Moon Hall Mystery E-Book

Margaret Mounsdon

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 171

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

In Margaret Mounsdon's "Moon Hall Mystery," house-sitter Millie Midwinter is unexpectedly tasked with finding Becky, the missing sister of Charlie Pendennis, a hotel manager. Though initially hesitant, Millie is drawn into the search and uncovers more than she anticipated. As she digs through family secrets and Becky's correspondence with their reclusive great-aunt Polly, Millie navigates a web of complex relationships and hidden motives. Accompanied by Copper, the late Polly's spirited dog, Millie must solve the mystery amid the eerie and grand setting of Moon Hall, while dealing with her own personal upheavals.

Leseprobe

Moon Hall Mystery

by Margaret Mounsdon

Missing!

“I want you to track down my sister.”

The man spoke with the air of someone who was used to getting his own way.

Millie nearly spilled her coffee. This was not what she had been expecting.

“There has been a misunderstanding, Mr Pendennis. I don’t know what help I can be.

“I’m a house-sitter. Most of my work involves light gardening and watering plants. I’ve never been asked to trace a missing relative!”

“But you are free to undertake this commission, Ms Midwinter? I have a busy day ahead and would like an answer.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say no.

“How old is your sister?”

“Becky is twenty-nine.”

“Twenty-nine?” Millie repeated, puzzled.

“She is three years older than me and very independent. She won’t thank me for engaging you but I have no choice.”

“I see.” She didn’t.

“I doubt it. Our relationship is . . . complicated.”

Millie studied him. Charlie Pendennis wasn’t handsome exactly but he was attractive. Dark circles under his eyes indicated a lack of sleep, however.

There was something going on here that she wasn’t getting.

“Do you have more questions?” he asked.

Millie forced herself to concentrate.

“Perhaps you could give me some of your sister’s personal details.”

“Certainly.”

“Do you mind if I make notes?”

He nodded. Millie had left in such a hurry she had forgotten to charge her mobile. She found a notepad and rummaged in her bag for a pen.

“Here.” The man produced one displaying a hotel logo. “Use this.”

“Thank you.”

“If you are ready perhaps we can get on.”

“I’m ready.”

“Right. Questions?”

Millie was growing used to his method of delivery and adopted the same.

“When did you last see Becky?”

“About six weeks ago.”

“Can you remember the exact date?”

“No.”

“Why do you think she has disappeared?”

He cast Millie a long-suffering look and spoke slowly as if addressing a child.

“Because I have not seen her.”

Millie was aware she must be careful here. Family situations could be minefields.

“Can you tell me more about your sister?”

“What would you like to know?”

Her attempts to get Charlie Pendennis to open up were not proving easy. She was left no choice but to come out with the burning question hovering on her lips.

“Isn’t Becky capable of looking after herself at the age of twenty-nine?”

Charlie picked up his mug of black coffee then put it down again without taking a sip.

“We had a difference of opinion and she walked out.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

They had reached another stalemate.

“Have you tried contacting her?”

Charlie threw another scathing look at Millie.

“I left messages but she hasn’t replied.”

“Does she make a habit of ignoring you?”

“Sometimes.”

“Do you get on well with your sister?”

Charlie hesitated a fraction too long.

“Yes.”

“But?” Millie was getting into her stride.

“We are very different,” he admitted. “She is impulsive. I’m worried something has happened to her.”

He looked down at his hands.

“Do you and your sister live together?”

“No.”

“Does she have a significant other?”

“No.”

“What about friends?” Millie pressed on.

“The crowd she mixes with changes so often I can’t keep up with it.”

“Has anyone else been asking after her?”

“No.”

Charlie glanced pointedly at his watch.

“I can give you five more minutes.”

“May I know what you do for a living?”

Millie was grasping for an angle.

“I manage this place.”

Family Business

He indicated the elegant coffee lounge in which they sat with a wave of his hand. The tables were laid out discreetly, to enable private conversations to take place without being overheard.

“You own the Moon Chapel Hotel?” Millie was surprised.

“With my sister. I am also responsible for two holiday lets.

“It means I am seldom in the same place for long, which is why I have let things slip regarding Becky.”

A shaft of sunshine poured through the elegant bay window illuminating the colourful bottles lined up on the cocktail bar. An attendant in a white jacket was polishing glasses and placing them in the rack.

“Mr Pendennis,” Millie began.

“Charlie, please.”

His eyes softened and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Very well – Charlie.” Millie faltered.

