Found Guilty at Five, page 2
Jamie was looking daggers at Gran, who refused to lift her eyes from her frying pan.
“We were wondering, Jamie,” said Derek, “if you and Akiko would give us a taste of the music you play together. We’ve got a piano, but no cello, I’m afraid . . .”
“Oh, no problem, Mr. Meade,” Akiko said with a big smile. “Jamie has mine safely in his car, which is alarmed in case of burglars! It is very difficult to know how to keep a valuable instrument safe, but we decided this is best, whilst we are travelling together.”
Lois wondered about Jamie giving so much of his time as an accompanist, when he was now much in demand as a soloist. Still, he must know his own mind. He was a fully grown adult, and had already come a long way in his career. Over the last year or two, he had introduced them to a number of nice girlfriends with whom he had light and casual relationships. This one was not likely to be any different, was it?
“Perhaps you could give us a tune after lunch, then?” she said. “I can’t guarantee your father won’t doze off. But no offence meant. He always does on a Sunday.”
“What are you doing this morning, son?” Derek asked kindly. He was warming to the neat features and good manners of Jamie’s colleague. “Why don’t you show Akiko our lovely countryside? And there’s something on in the hall park this morning. Dog show, I think.”
Akiko clapped her hands and said she loved dogs, and could they take Jeems to the show and enter her into the dog-with-the-waggiest-tail class? “I used to have a dog at home, but she cannot travel with me, obviously.”
“I should think not!” said Gran. “Dogs should have their freedom. I don’t approve of them being shut up in flats, an’ that.”
With this imbalance of conversation, Gran on one side with snide remarks, and everyone else being as nice as possible to Akiko, breakfast proceeded. The rain had returned in the night, but now everywhere was glittering in the sun, and Jamie and Akiko left Meade House with Jeems on a lead, promising to be back in time for lunch.
* * *
FARNDEN HALL WAS A PLEASANT STATELY HOME JUST OUTSIDE the village, with parkland and farms attached. Geoffrey Norrington and his wife Melanie had bought the whole package, including farms and a private chapel, from Mrs. Tollervey-Jones, and Norrington had plans for it all, but had the sense not to try changing everything at once. But one thing he did straightaway. He opened the park and house to the public and set up a shop in the private chapel selling Farnden Hall souvenirs and gifts.
“But shouldn’t we concentrate on furnishing the hall first?” Melanie had objected. “We don’t want to show people around empty rooms.”
“We can use that,” her husband had answered enthusiastically. “Hold a competition. Charge people to make suggestions for each room—the main rooms, that is—and give a prize to the best. You and I could judge. Special prize for best child’s entry?”
“And what else are we going to put in the shop? Packets of grass seed from the tennis court?”
“Oh, there’s plenty of suppliers of bits and bobs. Think how many royal wedding souvenirs were on offer in no time at all.”
Melanie had shrugged. Geoffrey made his living thinking up good fund-raising ideas. Some of them were less than kosher, but most had been successful and had enabled them to move from a nearby modern villa to the grandeur of Farnden Hall.
The dog show had not been Geoffrey’s inspiration. The local branch of Dogs for the Disabled had approached him with a request to help with their fund-raising activities, and knowing how the British love their dogs, he had seen a good opportunity for publicity. When Melanie had asked him how he thought the estate would benefit from a charity dog show, he pointed out that large numbers of people could be expected. The whole thing was relatively easy to organise and would be fun, as well as doing a good turn to disabled people.
“And will you present prizes to the dogs?”
“Of course,” Norrington had replied. “I am giving special bones and half a dozen tins of minced kangaroo to the dogs. I’ve got a mate in the dog food business. He’s happy to do it for the publicity. Won’t cost me a penny.”
“Sounds good. You’d better think of other friends who need publicity.” Melanie’s voice had been sour. Being chatelaine of Farnden Hall was not turning out to be as she had imagined it at all. “Maybe in a year or two, once we’ve settled?”
“Year or two? I’ve already made plans for an autumn horticultural show, and by then we should have the children’s play area up and running.”
