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Book online Ā«Murder at the Spring Ball: A 1920s Mystery Benedict Brown (good books to read in english .TXT) šŸ“–Ā». Author Benedict Brown



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gloomy in direct proportion to our proximity to London. It rather reminded me of Sherlock Holmes in ā€˜The Adventure of the Copper Beechesā€™. While Holmes fears the degeneracy of the countryside, Superintendent Edgington apparently disapproved of the sins of the city.

It was all very green and pleasant as we drove past Hampton Court and around Richmond Park but then London snuck up on me without my expecting it. As soon as we crossed Putney Bridge, the grand edifices of the capital reared up in front of the car. For a Surrey boy, born and bred in the country, I can tell you it was a real thrill.

By the time we arrived in Knightsbridge, Grandfather looked like a haunted man. Were there ghosts around us that only he could see? Perhaps his decades on the force had left a permanent stain on every street in London. I could only imagine the horrors heā€™d encountered there over the years and would have to ask him what he had been thinking, just as soon as he looked a tad lessā€¦ murderous.

We drove past the Natural History Museum and Harrods department store and soon pulled up in front of Georgeā€™s building. Wasting no time, the engine had barely come to a stop when Grandfather pushed his door open and jumped from the vehicle. He paused on the pavement to look up at the terrace of white-fronted townhouses, before striding up the steps of the property to hammer on the front door.

ā€œWhatā€™s your business here?ā€ the porter answered in a brusque East London accent once the door had opened a fraction.

Lord Edgingtonā€™s eyes narrowed. ā€œIā€™m here to see George Trevelyan.ā€

The bald, beige-faced man looked unintimidated by our arrival and sniffed long and loudly through the crack in the door. ā€œAre you expected?ā€

In order to communicate quite how great an inconvenience this conversation was to a man of his eminence, Grandfather did not look at the porter as he replied, but stared along the busy residential street, as if he had far more significant issues to concern himself with.

ā€œI telephoned an hour ago, but there was no answer.ā€

The porter popped his head back inside the building to consultā€¦ I have no idea what, before opening the door to let us pass.

ā€œApartment 1B,ā€ he called after us. ā€œAnd donā€™t go dirtying the walls. Theyā€™ve only recently been painted.ā€

We huffed our way past the officious chap and along his sparkling corridor. I was tempted to leave fingerprints on the glossy dado rail, but Iā€™m not that cruel.

ā€œGeorge,ā€ Grandfather boomed, after we found the right door. We didnā€™t have to wait to enter as it was slightly ajar. ā€œAre you in here? Are you decent?ā€

ā€œYes, yes!ā€ a voice called back from the end of the dark hall. ā€œQuite decent by most peopleā€™s standards.ā€ He let out a laugh, which more or less confirmed that my cousin was sozzled.

We followed the sound and came to a rather modern living room. It was all Mackintosh furniture and Liberty print fabrics. Well, it was modern compared to Cranley Hall where the most up-to-date feature was a Gainsborough landscape that a long dead ancestor had commissioned and which now hung in one of the pokier guest bathrooms.

ā€œGrandfather, what a joy to have you here!ā€ George intoned. ā€œAnd you brought your lapdog Chrissy along with you. How wonderful.ā€

Do you remember what I said about my affection for the pariah of the family? Well, Iā€™d changed my mind by this point.

He was sitting on a long white sofa which, judging by the blankets and pillows strewn across it, had doubled as his bed the previous night. It was only twelve noon but the smell of spirits was thick in the air and a couple of bottles lay toppled on the carpet at his feet. I had to wonder whether heā€™d started drinking early or finished late.

ā€œGeorge,ā€ my grandfather replied in a murmur, but, before he could say anything more, our host recommenced his sunny performance.

ā€œTo what do I owe this unexpected pleasure? Let me guess, youā€™re here to accuse me of matricide again. Or perhaps youā€™ve brought good news and Mother isnā€™t dead after all and it was all a hilarious trick.ā€

Sitting on the edge of the elongated pine coffee table, Grandfather cut straight to the point. ā€œWe know what you were doing with Maitland and young Adelaide on Saturday night before the toast. So, Iā€™m going to ask you once more, what is your connection to Horatio Adelaide and for what reason did he send you to the ball?ā€

I believe the force of this opening roll of the dice must have struck George rather firmly between the eyes. His head wobbled on its perch for a moment before finding equilibrium, as though my grandfatherā€™s words had sobered him up.

ā€œYouā€™ll have to excuse me,ā€ he said. ā€œIā€™m having a moment of dĆ©jĆ  vu. Didnā€™t we already discuss this whole matter? I believe I already informed you that Horatio Adelaide and I play golf together, nothing more, nothing less. Iā€™ve heard people say that heā€™s something of a rotter, but all I can tell you about him is that heā€™s got a fine handicap and puts me to shame with a one-wood.ā€

He let out a short, high laugh, like the first whistling note escaping from a kettle.

ā€œYouā€™re smarter than this, boy.ā€ Grandfather was not amused. ā€œYou know what your golfing chum was willing to do to Maitland when he wouldnā€™t pay up. What do you think will happen when youā€™re no longer useful to him?ā€

It seemed as though the message was finally penetrating Georgeā€™s thick skull. He licked his lips from side to side reflexively before responding.

ā€œI appreciate your concern, I really do. But you neednā€™t worry. I have an understanding with Horatio and I wonā€™t get myself into the position that Maitland was in.ā€

ā€œAs uttered every gambler in history,ā€ our grandfather snapped and George peered down at the inch of gin which remained in the bottle on the floor.

Feeling that I might have something to

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