His blue eyes were proving a distraction to what she wanted to say.

“Her disappearance could be temporary.”

“No. It was my birthday last week and we always mark it together. This year there was nothing: no card; no call; no text.”

“Have you contacted the authorities?”

Charlie hesitated then replied with a reluctant note in his voice.

“I don’t want to go down that route.”

“Why not?”

“Becky has . . . form.”

Millie gulped.

“She has a police record?”

“I’m afraid so. Nothing serious but I wouldn’t want to drag it up.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

“It was an over-exuberant New Year’s Eve fling. Can we leave it there?”

Millie relaxed a little, remembering past New Year’s Eve celebrations of her own that had got slightly out of hand. She was starting to warm to Becky.

“OK. I still think tracing her is something best left to the professionals, though.”

He shook his head.

“Becky’s case wouldn’t be treated as high profile. You should know, too, she was very close to our great-aunt Polly.”

“Has she gone missing?”

“No. She passed away recently.”

“Oh. My condolences.” Millie regretted her flippant remark.

“When we were children, we used to go to stay with Polly in the school holidays.

She was very dear to both of us.”

Charlie took a cookie from the plate on the table. Millie had already tried one.

“These are delicious,” she commented.

“I’ll tell Chef.” Charlie finished his coffee. “Where was I?”

“Great-aunt Polly?”

He frowned in concentration.

“In her later years Polly became a recluse. She left instructions with her solicitor to say she didn’t want a conventional funeral nor any official announcements.

“Because of this I am worried that Becky may not be aware of the situation.”

“She may not know of your great-aunt’s death?”

“Exactly.”

“I see. How do I come into this?”

“Becky used to write to Polly every week. My great-aunt wasn’t computer literate and she kept a mountain of paperwork. I need someone to go through it.”

Millie disliked the idea of going through someone’s private papers.

An exuberant Springer Spaniel chose that moment to crash through the door, leap into the lounge and head for their table.

He skidded to a halt and looked up at Charlie with adoration.

“Steady on, Copper!”

Charlie’s attempt to be stern didn’t work.

Millie grabbed her coffee cup and moved it out of range of the wagging tail.

“Copper loves his walks and we haven’t had time to go out today, have we?” He fondled the dog’s ears.

“I can take him out,” she said impulsively. “I have done a lot of dog-walking.”

Copper switched allegiance. His cold nose landed on Millie’s knee.

“Copper was Polly’s dog. He’s staying in the hotel but it’s not a great arrangement. He gets in the way and causes disruption to the guests.”

Copper looked at Millie as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. His tail beat a tattoo on the carpet.

“I don’t want to have to take him to the dog’s home but I may have no choice.”

Both Charlie and Copper jumped at the sound of her raised voice.

“No! I’ll look after him!”

The idea of something awful happening to Copper was more than she could bear.

“You will?” Charlie’s smile transformed his face.

“Did you hear that, Copper?” he whispered in the dog’s ear. “This nice lady is going to look after you. Say thank you.”

A warm paw was thrust into Millie’s hand.

She shook the silky fur gently.

“She’s going to find Becky, too.”

“Hold on a moment,” Millie said. “We haven’t talked that side of things through.”

“Well, is there anything else you would like to ask?”

“No – and I can start right away if you like,” Millie conceded.

She was relieved Charlie didn’t ask why she was available at such short notice.

“Good.” His handshake was firm and made Millie’s fingertips tingle.

Charlie gestured to the barman.

“Two large ones, Henry, please.”

Two glasses filled with deep red liquid were placed on the coffee table.

“Your first Moon Chapel Special.”

“I can’t drink a cocktail at this time of day!” Millie protested.

Charlie smiled.

“This is pure fruit juice made to Henry’s secret recipe. Totally non-alcoholic.”

Millie picked up her glass and inhaled the scent of deep berry fruit. It conjured up pictures of autumn afternoons picking ripe blackberries that stained your fingers.

“Welcome to Moon Chapel,” Charlie toasted.

He chinked his glass against Millie’s.

Moon Hall

Moon Hall stood proud and stark on the Moon Chapel peninsula. It was reminiscent of a golden age when carriages would sweep up to the house and disgorge elegant ladies and gentlemen in their finery.

The Hall overlooked a private cove. In its past it had been the scene of many happy beach parties. Millie had never known such grand accommodation.

Her online research into the background of the Hall revealed it had originally been a gift for unspecified services rendered to the Crown, the details of the donation having been discreetly omitted from its history.

