Page 29 of A Very Bookish Murder
‘And bottles of lukewarm lemonade,’ added Millie, stroking a bottle of chilled white wine. ‘This isn’t a picnic – it’s a banquet.’
Ally laughed. ‘They like to do things properly up here.’
As the women oohed and aahed round the table, Hamish made an appearance, looking very jaunty in his white shirt and green tartan kilt.
‘Welcome, ladies!’ he called. ‘Please do help yourselves to whatever you fancy and sit down in the sunshine, while it lasts.’
A couple of the women had brought towels to sit on, but these were made completely redundant because there were little tables and chairs all over the lawn.
‘This is so lovely!’ Brigitte exclaimed, while her husband headed straight for the wine.
‘Well, Hamish,’ shouted Penelope. ‘Long time no see!’
‘Dear girl,’ Hamish replied. ‘Howareyou?’
‘All the better for seeing you, you old goat!’ Penelope replied. ‘What’s all this about you getting married?’
As if on cue, Magda waddled out from the door behind, and Hamish put his arm round her and kissed her fondly. ‘This is what’s happened to me, Pen. Meet Magda, my lovely wife.’ He pointed at Magda’s belly. ‘My two sons are in there.’
Everyone had stopped staring at the buffet and were now staring at Magda.
Magda smiled and said, ‘I hope you won’t mind if I don’t join you, but I can’t really take the heat at this stage in my pregnancy.’ She gave a little wave and retreated indoors.
A moment later, Hamish and Penelope were deep in conversation, and the other women surrounded Ally and Ross, remarking on what a handsome old man he was, and how had he managed to get himself such a lovely young wife?
‘That’s a very long story,’ Ally replied, laughing, ‘which I’m not prepared to go into. Come on, girls – let’s eat.’
Plates were loaded, glasses filled, and everyone sat down at one of the tables to enjoy the food. Ally sat down with the two from the Craigmonie, while Ross regaled the other four withthe story of his coming up to Locharran forty years ago from Glasgow, shortly after he’d qualified as a vet.
‘My God,’ said Morwenna, ‘Laura was a fool to miss out on this.’
‘Well, she’s an oddball,’ Della said, shelling a shrimp. She’d finally decided to stay.
‘Never joins in much,’ added Morwenna. ‘Wait until we tell her about today.’
‘Don’t know what she gets up to,’ Della went on. ‘Seems to resent everyone and everything. Then again, she’s probably convinced herself I’m a killer, so maybe she wants to give me a wide berth.’
Ally studied Della through her sunglasses, convincing herself that – for no good reason whatsoever – she didn’t think that Dellawasa killer. But would a jury think that if it came to a trial?
Looking at Morwenna, she couldn’t really see her as a killer either.I’m getting soft, Ally thought,because one of these seven hasgotto be the damned culprit. It’s becoming more and more likely it’s Laura, isn’t it?
Hamish left Penelope loading up her plate and turned his attention to his other guests, asking them their names and where they came from, laying on the charm. Despite being a happily married man, he was still, predictably, drawn first to Brigitte and, a little later, to Della.
Mrs Fraser, the earl’s housekeeper, was now placing bowls of fruit and desserts on the table, and telling everyone that the ice cream was available just inside the door where it was cooler. There followed a further stampede towards the buffet, where some had seconds and others attacked the desserts.
‘You’ve done us proud, Hamish,’ Ally said when she finally got him on his own. ‘Now, have you decided which one of these ladies could be the killer?’
‘Oh,’ said Hamish quite matter-of-factly, ‘that’ll be Penelope. She said she couldn’t stand the Jones woman, and neither could the others.’ He paused for a moment. ‘Which brings me to the obvious question – why did they all come to Locharran?’
‘Apart from the fact they were attending a literary retreat, do you mean?’ asked Ally.
Hamish stroked his beard. ‘Perhaps theyallcame here to kill her, but Penelope beat them to it! Got there first, eh? She’s a bloody strong woman, you know. I’ve watched her roping horses, hunting and all that. I should think she could strangle anyone in a couple of minutes flat!’
Ally could hear the admiration in his voice, which was hardly appropriate if Penelopewasthe killer. And if Penelope was as strong as Hamish made out, then she could most certainly have strangled Jodi.
Everyone lingered on the lawn in the sunshine. After a short time, Hamish asked to be excused, told them all to stay on as long as they liked, said they were welcome to have a look at the Great Hall and thanked them for coming.
‘He’s thankingus!’ Brigitte said in amazement. ‘Whata gentleman.’
