Death in Kensington (Augusta Peel 1920s Mysteries Book 8), page 8
‘Thank you, Miss Harper. I’d like to find out who he is.’
Chapter 23
Back at the shop, Augusta found Fred and Harriet chatting by Sparky’s cage.
‘Hello Augusta,’ said Fred. ‘Sparky has just treated us to a song.’
‘That’s very nice of him.’
‘It was lovely,’ said Harriet.
Augusta noticed her shopping bag looked full. ‘Has Fred sold you more books?’
‘Yes he has.’ Harriet grinned. ‘And I’ve got Pickwick Papers to be getting on with.’
‘I hope you enjoy it.’
‘I should get on with things. It was nice to see you again, Fred. Bye!’
‘Goodbye Harriet.’ He smiled as he watched her leave.
‘It seems Harriet is becoming quite a regular customer,’ said Augusta. ‘I wonder why?’
‘We sell a lot of good books,’ said Fred.
‘Is that the only reason?’
Fred turned bashful. ‘Of course. Oh look, here’s Lady Hereford.’ He seemed relieved about the interruption.
‘Thank goodness they’ve let her go!’ said Lady Hereford, as her nurse wheeled her bath chair into the shop. ‘Daphne’s at home now with her mother. Where she belongs.’
‘That’s excellent news,’ said Augusta. ‘How is she?’
‘Quite fed up about her ordeal. But she’s fit and well and she’ll recover. Hopefully the police can get on with arresting the right person now. Thank you for all your help, Augusta.’
‘I’m not sure that I’ve done very much. I’ve spoken to a few people, but I don’t think Detective Sergeant Joyce’s decision was influenced by anything I did.’
‘Oh, you really do talk yourself down, Augusta.’
‘I’d like to speak to Daphne again though. Do you think she would be happy about that?’
‘Probably not. But only because she enjoys feeling sorry for herself. What do you need to speak to her about?’
‘I’ve learned there was a young man loitering outside Holland Park Rink before the show. He seemed to know Lola. I’d like to find out if Daphne knows anything about him.’
‘A young man loitering about? Sounds very suspicious to me. Hopefully Daphne can help. She’s at home with my niece, Isabella. They live on Richmond Hill.’
‘In Richmond?’
‘Where else? Number one hundred and ten. Call on them whenever you’re free to do so, Augusta. Hopefully Daphne will be helpful. It’s in her interest! She won’t want to be arrested again.’
The Chatsworth family home was a large, gold-brick townhouse with double bay windows and a grand cream stuccoed porch.
It was a twenty-minute walk uphill from the train station and Augusta regretted not taking the bus. She had been too impatient to wait for one.
At the top of the hill, the Chatsworth home overlooked parkland sloping down to the winding River Thames. Augusta paused to take in the idyllic view before calling at the house.
‘How nice to see you again, Mrs Peel,’ said Isabella Chatsworth. ‘And thank you for asking the police to let Daphne go. It’s been such a terrible time for us.’
‘That’s quite alright.’ Augusta smiled and felt there was little use in trying to explain she hadn’t done much. If the Chatsworth family were grateful to her, then she would make the most of it.
Daphne Chatsworth sat in a sitting room with tall windows overlooking the garden. The room was tastefully furnished, and a large vase of white lilies filled the room with their fragrance.
Daphne looked a little better than when Augusta had seen her in the police station. She had waved her hair and wore a peach dress with a white collar and a row of pearly white buttons down the front.
‘Everything’s been so terrible,’ she said. ‘I never imagined I’d get caught up in something like this. Just a week ago, I was perfectly happy and everything was normal.’
‘Oh how I long for those days again!’ added her mother.
A maid served them tea in dainty china cups. The china was so delicate, it was almost translucent.
‘Then that awful event happened and everything changed,’ said Daphne. ‘I can’t believe I was kept in a police cell! They shouldn’t be allowed to do it.’
‘No they shouldn’t,’ said Mrs Chatsworth. ‘Police cells should be reserved for drunkards and people of the criminal class. Not young women!’