The architecture was a mix of Renaissance, Georgian and Gothic.

In the late 19th century a Victorian industrialist had married an American heiress whose inheritance had been used to install plumbing and modernise the house.

Years later it had been converted into a convalescent home for wounded soldiers during the Great War.

In World War II it had provided a billet for overseas soldiers, but had been mistreated by the incumbents. Absentee landlords had caused Moon Hall to fall into more neglect and it had remained empty for many years.

Jago Eden, Polly’s husband, had acquired the property but had died before he could carry through any of his plans for development.

Polly had lived there alone, in secluded splendour, for many years, retreating to a small suite of rooms where her companions had been Copper and a weekly cleaner.

The dog now stood beside Millie as she viewed what was to be her base for the foreseeable future.

“I’ll drive you up to the Hall as soon as I can,” Charlie had promised. “For tonight, we have a holiday let free. You and Copper can stay there.”

This morning Charlie had been forced to order a taxi for Millie due to pressure of work. Now the September sun warmed her back as she paused outside a set of impressive wrought-iron gates opening on to the gravel driveway.

Copper tugged restlessly on his lead.

“OK, I can take a hint. Let’s get going.”

In his impatience Copper managed to entangle his lead around Millie’s legs and more than once almost tripped her up as they walked down the drive.

There was a general air of neglect about the place. Weeds poked through the gravel, the formal gardens were now a tangled mess of overblown rose bushes and the avenue lined with beech trees was a sorry reminder of the Hall’s past glory.

Copper was determined to disappear into the undergrowth and Millie was losing the battle to restrain him. Eventually they reached the stone steps leading up to the weathered oak front door.

Millie was hot and breathless. She eased her shirt away from her back and rubbed the nape of her neck, stiff with the strain of controlling Copper.

A gargoyle of a doorknocker with huge eyes and a tongue sticking out in a menacing gesture delivered a clear message that visitors were not welcome.

Millie shivered. She felt like a heroine in a Gothic novel!

Copper displayed no such misgivings. His tail worked overtime as he investigated the two large flowerpots positioned at the bottom of the steps.

“No-one uses the front door any more,” the taxi driver had explained when he had handed over the key entrusted to him by Charlie. “The main entrance is round the back.

“Follow the brick wall leading to the kitchen garden.”

The kitchen garden proved to be as neglected as the flowerbeds. The runner-bean canes had collapsed and a fig tree sagged against the south wall, weighed down by over-ripe fruit.

Millie inserted the back-door key into the lock. To her surprise it turned easily.

In contrast to the gardens the kitchen was modern and well appointed. A comforting hum from the fridge created a friendly welcome and a plate of pastries had been placed on the table, reminding Millie she had missed breakfast.

Her taxi had arrived early and all she’d had time for was a quick cup of coffee before they left for the Hall.

Along with the pastries there was a seeded batch loaf, eggs, a salad bowl and a vase of golden chrysanthemums. Under the vase lay a message on a sheet of paper.

Sorry I couldn’t come with you. I have asked the shop to deliver this note and a few essentials to keep you going.

As discussed Polly didn’t trust social media and never used e-mails or texts. Any communication with Becky probably would be by letter or card. See what you can find.

There’s a cupboard at the top of the stairs and more luggage in the attic.

Copper likes two walks a day. He’s an excellent guard dog because he barks at strangers. Make sure the main gates are kept shut as he has escaped several times.

He swims in the lake over the back of the walled garden so you need to keep an eye on him in case he gets into difficulties.

You have my number. Charlie.

Millie washed her hands and helped herself to a couple of the delicious pastries.

Copper wriggled at her feet then settled in his basket next to the boiler as she made a cup of tea and checked her messages.

There was nothing from Cy. Was Millie pleased or disappointed?

Their three-year relationship had been strained for a while and she shouldn’t have been surprised when Cy took off.

The manner of their break-up had been brutal, however.

Cy Hartley was a free spirit, a conservationist who advocated the protection of the environment. His causes meant he was frequently away from home.

Millie had returned from one of her house-sits to a note from Cy saying he had to leave. Later, she learned he had left with Rita Raines and the split was permanent.

Another unpleasant discovery had been when the landlord knocked on the door.

Cy had emptied their account and the rent hadn’t been paid for six months!

All of which had left Millie homeless and desperate for a job to tide her over while she sorted out her life.

Exploring

Millie nudged the snoozing Copper with her toe.

“We need to get to work, so stir yourself. There’s no time like the present.”

