Murder at Missleberry Manor

Part 7

The two women sat down on a pew about half way down the building. For a while neither of them said anything. Cecilia was desperately wishing she'd ran while she could, even at the risk of being spotted, rather than come in here now with Mrs Hanbury. At the same time she was straining her ears for any indication that the mystery man was still there. Mrs Hanbury meanwhile seemed lost in her own thoughts. When she did eventually speak Cecilia was surprised to see she was struggling to hold back tears.

"It's been a funny sort of day hasn't it?"

Cecilia nodded awkwardly.

"I'm sorry," said Mrs Hanbury, visibly pulling herself together. "It's just all been so strange and so fast it's hard to know quite what to think or how to feel. I think my emotions are still trying to catch up with what has happened."

Cecilia nodded. She felt totally wrong-footed. It was almost impossible to reconcile this woman on the verge of tears with the one she'd just overheard. Could she possibly have misunderstood what she'd heard? But no her tone had been plain and her words even plainer. There had been no sorrow, no remorse only icy contempt and a need for silence.

So caught up in her own thoughts Cecilia barely noticed when the object of them stood up, wished her farewell until the party and left. In fact it was a good few minutes before an intense prickling on the back of her neck caused her to look up. She spun around but there was nobody there. At least nobody that she could see. She still had no idea if the man Mrs Hanbury had been talking to was still here or not but just the possibility was enough to propel her to her feet. She hurried for the door and almost barrelled into Freddie as he entered.

"There you are," he said, grasping her arms as she almost lost her balance. ""What's the matter? You look as white as a sheet."

"We should go," she said quietly. "I don't know if he's still in there but we should go right now."

Freddie's brow quirked in confusion as he glanced between Cecilia and the doorway behind her but he made no sign of moving, even as Cecilia tried and failed to push him back the way he had come.

"Who might still be in there? Does this have anything to do with the maid?"

Cecilia nodded.

"Wait here for me," said Freddie. And then with a squeeze of her shoulders he disappeared inside before she could argue.

Her heart was in her mouth as she waited and although it felt like hours barely a few minutes had passed when Freddie reappeared in the doorway looking grim.

"There's a broken window at the back and drops of blood which are still wet," he said, ushering her down the path away from the chapel. "So whoever was in there isn't anymore. We need to get back to the house and you need to tell me what's going on."

Cecilia was only too happy to leave the chapel behind. As they walked she filled Freddie in first on her conversation with Cat and then on everything that had happened afterwards, from seeing Mrs Hanbury leaving the house all the way up to when he'd found her in the chapel. Freddie remained silent throughout.

They'd gone a different way to that which Cecilia had taken to get to the chapel and it wasn't a part of the garden she recognised. They were surrounded by raised flower beds all edged with short box hedges and the sky was almost completely blocked out by the vibrant green foliage of the trees above them. It was calm and tranquil, far away from the world of murdered maids and possible confessions from their mistress.

Freddie led her over to a stone bench and they sat down.

"And you didn't hear anything that was said before she slapped him?" asked Freddie.

Cecilia grimaced and shook her head. "There might have been something about eight or late or hate but other than that I don't know. Sorry."

Freddie looked down at her in surprise. "It's nothing to apologise for. You've already found out so much."

"But if I'd just been able to hear who she was talking to-"

"Listen," interrupted Freddie, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "You've done so much, don't worry about it. I'm going to go and talk to Father and the detective if he's still around. This will have to make a difference."

After a moment of holding herself awkwardly in Freddie's embrace Cecilia relaxed, leaning her head against his shoulder, and let the silence wash over her.

A butterfly fluttered by them and landed on the hedge opposite. Its' iridescent blue wings shimmered in the sunlight. It remained motionless for a few seconds before lifting into the air again and flying off.

Freddie looked at his watch and Cecilia was surprised to see the day was getting on and the party was due to start in just over an hour and a half.

"And why don't you," he continued. "Go and rest and try and forget about all of this and get ready for the party."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

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