‘It’s not pleasant,’ said Augusta.
‘It’s cruel!’
‘Indeed.’ She took a sip of tea and moved the conversation on. ‘I spoke to Sylvia Harper yesterday,’ she said. ‘And she told me about a young man who was hanging about before the show. Apparently he greeted Lola on her way in but she ignored him.’
‘Oh, you mustn’t believe anything Sylvia says,’ said Daphne.
‘Why not?’
‘Because she’s attention-seeking. She says things for effect.’
‘Oh? She seemed quite honest to me.’
‘Well she’s not.’
‘I see. Do you remember seeing the young man when you arrived at the show? Sylvia told me he was leaning against the railings.’
‘No. I didn’t see him.’
‘Do you know who he could have been?’
‘No idea.’
‘Do you know if Lola had a boyfriend?’
Daphne paused for a moment, as if giving this a lot of thought. Then she cleared her throat. ‘There was someone called Eddie, I think.’
‘Did you meet him?’
‘I didn’t actually meet him. But I saw her with him once or twice.’
‘What did he look like?’
‘I can’t really remember. Quite thin. Tall.’
‘How old was he?’
‘I don’t know. Twenty-something.’
‘Do you know anything more about him?’
‘No, nothing.’
‘Do you know anyone who might?’
‘You could ask Lola’s flatmate, I suppose. She might know.’
‘Do you know her flatmate’s name?’
‘No.’
Chapter 24
‘Oh, I just want to be left alone!’ said Daphne after Mrs Peel had left.
‘She’s a nice lady. She helped you,’ said her mother. She perched on the arm of Daphne’s chair and affectionately smoothed her hair. It felt irritating. Daphne shook her head free.
‘I know she helped me and I’m grateful. But I’m tired of having to think about it and talk about it.’
‘Hopefully you won’t anymore. It sounds like that young man had something to do with it.’
‘Eddie? Maybe. But I don’t remember seeing him at the show. And how would he have got into the changing rooms?’
‘He must have sneaked in while no one was looking.’
‘While the show was on?’
‘Yes. When else?’
Daphne considered this some more. ‘And he could have hidden in there, couldn’t he?’
‘From what you’ve told me, it was very cluttered in there with lots of clothes and cases and so on.’
‘I suppose it makes sense. Lola probably ended it with him and he was angry about it.’
‘So he sought revenge.’
‘How horrible!’
‘I’m afraid we live in a horrible world, darling. That’s why I’m pleased you’re safe here at home with me.’ She patted Daphne’s arm and got to her feet. ‘I don’t want you doing work as a model anymore. It’s too dangerous.’
Daphne felt a twinge of indignation. ‘No, it’s not! This happened because Lola’s boyfriend attacked her. That’s nothing to do with being a model. I don’t want to stop working for Miss Kingsley!’ She liked the clothes too much. And she enjoyed looking beautiful and receiving attention. Fascinating, handsome people took an interest in her these days. ‘I won’t stop it,’ she added.
‘Well, I shall have to see what your father thinks about it all. If he forbids it, then you must do as he says. And if you’re sure this boy called Eddie is the murderer, then you must tell the police about it. It’s not fair that you were the one locked in a police cell while he’s wandering about as free as a bird.’
‘Can’t you telephone the police, Mother? I can’t bring myself to speak to them ever again.’
Chapter 25
Augusta walked back down the hill and found the Richmond-upon-Thames post office. It was a grand red-brick building with a stone-carved coat of arms above the doorway. She used the public telephone inside the post office to telephone Detective Sergeant Joyce.
‘Eddie?’ he said after she had told him about her conversation with Daphne. ‘Do you know his surname?’
‘No. But I’m hoping Miss Parker’s former flatmate might know.’
‘Ah, yes. Mabel Roberts.’
‘Have you spoken to her?’
‘Yes, but she didn’t mention a young man called Eddie. If you could find out more from her, Mrs Peel, I would be grateful.’ He gave her an address in the Bourne Estate in Holborn.
