The Strings of Murder (32 page)

‘Mr Fontaine’s testament, as you know, indicated that his most valuable violins should be delivered to his closest colleagues and students – your granddaughter included, as you know now. One of the violins went to Theodore Wood, who happened to die but a few days ago, and the violin in question is now missing.’

‘And what is my role in all that, pray?’

‘Both Guilleum Fontaine and Theodore Wood lived in properties owned by you, ma’am.’

Her eyebrow now looked like an inverted U. ‘Do you need any information from me? Something about their characters or their finances?’

‘Oh, no. Inspector McGray and I have collected enough information as to the victims. Right now I am interested in finding more about
your
involvement, ma’am. Your closeness to two sequential deaths is rather puzzling.’

Again, not a movement in her face: ‘I do not understand. Are you implying that I –’

‘I do not like to imply; that is why I am questioning you. It all may be an unfortunate coincidence, in which case your answers should prove it instantly.’

‘A coincidence it is, of course!’ She stood up and went to a nearby shelf, looking for a volume. ‘Guilleum, as I recall, moved into my property in 1865 – mid spring, to be precise – I like to keep detailed records.’ She handed me a thick ledger and pointed at the appropriate entry; then she went back to the shelf. ‘Theodore, that poor creature, came to town in 1883. Before that he made his living playing at some godforsaken parish in Glasgow, until his last relative died. He told me he had no connections of any kind, so he decided to try his luck in Edinburgh. It was Mr Fontaine who first heard him play and invited him to join the Conservatoire; he also suggested him as a tenant for one of my properties. Musicians live in a very compact circle, Mr Frey; it is only natural that they share landladies … and solicitors. Fontaine even used to go to the same barber as my nephew!’

‘The tenancy is not the only issue that prompted me to come. There is the matter of the broken window.’

Lady Anne clicked her tongue in exasperation. ‘Dear Lord, that blasted window! Had I known it would cause me so many troubles I would have smashed the door with my bare hands!’

‘Can you elaborate on that?’

She sat again. ‘I was asked for permission to tear apart the door to Fontaine’s study. I refused, as you know, and suggested they should climb and break the window instead.’

‘On the basis of … a window being cheaper to replace than a fine oak door …’

‘I am a businesswoman, Mr Frey, and I treat my investments with the most critical eye. My family did not come
this far by squandering capital. Ultimately, it is my property we are talking about.’

‘To be utterly honest, ma’am, asking for your permission was a courtesy I would not have offered. Under such circumstances I would have broken in first and given explanations later. Do you realize that your decision delayed the tasks of the police, when every second could have meant Mr Fontaine’s life or death?’

‘That is nonsense. When they came to me, Guilleum had been locked in that room for hours and hours. He could not have possibly been alive by the time they asked for my permission to break in.’

‘How can you say that? You did
not
know what had happened to him … or …’ I leaned a bit closer, ‘did you?’

‘Of course I didnae!’ she cried at once, her Scottish inflection coming to the fore. ‘I am utterly offended by your mere insinuation! Why should I plot anything against a respectable gentleman who’d been my faithful tenant for twenty-three years? And what does it have to do with Theodore’s death? My nephew told me that he died of cholera.’

I nodded slowly. ‘A puzzling situation, indeed. In other circumstances I would take your word and attribute it all to coincidence, but there is one more thing.’

‘Another thing?’

‘Indeed. Your nephew insisted, in a truly annoying manner, on making my acquaintance and then inviting me to this ball … apparently obeying your wishes.’

‘And does that instantly make me a murder suspect?’

‘As I told you, ma’am, if it is coincidence, it will immediately shine through. You need but speak the truth.’

‘I refuse to dignify your ridiculous accusations with a reply!’

‘Lady Anne, unless you want the CID to carry out a deeper investigation, which, surely, would not be good at all for the reputation of so well known a family, you shall provide me with a good explanation as to why you were so determined that I should be here tonight. If your answer satisfies me, I shall quit this room and forget whatever you say.’

