Beth moved closer to Moira. “What do you mean?”
Moira’s fingers plucked fretfully at the lace on the sheet. “Harry asked me to meet him at the beach that afternoon. I thought about going, but changed my mind. I’d been invited to a wedding in Inverness. I couldn’t join Harry and get to the reception on time. If I’d gone…” She shuddered. “I might have been murdered, too.”
13
Moira!” Beth cried. “Why would anyone want to kill you? Or Harry, for that matter?”
“Don’t be naïve,” Moira retorted. “You know about the power struggle at Blackwell, especially now that Morton’s come back.” She looked again at Judith. “I’m sorry. You’re a stranger, so you have no idea what’s been happening. But it’s hardly a secret. We’ve had the media in the UK give us a great deal of negative coverage.”
Beth was nodding. “Will complains about how ugly it’s gotten. His own position is precarious. The press has hounded him mercilessly about the company’s financial status. He won’t discuss it, of course. After all, it’s a privately held company.”
Judith looked apologetic. “I’m ignorant of big business. I was a librarian before I started my B&B.”
Moira grimaced. “I wish I’d never inherited Blackwell.”
Beth sat down on a tufted satin-covered chair. “You don’t mean that. Neither you nor your mum wanted Jimmy in charge.”
Moira’s color began to rise. “We certainly didn’t want Morton. Why didn’t he stay in Greece? Why did he come back now?”
“That,” Beth said, “is a good question. When did he get here?”
Judith felt like an interloper. She edged toward a divan a few feet from the bed and sat down. It seemed that the two women had forgotten she was in the room.
Beth, however, appeared to have read Judith’s mind. “Oh, Mrs. Flynn, this must be so tiresome for you. Let’s get Moira up and take her out into the garden. We can have some tea or a cool drink.” She shot her friend a sharp look. “What have you eaten today?”
“Nothing,” Moira replied. “I couldn’t possibly keep anything down. I’m very queasy.”
“Nonsense!” Beth snapped. “You can eat toast. Or porridge. I’ll have Elise fetch you something. Come, you must get dressed.”
But Moira was adamant. “No. I’ll try to drink some tea.”
Beth looked disgusted. “Frankly, you…” She clamped her lips shut. “I’ll speak to Elise.”
Beth left the boudoir. Judith had been studying Moira. Except for her pale, porcelain-like skin and the dark shadows under her eyes, the newly made widow didn’t have the appearance of someone in misery. Certainly she’d been in good health and satisfactory spirits the previous day.
Judith dared to risk a question: “Are you taking medication?”
“A liquid digestive aid,” Moira answered. “Aspirin for headache.”
“No prescription drugs?”
“No.” Moira frowned. “Dr. Carmichael is strict about prescribing them. He’s very old-fashioned. He wouldn’t renew my tranquilizers.” She began plucking at the sheets again. “What’s taking Beth so long?”
“Maybe she couldn’t find Elise,” Judith suggested.
“Elise wouldn’t leave her post in the sitting room. I might need her at any moment.” Moira gave a start. “I hear voices. Who is it?”
Judith listened but couldn’t hear anything.
“They’re outside,” Moira said. “Look out the window. But don’t part the drapes and don’t open the casement.”
“I don’t have X-ray vision,” Judith said, getting up and crossing the room to the two tall windows. “You should’ve hired Superman.”
“Ohhh…” Moira wadded up the sheet in her fists. “Just see what’s happening. I can’t endure a disturbance.”
Judith peeked between the drapes. The boudoir opened onto a balcony overlooking the front of the house. She slipped through the door between the two windows. Directly below she saw a parked car that hadn’t been there earlier. A male and a female voice sounded as if they were arguing. A moment later, Jimmy moved into Judith’s line of sight.
“Just tell her I’ll be back when I’m able,” he said impatiently.
“She needs you,” the female voice called. “Don’t be so selfish!”
Judith saw Beth step out into the drive. Jimmy kept going, long strides taking him to the car that was parked behind the Daimler. Without looking back, he got in and started the engine. Beth ran up the stairs and disappeared under the overhang.
“Your brother is going away,” Judith said, closing the balcony door.
Moira sat up. “What do you mean?”
“Ask Beth.” Judith sat down again. “She tried to stop him.”
“Why was he here again?” Moira’s voice was shrill. “Why didn’t he come to see me? Where’s Beth?”
“Probably bringing your tea,” Judith said.
Moira sank back onto the pillows and covered her eyes with the back of her hand. “Go find her. Get Elise. I’m in pain.”
And I’m in a pickle, Judith thought. She wished Renie had come along. Her cousin would have some sharp words for Moira. It wasn’t in Judith’s nature to be rude, but her patience was wearing thin.
“I have an artificial hip,” Judith said calmly. “It’s not easy for me to go up and down stairs. Don’t you have an intercom or some way you can contact your servants?”
“It doesn’t always work properly,” Moira said in a sulky voice.
“Where is your pain?”
Moira grimaced and rubbed the right side of her abdomen. “Here. Why would anyone want to kill me?”
“Would it have something to do with your petroleum company?”
“People don’t kill people over business issues.” Moira bit her lower lip. “Or do they?”
“It’s been known to happen.”
“Maybe in the States,” Moira said. “Certainly not in Scotland.” She sat up again. “Where is Beth? Where is Elise?”
“I don’t know!” Judith snapped. “What can I do for you that doesn’t require searching all over this very large house?”
“Nothing.” Moira avoided Judith’s gaze. “Why did you come?”
“Beth asked me,” Judith replied. “She knew we’d met.”
Moira slowly turned to look at Judith again. “You told her you were here yesterday?”
“Of course.”
“Did you tell her anything else?”
“Such as how chipper you seemed? No. I tend to be discreet.”
Relief swept over Moira’s face. “Thank you. Harry’s death hadn’t sunk in yet. My emotional responses are often delayed.”
“That happens. I knew you weren’t feeling well enough to attend Mass at the castle,” Judith added innocently.
“I couldn’t face seeing where Harry died,” Moira said. “Or his grandparents. Too, too difficult.”
That was possible, Judith thought, but it didn’t explain Moira’s vivacity with Patrick the previous day. Before Judith could speak, Beth entered the bedroom. She was out of breath and looking annoyed.
“Those press people followed us to Hollywood,” she announced. “They’re trying to climb over the fence.”
“Call the police!” Moira cried. “Those predators must be stopped!”
“The police are on their way,” Beth replied. “That detective phoned a few minutes ago to say that he was coming to interview you again.”
“No!” Moira pressed a hand to her breast. “Send him away!”
“I can’t,” Beth asserted. “Don’t you want to help the police find who killed Harry? And who may have wanted to kill you, too?”
“Why is Jimmy going away?” Moira demanded.
Beth sat on the edge of the bed. “Jimmy’s off to Paris. He didn’t have time to see you because he was afraid he’d miss his flight.”
“Was Angie with him?” Moira asked.