It was early evening when Augusta arrived at Lola’s former flat. The Bourne Estate was a large complex of modern apartments which had been built for workers. The contrast with the homes Daphne and Sylvia lived in was startling.
There were six or seven blocks, and it took Augusta a while to find the address. Eventually she called at the door of the fourth floor flat.
Mabel Roberts looked reassuringly ordinary when she opened the door. She wore a blue cotton dress and her wavy hair looked a little unkempt, as if it had been neglected during a day at work. She looked like a shop girl or a waitress.
‘Come in,’ she beckoned Augusta through a narrow hallway and into a small, comfortable sitting room. She listened intently as Augusta explained who she was and why she was there. And she accepted Augusta’s condolences with a grateful nod.
‘I still can’t believe Lola’s gone,’ she said.
‘How long were you friends for?’
‘About three years. We worked at Goldings together.’
‘Goldings?’
‘You don’t know it? Sorry, I should have explained. It’s a stationer’s on Gray’s Inn Road. We supply a lot of the law offices.’
Augusta knew Gray’s Inn was close by. It was one of the four inns of court for barristers.
‘Lola left Goldings when she went to work for Miss Kingsley?’
‘That’s right. That was about six months ago.’
Mabel sat forward in her chair, keenly engaging in the conversation. Augusta could tell she was eager to help. She hoped this meant Mabel was truthful, too.
‘Did Lola enjoy her work for Miss Kingsley?’ she asked.
‘Some of the time. She loved wearing the clothes. And who wouldn’t?’ She smiled. ‘She liked having her hair and makeup done, and she was proud of the photographs they took of her. I was a bit jealous, to be honest with you. It looks lovely getting dressed up like that and being paid for it. But there’s no chance of me getting a job like that!’ She laughed.
‘I think you’re being unkind to yourself,’ said Augusta.
Mabel laughed again. ‘She was tall, thin and very beautiful. And I’m the complete opposite!’
‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Isn’t that how the saying goes?’
‘I suppose so. But Lola was very beautiful. When I saw the photographs they took of her, I told her she looked like a proper lady!’
‘Do you know much about Lola’s family?’
‘She didn’t really have any. She didn’t know who her father was, and her mother died about five years ago.’
‘So Lola relied on her salary from the shop to get by?’ asked Augusta.
‘Yes. But she earned a lot of money when she began working as a model for Miss Kingsley.’
‘Really?’ Augusta recalled Lady Hereford’s niece mentioning Miss Kingsley paid her models five pounds a week. She imagined Mabel Roberts’ salary was similar.
‘Yes, she bought herself lots of fancy things with it. New outfits and trinkets for her room.’ She paused and compressed her lips. ‘I miss her.’ She took a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her eyes. ‘She was a good friend.’
Augusta waited while she composed herself again.
‘Thank you for talking to me about Lola,’ she said. ‘I realise this isn’t easy. I never met Lola, but from what you tell me about her, she seems to have been an ordinary girl. Many of Miss Kingsley’s models are from aristocratic families. Did Lola ever mention that?’
‘Yes, she told me they were all posh. I think she had a few snobby comments from them.’
‘Did that upset her?’
‘Yes. But I think she tried to ignore it the best she could. In fact, she tried to change her ways a bit.’ Mabel gave a little laugh. ‘She put on airs and graces that she hadn’t done before. I laughed at her for it, and she saw the funny side too. She behaved like that because she wanted to be like the other girls. She never felt like she fitted in with them all.’
‘Do you know who Eddie is?’ asked Augusta.
Mabel rolled her eyes. ‘He was Lola’s boyfriend for a bit.’
‘The relationship was over at the time of her death?’
‘Yes, it had been over a few months by then.’
‘What did you think of him?’
‘I didn’t like him much. He wanted to have too much control over her. Always wanting to know where she was going and who she was with. She got fed up with him.’
‘She ended it?’
‘Yes. He took it badly.’
‘What did he do?’
