Page 100 of Death at a Highland Wedding
Speaking of proper behavior, Isla doesn’t go barging into the back rooms looking for Mrs. Hall. She finds a maid and says she’d like to speak to the housekeeper, at her convenience. It’s a testament to Isla’s good-guest manners that Mrs. Hall doesn’t keep her waiting.
“Thank you so much for coming,” Isla says as Mrs. Hall joins us in thelibrary. “I hate to interrupt your evening, but some items were found in the gamekeeper cottage that might belong to your daughter, and we wished to ensure she received them, not trusting Mr. Müller to do so.”
Mrs. Hall frowns. “We did an excellent job of clearing the cottage. I cannot imagine what we would have left behind.”
“The items are small and seem to have fallen into a crack.” Isla smiles. “Or perhaps, as a young girl, Nori—” Her hand flies to her mouth. “Oh! I meant Lenore. That sounded terribly forward of me. I have a friend named Lenore who goes by Nori, and that popped out.”
Mrs. Hall’s stern face lightens. “No need to apologize, ma’am. Lenore went by Nori as a girl. Some still call her that.”
“Thank you for being gracious. As for the items… Mallory?”
I take a handkerchief from my pocket and open it to reveal the ring and embroidered hair ribbon.
“Oh! My word,” Mrs. Hall says. “Yes, those are Lenore’s. The ribbon has been missing for a while now and the ring—” She stops and frowns. “You said they were in the cottage?”
I nod. “That is where they were found.”
“Well, then Lenore could not have left them there. I recall her looking for the ribbon, but that was only a few months ago. Shortly afterward I noticed she was no longer wearing her ring, and she said she had given it to a friend. That was after we left the cottage.”
“Oh?” I frown. “Perhaps she lost both while walking the grounds and Mr. Müller found them.”
Isla nods. “If Lenore lost the ribbon, she might not wish to admit to losing the ring.” She lowers her voice, conspiratorial. “I do not doubt Mr. Müller might fail to return them. He seems an unpleasant man.”
“Unpleasant indeed.” Mrs. Hall’s lips compress. “I feel badly for Mr. Cranston, tricked as he was into hiring the fellow.”
“Tricked?” I say.
She pauses and then pulls back. “I ought not to say that. I do not know the whole of it, and I should not speak ill of the dead.”
I remember Mrs. Hall earlier saying she didn’t blame Cranston for hiring Müller, that he’d been misled.
“I know Mr. Sinclair lobbied for Mr. Müller’s hiring,” I say. “Is there something—?”
“I did not say that, miss.” She fusses with the lappet in her hair bun.
I consider, evaluating her body language. Yes, there’s more here, and it involves Ezra Sinclair, but if I push, I’ll lose any ground we’ve gained with the housekeeper.
“Well, I would agree poor Mr. Cranston was misled,” I say. “Mr. Müller is…” I shudder.
Mrs. Hall relaxes and leans in. “That is not the worst of it. Naturally, I am pleased that Mr. Hall is getting his position back, but frankly, he had found work to suit and we would have been fine. My worry would have been for Miss Fiona.”
“Fiona?” Isla looks at me. “I have not liked how Mr. Müller has regarded Mallory. Is that the way you mean?”
“It is, ma’am. I cannot imagine he would touch the lady of the house. He wouldn’t dare. But it still worried me.” She looks at me. “Take care, miss. I know you have been in and out of the house, and you ought to take care around that man.”
“Has there been a problem?” I say. “There are several young maids here. Your daughter was one of them.”
“He does not turn his attention that way. He likes the lasses—ladies—he cannot have. Not that he could have had my Lenore. But that was never a concern. I watch out for all the girls.”
I look at the ring and hair ribbon. “I hate to ask this, ma’am, but given that we found these in Mr. Müller’s cottage, I feel I must. You have concerns about his behavior toward young women, and he seems to have had items belonging to Lenore. Is there any chance of…” I pause to make sure I have the period-appropriate words and tone. “Any chance he interfered with her?”
I watch for dawning horror. But when she shakes her head, the movement is measured and calm. “No. Lenore would have told me. I believe that you are correct that she lost them and then he found them and could not be bothered giving them back. He is a vile man, and I will be glad when he is gone.”
I hand her the ring and hair ribbon. “Please take these and return them. I am glad to hear Lenore was not harmed in any way.” I start to step back and then stop. “Oh, Detective McCreadie had a question about your daughter. When exactly did she leave her position here?”
“The beginning of May.” She sighs. “I hope she will consider coming back, once we are living on the grounds again.”
“Do you know why she quit?” I say, then quickly add, “It will help Detective McCreadie understand the situation here.”