Now that the dog show was in progress, Melanie had cheered up, meeting new people and feeling very much the lady of the manor. As she and Norrington mingled with the good-sized crowd, she said, “Do you think Mrs. T-J will come?”
Geoffrey shook his head. “No chance. Wouldn’t be seen dead here, now the hall belongs to us. But I mean to show her that this estate can be made to pay its way. Patronising old besom! She’ll wish she’d never sold it to us by the time I’ve shown her the way.”
“She’s still president of the village Women’s Institute. I had thought of joining. Do you think she’ll blackball me?”
“Of course not. And there’s plenty of WI members you know already. Lois Meade for one, and her mother. And Floss, who comes to clean here from New Brooms, and loads of others. You go, gel, and take no notice of Mrs. T-J. And look, I was wrong—there she is, hobnobbing with the judges.”
* * *
WHEN JAMIE AND AKIKO ARRIVED AT THE HALL GATES, HE WAS not pleased to be asked to pay an entrance fee. He had grown up in Long Farnden and was used to running around the park at will. Not that Mrs. T-J had welcomed village children, but in her time it had been possible to keep out of her way and still have great games around the old barns and clumps of trees.
“I hardly recognise the place,” he said to Akiko. “And it seems only yesterday that Mum told me that Norrington had bought the Farnden Hall estate, lock, stock and barrel.”
“It is a big estate?”
“Quite big, for this part of the world. There are much bigger ones, especially in Scotland. I shall take you to see one or two when we play in Edinburgh next year.”
“I have been to Glasgow several times, to meet my father. He has a house there. But I would like to see some wild countryside. It is all very tidy here.”
“You wait till you see the Highlands of Scotland!” Jamie led Akiko and Jeems up to the show ring, where owners were already parading their dogs. The present class was for Best Terrier, and an assortment of small dogs obediently trotted round at their owners’ heels. One dog, however, was twice the size of the others, and Akiko pointed this out.
“Is it in the wrong class, do you think? It does not look like a terrier.”
A man standing next to them at the ringside tapped Akiko on the arm. “It’s a Black Russian Terrier,” he said “Marvellous dogs. Giant schnauzers crossed with Airedales, mostly.”
“Thank you,” she said courteously.
The man came closer, and suggested that perhaps she herself was in the wrong class—where did she come from? “From the land of Nippon?” he guessed.
Not much of a chat-up line, thought Jamie. The man’s smile was knowing, and Jamie was not surprised when Akiko responded sharply. “Please go away,” she replied, and the man raised his eyebrows, muttering that he was only being polite. Jamie decided to say nothing, and walked after her, noting that this was the second time today she had shown reluctance to answer personal questions. Perhaps she had been warned by her family to be wary of strangers? He would think of a tactful way of asking her.
“Jamie! How nice to see you and Akiko again so soon!” It was Mrs. Tollervey-Jones, who was marching energetically around the showground, telling everybody that the new owner was ruining the place, but never mind, each to his own. She wished him well, she said, though nobody believed her.
“So when are you coming to play for me?” she said to Jamie. “This evening? I can give you a scratch supper if you like. Not much of a cook, I’m afraid. Used to being cooked for! But I am learning, and New Brooms’ cleaning lady comes and does a big bake once a week. An excellent service your mother provides, Jamie. Have you told Akiko about this? And, of course, your talented ma has another side to her activities. Private investigator, Akiko, that’s what she is. Do you understand that phrase?”
“Perfectly, thank you,” Akiko said. “‘Detective’ is another name for it?”
“And I am the latest recruit to her team, my dear. A non-cleaning, investigating member of New Brooms, at your service.”
“Akiko has no need of a private investigator at the moment,” said Jamie, laughing. “Have no fear, Jamie’s here!”
Akiko was not smiling. “Please, although my English is good, I do not always understand what is said. Like the man and the Russian Terrier. He was not being pleasant, I thought. Forgive me if I got it wrong.” She would be very delighted, she said sweetly, to accept Mrs. T-J’s invitation, if Jamie felt it would be convenient for his family.
“Good-o,” said Mrs. T-J. “Stone House, six-thirty? Will that suit? Look forward very much to seeing you then.”
