Penelope narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t jinx us.”
Stokes looked at Findlay. “Anything more you can tell us?”
“Well.” Findlay held up the stake. “I can’t see any more of these lying around, and if you look closely, there’s a numberpainted on this end”—he offered the end he’d been holding, not the end used to crack a skull—“a good long while ago. Reddish paint, number thirty-five.”
Barnaby moved with Penelope and Stokes to peer at the number on the stake.
“What could that mean?” Penelope asked.
“I suggest you ask the gardeners,” Findlay said. “They might be able to tell you where this came from.”
“And that,” Stokes said, “might tell us where the murderer was before he set off to follow Underhill with murderous intent.”
Findlay nodded. “Exactly.”
Sir Henry, who had been a silent observer throughout, shifted nervously. When the others looked his way, he grimaced faintly. “I fear the natives will be growing restless.”
Penelope inclined her head. “Indeed. You’re right.” She looked at Stokes. “We need to return to the house and do what we can to reassure the company.”
Stokes nodded and turned to Findlay. A discussion ensued over who got to keep the stake, but in the end, Stokes prevailed, and Findlay grudgingly cleaned off the gory end and kept the rag as evidence.
Satisfied, Stokes handed the stake to O’Donnell and ordered Walsh and the footman to help Findlay move the body to the police wagon.
“Once I get the body to the morgue, I’ll send the wagon back.” Findlay nodded to Sir Henry, Richard, Barnaby, and Penelope. “I’ll send word if my detailed examination turns up anything new that might prove useful.”
Stokes thanked him, then waved Sir Henry, Barnaby, Penelope, and Richard toward the house. Stokes joined the group, and O’Donnell and Morgan followed.
As they crossed the wide sweep of lawn, Stokes said to Sir Henry, “It would help, Sir Henry, if you could share with us what you know of the Underhills.”
Sir Henry obliged, painting a picture of a family well established in the county, but not as connected with local society as might be supposed. “Her ladyship is a bit high in the instep, if you know what I mean. She doesn’t spend much time playing gracious lady of the local manor. Against that, Monty was always a genial chap. He and his son ride with the local hunt—they have quite decent kennels and stables here—and you were likely to bump into Monty at the local markets and occasionally at the local inn. He kept in touch with the farmers—well, he had to, given the number of tenant farms and the acres and fields within the estate.”
“It’s quite large, I gather,” Barnaby said.
Sir Henry confirmed, “It’s a significant holding in these parts.”
“And Underhill managed those farms and acres?” Stokes asked.
“Indeed, he did. Well,” Sir Henry explained, “it’s not something a lady can do, is it?”
“Speaking of that,” Penelope said, “it’s widely known among the ton that Lady Pamela and Monty’s marriage was arranged as one of simple convenience.” She looked at Sir Henry. “From what you saw of them, did they get along well?”
Sir Henry frowned, then said, “They were contrasts in character and personality, certainly, but strange to tell, they actually seemed to rub along well. Very…undramatically. No fuss, just got on with it.” He shrugged. “It seemed to work.”
They reached the forecourt and stepped onto the gravel.
When they arrived at the porch steps, Sir Henry halted. He looked at the maw beyond the house’s open door, then faced Richard, Barnaby, Penelope, and Stokes. “Inspector, I see noreason to intervene in your investigation. I’m happy to leave this case in your hands.”
His expression impassive, Stokes inclined his head. “Thank you, Sir Henry.”
As if released from some burden, Sir Henry smiled and rapidly made his farewells. With a last cheery wave, he strode off, making for the stable around the corner of the house.
Stokes, Barnaby, Penelope, and Richard watched him go.
Stokes ventured, “I take it he didn’t want to tangle with Lady Pamela and her guests.”
Richard snorted. “And who can blame him?”
Penelope threw him a disapproving glance and led the way inside.
