The next morning we found ourselves at something of a loss. The early-to-bed life of the country meant that we were both also early-to-rise, and while that might very well have seen a consequent increase in our levels of health, wealth and wisdom, it did rather mean that we were kicking our heels waiting until it was time to go up to The Grange.
We were both dressed, breakfasted and ready for the day before half past seven, but we had no real need to set off much before half past nine if we were to be there by ten o’clock. I had left Lady Hardcastle dealing with some urgent correspondence and was just finishing the washing-up when she appeared at the kitchen door.
‘I say, Flo,’ she said. ‘What with your efforts at the party and your general charm and easy-going nature, do you think your stock is reasonably high at The Grange at the moment?’
‘How do you mean, my lady?’
‘Well, if you were to pop up there right now, slip in through the servants’ entrance and say you’d been sent on ahead to meet the inspector and me, would they smile and greet you, or would they turn you away?’
‘Oh, I see,’ I said. ‘I imagine I’d get a warmish welcome. Possibly even the offer of a cup of tea and a bun. There’s a camaraderie among the serving classes that the likes of you shall never know.’
‘It is very much my loss, I feel. But if you declined their kind offer and said you’d been asked to wait in the dining room, would they think it odd or out of place?’
‘I shouldn’t think so, my lady, no.’
‘I hoped as much.’
‘Is that what you’d like me to do, my lady?’
‘No, silly, I’d like you to go snooping. They’re used to seeing you about the place and you’d have an excuse to be wandering about above stairs if you were challenged, so I’d like you to have a good old explore. See what you can see. Find what you can find.’
‘Oh, what fun,’ I said, suddenly rather taken with the idea of some proper detecting. ‘May I take your deerstalker and Meerschaum? Perhaps the large magnifying glass?’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘Just be as nosy as possible. Look under rugs and into plant pots. Open a few cupboards.’
‘What shall I be looking for, my lady?’
‘I genuinely have no idea. Anything out of the ordinary, I suppose. Anything that shouldn’t be there. I’m sure you’ll know it when you find it.’
‘Right-oh, then, my lady. I shall discreetly snoop and then meet you and the inspector in the dining room at ten o’clock as though nothing has happened. Or as near to ten o’clock as I can manage in a house with so few clocks.’
‘That’s the spirit. Good girl.’
And with that, I hurried off to get my hat and gloves and set off at a brisk pace up the hill to The Grange.
It was another beautiful late-summer’s morning and the walk along the lane and up the hill was a delightful one. The hedgerows were alive with twittering birds which I was still unable to identify and I saw at least three rabbits and a squirrel, though I met no humans. I found the gates of The Grange already open and made my way as quietly as possible round to the servants’ entrance at the side of the house. That door was open, too, and once inside I heard the first signs of life. Mrs Brown was already berating poor Rose and I could just make out the sound of Mr Jenkins’s voice as he tried to calm things down and cheer things up.
I poked my head round the kitchen door.
‘Morning, all,’ I said breezily. ‘The door was open, do you mind if I come in?’
Mr Jenkins looked mightily relieved. ‘Of course, Miss Armstrong, do come in. To what do we owe the pleasure? Can we offer you some tea?’
Mrs Brown looked irritated once more that I had interrupted her in mid-rant and that my being “company” meant that she would have to tone down her bullying of her kitchen maid. She looked as though having to make me a cup of tea as well would be just about the last straw, so it was fortunate that I had other things to be getting on with.
‘Thank you, no, Mr Jenkins, I’m under orders,’ I said. ‘But perhaps a little later? My mistress is due to arrive in a while to continue the investigation with Inspector Sunderland, but she sent me on ahead to make a few things ready in the dining room. Do you mind awfully? I shall try not to get in the way.’
‘Of course, Miss Armstrong. It’s never an inconvenience to have you about the place,’ he said with a smile. ‘Is there anything we can do to help? The room has been swept and dusted, but I gave strict instructions that the blackboard should not be touched. I trust that was the right thing.’
‘Absolutely perfect, Mr Jenkins, thank you. I think I shall be fine, but I shall come and find someone if I require anything further.’
‘Please just ring, Miss Armstrong,’ he said with a smile. ‘There’s no need for you to come all the way down here.’
Mrs Brown glared at us both and I could only imagine her boiling indignation at the thought of another servant ringing the bell in her mistress’s house. My mind was working overtime trying to think of ways of irritating her further, but I had other fish to fry, and there would be time later for me to think of a way to take the bullying Mrs Brown down a peg or two.
‘Thank you, Mr Jenkins, you’re most kind,’ I said.
‘Think nothing of it, my dear,’ he said. ‘You know your way by now, I’m sure. Please feel free to do whatever you need to do.’
I nodded my thanks once more and left the kitchen through the door that led to the “secret” servants’ passage which led directly to a concealed door opposite the dining room.
Once above stairs, though, I didn’t go directly to the dining room; if we wanted to search that, we’d have all day. Instead, I walked down the corridor to the entrance hall, and then down the opposite corridor to the library. The library was where it had all started and I was certain that it was the place for me to start, too.
There were two doors into the library, one at either end of the room. Most of the traffic in and out of the room so far had been through the door nearest the hall, but the musicians’ cases were at the other end of the room and it seemed to me that anyone leaving the room in a hurry after a struggle would come out of the far door. It was nearer to the cases they’d been searching through and it was farther from the entrance hall and wandering guests.