The dog yawned, stretched then went towards the back door where he turned to face Millie hopefully.

When she didn’t respond he scratched at the door and tried to nudge it open without success.

“You can have your walk later. Right now I have other priorities.”

His head drooping in disappointment Copper padded back to her side and waited while Millie opened a connecting door leading from the kitchen.

She blinked into the darkness of the main hall. As her eyes adjusted she became aware of several paintings lining the walls.

Most were portraits; the rest depicted landscapes.

Above each there was a light. Millie switched one on and inspected the artwork below.

She knew little about art but to her untrained eye, this painting looked a significant piece of work.

It was of a shipwreck and as she studied the painting Millie could feel the strength of the wind whipping the waves as the small boat struggled against the strength of the storm. It was the natural world at its most frightening.

Alongside it was a portrait of a superior-looking individual in full military uniform. Millie wondered if he were a hero of the Pendennis family’s past.

She moved on.

Next to the portrait she found a gap. The light on the wall suggested a painting had hung there but had then, at some point, been removed.

Millie resolved she would come back to look at the other paintings later when she had more time.

A shaft of sun painted a beam of light on the impressive oak staircase.

She ran a hand up and down one of the barley-twist banister supports. They were dusty and needed a good polish.

Millie had her foot on the first stair when Copper pushed past her, raced to the top and headed along the landing.

“Hey, wait for me!”

She caught up with the spaniel in front of a closed door. He whined and sat down.

Millie stroked his back. This must have been Polly’s room.

“It’s out of bounds,” Millie whispered in his ear, “but you can stay here while I explore.”

The next door proved to be a sunny bedroom that would do very well for Millie. The bed looked comfortable and there was a small ensuite bathroom.

Progress was easier without Copper’s disruptive presence and Millie discovered another flight of stairs leading to an upper floor.

Further investigation revealed a roof hatch leading to the attic.

Millie opened the first door she came across. It was a walk-in cupboard housing household clutter.

A sponge mop fell out. Millie bent down to pick it up and caught sight of a suitcase in the corner of the cupboard.

The case was plastered with bright stickers, the kind of thing travellers took on ocean voyages in the days before air travel.

What really drew Millie’s attention was the fact that the lid had been flung open and the contents of the suitcase lay scattered over the floor!

Millie took a tentative step forward then stopped. Downstairs a door had slammed.

The Gardener

“Who’s there?” Millie hared down the first flight of stairs and almost landed on Copper.

His tail was wagging and he seemed unconcerned. There was no sign of anybody on the lower landing.

Copper poked his nose through the banister next to Millie as she peered over, then pushed past her and bounded down the stairs.

Millie followed at a more sedate pace. She wasn’t given to fanciful notions but Moon Hall was giving her the creeps!

The soldier in the portrait stared down at her from a haughty height as though she were an interloper. That was exactly how she felt. She wasn’t used to dilapidated grand houses or missing persons.

Her instinct to mistrust Charlie Pendennis was growing by the minute. There was more going on here than was evident.

Copper, who had been waiting patiently behind her, delivered an impatient shove. He whined and pawed her leg before padding off down the corridor.

Millie followed him into the kitchen. A draught of fresh air had lowered the temperature in the kitchen significantly. The back door was open and swaying in the breeze.

Millie strode towards it and rattled the handle. The lock wasn’t slipping, and she was convinced she had secured it before venturing upstairs.

A quick inspection showed nothing had been disturbed and there was no evidence of any intruder.

Millie made a mental note to take more care in future. With her hands on her hips she then decided it was time to explore the grounds.

She inhaled a deep breath of ozone-laden air as she stood on the back doorstep.

The garden sparkled in the sunshine, even those parts that were more down at heel.

An empty cottage sat forlorn, and dew-bedecked cobwebs swayed in a gentle breeze.

Copper emitted a gentle growl of protest as Millie tugged him away from a muddy puddle. In a show of defiance he dug up a section of the abandoned vegetable plot. Clods of earth flew into the air.

“Hello!”

Millie recoiled at the sight of a figure framed in one of the brick archways.

“Name’s Aaron.”

He tipped his battered hat with an earth-encrusted forefinger.

“Where did you come from?” Millie found her voice.

“I work here. I’m the gardener.”

“Were you in the kitchen just now?” she demanded.

“I never go into the house unless I’m invited. Mrs Eden didn’t like visitors. I’ve got a little shed over there.”

Aaron pointed to a dilapidated lean-to.