The Complete Ravenscar Trilogy: The Ravenscar Dynasty, Heirs of Ravenscar, Being Elizabeth

Edward leaned across the desk. ‘When did he die?’

‘Tuesday…last night, that is.’

‘Who gave you this news?’

‘Rob Aspen. He came into my office a few minutes ago and said, “Masters is no longer with us, he passed away.” I was just as shocked as you are now. I had a meeting with him on Monday afternoon, but he told me he’d have to cut it short, because he had an unexpected appointment and he had to hurry off. But he was more cordial than usual, which seemed a bit odd to me. Anyway, he left in a hurry. Yesterday I ran into him in the corridor, and although he was somewhat preoccupied he looked in good health, was quite normal.’

‘Did Aspen tell you what Aubrey Masters died of?’

‘He didn’t know.’ Alfredo lifted his hands in a helpless gesture, and added, ‘It must have been a heart attack or a stroke, something like that.’

‘Whatever it was, it was certainly sudden,’ Ned remarked, frowning. ‘And how did Aspen get the news? From whom?’

‘The horse’s mouth, of course. John Summers. Summers is somehow related to Masters, they’re cousins three times removed or some such thing. And as you know they are both related to Henry Grant. Hence their dedication to the Grant cause, and that’s the reason they both work here. Or rather did as far as Masters is concerned.’

‘I’m not going to play the hypocrite and say I’m sorry he’s dead,’ Edward said, ‘because it doesn’t matter to me that he’s left this world. He was, after all, my father’s enemy, and my enemy as well. And frankly, I’ve wondered for the last few days whether or not he was involved with the problems in the mining division—’ Ned broke off, drew even closer to Alfredo Oliveri. ‘You know what I mean, the skimming, or whatever is going on in India, South America and South Africa.’

Alfredo nodded. ‘I agree with you. I had the same thoughts.’

There was a knock on the door, and John Summers came in before Edward could say a word.

Summers hovered in the doorway for a moment, then said, ‘Good morning, gentlemen.’

They both responded in unison, and Edward said, ‘Do come in, Summers.’

As John walked across the office, his eyes on Edward, he said, ‘I suppose you must have heard the terrible news…about Aubrey Masters.’

It was Alfredo who answered when he said quietly, ‘Yes. Rob Aspen came to my office a short while ago and told me, and I have just informed Mr Edward.’

Edward asked, ‘What did Aubrey Masters die of, actually?’

‘We don’t know, as of this moment. His wife telephoned me this morning to inform me of his death. Apparently he came home on Tuesday night and seemed perfectly fit and well. He prepared his own dinner, as usual, his vegetarian dinner, and he ate it alone as always, in his study. About an hour later he staggered out of the study complaining of chest pains. Later he became violently ill. Apparently he was having what Mrs Grant described as convulsions. She had their housekeeper telephone for the doctor, whilst she endeavoured to help her husband. But sadly, to no avail, I’m afraid. The doctor arrived fairly swiftly, only to find that Masters had just passed away.’

‘Perhaps it was a stroke,’ Edward suggested.

‘It’s impossible to know anything now,’ John responded. ‘The doctor arranged for the body to be taken to the hospital, where they are probably doing an autopsy at this very moment.’

‘So we should have some news later today,’ Alfredo said, making a guess.

‘I hope so. In the meantime, I am going to go to their house in Hyde Park Gate, to be with Cousin Mildred. I think I’m about the only family she has, other than her sister. I shall come back to the office as soon as her sister arrives from Gloucestershire.’

All of these last few comments had been directed at Alfredo, who said, ‘Yes, of course, and would you like me to have Rob Aspen cover for Aubrey—’ He cut himself off, then said, ‘Deal with anything Masters was working on.’

‘Yes, that will be all right, a good idea actually, Oliveri,’ John replied. ‘Under your supervision, of course. And by the way, I think perhaps you should postpone your return to Italy. For the moment.’

Later that day, Edward had a short meeting with Neville at Neville’s office in the Haymarket. Will Hasling and Johnny Watkins accompanied Edward, and the four men sat together in the vast board room, discussing the death of Aubrey Masters.

‘A very sudden death such as his can be any one of a number of things,’ Johnny pointed out. ‘The obvious things are natural causes such as a heart attack, a massive stroke, a brain haemorrhage, or the ingestion of something poisonous.’

