Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear Page A

following protocol, by allowing our meeting here to go ahead.”
    â€œI suppose I am among the suspects.” Pramal’s anger was barely disguised, the words delivered without meeting Maisie’s eyes.
    â€œI believe that if you were a prime suspect, you would not be here in my office, but at Scotland Yard. Having said that, be prepared for Caldwell to be somewhat confrontational—it’s his way, and he has a murder to investigate.”
    â€œIt’s a pity he didn’t get a bit more confrontational when he was investigating my sister’s death, wouldn’t you say, Miss Dobbs?”
    â€œYour frustration is warranted, Mr. Pramal. But let us not waste time going over old ground. Maya Patel has been killed, and she was due to meet me later today. I am assuming she had some crucial information to impart, and in a way she already has.” Maisie paused, allowing her words to filter through Pramal’s temper. “I visited Usha’s accommodations yesterday, and discovered something very interesting, which I must tell you about. Hidden in her mattress—not a terribly safe place, but no one else had looked, clearly—I discovered a considerable sum in savings. I have taken the liberty of depositing the monies at my bank, in a box under lock and key.”
    â€œUsha had money?”
    â€œEasily enough to return home, I would say, but I spoke to Miss Patel long enough to establish that Usha was remaining here to earn a sum sufficient to achieve her ambition of founding a school. It seems they had confided in each other.”
    â€œBut this Miss Patel, she was just an ayah—she doesn’t sound like someone my sister would confide in.”
    â€œFrom our conversation yesterday, it would seem that Usha thought nothing of flying in the face of convention, and if she considered Maya and her fellow ayahs less than herself, she would not have remained, or would have returned sooner. I believe she and Maya Patel might have found comfort in their friendship, especially so far from home.”
    â€œYes, of course. You are right, Miss Dobbs. My comment would not do Usha justice.”
    â€œLet’s move on—Caldwell will be here shortly. Mr. Pramal, I am interested in the two men who had a romantic interest in Usha—your fellow officer, the gentleman with whom you lodged upon first arriving here, and also the young man whom you said had inappropriately courted your sister in India.” She looked at her notes. “First of all, have you had any recollection at all, of the man who had declared his love for Usha?”
    â€œAs I said yesterday, Miss Dobbs—I don’t know that I ever knew.” He frowned, as if trying to agitate his memory. “I only know that he was most pressing in paying her attention. And my aunt said it was clear the whole event had distressed Usha—she clearly reciprocated his affection, which was most worrying, but at the same time felt embarrassed by him, and by his lack of respect. You see, it is not usual for a man to come to the house without an invitation, and any approach of this kind would of course be discussed with his family, who would accompany him if serious intent to propose marriage was on the cards. Courting might be the British way, but it is not ours. And I must explain, although Usha might have done things her own way, she would not have wanted to bring that sort of gossip to the door, and would have been very circumspect if she were seeing this man outside the house. She would have kept it secret. It was one thing for people to think she was a free spirit and tut-tut here and there, but she would not have wanted a serious slight against the family in connection with her moral code. A line was crossed.”
    â€œYes, I understand, Mr. Pramal. But what about Mr. Singh?”
    â€œOh, Singh was like so many—head over heels at first glance, but Usha showed no interest whatsoever, and to be frank,