“A nice lady,” said Akiko, as they watched Mrs. T-J stride off towards the judges’ tent.
“So are we staying another night in Long Farnden? Happy up in the attic?”
“Very happy. I feel safe up there. Comfortable and safe. Now, is it time to enter Jeems into the Waggiest Tail class?”
FOUR
LOIS AND GRAN WERE WATCHING ANTIQUES ROADSHOW ON television when Jamie stuck his head round the door to say he and Akiko were off to see Mrs. T-J at Stone House.
“Shan’t be late back,” he said. “I’m sure the old thing goes to bed about nine thirty.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Lois said. “She’s full of surprises, that one.”
“Including being one of your latest recruits? I can’t see her down on her hands and knees cleaning the vicar’s front step.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jamie,” Gran said. “And if you are late, you and Aki-ki-ko must be very quiet. That attic bedroom is directly above mine, and I’m a light sleeper.”
“Since when?” Lois laughed, and Akiko added that she always took off her shoes on entering a house. This was the custom back at home.
“So that’s why you’re always around in stocking feet,” Gran replied. “I thought maybe Jamie had been taking you in the wet grass.”
“Mum! Now you’re being ridiculous. Have a nice time, you two, and give our regards to Mrs. T-J. Are you going in the car? It’s easy walking distance.”
“But there is my cello, Mrs. Meade. It is almost as big as me! It will be safer in the car.”
* * *
THE PLEASANT SITTING ROOM IN STONE HOUSE WAS FULL OF evening sunlight, and Akiko looked around appreciatively. A crystal vase full of flowers stood on a table by the window, and the grand piano half filled the room. Placed on it were silver-framed wedding photographs from two generations, and over the fireplace hung an oil painting of a serious-looking man in military uniform.
“My late husband,” Mrs. T-J said, noticing Akiko staring at it. “He looks stern there, but he had his moments. Very good father to our Robert. Much missed.” She took up a photograph from the piano. “That’s Robert with Felicity on their wedding day. Terrible day, rained nonstop.”
Akiko opened her cello case and withdrew the instrument, and Jamie handed Mrs. T-J a pile of music.
“Would you like to choose?” he said. “And are you going to play the accompaniment, or would you like me to do it?”
“Oh, you, of course, Jamie! My accompanying days are over. I was joking when I offered to play. Fingers like bananas now, I’m afraid. Here, how about this Elgar piece? One of my favourites.”
* * *
DEREK, WITH HIS ELDER SON DOUGLAS, WAS PASSING BY STONE House on his way home from the pub, and heard lovely sounds coming from the open window. “Ah, that’ll be Jamie and his girlfriend,” he said.
Douglas said nothing. He was now a married man, with a small son, and his chief concerns were for his own family. He’d noticed Akiko, said she was charming and given her no more thought.
Derek, on the other hand, had thought hard about Jamie with a foreign girlfriend. Very nice girl, she seemed on first acquaintance. It was a pity Gran could not accept her with good grace. He wasn’t sure whether his mother-in-law disliked the girl herself, or found her alien and different, and therefore suspect. He would have to have a private word with her, though unfortunately, private words with Gran usually ended up with her shouting only too publicly that he was wrong and she was right.
His thoughts moved on to the Norringtons. There had been a lot of talk in the pub about the new owners of the hall, and many people thought they might well be good for the village. Opinion was divided, however, between the generations. The old guard could not get used to the idea of so much change. New people at the hall, and obviously nouveau riche, as against the inherited wealth and connections in high places of the Tollervey-Joneses.
Then Douglas, visiting from Tresham, had put a spoke in the wheel by suggesting that the Tollervey-Joneses were not all that aristocratic. “Coal mines in Derbyshire, that’s where their money came from way back,” he had said. “Exploiting the masses. And they were no better than the rest of us. The old great-great-grandfather was a blacksmith. I suppose,” he said, making an effort to be fair, “you could argue they did well by their own efforts, and had a right to be toffee-nosed.”
A hubbub of conflicting support and disagreement in the pub had ensued, and Derek decided it was time to leave for home.
