Page 67 of Marriage and Murder
Everyone murmured agreement.
Henry grimaced. “I need to be at the Hall tomorrow morning to meet with my estate manager, but after that, I’ll come down to the cottage to see what’s transpired.”
Distinctly disgruntled, Mallard said, “I’ll have to remain here in Salisbury, but I’ll tell Price he’s to be the representative of the local force.”
Stokes inclined his head. “If we need to make an arrest, it would be useful to have a local with us.”
Stokes looked around, as did Penelope. Everyone looked ready and willing to proceed with their allotted tasks.
“Right, then.” Stokes pushed away from the table. “It’s time to head back to the inn for us, to Glossup Hall for Henry, and Lavender Cottage for Madeline and Price.”
“Indeed.” Penelope rose. “It’s important we behave as if we’re still no closer to identifying the murderer. The last thing we need is for Ida to decide that her continued good health requires her to go off on a jaunt somewhere.”
The others huffed in agreement, then everyone made their way out of the pub and headed for the carriages.
The following morning, Penelope, Barnaby, and Stokes, traveling in the Adairs’ carriage, arrived in good time at Lavender Cottage. O’Donnell and Morgan rolled up in the police coach soon after, having left the inn a good fifteen minutes ahead of the faster carriage.
As Madeline and Price were ready and waiting to do their parts, the group congregated in the front hall.
After consulting his notebook, Stokes looked at Morgan and Price. “O’Donnell can remain at the cottage while you two go and interview Mrs. Gilroy. We need to know what she left Miss Huntingdon for her lunch on that Thursday. Once you know the answer, report back here.”
“Aye, guv,” Morgan said, and Price nodded.
Stokes glanced at Barnaby, Penelope, and Madeline. “We may as well go together to the rectory, but I suspect we’ll part ways there. Once you’ve finished your interviews, come back here, and we’ll do the same.”
All agreed, and Penelope led the way from the cottage. Madeline fell in beside Penelope as she set a brisk course for the rectory, with Barnaby and Stokes pacing behind.
As they neared the rectory gate, Penelope glanced at Madeline, then looked over her shoulder at Barnaby and Stokes. “We have to remember to elicit information spontaneously. They have to offer it without us prompting.”
“Indeed,” Stokes replied.
Penelope marched up the path to the rectory door and tugged the bell chain. A few moments later, Mrs. Foswell opened thedoor. Her face lit as she took them in. “Good morning, Mrs. Adair. And Madeline, dear, I’m very glad to see you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Foswell.” Madeline glanced at Stokes and Barnaby, waiting behind her. “Inspector Stokes and Mr. Adair were hoping to have a word with Reverend Foswell. Is he in?”
Mrs. Foswell looked past Madeline at Stokes. “Good morning, Inspector. Mr. Adair. My husband’s at the church, setting the hymns for tomorrow’s services. You should find him in the nave.”
“Thank you.” Stokes and Barnaby tipped their heads to the reverend’s wife and turned and walked on to the church.
Madeline and Penelope remained on the stoop, and when Mrs. Foswell’s gaze returned to them, Penelope smiled. “Madeline and I were hoping to have a word with you, Mrs. Foswell. We’re trying to gain a clearer view of Viola’s movements immediately prior to her death.”
“Oh, well.” Mrs. Foswell looked pleased. “Do come in, my dears, and sit, and I’ll happily tell you what I know.”
Once they were comfortably ensconced in armchairs in the neat parlor, Penelope began, “You see, we now know Viola was up at the church shortly after twelve o’clock, and according to your husband, she left and headed back toward her cottage. We need accurate information about where she went once she left the church.” Penelope opened her eyes wide. “We hoped you might know of someone who saw her.”
Mrs. Foswell beamed. “Why, I did, of course. I was in the front garden, such as it is, pulling up weeds when Viola came down from the church.”
“Do you know when that was?” Penelope asked.
Mrs. Foswell paused, then firmly declared, “It must have been almost twelve-thirty.” She eyed Penelope, then said, “I’d seen her go up to the church—striding along very determinedly, she was—at a little after twelve. I was in the garden already,but Viola was so…well, intent on something that she didn’t see me, and I didn’t call out to her. But I was weeding by the gate when she came down, and although she looked rather distracted yet still determined, as if she was thinking furiously about something, I stood up and greeted her.”
Penelope tipped her head. “What did you and she say?”
“After we’d exchanged greetings—and I could see she was torn about getting on—I asked if she’d found what she’d been looking for at the church. I assumed she’d been seeking spiritual support, and she agreed that she’d found what she needed.”
That had been a hiding place.Penelope looked at Madeline and saw the same thought in her eyes.
“And then,” Mrs. Foswell went on, “Viola apologized and said she couldn’t dally, as she had an errand to run before she returned to the cottage.”
