‘How come?’
‘Francis Palladino never recovered from the shock of finding Shenagh’s corpse. Within a year, he was dead too. Officially, double pneumonia, but anyone with a trace of romance would say he died of a broken heart.’
‘Murder is like that.’ Daniel glanced at Louise. His sister’s former lover had been killed shortly after she’d moved up to the Lakes. ‘One death creates countless ripples. It isn’t just the victim. So many lives are changed forever.’
‘I suppose so.’ Jeffrey considered. ‘Though the callous might say that every cloud has a silver lining. Take Oz and Melody Knight. They were set on buying Ravenbank Hall, and after Francis died, their dream came true. Not that they would have wished him any harm, needless to say.’
‘Jeffrey! I can spot that mischievous gleam a mile off. You’re not being bitchy about anyone, are you?’
The mellifluous Irish accent belonged to Alex Quinlan, who had been sharing a table with Louise Kind and Melody Knight. A svelte figure in a purple shirt and white trousers, he shimmied towards them, sinuous as a dancer.
Jeffrey stroked Quin’s cheek. ‘Bitchy, moi?’
‘You’ll be telling me next that butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth.’
‘Don’t listen to him, Daniel. I’m always well behaved.’
‘Not always, love.’
The people at the next table were leaving, and Louise and Melody came to join them. Melody was probably in her thirties, but her skin was so flawless, it was hard to tell. Her lovely face made Daniel think of a screensaver; you could only guess what hid behind the surface.
‘Daniel, such a treat to meet you in person! And thank you for giving such a wonderful talk.’ She shook his hand. ‘I was telling your sister, I used to work pretty much full-time in the business, setting up events like today’s. But recently Oz took on someone else, to give me more time to pursue my secret passion.’
‘Which is?’
‘The same as yours!’ A full-wattage smile, blinding in its intensity. ‘I love to write, and I’ve started freelancing, covering the conference for Cumbria World. I’ve been dying to talk to you. Any chance you’d let me interview you about your new book about the history of murder?’
‘The Hell Within? Publication isn’t due until next year.’
‘So much the better — I can get in first! What do you say?’
Before he could answer, Jeffrey butted in. ‘I’ve taken the liberty of inviting Daniel and Louise to your Hallowe’en party. Hope that’s all right?’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘You’ve been telling Daniel about the Frozen Shroud, I suppose?’
‘It’s an extraordinary story. Poor old Gertrude, eh?’
Quin said quickly, ‘Not forgetting poor old Shenagh.’
‘Yes, Jeffrey was telling me about her,’ Daniel said.
‘Oh yes?’ Quin’s eyes narrowed. ‘She came from Penrith Valley in Australia, a world away from our own Penrith. A beautiful extrovert, Shenagh. She loved life, she was full of fun. Did Jeffrey mention that, by any chance?’
‘Well, I gather she wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea?’
‘No,’ Quin said. ‘She certainly wasn’t.’
Melody compressed her lips. ‘I suppose with a murder victim, that’s stating the obvious.’
Jeffrey’s brow knitted, but when he spoke, his tone was breezy. ‘Anyway, there’s no better place to be in the Lakes on Hallowe’en than Ravenbank. You’ll find Oz and Melody are fabulous hosts.’
‘You’re too kind.’ Melody seemed glad he’d changed the subject. ‘At least there will be no kids making a nuisance of themselves, just plenty to eat and drink, good company, and an outside chance of seeing a phantom housemaid. In fact, Jeffrey, you read my mind. I’d just mentioned the party to Louise. Please say you’ll both come.’
Daniel glanced at his sister, who gave a quick nod.
‘Thanks, we’d love to.’
‘Perfect! Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s nothing glitzy. A few neighbours, and a handful of people we know through work. Strictly no celebs — you’ll be the one and only exception! It’s not so long since you were a fixture on the television screen, is it? I never missed one of your programmes.’
‘Those days are long gone,’ he said. ‘I concentrate on writing now.’
‘I’ve always dreamt of publishing a book of my own. But I’m just a beginner.’ She smiled again. ‘Do bring your partners along tomorrow night, both of you.’
‘I’m single at the moment,’ Louise said.
‘Me too,’ Daniel said. ‘So it’ll just be the two of us.’
‘Fine, like I say, you won’t be overwhelmed with loads of people you don’t know. We organise so many events, we like to keep our private parties quite — intimate. By the way, Jeffrey,’ Melody turned to him, ‘did you mention the masks?’
He shook his head, and she threw another smile at the Kinds. ‘This is the third time we’ve held a party at this time of year, and we’ve developed a little tradition of our own. Lots of people come in Hallowe’en themed fancy dress, and that’s fantastic. But what we do hope is that every guest will at least wear a mask.’
‘What sort of mask?’ Louise asked.
‘Oh, a ghost, a vampire, a creature from myth and legend, whatever takes your fancy. It all adds to the atmosphere, Hallowe’en is such a special night. Especially in Ravenbank.’ Her eyes gleamed with mischief. ‘It seems only right that none of us should wear our own face.’
Fastening her seat belt in the car, Louise said, ‘You could invite Hannah Scarlett to the party. Why do you keep shutting her out of your life?’
Daniel switched on the engine. ‘Hey, you’re not in court now.’
‘I’m not a bloody trial lawyer, don’t muddy the waters. It’s obvious, I’m cramping your style. If I haven’t moved into a place of my own by Christmas, I’ll rent somewhere, get out from under your feet.’
‘You’re not cramping anything. Honest.’ He patted her knee. ‘Stay at the cottage as long as you like.’
‘I can’t fault you for generosity, but life in Brackdale is too comfortable, for both of us. You need to get out more. Whether or not with Hannah, that’s up to you.’
He groaned. ‘You know something? You’re starting to sound like Mum.’
Not so long ago, the jibe would have provoked anger. Instead, Louise laughed. He was glad; she was loosening up at last.
‘Oh God. Perhaps that’s every woman’s fate. To finish up talking and acting like their mother.’
‘There are worse fates. You’re wrong about Hannah, anyway. She’s shut me out, not the other way around.’
‘You’re imagining it. Trust me, Daniel. For a smart guy, you’re really not that smart when it comes to women.’
‘After I last met Hannah for a drink, I rang a couple of times, and left voicemail messages. Sent her an email. She did reply in the end, very brief. Said she was up to her eyes with a couple of cases, and she’d get back in touch soon. That was five weeks ago.’
Five weeks, two days, in fact. Not that he’d been counting.
‘She’s a senior police officer. Her life isn’t her own.’
‘I’m not complaining. Hannah and I are still mates, always will be.’
‘You fancy her like mad, I can tell.’
‘She needs space. Don’t forget, she’s had a rough year. Splitting up with Marc, finding that mutilated body on the farm. Horrible.’
‘Don’t be so bloody altruistic. You’d do her good. A lot more good than Marc Amos, for sure. For all I know, he still nurses the fantasy she might take him back one day. As if. She’ll never forget what he got up to with that girl who worked for him.’
Louise’s last lover had also been a philanderer. She was determined to scrub him out of her memory, and his name was never mentioned. Marc Amos was a dummy target for the scorn she felt for the man who had hurt her.
He knew better than to argue with her. You could never win. He manoeuvred the car down the narrow passage leading out of the car park, a task complicated by defunct bulbs in several of the lamps fixed on the pub wall. Suddenly, he braked, before putting his foot down after a few seconds, so that the car shot forward and out into the lane.