“That is quite understandable, Mrs. Van Horn. May I say how sorry we are about your father. I could see how distressed you were yesterday morning and wished I could have done something to help.”
“Most kind,” she said. “But there’s nothing you or anyone can do. He’s gone. I’ll never see him again.” She put her hand up to her mouth, then composed herself. “My duties are now to the living. We would have invited you to dinner, but we suspected you would not want to leave your husband for that length of time.”
“No, I think I should keep a close eye on him for the next few days.”
“So we hoped at least you’ll come out and take tea with us on the lawn. It’s a lovely afternoon and tea on the lawn is something of a tradition at Connemara. My father’s chef is famous for his scones and éclairs.”
“Thank you. I’d like that,” I said.
“In about half an hour then.” She smiled again then walked away. I watched her go, wondering if I would have been so composed and gracious after the shocking death of a beloved father. She might have been spoiled but she had been raised with perfect social graces.
I went back into the house, splashed cold water on my face to revive me, then went upstairs to make myself presentable. Daniel was sleeping, but Martha was in the kitchen, having started work on our supper. I asked her to keep an eye on him and went off to take tea with the family.
The whole family assembled on the lawn next to the tower, seated in various poses in an assortment of wicker chairs. Elegant and unmoving, they created almost a replica of yesterday’s tableau, only this time they were suitably dressed: the men in dark suits, Mrs. Flannery in black, and Irene in dark green. The only differences were that on this occasion the two little boys sat on stools at their father’s feet. Also two maids in white caps and aprons stood by a white-clothed table, laden with a silver tea service and cake stands piled with various delights.
Mrs. Van Horn saw me coming and reached out a hand to me, thus breaking the tableau effect. “Mrs. Sullivan. Welcome. Do come and sit down.” She gestured gracefully to a wicker armchair beside her. “Alice, bring Mrs. Sullivan a cup of tea. Do you take oolong or Earl Grey, Mrs. Sullivan?”
I’d tried oolong but wasn’t so sure about the other. Still it was time to broaden my horizons. “Earl Grey, thank you.”
Tea was poured for me and luckily milk was offered. I knew that Daniel’s mother took her Chinese tea with lemon and I wasn’t so fond of that. I took a sip and was somewhat startled by the scented taste. Really the upper classes did eat and drink the strangest things.
“And how is your poor husband, Mrs. Sullivan?” Mrs. Flannery asked.
“Much better, thank you. Definitely on the mend.”
“That’s good news,” Joseph said. “You’ll no doubt be wanting to get him home as quickly as possible. I’m sure we could arrange transportation for you.”
“That’s kind, but the doctor stressed that Daniel was not to be moved for a while, at least until he says so.”
I noticed a flicker of annoyance cross Joseph’s face. I wondered why he was so very keen on removing us from the premises. The thought crossed my mind that we had accidentally seen him arriving early with his ladylove and perhaps he wanted that fact concealed from the family. I wondered if he had any other secrets he didn’t want universally known.
“Of course the poor man can’t be moved yet, Jo. What were you thinking?” Mary Flannery said sharply. “It’s not as if they’re bothering you, stuck away in that poky little cottage.”
“It’s a very comfortable little cottage,” Joseph said. “As you know, I enjoy staying there myself.”
“And we well know its attraction for you,” Terrence said smoothly and got a look of venom from his father. Terrence turned to me without batting an eyelid. “Do have a scone and jam, Mrs. Sullivan, or would you prefer to start with a sandwich? They’re watercress or potted shrimp, I believe.”
I took a shrimp sandwich, feeling awkward now—the cuckoo in another bird’s nest—and wished I hadn’t accepted their invitation. I could easily have said that Daniel couldn’t be left alone and now here I was sitting among people who clearly didn’t want me there. I nibbled at my sandwich.
“What I want to know is how long we’re expected to hang around here, doing nothing,” Joseph said. “I should be back in the office tomorrow, especially now I’ll have to take over Brian’s share of the work too.”
“You know we can’t go anywhere until the police have released Irene’s father’s body,” Archie said. “And we still need to come to a decision on funeral arrangements.”
“That’s another reason for being able to go back to the city tomorrow,” Joseph said. “A visit to his attorney and the reading of his will should clear up a lot of things for us. Until then we can’t proceed.”