Eustace had been housed in one of the guest rooms on the first floor, so they made their way up the stairs and after only one false start in the wrong direction, found the room.
Eustace hesitated, his hand on the doorknob.
“Might I be permitted to do this alone? I cannot escape, after all. Edgerton has proved that the drainpipes will not bear a man’s weight.”
“What do you say, Edgerton?” Sir Hubert said.
“I have no objection,” Michael said. “Mr Atherton is entitled to a few moments of tranquillity to contemplate his future.”
Eustace went inside, closing the door softly behind him.
“Yer very trusting, Michael,” Sandy said. “He could be out of the window in moments.”
“There are no trees or climbing plants anywhere on the castle walls, and the nearest drainpipe is well out of reach. If he jumps, he falls clear to the basement level and breaks his neck.”
“He could knot sheets together, and climb down that way,” Sandy said.
“Then he will find Neate waiting for him, pistols at the ready.”
“Ye’ve thought of everything,” Sandy said.
“I certainly hope so,” Michael said sombrely. “One never knows how these occasions will end, and one is prepared for all eventualities — he might not hang, and if he is transported there is always the prospect of him turning up on the doorstep one day with that oily smile of his, looking for revenge.”
“Ye used to like the man,” Sandy said.
“I did,” Michael said shortly. “He was always so affable and so helpful — looking everywhere for Miss Peach. Luce thought he was wonderful for finding the body, but it was not exactly difficult when he put it there himself. He was stalking poor Miss Franklyn, too… Mrs Bertram Atherton, I should say. It will be safe for them to return now. I must write to—”
The explosion inside the bedroom was shockingly loud. Sandy jumped away from the door, and even Michael, who had half expected it, was startled. Only Sir Hubert was unmoved.
“Ah,” he said. “He retains some shred of honour, then, and his mother and father will not have to suffer the shame of a son tried for murder.”
“Has he—? Is he—?” Sandy whispered. “Should we—?”
He set his hand on the doorknob, but both Michael and Sir Hubert called out, “No!”.
“I will deal with it, Sandy,” Michael said gently. “I have seen a great many dreadful sights in my time, and this one will be no worse than many, but you need not share it.”
“Captain Edgerton and I will deal with this,” Sir Hubert said grimly. “You may stand outside the door and ensure no one enters, understood?”
Already the sound of the gunshot was bringing anxious faces up the stairs.
“What shall I tell them?” Sandy whispered.
“The official story will be an accident with a gun,” Michael said.
“Accident with a gun,” Sandy said, nodding.
He turned to face the first worried arrivals, as Michael and Sir Hubert slipped into the bedroom to take care of the devastated remains of Eustace Atherton.
28: Afterwards
Olivia was numb. It was too terrible even for tears. The recreation of the murder had seemed almost like a silly game, but the outcome had been more horrible than she could ever have imagined. Eustace, a murderer! He had tried to kill Walter, his own brother, just like Cain and Abel in the Bible, and she could hardly imagine a worse sin. Brothers and sisters should love and cherish each other, surely, and even if it happened that they did not get along, it would be utterly disloyal to act upon it. One should not so much as speak disparagingly about a kinsman. But murder!
And then the even more horrible news that Eustace had shot himself.‘An accident with a gun,’everyone said, but what was he doing cleaning his guns at such a time?
It was Robert, dear, gentle Robert, who explained it to her, and persuaded her that it was for the best. Now there would be no trial, and no possibility that an Atherton might be hanged. He sat with her for hours, holding her hand with gentle sympathy,but nothing and no one, not even her beloved Robert, could ease her grief.
***
