Sparkling Cyanide Part 8

Funny to think that that was what her death had meant to him. Peace...

He'd never told even Ruth that. Good girl, Ruth. A good head-piece on her. Really, he didn't know what he would do without her. her. Really, he didn't know what he would do without her.

The way she helped. The way she always sympathised. And never a hint of s.e.x. Not man mad like Rosemary... hint of s.e.x. Not man mad like Rosemary...

Rosemary... Rosemary sitting at the round table in the restaurant. A little thin in the face after 'flu - a little pulled down - but lovely, so lovely. little thin in the face after 'flu - a little pulled down - but lovely, so lovely. And only an hour later - No, he wouldn't think of that. Not just now. His And only an hour later - No, he wouldn't think of that. Not just now. His plan. He would think of The Plan. plan. He would think of The Plan.

He'd speak to Race first. He'd show Race the letters. What would Race make of these letters? Iris had been dumbfounded. She evidently make of these letters? Iris had been dumbfounded. She evidently hadn't had the slightest idea. Well, he was in charge of the situation hadn't had the slightest idea. Well, he was in charge of the situation now. He'd got it all taped. now. He'd got it all taped.

The Plan. All worked out. The date. The place.

Nov. 2nd. All Souls' Day. That was a good touch. The Luxembourg, of course. He'd try to get the same table. course. He'd try to get the same table.

And the same guests. Anthony Browne, Stephen Farraday, Sandra Farraday. Then, of course, Ruth and Iris and himself. And as the odd, Farraday. Then, of course, Ruth and Iris and himself. And as the odd, the seventh guest, he'd get Race. Race who was originally to have the seventh guest, he'd get Race. Race who was originally to have been at the dinner. And there would be one empty place. It would be been at the dinner. And there would be one empty place. It would be splendid! splendid!

Dramatic!

A repet.i.tion of the crime.

Well, not quite a repet.i.tion...

His mind went back...

Rosemary's birthday...

Rosemary, sprawled forward on that table - dead...

Book II - ALL SAINT'S DAY

"Here is the rosemary, which brings remembrance"

Chapter 1.

Lucilla Drake was twittering. That was the term always used in the family and it was really a very apt description of the sounds that issued family and it was really a very apt description of the sounds that issued from Lucilla's kindly lips. from Lucilla's kindly lips.

She was concerned on this particular morning with many things - so many that she found it hard to pin her attention down to one at a time. many that she found it hard to pin her attention down to one at a time. There was the imminence of the move back to town and the household There was the imminence of the move back to town and the household problems involved in that move. Servants, housekeeping, winter problems involved in that move. Servants, housekeeping, winter storage, a thousand minor details - all these contended with a concern storage, a thousand minor details - all these contended with a concern over Iris's looks. over Iris's looks.

"Really, dear, I feel quite anxious about you - you look so white and washed out - as though you hadn't slept - did you sleep? If not, there's washed out - as though you hadn't slept - did you sleep? If not, there's that nice sleeping preparation of Dr Wylie's or was it Dr Gaskell's? - that nice sleeping preparation of Dr Wylie's or was it Dr Gaskell's? - which reminds me - I shall have to go and speak to the grocer myself - which reminds me - I shall have to go and speak to the grocer myself - either the maids have been ordering in things on their own, or else it's either the maids have been ordering in things on their own, or else it's deliberate swindling on his part. Packets and packets of soap flakes - deliberate swindling on his part. Packets and packets of soap flakes - and I never allow more than three a week. But perhaps a tonic would and I never allow more than three a week. But perhaps a tonic would be better? Baton's syrup, they used to give when I was a girl. And be better? Baton's syrup, they used to give when I was a girl. And spinach, of course. I'll tell cook to have spinach for lunch today." spinach, of course. I'll tell cook to have spinach for lunch today."

