Page 1 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
Chapter1
Berkshire, September 1900
The picnic on the lawn signaled an end to the crack of gunshots that had spoiled our morning. The extensive gardens of Hambledon Hall were peaceful once again, disturbed only by the movements of servants as they laid out refreshments and the gentle fluttering of ladies’ fans. The shooting party of six gentlemen rejoined us at the same time as the children of our host and hostess arrived with their nanny, who firmly held the hands of her two excited charges. She appeared to be scolding them out of the corner of her mouth, but the children paid her no mind as they broke free and ran to their father, Lord Kershaw.
Lady Kershaw smiled at her husband as he ruffled the golden hair of their son. Her smile became tight as her gaze connected with the nanny’s. The nanny dipped her head as she waited for her employer to send the children back to her. “She’s new and is yet to earn their respect,” Lady Kershaw said on a sigh. “I’m afraid they’re a handful.”
We ladies sat in the shade of the black-and-white-striped umbrellas, where tables and chairs had been set up. The food was laid out in a tent nearby. With the arrival of the gentlemen, we were merely waiting on a sign from Lady Kershaw to partake of the offerings.
Aunt Lilian stood before our hostess gave the signal, however. Having kept to her room all morning, she’d appeared downstairs moments before we ventured outside. The twitching of her facial muscles and her enlarged pupils were evidence that she’d taken her tonic. The energizing effects of the cocaine would only last an hour before they wore off and she became irritable and fatigued. Her family knew all too well that it was best to avoid her company when that happened. Until then, she would be as restless as the children.
“Didn’t you have a new nanny last year?” she asked Lady Kershaw.
Lady Kershaw watched the nanny usher the children to the tables of food and assist them with their selection from the vast spread. “She left three months ago.”
“And the year before that, too?”
“They’re so difficult to hold on to. I find it’s the same for most of the young female staff. They simply don’t want to be in service these days.”
“How strange,” my cousin Flossy said. “We don’t have that trouble with our maids, do we, Mother?”
Aunt Lilian either didn’t hear her or pretended not to, out of politeness to our hostess. Flossy seemed to realize too late that she may have offended Lady Kershaw. She was right in that the Mayfair Hotel had a large number of maids to service the guest rooms, and many of them stayed with us for years. But it wasn’t polite to point this out after Lady Kershaw’s comment. It implied there was a problem at Hambledon Hall that sent them packing. If it was only the female staff who didn’t stay, it was likely the problem was a man.
I couldn’t imagine the amiable Lord Kershaw being the cause, however. In his early forties, ten years older than his wife, my uncle’s friend had warmly welcomed us to the three-day house party and seemed to have an open countenance. I’d chatted with him about all manner of topics, where most men his age wouldn’t bother with a young female guest. I’d not felt uncomfortable for a moment during those conversations, or at any other time, nor had a I noticed him pay particular attention to the nanny or maids. We’d arrived only yesterday, so I didn’t know him particularly well yet, but I prided myself on picking up certain cues from lecherous men, and I perceived none from him.
Perhaps the problem lay with one of the male staff. I made a mental note to warn Harmony and Aunt Lilian’s maid to be careful.
With the children seated beside their nanny, Lady Kershaw rose and invited us to fill a plate. The game the men had shot would be served at dinner tonight, we’d been told, but there was still a variety of choices available for luncheon, from several different sandwiches to cold slices of meat, pies, cheeses and fruit.
My other cousin, Floyd, slipped in beside me, his plate already piled high. “The shooting was invigorating. You should try it, Cleo.”
“Killing living things doesn’t appeal to me.”
“She says as she places a ham sandwich on her plate.”
“I’m quite happy to eat what others kill out of necessity, but I don’t want to make a sport of it, thank you. I hope you didn’t shoot more than we need for dinner.”
“Anything we shot that isn’t served at Hambledon will be given to the villagers. It’s a tradition that dates back to the time King Henry the Eighth stayed here and hunted game in the very same woods.” He forked a slice of beef onto his plate. “We were supposed to continue this afternoon, but it’s been called off.”
“Why?”
“Don’t know. Not enough birds, perhaps. Or perhaps it’s so we can be sociable and play yet another round of croquet with the ladies.”
“You could always plead a headache and retire if it bores you.”
He glanced in his mother’s direction. “Better not. One Bainbridge absence will be enough. Besides, I have a feeling Miss Browning will need guidance again, and I rather look forward to giving it to her.”
“Floyd,” I chided. “She’s engaged to be married. Stop flirting with her.”
“She’s flirting with me! It’s not my fault she likes me better than her dull fiancé.”
“You’ve never met him.”
“He’s in banking, Cleo. He must be dull.”
“I’m sure his family money makes him a great deal more interesting than you think.” I regretted it the moment I said it. Janet Browning’s fiancé could be a wonderful man for all I knew, and it wasn’t fair to presume she was marrying him for his money.
Lord Kershaw’s niece was a year or two younger than me, and got along swimmingly with Flossy. Both lively, pretty girls, they turned heads wherever they went. They also seemed to find amusement in a great many things. What those things were, I wasn’t entirely sure. They spent a lot of time giggling behind their fans.
