‘And Cedric, you’re coming with me, aren’t you, dear boy?’ he added.
Cedric puffed out his chest. ‘Of course I’m coming with you.’ He watched Marigold put the bottle on the counter. ‘I think I’ll have a tipple too.’
Marigold put it through the till, then made a mental note to order more. That bottle had been the last one.
As the Commodore and Cedric Weatherby left the shop, Marigold watched them go. Then she tried to remember what it was that she had made a mental note to do. But it was gone. Vanished. She sighed and shrugged. There was nothing to be done. She hoped it wasn’t important.
She hoped, above all, that Sir Owen had not died on account of the moles.
Chapter 13
Daisy returned from walking the dogs just as Cedric Weatherby’s vintage Volvo was parking in front of Lady Sherwood’s house. The dogs rushed to the car and barked. The hackles on Mordy’s back stood up but the spaniels were far less territorial and eagerly cocked their legs on the tyres.
As Daisy approached the car the front door of the house opened and Taran stepped out. He looked enquiringly at Daisy. Daisy peered into the car and recognized the Commodore and Cedric. Cedric switched off the engine and climbed out. He strode straight up to Taran.
‘Hello, I’m Cedric Weatherby,’ he said, extending his hand. ‘We’re here to see Lady Sherwood. You must be Taran.’
The Commodore then marched around the car and put out his hand. He gave Taran’s a firm shake and introduced himself. ‘Commodore Wilfrid Braithwaite. I’m sorry to trouble you at such a difficult time, but I need to speak to Lady Sherwood. It’s of a sensitive but important nature.’
Again Taran looked at Daisy, but she had no idea why they had come.
‘It might have been prudent to call in advance,’ said Taran. ‘My mother is struggling to come to terms with her loss.’
‘Of course,’ said Cedric gravely. ‘That is why we are here.’ He pulled a face, which was meant to convey discretion, but instead betrayed a certain self-righteousness.
‘Might I just have one minute of her time? I think it’s important,’ said the Commodore. ‘It’s regarding your father’s death.’
Taran ran his eyes up and down the old officer’s red trousers and gold-buttoned blazer and nodded. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘I’ll let her know you’re here.’
Daisy wasn’t sure what to do with herself, but she followed the three men, and the dogs, into the house.
As Taran went to inform his mother, Daisy remained in the hall with Cedric and the Commodore. The dogs bounded, muddied, into the kitchen. ‘What’s going on?’ Daisy asked, glancing from one man to the other.
Cedric shook his head and looked solemn. The Commodore lifted his chin and said nothing. ‘We’re very upset,’ said Cedric and his chin wobbled. Daisy thought the whole thing very strange, but wasn’t able to drag herself away. She couldn’t imagine why the Commodore and Cedric Weatherby needed to see the grieving widow the day after her husband had died. What on earth could be so important?
‘Come,’ said Taran, emerging from the drawing room. ‘But please don’t stay too long. My mother is very fragile, as you can imagine.’
Cedric glanced at the Commodore and nodded. The Commodore nodded back. The two men, fortified by whisky and their own sense of duty, followed Taran into the room. A moment later Taran came out and closed the door behind him. He put his ear to the door. Daisy hesitated a moment, knowing she should leave. But Taran gesticulated for her to join him. He shook his head. ‘God knows what this is all about,’ he whispered.
Daisy shrugged. The two of them looked at each other as the Commodore began to speak.
‘I’m terribly sorry for your loss, Lady Sherwood,’ began the Commodore in the old-fashioned, formal manner typical of the armed forces.
‘Thank you,’ replied Lady Sherwood.
‘I’m sorry too,’ added Cedric. ‘It’s a cruel God that takes the likes of Sir Owen. He was a good man,’ he added, to which Lady Sherwood nodded her agreement. It was, indeed, a cruel God that had taken Sir Owen from her.
‘What can I do for you?’ she asked, more out of habit than anything else. After all, they had clearly come because of something they could do for her.
There was a long pause. Daisy and Taran stared at each other, wondering what was coming next.
‘Lady Sherwood, I’m afraid I have a terrible confession,’ said the Commodore at last.
The surprise was evident in Lady Sherwood’s voice.