‘He kept coming round here all the time! He was a nuisance.’ It made sense to Augusta why he had been hanging about outside the fashion show. He had wanted to speak to Lola, and it seemed she had done her best to ignore him.
‘Do you know his surname?’ Augusta asked.
‘Miller. He wanted to get back with her again. But that was never going to happen because I think there was another boyfriend. But she was all secretive about him.’
‘What makes you think there was another boyfriend?’
‘She would get all dressed up and go out for the evening. Sometimes she would tell me who she was going out with, and sometimes she would just give a coy smile and tell me not to wait up for her.’
‘Why do you think she was secretive?’
‘Maybe she was seeing someone who was married. Although she did say Eddie would be angry if she ever had another boyfriend.’
‘She worried about that?’
‘Yes, I think she did. She once said to me, “If I meet someone else, Eddie must never find out. He’ll be furious about it.”’
Augusta already felt a strong dislike for Eddie Miller. ‘Was Lola scared of him?’
‘Maybe a little bit. She just didn’t want any trouble from him.’
‘Does he have a job?’
‘Yes, he works at the new Lyons factory out at Greenford.’
‘I know the one you mean.’ It was a vast, modern factory which produced tea and coffee. ‘Perhaps I shall call on him there.’
Mabel blew out a sigh. ‘Good luck, Mrs Peel. He’s a strange fellow.’
Chapter 26
Augusta telephoned Detective Sergeant Joyce the following morning and told him about Eddie Miller.
‘I’m surprised Mabel Roberts didn’t tell me about him when I spoke to her. I asked her if Lola had a boyfriend.’
‘Eddie is a former boyfriend.’
‘I suppose that explains it then. It’s important to be thorough in the wording of your questions, isn’t it? It sounds like a trip to Lyon’s in Greenford is in order. Would you like to accompany me, Mrs Peel?’
Augusta replied that she would. An hour later, they boarded the train together at Paddington railway station.
‘Thank you for your help so far, Mrs Peel,’ said Detective Sergeant Joyce as he settled into his seat. ‘I’ll make sure you’re reimbursed for your work.’
‘I’m not doing this for the money,’ she said. ‘Lady Hereford asked me to help.’
‘And you’re a great help. You have a knack for extracting information from people. It must be the woman’s touch. It’s a shame the Yard can’t employ you as a detective.’
‘I prefer running my bookshop.’
He smiled. ‘I think you like the excitement of each case as well.’
‘Yes, I suppose I do. It keeps my mind active.’
The train pulled out of the station and began making its way through drizzly west London.
‘I was wary of you when I first met you, Mrs Peel. Probably because I didn’t quite understand you. I couldn’t fathom why a lady who sold and repaired books was also a detective. And I was also confused about your relationship with Mr Fisher.’
‘That’s understandable.’
‘But you appear to be someone who loves books and also has a good mind for solving cases. And you and Mr Fisher worked together during the war.’
‘We shared many experiences,’ said Augusta. ‘Good and bad.’
‘I can imagine,’ said Detective Sergeant Joyce. ‘I wish I’d been able to do more for the war effort.’
‘You were a young police constable, and you were needed here in London.’
‘That’s one way of looking at it.’ He turned to the window where the suburbs rolled past. ‘I would like an opportunity to prove myself. Everyone who served in the war was given that challenge. And many paid the ultimate price. I’m lucky and I’ve been given this opportunity by my father. But the fact he’s the commissioner means my colleagues don’t always take me seriously.’
Augusta was reminded of the commissioner replacing Philip with his son. It had angered her enormously at the time. ‘I suppose most people are used to you by now though, aren’t they?’ she said.
‘I suppose so. It’s not easy work, and there are many things which keep me awake at night when I’m working on a difficult case. But hopefully my colleagues are realising I can do the job. Plenty of them wanted me to fail.’
‘Well, you’ve proved them wrong.’
As the train pulled into Greenford, Augusta saw the vast Lyons factory stretching out to her right. The factory occupied a section of land between the canal and the railway line and was a modern building of smart red brick with rows of grey pitched roofs.