Lady Anne shook her head, her frown deeper than ever. I could see the guilt in her manner, the anxiety … even a hint of embarrassment. The corners of my lips insisted on pulling into a triumphant smile, but I did my best to maintain a neutral expression. The woman stretched an arm to one of the cabinets and produced a silver hipflask. She gulped a good sip and then, finally, spoke. A strong scent of whisky filled the room.

‘It is a pity that you force me to reveal this, especially this early. And it will be most detrimental … particularly for you.’

I frowned. ‘Pray, explain.’

She gulped a second draught, deeper than the first one. ‘Ever since I knew of your being in town it has been my intention to introduce you to my granddaughter … since she is of marriageable age.’

I blew inside my cheeks and kneaded my temples. ‘Oh, goodness!’

‘As I told you, it is a pity that you force me to have this conversation today of all days. I am a sensible woman and I would not have introduced this matter until you and my Caroline were more closely acquainted.’

I did not bother to hide my laughter as I stood up. ‘Lady Anne, I understand it all now. You are free of all suspicion. I must leave.’

‘Mr Frey!’ she insisted. ‘You must not dismiss her so lightly. Caroline is an enviable match: beautiful, vivacious, accomplished in languages and music … but most importantly, she is to inherit all my possessions as well as my title. A most advantageous union; it would bring together the nobility of the Ardglass with the gentility for which the Freys have been admired for generations. None of your kin has ever risen to nobility, while my late husband came from a most distinguished lineage.’

I opened the door, feeling almost bilious. ‘Lady Anne, pray,
pray
say no more! I could refute each and every one of those arguments, but I would prefer we remained on respectful terms.’

‘Mr Frey, won’t ye –’

I had to raise my voice for she would not give up otherwise. ‘
A Lady should know how to preserve her dignity!
’

She stood still and cast me the foulest stare. Again she looked like an old witch about to toss a toad into her cauldron. She inhaled deeply and grabbed her little flask. ‘Make yourself at home, Mr Frey,’ she hissed as she quit the room. ‘I hope you enjoy the rest of the ball.’

The ballroom was in turmoil. The music and the dancing had stopped, yet all the attendants were gathered around the small orchestra.

I found Downs at the very end of the crowd, standing on tiptoes and stretching his neck, trying to get at least a glimpse.

‘What is going on?’ I asked him.

‘Something really exciting: a violin duel!’

‘A violin duel?’

‘Yes, between Mr Ardglass and your young brother.’

I felt my jaw falling all the way to the hardwood flooring. ‘What the heck has that little brat gotten himself into?’ I grunted as I elbowed my fellow guests aside, making my way towards the musicians.

Indeed, I found Elgie there, smiling in front of the crowd, and Alistair Ardglass standing next to him. By then the older man was soaked in sweat as he fine-tuned the strings of his violin. He also seemed paler, his yellowish hands contrasting against the dark-coloured violin.

I pulled Elgie’s arm and hissed, my face burning with anger. ‘
What on earth do you think you are doing?
’

His smile made me want to slap him. ‘I want to shut him up! He believes he knows it all when it comes to music theory. He is the most insufferable, arrogant old man.’

‘
And you are ten times more arrogant!
I will not let you flaunt like a bloody chorus girl! Do you hear me?’

Ardglass approached us. ‘It is too late, Inspector. Your brother has made such a fuss that our guests are looking forward to it.’

I snorted and let go of Elgie’s arm. ‘Very well. If you insist on making yourself ridiculous I shan’t get in the way.’ And so I left him by the orchestra and went straight to the wine table. I thought that I could not feel more aggravated, but then Miss Caroline approached me …

‘You have the most disgusting brother, Mr Frey.’

‘I wish you had met my eldest one.’ I chuckled bitterly
and then indulged myself with a very long sip of wine. How strengthening that was; at least part of my brain could now take care of the social niceties. ‘I must apologize if Elgie was in any way insolent.’

‘I can deal with boys like him,’ she said. ‘There is something much more delicate that made me come to you. I must beg you to answer something.’

I saw danger coming – not of murder or injury, but from the far more horrifying and baffling realms of the female character. However, my manners did not allow me to send her away. ‘Then pray ask, miss.’

‘Mr Frey, I am so sorry to put you in such an awkward situation but –’ she took a deep breath, ‘– has my grandmother asked you any …
improper
questions?’

