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She could positively feel the presence of the house they were leaving behind, and it made her want to ask Ben to hurry up so they could get out of the area. She didn’t relish being the policemen who had to go in there, deal with the body, and investigate the death. It was all so sinister and macabre that she suddenly had a whole new respect for the work they carried out.
“It’s not you, Beatrice. After the events of the last few days, it is perfectly reasonable for you to have a few collywobbles, darling. I have to confess that I have had a few too. We had no idea this was going to happen, so cannot be blamed for any of it.”
“I am sorry I got you into this mess,” she declared, and threw him an apologetic look. “You were only helping me. Look at what you have been immersed in, all because of an act of kindness. I truly am sorry.”
If she was honest, she wished now that she hadn’t accepted his help in the field, and sent him on his way just like she had when they had been on the lane. At least then he wouldn’t be in the middle of the chaos her life had descended into.
Having said that, on an entirely different and more selfish level, she was glad that he was there because she knew that if she had been alone, she would have been a babbling bag of nerves by now.
“Don’t, Beatrice,” Ben muttered and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “We have been through this already. I am not sorry at all that I got involved in this. I could have done without the dead bodies I will grant you but, on the whole, I am glad that you don’t have to go through this alone.”
He was forced to turn his attention to guiding the carriage through the increasingly heavy traffic for several moments but, as soon as there was a lull, he turned back to her. “There is one good thing to come out of all of this,” he said as he gave her a warm look of reassurance.
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Us.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The following morning, Beatrice finished her ablutions and tidied her bedroom in a thoughtful daze that left her more worried than ever. Following Ben’s declaration that their relationship was the best thing to come out of this entire mystery; with which she wholeheartedly agreed; their day had deteriorated dramatically.
The endless round of questions at the police station had left them both worried and exhausted in equal measure, and they had left Great Tipton in a tense silence that was a little unnerving.
To her consternation, Ben had refused her offer to dine with her, and had insisted on taking the plant home with him before he had quietly left her on her doorstep. It was only when he had turned out of the end of the driveway that she realised he had made no plans to see her again. Had he grown tired of the trouble she brought him? Had facing questions from the police made him realise that this was no jolly old mystery; but something very real, and incredibly dangerous?
She quietly made her way downstairs, and found Maud already in the kitchen. Beatrice looked at the breakfast tray that awaited her with keen disinterest and took a seat at the table.
“I’ll eat in here,” she sighed quietly.
“Are you alright dear?”
Beatrice studied the housekeeper thoughtfully for a moment, and quickly recounted yesterday’s events. Upon learning of Jules Sanders’ death, the housekeeper slumped down into the chair opposite and stared in horror at Beatrice.
“Good heavens. All this over a plant,” Maud exclaimed. “If I was in your shoes, the next time Hargraves comes calling, I would throw that awful plant at him and forget about it. The damned thing is cursed.”
“I have to admit that I rather agree with you.” Beatrice absently buttered a piece of toast and began to nibble on it while Maud poured them both a cup of tea. “However, when Ben left here yesterday, he insisted on taking the plant over to his house. I cannot help but think that the danger has just shifted to his back door though. It doesn’t seem right that he should shoulder the burden of having the wretched thing in his house. Especially given that two people connected to it have been murdered.”
“I know dear, but he is protecting you in the only way he knows how.”
“But at what cost?” Beatrice countered. “Two men have been killed because of that plant. I don’t want Ben to be the killer’s third victim.”
“You like him a lot, don’t you?”
Beatrice shared a rueful look with Maud and nodded. “Of course I do. What is not to like about him? He is kind, considerate, helpful, gentle, caring, strong, and has rescued me on more than one occasion. He is simply wonderful.”
The fervency in which she spoke warmed Maud down to her bones. Even she had to admit that Ben had more than proven his worth over the last few days by the way he had protected Beatrice from Hargraves, and had always been on hand to help her when she needed it the most. It was rather remarkable really given that only last week they hadn’t even been talking to each other. Still, there was nothing as strange as the course of true love. In spite of the newness of their acquaintance she knew, with absolute certainty, that if any two people were meant to be together, it was Beatrice and Ben.
“Don’t forget that we have the Circle meeting here tonight,” she declared and watched Beatrice wrinkle her nose up ruefully. “Now don’t
look like that. It is only one evening. Besides, it will do you good to think about something else for a change.”
“Perhaps you are right,” Beatrice mused thoughtfully. “It would be nice to see the ladies and just do something normal for a change.”
If only Ben was there, she sighed, missing him more than ever.
If she was honest, it was a little unnerving to realise just how important he had become to her in such a short space of time. While she was glad that their relationship was progressing as it was, she had to admit that she had absolutely no idea what was supposed to happen between them next. Should she contact him and ask him if he was alright? Should she merely wait for him to call by her house again? She wished now that she had prompted him to arrange to see her again before he had left yesterday because now she felt somewhat lost that he wasn’t there to talk to.
Maud stood and began to clear the pots away, leaving Beatrice alone at the table with her thoughts.
