    â€œEven the king had to be careful of upsetting the nobles,” said Poppy. “Think of Magna