The Mystery at Underwood House (An Angela Marchmont Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

little while ago. I do hope they make it up. They have such flaming rows but they are so well-matched in every respect.’
    ‘ Was that really Donald?’ said Angela. ‘I don’t believe I’ve seen him since he was quite a small boy.’
    ‘ Yes, hasn’t he grown? He works at the Board of Trade. I don’t quite know what he does but he travels abroad often and negotiates with foreign dignitaries and suchlike. He has gone off to catch his train, as he is attending an important conference in The Hague tomorrow, but I do wish he and Stella hadn’t parted on bad terms.’
    ‘ Who is Stella?’
    ‘ Haven’t you met her? She is my sister’s eldest child, but she spends much of her time with us since her parents died. She works as a private nurse, looking after elderly patients. She is so kind to them—it quite warms one’s heart to see it. She and Donald are engaged.’
    ‘ He is to marry his cousin? Oh, I quite forgot—Donald is not your own son, is he?’
    ‘ No,’ said Louisa, ‘we adopted him as a baby after his own parents died about twenty years ago. John knew the people and brought him home one day. It was very sad, but as we were not fortunate enough to have children of our own, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us.’
    They were still standing in the hall of Underwood House. It was a handsome entrance, light and airy, with an oak parquet floor and an elegant staircase which curved up towards a galleried landing above. Light flowed through a high window and glinted off a large, old-fashioned chandelier that hung from the ceiling. Angela’s attention was caught.
    ‘ This must be where Winifred died,’ she said, gazing about her.
    ‘ Yes,’ said Louisa. ‘We found her on the floor just there with her handkerchief grasped in her hand. The poor thing fell from above, broke her neck and was killed instantly.’
    ‘ That was on the afternoon of the 27th of May last year. Do you remember at what time?’
    ‘ It was a little before four o’clock.’
    ‘ And you say no-one witnessed it?’
    ‘ No, we were all elsewhere.’
    ‘ All together?’
    ‘ No, I don’t think so. Why do you ask?’
    ‘ It might be helpful in establishing alibis—or better, in proving that it was an accident.’
    ‘ I see what you mean. Well then, let me try and remember.’ Mrs. Haynes reflected for a second. ‘Most of the family had already arrived, I believe. Yes—as a matter of fact they must all have been there, since Mr. Faulkner’s clerk had already paid his visit and left, after making sure we were all present. I was in the drawing-room to welcome the visitors, and Stella was there too. Oh, and Ursula and Edward. I don’t remember where Robin and Susan were.’
    ‘ What about John?’
    ‘ John was in his study. He liked to leave it until as late as possible before showing himself. He said it was the only way he could survive these meetings without killing someone—oh dear! I didn’t mean it in that way. How dreadful of me!’
    Angela smiled understandingly.
    ‘ Is that everybody accounted for?’ she asked. ‘Where was Donald?’
    Just then they were interrupted by the opening of the front door to admit a pleasant-looking young man of thirty or so who saluted Mrs. Haynes cheerfully.
    ‘ Hallo,’ he said. ‘It’s awfully quiet here. Has Don left? I thought I saw him making for the station post-haste just now. I shouted but he didn’t or wouldn’t see me. What’s the matter with him?’
    ‘ He’s had another row with Stella,’ said Louisa.
    The young man grimaced.
    ‘ I say, bad show,’ he said. ‘Where is she?’
    ‘ In her room. I shall go up later and see that she’s all right.’
    ‘ Poor thing. I do wish Don would rein it in sometimes. He’s no right to go upsetting her like that.’
    ‘ Now, Guy, it’s not fair to say that when we don’t know what it was about,’ said Louisa. ‘Angela, let me introduce you to Guy Fisher. He has been running the Underwood estate since