Iris was too languid and too used to Mrs Drake's discursive style to inquire why the mention of Dr Gaskell should have reminded her aunt inquire why the mention of Dr Gaskell should have reminded her aunt of the local grocer, though had she done so, she would have received of the local grocer, though had she done so, she would have received the immediate response: "Because the grocer's name is Cranford, my the immediate response: "Because the grocer's name is Cranford, my dear." Aunt Lucilla's reasoning was always crystal clear to herself. dear." Aunt Lucilla's reasoning was always crystal clear to herself.

Iris merely said with what energy she could command, "I'm perfectly well, Aunt Lucilla." well, Aunt Lucilla."

"Black under the eyes," said Mrs Drake. "You've been doing too much." much."

"I've done nothing at all - for weeks."

"So you think, dear. But too much tennis is overtiring for young girls. And I think the air down here is inclined to be enervating. This place is And I think the air down here is inclined to be enervating. This place is in a hollow. If George had consulted me instead of that girl." in a hollow. If George had consulted me instead of that girl."

"Girl?"

"That Miss Lessing he thinks so much of. All very well in the office, I daresay - but a great mistake to take her out of her place. Encourage daresay - but a great mistake to take her out of her place. Encourage her to think herself one of the family. Not that she needs much her to think herself one of the family. Not that she needs much encouragement, I should say." encouragement, I should say."

"Oh, well, Aunt Lucilla, Ruth is practically one of the family."

Mrs Drake sniffed. "She means to be - that's quite clear. Poor George - really an infant in arms where women are concerned. But it won't do, really an infant in arms where women are concerned. But it won't do, Iris. George must be protected from himself and if I were you I should Iris. George must be protected from himself and if I were you I should make it very clear that nice as Miss Lessing is, any idea of marriage is make it very clear that nice as Miss Lessing is, any idea of marriage is out of the question." out of the question."

Iris was startled for a moment out of her apathy.

"I never thought of George marrying Ruth."

"You don't see what goes on under your nose, child. Of course you haven't had my experience of life." Iris smiled in spite of herself. Aunt haven't had my experience of life." Iris smiled in spite of herself. Aunt Lucilla was really very funny sometimes. "That young woman is out for Lucilla was really very funny sometimes. "That young woman is out for matrimony." matrimony."

"Would it matter?" asked Iris.

"Matter? Of course it would matter."

"Wouldn't it really be rather nice?" Her aunt stared at her. "Nice for George, I mean. I think you're right about her, you know. I think she is George, I mean. I think you're right about her, you know. I think she is fond of him. And she'd be an awfully good wife to him and look after fond of him. And she'd be an awfully good wife to him and look after him." him."

Mrs Drake snorted and an almost indignant expression appeared on her rather sheep-like amiable face. her rather sheep-like amiable face.

"George is well looked after at present. What more can he want, I should like to know? Excellent meals and his mending seen to. Very should like to know? Excellent meals and his mending seen to. Very pleasant for him to have an attractive young girl like you about the pleasant for him to have an attractive young girl like you about the house and when you marry some day I should hope I was still capable house and when you marry some day I should hope I was still capable of seeing to his comfort and looking after his health. Just as well or of seeing to his comfort and looking after his health. Just as well or better than a young woman out of an office could do - what does she better than a young woman out of an office could do - what does she know about housekeeping? Figures and ledgers and shorthand and know about housekeeping? Figures and ledgers and shorthand and typing - what good is that in a man's home?" typing - what good is that in a man's home?"

Iris smiled and shook her head, but she did not argue the point. She was thinking of the smooth dark satin of Ruth's head, of the clear was thinking of the smooth dark satin of Ruth's head, of the clear complexion and the figure so well set off by the severe tailor-mades complexion and the figure so well set off by the severe tailor-mades that Ruth affected. that Ruth affected.

Poor Aunt Lucilla, all her mind on comfort and housekeeping, with romance so very far behind her that she had probably forgotten what it romance so very far behind her that she had probably forgotten what it meant - if indeed, thought Iris, remembering her uncle by marriage, it meant - if indeed, thought Iris, remembering her uncle by marriage, it had ever meant anything to her. had ever meant anything to her.