I inhaled, trying to think of a courteous way to tell her the truth. She read my expression before I could say anything.

‘
Dear Lord!
’ she squealed. ‘Has she offered you my hand already? She must be utterly desperate to do so on the very night she met you! Mr Frey, I must make something very clear immediately.’

‘Miss …’

‘My grandmother might have sold herself to a bankrupted lord, but that does not mean that I will follow her steps. I shall not be paraded like a calf in the cattle market. Do you understand?’

‘Miss …’

‘It is disgusting enough to hear her talk about lineage and bloodlines as if she were breeding mules …’

Her speech was becoming so impertinent I had to forget all decorum and place two fingers on her forearm.

‘Miss Ardglass, before you get carried away, rest assured that I never,
never
had the slightest desire or intention of accepting your hand.’ Too late I realized how appalling the words had sounded. ‘Oh … forgive me. I did not mean … that is to say, in other circumstances – well, a fine lady like yourself would be –’ I was now dangerously close to offering an actual proposal. I cleared my throat. ‘Miss Ardglass, this is not a conversation to be had with a twenty-minute acquaintance. Kindly excuse me.’

I bowed and walked away swiftly, feeling both sorry for the young woman and shamed by my stuttering. She seemed a spirited, smart girl, and perfectly able to fend for herself. Still, I wondered how much Lady Anne’s efforts to secure her future were actually driving suitors away.

I moved to a table on the other side of the hall, away from the crowd, feeling my guts writhing in the worst state of frustration. I could not remember having been at a more disastrous party … and yet the worst was still to come.

Alistair had just finished tuning his violin and then, with the most ridiculous attempt at an eloquent voice, he introduced the violin duel. They would try to outperform each other until one of them admitted defeat, or until the crowd decided that one of them was clearly the better.

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said at last, ‘as a good host I will cede to my challenger the privilege of playing the first piece. I give you
Mr Elgie Frey
.’

There was some sporadic applause as Elgie received the violin. He covered the chinrest with a handkerchief; it was the one I’d given him at the theatre, and I could not help feeling a little flattered. After carefully protecting his
neck, Elgie got the instrument in position, tried a couple of notes and trills, and finally took a deep breath.

Elgie only had to play two or three bars before we all recognized the main theme of ‘The Hunt’, from Vivaldi’s ‘Autumn’. I had to give him credit; he’d chosen a well-known, friendly piece to begin with, and soon I saw ladies swaying from side to side, following the catchy melody. Close to the ending, his violin exploded in a frenetic passage that utterly surprised the crowd – almost as much as if a real fox and a pack of hounds had suddenly appeared in the middle of the hall. The ovation was great, and it cheered me to see that Caroline and her grandmother were grimacing.

Alistair took the violin, reflected for a few moments, and then smiled maliciously as he pressed the instrument against his chin.

From the very beginning, his bow stroked the lowest string at full speed. It was the dark, prestissimo movement of ‘Summer’, also by Vivaldi, and Ardglass played it even faster than the piece was supposed to be. Not content with that, Ardglass also enriched it with embellishments that were not in the original score. The music sounded like a ravaging storm.

In the end, the roaring applause came from admiration rather than pleasure. By choosing a more difficult movement of the same composition, Alistair was trying to make the superiority of his skills crystal clear. Elgie would find it difficult now; nevertheless, his reaction could not have been more suitable.

‘I did not know that we were confining ourselves to the
Four Seasons!’ he said. ‘If you raise no objection, I shall try to be a little more imaginative.’

Ardglass gave him a filthy look as he handed over the violin, and my brother grinned as if fed by the man’s resentment.

Even though Elgie was beginning to foresee his defeat, he welcomed the instrument once more. His second piece was definitely not as quick as Alistair’s frantic ‘Summer’, but his perfect rhythm and the bright notes, melded with his happy, childish attitude, gave us the most vivacious, uplifting piece of music. From time to time I could see him glancing at the crowd, rejoicing in their appreciation, and then I understood what he was attempting; while Ardglass was focused on showing off his virtuosity, my brother wanted people to
like
his music. A brilliant move, for even if Ardglass beat him on the technical side, Elgie would win people’s hearts.