Buckingham Palace Gardens Read Online Free PDF

a time.”
    They began with Quase’s man, who said only what he had said before. The second to come was Cahoon Dunkeld’s man, florid-faced and sunburned like his master. He stood to attention.
    â€œCame down the servants’ stairs, sir?” he said to Pitt’s question. “No, sir. Not possible, sir, unless it were after two in the morning. I was up an’ about myself, sir. Pantry at the end o’ that corridor, right opposite the bottom o’ the stairs. Was up there getting Mr. Dunkeld an ’ot drink, sir. Bit of an upset stomach, ’e had. In an’ out, an’ along that corridor, I was, right from the time ’e came up to bed.”
    â€œAn upset stomach?” Narraway’s eyes opened very wide.
    The man looked uncomfortable. “Yes, sir. If you’ll pardon my saying so, sir, His Royal Highness can ’old ’is drink rather better than most. Mr. Dunkeld doesn’t like to let ’im down, so ’e keeps pace, like, but times are ’e pays for it. Best prevent that, if you can. Spot o’ the hair o’ the dog as bit you, if you get my meaning?”
    â€œThat’s usually the following morning!” Narraway said tartly.
    The man pulled his mouth into a grimace. “I got me own remedies, sir. Duty of a gentleman’s gentleman to know these things. I couldn’t see the door to that cupboard ’cos it’s round the corner from the pantry, but I could see the servants’ stairs, an’ I’d stake me oath no one came down that way. Not before ’alf-past two in the morning. An’ just Mr. Edwards went up.”
    â€œYou said two!” Narraway said sharply.
    â€œYes, sir. I waited another ’alf hour, in case Mr. Dunkeld needed me again. ’Ad a cup o’ tea meself. No point in just getting to sleep, an’ ’aving to get up an’ go back down again.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œYes, sir.” He still stood straight as a ramrod. “An’ in case you’re thinking as it was me as killed that poor creature, Mr. Dunkeld’ll swear for me, sir. Didn’t ’ave time, nor any idea, to do summink like that.”
    â€œThank you,” Narraway said thoughtfully, his face bleak and pale. “That’ll be all.”
    â€œYes, sir.” He withdrew gratefully.
    Narraway looked at Pitt. “I am afraid it begins to look as if this party of His Royal Highness’s will require a great deal more investigation. If what Edwards and Dunkeld’s man say is true, then the conclusion cannot be avoided that one of the guests is a madman.”

CHAPTER
TWO
    E LSA DUNKELD AWOKE to find Bartle, her lady’s maid, standing at the foot of the bed with a tray in her hands. The curtains were already opened and the sun streamed in, lighting the unfamiliar room. It was a moment before she remembered where she was. She had slept poorly, troubled by dreams of empty corridors, through which she was looking for someone she never found. They were there in the distance, and then when she approached, they turned to face her and were someone else, strangers she fled from.
    â€œGood morning, Bartie,” she said, sitting up slowly. She saw that the tray was set not for morning tea but for breakfast. She had not wished for breakfast in bed, but perhaps that would be pleasanter than facing the others again so soon.
    â€œI’m afraid it isn’t a very good day, Miss Elsa.” Bartle set the tray down on the table beside the bed to leave Elsa room to arrange herself comfortably. She had been with Elsa since before her marriage to Cahoon Dunkeld seven years ago, and never doubted with whom her loyalty lay. She was in her fifties, broad-hipped, sensible but with a startlingly fresh sense of humor. Mostly she kept her opinions to herself, which, considering what they were, was just as well.
    â€œI don’t suppose it will be any worse than yesterday,” Elsa