A Crowded Coffin by Nicola Slade Page A

suspected anyway, showed up at the inquest. I went to that, the whole village turned out in support, and it was felt John came out of it very well. Everyone was sorry for him and the general consensus, though never openly expressed, of course, was that he was well out of it.’ She didn’t look at her cousin. ‘His wife left him an awful lot of money, they say.’
    Predictably, Sam exploded in righteous indignation. ‘I’m not staying to listen to this kind of gossip, Harriet,’ he said, rising and heading for the house. ‘I’d better go and get started on clearing out the flat. I know most of our—’ he pulled himself up short on the word and looked away, while Harriet blinked in sympathy. ‘My stuff is in store but there are hundreds of books still to pack and I’ve left it late to start. I’ll ring you tomorrow and hope you can drag your mind away from scandal and trivia.’
    Harriet saw him off, hugging him affectionately. ‘You’re a pompous old prig, you know, but I forgive you. And regardless of your strictures, I’m going to do some poking around and see if I can find any clues to the local mystery.’
    He sighed and returned the hug. ‘I may be pompous,’ he told her. ‘But you’re a nosy old biddy, Old Hat, and you need to stay out of trouble. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid like wandering about at night trying to catch villains?’
    Her blue eyes gleamed with mischief and Sam wished he hadn’t spoken. ‘I’ll think about it,’ was all she said, but Sam was seized with foreboding.

chapter five

    ‘Edith? It’s Harriet. Sam’s just rung me to ask if you and Rory would like to join him for dinner at the new French bistro in town tonight.’ Harriet caught herself up with a faint giggle and went on, ‘Well, I’ll be there too, of course. Sam was cross with me earlier on but I’m obviously forgiven.’ She sobered quickly. ‘I hope you two can make it. Although he won’t mention it, today is his wife’s birthday and he finds it very tough going. Neither of us ever says anything, but Avril is always in our thoughts at this time and I know he’d welcome a bit of distraction.’
    ‘Oh, poor Sam.’ Harriet could hear the ready sympathy in Edith’s voice. ‘I liked Mrs Hathaway. She was always fair but you couldn’t mess around in her English classes. I expect you miss her too, don’t you? I’d better check whether Rory’s up for it and I’ll get back to you.’

    Rory had disappeared immediately after the drinks party, muttering about ‘work to do’, so Edith busied herself by helping Karen around the house, as well as taking a pot of tea upstairs to her grandparents.
    ‘Tell me about Rory?’ she asked, as she poured out.
    The silence that greeted this innocuous question made her look up. Her grandmother looked suddenly strained and very weary, while her grandfather was scowling.
    ‘The relationship is complicated; old sorrows, old anger, better left alone,’ he growled and Mrs Attlin nodded in corroboration .‘As for discussing him, that’s his business. He doesn’t want it talked about so we’ll respect his wishes, if you please.’
    She stared at him, feeling at a loss. There was a slight edge in his voice that warned her not to press the question. She felt his disapproval but ploughed on regardless.
    ‘What about his father? Is he still alive?’
    The disapproval was marked now; she was encroaching on shaky territory but she had no idea why.
    ‘Rory’s father was killed some years ago, and his mother…. No, I told you, Edith, I’m not prepared to discuss this with you any further.’
    Puzzled and slightly hurt, Edith shrugged and left the room, leaving the old people looking at each other.
    ‘Oh, dear,’ sighed Penelope Attlin. ‘Now her feelings are hurt. Do you think we should have told her everything after all?’
    ‘Nonsense, love.’ Walter shook his head. ‘Rory asked us not to discuss his affairs so it’s up to him to decide when – if –