Lucilla Drake was Hector Marle's half-sister from the father's earlier marriage. When her stepmother died she had performed the part of a marriage. When her stepmother died she had performed the part of a mother to Hector, who was much younger. Taking care of her father mother to Hector, who was much younger. Taking care of her father she went towards spinsterhood and was nearly forty when she met she went towards spinsterhood and was nearly forty when she met Reverend Caleb Drake, who himself was over fifty. Her married life had Reverend Caleb Drake, who himself was over fifty. Her married life had been short. Two years later she was a widow with a child... been short. Two years later she was a widow with a child...

Maternity, late and unexpected, had been the supreme experience in Lucilla's life. Her son became to her an anxiety, a source of suffering Lucilla's life. Her son became to her an anxiety, a source of suffering and a constant financial drain - but never a disappointment. and a constant financial drain - but never a disappointment.

Mrs Drake refused to see in Victor anything more serious than a lovable weakness of character. Victor was too trusting, easily lovable weakness of character. Victor was too trusting, easily influenced by bad company, due to his trusting nature. Victor had bad influenced by bad company, due to his trusting nature. Victor had bad luck; Victor was cheated on; he was only a p.a.w.n to bad men who luck; Victor was cheated on; he was only a p.a.w.n to bad men who exploited his innocence. exploited his innocence.

When any criticism to him was made, Mrs Drake's simple and nice face became hard and obstinate. She knew her son - a good boy with the became hard and obstinate. She knew her son - a good boy with the best intentions, and his so-called friends took advantage of him. Lucilla best intentions, and his so-called friends took advantage of him. Lucilla knew how he hated having to beg her for money. But what could he do knew how he hated having to beg her for money. But what could he do in such a terrible situation? He had n.o.body else to turn to. in such a terrible situation? He had n.o.body else to turn to.

Anyway, Lucilla had to admit that the invitation to live at George's house and take care of Iris was a G.o.dsend. Her life in that house house and take care of Iris was a G.o.dsend. Her life in that house during the last year had been happy and comfortable. And so she during the last year had been happy and comfortable. And so she didn't like the idea of the young and efficient Ruth marrying George didn't like the idea of the young and efficient Ruth marrying George and evicting her from this place. and evicting her from this place.

Miss Lessing was very presentable - but, thank goodness, there was one person at least who saw what she was up to! one person at least who saw what she was up to!

Lucilla Drake nodded her head several times, causing her soft double chins to quiver, raised her eyebrows with an air of superb human chins to quiver, raised her eyebrows with an air of superb human sapience, and abandoned the subject for one equally interesting and sapience, and abandoned the subject for one equally interesting and possibly even more pressing. possibly even more pressing.

"It's the blankets I can't make up my mind about, dear. You see, I can't get it clearly laid down whether we shan't be coming down again until get it clearly laid down whether we shan't be coming down again until next spring or whether George means to run down for weekends. He next spring or whether George means to run down for weekends. He won't say." won't say."

"I suppose he doesn't really know." Iris tried to give her attention to a point that seemed completely unimportant. "If it was nice weather it point that seemed completely unimportant. "If it was nice weather it might be fun to come down occasionally. Though I don't think I want to might be fun to come down occasionally. Though I don't think I want to particularly. Still, the house will be here if we do want to come." particularly. Still, the house will be here if we do want to come."

"Yes, dear, but one wants to know. Because, you see, if we aren't coming down until next year, then the blankets ought to be put away coming down until next year, then the blankets ought to be put away with moth b.a.l.l.s. But if we are coming down, that wouldn't be with moth b.a.l.l.s. But if we are coming down, that wouldn't be necessary, because the blankets would be used - and the smell of necessary, because the blankets would be used - and the smell of moth b.a.l.l.s is so unpleasant." moth b.a.l.l.s is so unpleasant."

"Well, don't use them."

