CAST OF CHARACTERS

Agatha Troy Alleyn

Katti Bostock

Nigel Bathgate

Sir Henry Ancred, Bart

Claude Ancred, his elder son, absent

Thomas Ancred, his younger son

Pauline Kentish, His elder daughter

Paul Kentish, his grandson

Patricia Kentish, his granddaughter

Desdemona Ancred, his younger daughter

Millamant Ancred, his daughter-in-law (wife to Henry Irving, deceased)

Cedric Ancred, His heir apparent

The Hon Mrs Claude Ancred (Jenetta), his daughter-in-law (wife to Claude Ancred)

Fenella Ancred, her daughter

Miss Sonia Orrincourt

Miss Caroline Able

Barker, Butler at Ancreton Manor

Dr Withers, GP at Ancreton

Mr Juniper, Chemist

Mr Rattisbon, Solicitor

Mr Mortimer, Of Mortimer & Loame, Undertakers and Embalmers

Roderick Alleyn, Chief Detective-Inspector

Detective-Inspector Fox

Detective-Sergeant Bailey

Dr Curtis, Police Surgeon

Detective-Sergeant Thompson

Village Constable

CHAPTER ONE

Siege of Troy

‘CONSIDERED SEVERALLY,’ said Troy, coming angrily into the studio, ‘a carbuncle, a month’s furlough and a husband returning from the antipodes don’t sound like the ingredients of a hell-brew. Collectively, they amount to precisely that.’

Katti Bostock stepped heavily back from her easel, screwed up her eyes, and squinting dispassionately at her work said: ‘Why?’

‘They’ve telephoned from CI. Rory’s on his way. He’ll probably get here in about three weeks. By which time I shall have returned, cured of my carbuncle, to the girls in the back room.’

‘At least,’ said Miss Bostock, scowling hideously at her work, ‘he won’t have to face the carbuncle. There is that.’

‘It’s on my hip.’

‘I know that, you owl.’

‘Well—but, Katti,’ Troy argued, standing beside her friend, ‘you will allow and must admit, it’s a stinker. You are going it,’ she added, squinting at Miss Bostock’s canvas.

‘You’ll have to move into the London flat a bit earlier, that’s all.’

‘But if only the carbuncle, and Rory and my leave had come together—well, the carbuncle a bit earlier, certainly—we’d have had a fortnight down here together. The AC promised us that. Rory’s letters have been full of it. It is tough, Katti, you can’t deny it. And if you so much as look like saying there are worse things in Europe—’

‘All right, all right,’ said Miss Bostock, pacifically. ‘I was only going to point out that it’s reasonably lucky your particular back room and Roderick’s job both happen to be in London. Look for the silver lining, dear,’ she added unkindly. ‘What’s that letter you keep taking in and out of your pocket?’

Troy opened her thin hand and disclosed a crushed sheet of notepaper. ‘That?’ she murmured. ‘Oh, yes, there’s that. You never heard anything so dotty. Read it.’

‘It’s got cadmium red all over it.’

‘I know. I dropped it on my palette. It’s on the back, luckily.’