The Pale Rider

Part: 14
Rating: T
Summary: What do you do when a dead body washes up on the beach?
Beta: Captn Becky, Harper64
Notes: Canon up to May 1942. Anything else are lovely imaginations from the author's warped mind.
Disclaimer: All known characters are the creation of Anthony Horowitz and Dorothy Sayers. I make no money off this.

Scene 14

Bunter pulled up to the servant's entrance of the large house. It was in one of the posher neighborhoods in London, which wasn't all that surprising.

Turning off the engine, he retrieved the envelope and went over to the delivery door to knock on it. Several years had passed since his Lordship asked for him to do this. Guilt nagged at him at what he was about to do. Forgive me Hope, he silently pleaded as the door opened in front of him.

The woman who answered looked older and tired. Thinking it would make him more agreeable, he made himself sound like he was closer to her station in life. "'Allo, I'm here to deliver a package for a," he glanced at the name on the package, "Mr. Hamilton."

The woman before straightened as she looked him up and down. "Jolly good that'll do 'im," she grumbled.

It surprised Bunter that her accent was similar to the locals that lived in and around Lord Peter's Hertfordshire residence, called Talboys, but he wouldn't tell her that. He backed up a step. "This is the Hamilton's residence?"

"Yes."

He held the thin package up. "Maybe I should bring this by lat'r?"

"And force ye to come around again? Never mind that." She opened the door to allow him entrance.

"Is Mr. 'amilton around?" he queried, actually hoping that he was not there.

"No, and we never know when 'e'll be here." She pointed a finger towards him. "I remember the days when you could set your time by when meals were served. Now?" she threw her hands up in exasperation, "'e's out all times of day and night, and then there's the telephone calls, in the middle of the night no less."

Bunter frowned. "Maybe he's with a lady?"

The woman shook her head then stopped. "Maybe. Who knows these days. No propriety or nothing." She paused, "Yet, I do remember seeing one lady a few times."

The moved deeper into the house. "What about his wife?" He's married, right?"

"Up in Norfolk with the youngens. He sent them there at the beginning of the War. I asked him why 'e sent them there when the King, God bless 'im, kept his still here, during the worst bombin' no less."

Bunter nodded, "I suspect it's the same reason why many others were sent away."

"True." She finally nodded. "Mister…"

"Bunter," he gave her a smile.

"Since you're here, why don't you come and grab a bite to eat. It's the least I can do since Mr. 'amilton's ain't here."

"Did he ever say where 'e were going?" Bunter followed her into the kitchen.

"Now that you asked, no." She shook her head.

Once he sat at the table the cook, who he surmised, placed a plate of food in front of him along with a glass of dark liquid. "'e was supposed to have dinner." She looked up at the clock, "thirty minutes ago. At least the food won't be goin' to waste. It's no good when everyone's on rationin'."

Bunter smiled as he picked up the fork. This was one of the reasons why he didn't mind doing things for Lord Peter, although he rather enjoyed cooking for his family in the evenings. Hope actually liked it, especially when he'd bring her breakfast in bed. When Lord Peter first married, he soon found he was freed from those specific duties. When he married Hope, he was once again able to ply his culinary abilities but for her benefit alone.

"Do you know anything about the lady?" Bunter put the fork down and took a sip of his drink.

"Now that you mentioned it, there isn't much to tell. 'e'd go off with 'er in that three wheeled car of his, and gives 'er all sorts of gifts."

"Like what?"

"Wait here." She disappeared from the kitchen and returned a short time later. "This." She handed him a receipt and a picture of an obviously expensive bracelet of gold and silver.

Fingering the receipt, he wondered if he could pocket it for Lord Peter. The problem was that he would have to return it. "Does Mrs. Hamilton know of this?" He looked at where the bracelet was purchased and the total paid he paid for it. Bunter gave a low whistle at the £100 price. Not even Lady Peter would ask for something that extravagant.

"I don't think so. Poor lady. I don't know what'd she'd do if she found out of his dallying. And then there's the children." She shook her head. "Do you have any children, Mr. Bunter?"

Bunter blinked in surprised. "No." He hated lying, but there was no way out of it.

"Then you wouldn't understand."

"My brother has children, does that count?" he gave her a bit of a boyish grin.

"Maybe," she gave him an answering smile.

Bunter leaned near as if to speak of some tabooed subject. "I let my nephews raise all sorts of heck then send them back to him. Meredith's never been pleased with me."

Her smile grew large. "I like you, Mr. Bunter."

"Mervyn." He nodded.

"Edith."

They shook hands.

She looked to the package that lay on the side board.

"Were you expecting it?" Mervyn asked as he took another sip.

"Yes, but I'm not sure what's in it. 'e's been so secretive lately." Edith shook her head.

"Oh? Is 'e normally like this?"

"Yes, but not to this extent. Calls, then runs out in the middle of the night." She shook her head. "Are ye finished?" Edith nodded towards his now empty plate.

"Yes."

"Let me take that." She retrieved the plate and put it in the sink to be washed.

While she had her back turned, he pulled out a stub pencil and a piece of paper and wrote the name of the jeweler and the price of the bracelet down then slipped it back into his pocket. As she turned back, he gave her a smile. "I hate to cut this short," he signed, "but I do need to leave."

"It was nice meetin' you, Mervyn. It's also nice to be able to vent my frustrations about Mr. 'amilton."

"Oh, I understand completely." He gave her another smile and bowed his head. That last movement did the trick, causing her expression to dissolve into an impish smile. If he was sent back for more information he knew he would be able to get whatever he wanted or needed from her.

"You're always welcome 'ere at any time, Mervyn." She gave him another smile as they headed towards the servant's entrance.

"Thank you, Edith."

A bell rang from somewhere upstairs.

"Finally," she muttered. "I need to get Mr. 'amilton's meal ready. 'e's finally returned from wherever he was."

"And don't forget his package."

"Of course not."

Making it back to Audley Square, he called Peter and informed him of what he found. The aristocrat seemed genuinely excited when he mentioned the bracelet and the jeweler from where it was purchased.

TBC...