‘Talking of poison, he does eat a number of very weird things,’ Edward said. ‘He could have eaten some sort of poisonous mushrooms, for example. Don’t you remember when we were children, one of the stable boys at Ravenscar ate toadstools and was violently ill. Luckily for him he only ate one, that’s why he recovered.’

‘His name was Sammy Belter, I remember him well,’ Johnny replied, and grimaced. ‘The poor lad was horribly sick.’

‘Didn’t Amos say Masters ate pods and seeds, all sorts of strange roots and such?’ Edward now asked Neville.

His cousin nodded. ‘He did indeed, and perhaps Aubrey Masters ate something that killed him. On the other hand, he could have had a stroke or a heart attack. Look, we’re just speculating right now. A waste of time. We’ll know soon enough what he died from. What else did Summers have to say?’ he asked, changing the subject swiftly.

‘That he was going to be with Mildred Masters until her sister arrived from Gloucestershire, that the body had been taken for an autopsy. He also told Oliveri to have Aspen work on Masters’s various tasks, under Oliveri’s supervision.’ Edward leaned back in the leather chair, and said with a wide smile, ‘And he made a point of telling Oliveri that he should remain in London for the time being.’

‘That’s good to know!’ Will exclaimed.

‘Isn’t it just,’ Johnny cut in with a laugh.

‘How long does it take to get the results of an autopsy, Neville?’ Edward now asked quietly.

‘Do you know, I’ve absolutely no idea,’ Neville answered. ‘A couple of days, perhaps? Unless one knows the pathologist involved. And in this instance we don’t.’

‘So what you’re saying is we’ll just have to wait,’ Will interjected.

‘That’s right,’ Neville replied, ‘and how he died doesn’t really matter to us, does it? In the meantime, I just want to say that I for one will not be sending any condolences to the grieving widow, if indeed she is grieving. Finnister led me to believe there was an estrangement in that marriage.’

‘And I won’t be offering any sympathetic words either,’ Edward announced in a sharp voice. ‘In view of the fact that we never received any condolences when our fathers and brothers were murdered in Carrara, Neville.’

‘Now, gentlemen, shall we repair to my club for a few drinks before dinner?’ Neville suggested. ‘I think it might be rather nice to raise a glass to each other, under the circumstances.’ Neville shook his head, then remarked, ‘It’s a pity Oliveri’s not here.’

‘It is rather, I agree,’ Edward murmured. ‘But his mother is in hospital and he wanted to go and visit her. However, we can toast him, can’t we? After all, it looks as if he might well inherit Masters’s job.’

‘Indeed he might,’ Will agreed. ‘Let’s face it, this sudden death might very well play in our favour.’

At seven o’clock that same evening, Edward arrived at Lily’s house in Belsize Park Gardens. As he alighted from Neville’s carriage he said to Will and Johnny, ‘Enjoy your dinner, and come back around ten o’clock, please. Is that all right, chaps?’

Johnny grinned at his cousin, and saluted. ‘Yours to command, sire.’

Edward laughed as he went up the steps to the front door. It was Lily who answered his knock, not the housekeeper, and she opened the door wider, her smile radiant. ‘I’m so glad you were able to come tonight, Ned. I must admit, I’ve missed you.’

As the door closed behind them he took off his overcoat, chuckled and shot back, ‘I saw you on Saturday afternoon for tea, at Vicky’s for goodness sake!’

‘But we weren’t alone,’ she reminded him in a low voice; slipping her arm through his she led him into the drawing room. ‘Would you like to have a whisky?’

Ned shook his head. ‘No, thanks anyway. I had several at Neville’s club earlier.’

As usual he went and stood in front of the fire with his back to it, looking across at her. She had seated herself on the sofa, and he couldn’t help thinking how lovely she looked in the pale blue silk gown with pearls on her neck and ears. He wished he had money so that he could buy her a gift.

‘You’re looking rather pensive, darling. Is something wrong?’

‘No, Lily, nothing’s wrong now that I’m here with you. I was just looking at you and thinking how beautiful you are, and wishing I had some money so that I could buy you diamonds and emeralds, cover you in jewels.’

Shaking her head, giving him an indulgent look, Lily laughed. ‘Don’t be so silly, you don’t have to buy me anything! I have everything I could possibly want.’ She patted the sofa and said, ‘Come and sit down, tell me about your day.’