“The body will need to be sent back to London,” he said then as other sounds were heard, gradually coming nearer. No doubt staff from Sandringham at the sound of those shots being fired.
“We’ll need to return to London as soon as possible.”
Sir Collingwood’s disappearance was no longer a case of a missing person who had taken himself off after a particularly interesting weekend of gambling in the company of His Royal Highness, and...others. Those stab wounds told a far different story.
His disappearance was now a murder investigation.
A local physician was requested in spite of the fact there was nothing to be done. Mr. Compton identified the remains as those of Sir Collingwood, then they were bound and placed in a plain wood coffin appropriated from the village blacksmith.
Several hours later, a handful of servants, including Mr. Compton, assembled at the steps of Sandringham Manor as we departed.
“His Royal Highness will need to be notified,” he said in that reserved manner that all servants were obviously required to maintain—even with a body that had been discovered very near the manor.
“I will see that it is done,” Brodie replied.
He sent a telegram to Sir Avery in London upon our arrival at the rail station. When the train arrived, the coffin was taken aboard. He then joined me in the compartment for the return to London.
We were the only ones in the compartment when the train departed. Several times I looked up to find that him watching me.
“Ye are a rare woman, Mikaela Forsythe.”
I had heard that before, but after everything that had happened, I was left to wonder what it now meant, most particularly, for us.
Six
LONDON
A vanand coach were waiting at St. Pancras station upon our arrival in spite of the late hour, along with instructions from the driver that he was to take us to the agency offices at the Tower.
“We will need to speak with the gentlemen who were there,” Brodie informed Sir Avery as we met. “There is also the matter of someone who was at the manor house during that time whose name was not on the list you provided. A woman it seems.”
Sir Avery studied my hastily written report. He finished it, then rubbed the bridge of his nose in that manner of someone who has perhaps not slept in a while and was now forced to deal with an even more difficult situation.
“His Royal Highness mentioned it and requested that the woman’s name be left off the list. Not entirely unexpected considering past situations,” he chose his words carefully. “Angeline Cotillard.”
The actress!
“And now someone we are forced to deal with.” Sir Avery added her name to the list and handed it back to Brodie.
He looked at me then. “The gentlemen who need to be questioned, difficult as that may be, may be more forthcoming with Mr. Brodie.”
One of their own, man-to-man as it were, rather than with a woman, myself, in spite of my connection with the royal family. Or possibly because of it?
As Brodie and I had of each taking on an aspect of an investigation, there was something else that could be important.
“There might be something to be learned at Sir Collingwood’s residence,” I suggested. “Something mentioned to the servants or something left about that could provide information.”
“Sir Collingwood was a very meticulous person. I doubt you will find anything, but I do understand,” Sir Avery replied.
“Quite obviously in consideration of Sir Collingwood’s position with the Queen’s Privy Council as well as his position of Lord High Admiral, we will not be able to keep this development unknown,” he continued.
“But I would prefer to be able to control when it is known and the extent of the circumstances that we will also allow to be known, in order to avoid any hint of a scandal. Therefore, I will be speaking with each of the guests who were present at Sandringham, myself, including the Prince of Wales, and making them aware of this development.
“As for making inquiries at Sir Collingwood’s personal residence, Brodie, it might be best for you to accompany Lady Forsythe, in order to avoid any hesitation on the part of his servants. I will provide a letter providing you access which I will send round.”
And a final instruction.
“As much as possible, it would be best not to mention this latest development to anyone. It will, of course, come out in due time, but I would prefer that it be a time of our choosing, oncewe know more about it, in the interest of keeping control of the narrative. Is that understood?”