“It’s the same nowadays,” he said now. “Take Jamie and his career in music. No musicians on my side of the family. And no one on your mother’s, so far as I know. None of the rest of us are musical, and he didn’t have any special encouragement. But look where he’s got to! Playing the piano all round the world, and sometimes his name is mentioned on the radio. We shall see him on the telly soon, I’m sure of that.”
They had arrived at Meade House, and Douglas opened the gate for his father. “Yeah, but he got given that piano, remember? Maybe none of us got the chance, until Jamie,” he said. “By the way,” he added, “Akiko is his colleague, not his girlfriend. Haven’t you noticed he stresses that?”
“So he may. But I know a girl in love when I see one. We shall find out, son. Now, in we go, and make sure you walk straight. Our gran can spot a man who’s had one too many from a mile away.”
“Right. Better leave the gates open, so’s Jamie can bring in his car. The precious cello, you know. Jamie’s a bit of a softy, so I hope he knows what he’s doing.”
“Don’t you like Akiko, then? She seems a really nice girl to me.”
“Very pretty, very polite, and a bit chilly. I tried talking to her about her home, but she froze me out. Not one word about her folks. A bit strange, don’t you think?”
“I did notice, Douglas. But it’s none of our business. Leave it to Jamie. That’s my advice, though I doubt your gran would agree!”
* * *
AN HOUR OR SO LATER, AKIKO SLIPPED BETWEEN THE COOL sheets of the bed in the attic and thought about the evening performance at Stone House. Her brain was still fizzing, and she did not feel in the least sleepy. She and Jamie had played well, and she had to admit that her growing affection for him was affecting her playing in a good way. Jamie was a real friend, kind and gentle, and helpful when help was needed.
She sat up in bed and plumped up the pillows. Settling back, she thought about the time she had arrived in England to attend the college of music, knowing no one, and with only her father coming to see her as often as he could manage. He had tried everything to dissuade her from leaving Japan, but in the end he could see a permanent rift between them developing and had given in.
In giving way, however, he had arranged to keep in touch with her in several ways, including visiting her on a regular basis and appointing an employee to keep an eye on her. Her mother had died when she was two, and she had been cared for, by first her grandparents, then by a wonderful nanny and a succession of housekeepers. Money had been no problem, as her father had become very wealthy. He had warned her that she might encounter ill feeling among British students, and she was aware that the two countries had been enemies during the last world war. But that was a long time ago. He had also advised her not to talk about her life in Japan. Being a rich man’s only daughter without friends could make her vulnerable to unscrupulous advances. She had soon made one or two friends at college, of course, but otherwise tried to remember her father’s advice.
She turned over in the narrow bed, and still sleep refused to come. Jamie had been so kind today, so happy and at ease at home with his family. She remembered when she had first met him, when he came to give a recital at the college, and at the reception afterwards he had approached and offered her a drink. He said afterwards that she had looked like a small, sad child, standing alone in the corner of the room. After that, they met again a couple of times and talked about playing together. She protested that she was still a student, and he was rapidly becoming an international star. He persisted, saying playing an instrument was like a game of tennis. Don’t play with rabbits, play with people better than yourself, where there would be a challenge. He made her laugh, and she had begun to rely on him for companionship as well as music.
Jamie was proved right. She had succeeded beyond high expectations, and done brilliantly in her examinations. Their partnership had developed, and now here she was, a guest in the Meade family house, rather too obviously regarded as Jamie’s girlfriend. Did it matter? She finally fell asleep without coming to any conclusions.
Jamie was also still awake. Together, he and Akiko had delighted Mrs. T-J, and when he was left alone with the old lady for a few minutes, she had said to him that she liked Akiko very much and he should think about getting his feet in the stirrups. Her meaning was clear and alarming, to him at least. It was much too soon to think about that!
His room seemed stuffy, and he got out of bed to open a window. There was no moon, but a security light at the corner of the house shone on his car. To his irritation, he saw the outline of the cello, resting on the backseat, and realised they had not brought it in with them. They had been chatting away about the evening’s success, and Akiko must have forgotten about it. He sighed. It would be safe enough. Probably safer than in the house. The car was thoroughly locked and alarmed, as always.