"Yes, but it's been such a hot summer there are a lot of moths about. Everyone says it's a bad year for moths. And for wasps, of course. Everyone says it's a bad year for moths. And for wasps, of course. Hawkins told me yesterday he's taken thirty wasps' nests this summer Hawkins told me yesterday he's taken thirty wasps' nests this summer -thirty - just fancy -"

Iris thought of Hawkins - stalking out at dusk - cyanide in hand - Cyanide - Rosemary - Why did everything lead back to that? Cyanide - Rosemary - Why did everything lead back to that?

The thin trickle of sound that was Aunt Lucilla's voice was going on - it had reached by now a different point - had reached by now a different point - "-and whether one ought to send the silver to the bank or not? Lady Alexandra was saying so many burglaries - though of course we do Alexandra was saying so many burglaries - though of course we do have good shutters - I don't like the way she does her hair myself - it have good shutters - I don't like the way she does her hair myself - it makes her face look so hard - but I should think she was a hard makes her face look so hard - but I should think she was a hard woman. And nervy, too. Everyone is nervy nowadays. When I was a girl woman. And nervy, too. Everyone is nervy nowadays. When I was a girl people didn't know what nerves were. Which reminds me that I don't people didn't know what nerves were. Which reminds me that I don't like the look of George lately - I wonder if he could be going to have like the look of George lately - I wonder if he could be going to have 'flu? I've wondered once or twice whether he was feverish. But perhaps it is some business worry. He looks to me, you know, as perhaps it is some business worry. He looks to me, you know, as though he has got something on his mind." though he has got something on his mind."

Iris s.h.i.+vered, and Lucilla Drake exclaimed triumphantly: "There, I said you had a chill." you had a chill."

Chapter 2.

"How I wish that we had never ever come here."

Sandra Farraday uttered the words with such unusual bitterness that her husband turned to look at her in surprise. It was as though his own her husband turned to look at her in surprise. It was as though his own thoughts had been put into words - the thoughts that he had been thoughts had been put into words - the thoughts that he had been trying so hard to conceal. So Sandra, too, felt as he did? She, too, had trying so hard to conceal. So Sandra, too, felt as he did? She, too, had felt that Fairhaven was spoiled, its peace impaired, by these new felt that Fairhaven was spoiled, its peace impaired, by these new neighbours a mile away across the Park. neighbours a mile away across the Park.

He said, voicing his surprise impulsively: "I didn't know you felt like that about them, too." that about them, too."

Immediately, or so it seemed to him, she withdrew into herself.

"Neighbours are so very important in the country. One has either to be rude or friendly, one can't, as in London, just keep people as amiable rude or friendly, one can't, as in London, just keep people as amiable acquaintances." acquaintances."

"No," said Stephen, "one can't do that."

"And now we are committed to this extraordinary party."

They were both silent, both running over in their minds the scene at lunch. George Barton had been friendly, even exuberant in manner, lunch. George Barton had been friendly, even exuberant in manner, with a kind of undercurrent of excitement of which they had both been with a kind of undercurrent of excitement of which they had both been conscious. George Barton was really very odd these days. Stephen conscious. George Barton was really very odd these days. Stephen had never noticed him much in the time preceding Rosemary's death. had never noticed him much in the time preceding Rosemary's death. George had just been there in the background, the kindly dull husband George had just been there in the background, the kindly dull husband of a young and beautiful wife. Stephen had never even felt a pang of of a young and beautiful wife. Stephen had never even felt a pang of disquiet over the betrayal of George. George had been the kind of disquiet over the betrayal of George. George had been the kind of husband who was born to be betrayed. So much older - so devoid of husband who was born to be betrayed. So much older - so devoid of the attractions necessary to hold an attractive and capricious woman. the attractions necessary to hold an attractive and capricious woman. Had George himself been deceived? Stephen did not think so. George, Had George himself been deceived? Stephen did not think so. George, he thought, knew Rosemary very well. He loved her, and he was the he thought, knew Rosemary very well. He loved her, and he was the kind of man who was humble about his own powers of holding a wife's kind of man who was humble about his own powers of holding a wife's interest. All the same, George must have suffered... interest. All the same, George must have suffered...

Stephen began to wonder just what George had felt when Rosemary died. died.

He and Sandra had seen little of him in the months following the tragedy. It was not until he had suddenly appeared as a near tragedy. It was not until he had suddenly appeared as a near neighbour at Little Priors that he had re-entered their lives, and at neighbour at Little Priors that he had re-entered their lives, and at once, so Stephen thought, he had seemed so very different. More once, so Stephen thought, he had seemed so very different. More alive, more positive. And - yes, decidedly odd. alive, more positive. And - yes, decidedly odd.

He had been odd today. That suddenly blurted out invitation. To a party for Iris's eighteenth birthday. He did so hope Stephen and party for Iris's eighteenth birthday. He did so hope Stephen and Sandra would both come. And Stephen and Sandra had been so kind Sandra would both come. And Stephen and Sandra had been so kind to them down here. to them down here.

Sandra had said quickly, of course, it would be delightful. Naturally Stephen would be rather tied when they got back to London and she Stephen would be rather tied when they got back to London and she herself had a great many tiresome engagements, but she did hope herself had a great many tiresome engagements, but she did hope they would be able to manage it. they would be able to manage it.

"Then let's settle a day now, shall we?"

George's face - florid, smiling, insistent. "I thought perhaps one day the week after next - Wednesday or Thursday? Thursday is November the week after next - Wednesday or Thursday? Thursday is November 2nd. Would that be all right? But we'll arrange any day that suits you 2nd. Would that be all right? But we'll arrange any day that suits you both." both."

It had been the kind of invitation that pinned you down - there was a certain lack of social savoir-faire. Stephen noticed that Iris Marle had certain lack of social savoir-faire. Stephen noticed that Iris Marle had gone red and looked embarra.s.sed. gone red and looked embarra.s.sed.

Sandra had been perfect. She had smilingly surrendered to the inevitable and said that Thursday, November 2nd, would suit them very inevitable and said that Thursday, November 2nd, would suit them very well. well.

Suddenly voicing his thoughts, Stephen said sharply, "We needn't go."

Sandra turned her face slightly towards him. It wore a thoughtful considering air. considering air.

"You think not?"

"It's easy to make some excuse."

"He'll only insist on us coming some other time - or change the day. He -he seems very set on our coming."

"I can't think why. It's Iris's party - and I can't believe she is so particularly anxious for our company." particularly anxious for our company."

"No - no -" Sandra sounded thoughtful Then she said: "You know where this party is to be?"

"No."

"The Luxembourg."

The shock nearly deprived him of speech. He felt the colour ebbing out of his cheeks. He pulled himself together and met her eyes. Was it his of his cheeks. He pulled himself together and met her eyes. Was it his fancy or was there meaning in the level gaze? fancy or was there meaning in the level gaze?

"But it's preposterous," he said, bl.u.s.tering a little in his attempt to conceal his own personal emotion. "The Luxembourg where - to revive conceal his own personal emotion. "The Luxembourg where - to revive all that. The man must be mad." all that. The man must be mad."

"I thought of that," said Sandra.

"But then we shall certainly refuse to go. The - the whole thing was unpleasant. You remember all the publicity - and the pictures in the unpleasant. You remember all the publicity - and the pictures in the papers." papers."

"I remember all the unpleasantness," said Sandra.

"Doesn't he realise how disagreeable it would be for us?"

"He has a reason, you know, Stephen. A reason that he gave me."

"What was it?"

He felt thankful that she was looking away from him when she spoke.

"He took me aside after lunch. He said he wanted to explain. He told me that the girl - Iris - had never recovered properly from the shock of me that the girl - Iris - had never recovered properly from the shock of her sister's death." her sister's death."

She paused and Stephen said unwillingly: "Well, I daresay that may be true enough - she looks far from well. I thought at lunch how ill she was true enough - she looks far from well. I thought at lunch how ill she was looking." looking."