Scandalous Behavior

44

Stone asked the stables to saddle a horse for him, then he rode through the wood, across a meadow, and spurred his mount to jump the stone wall that separated his property from the Curtis estate. There were various vehicles parked in front of the big house, Susan’s among them, and he thought he’d drop in and see how the work was going. A hitching post had thoughtfully been provided a century or so ago, from the look of it, and he tied his horse there.

Inside there was a mix of sounds: light machinery, a grinder of some sort, various shouts from assorted workers. He found Peter and Ben in the library, which looked to be nearly finished. “Good morning.”

“Morning, Dad. We’re just lining up our setups for our first day’s shooting, which looks like being after the weekend.” Stone left them to it and toured the other rooms. The drawing room was nearing completion, too, and large men were carrying in pieces of reupholstered furniture. He started back to the front door, and as he approached, a man appeared, peering tentatively inside. Stone recognized Leslie Bourne, Sir Charles’s son. “Good morning. It’s Leslie Bourne, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and I recall that you are Mr. Barrington.” They shook hands.

“Can I help you, Mr. Bourne?”

“Perhaps you can. I’m looking for my father.”

“I think you’ll find him at his cottage next door.”

“Oh, not that father — I mean Sir Richard Curtis.”

Stone thought that the man must not read the papers — at least, not the county papers. “I’m afraid Sir Richard is deceased.”

Bourne looked as though he had been slapped. “What?” He apparently couldn’t think of anything else to say. “When?”

“Some weeks ago. He was murdered in the meadow at Windward Hall.”

“Murdered? By who?”

“By Brigadier Wilfred Burns.”

Bourne’s mouth hung open.

“The brigadier was arrested and charged, then he hanged himself in his jail cell.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Bourne said. “He and Sir Richard were the best of friends.”

“It seems that everyone around here is the best of friends, until they start killing each other or themselves.”

“Is that meant to be funny?”

“Merely an observation.”

“I see.”

“Perhaps you would like to know that your father — I’m referring to the man whose name you carry — appears to be in the last stages of his illness. Perhaps you’d like to visit him.”

“I think not.”

“May I ask, why did you want to see Sir Richard Curtis?”

“I’d hoped he might clear up a few things for me.”

“Perhaps your father could do that.”

Bourne ignored the comment. “What’s going on here?” he asked.

“This house and its property have been sold to a hotel group, who plan to turn it into a country house hotel.”

“What a good idea,” Bourne said. “Tell me, are they looking for investors? I run what you Americans call a hedge fund.”

“And what do you call it?”

“An investment group. We’re always looking for places to put our clients’ money. You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m sorry, what was your question?”

“Are they looking for investors? The hotel group.”

“No, they aren’t, it’s a closely held company.”

“May I know its name?”

“The Arrington Group.”

“Ah, yes, they’re in Los Angeles and Paris and are building something in Rome, I believe.”

“Your information is good.”

“Perhaps you can tell me, whence the name Arrington?”

“From Arrington Calder Barrington.”

“Oh? Are you a relation?”

“She was my wife, now deceased.”

“I didn’t know. And Calder?”

“The late actor Vance Calder, her previous husband.”

“Ah, yes, Centurion Studios. We’ve had a go at putting some money there but were shut out.”

“Yes, the studio is owned mostly by its current and retired employees. There are only a very few outsiders who own shares. Someone made a bid a few years ago, but it was rejected by a vote of the stockholders, who are very attached to the studio.”

“And would you know who the outsiders are?”

“I am one of them. The others are my associates.”

“Calder had a son, didn’t he?”

“A stepson. I am his father.”

“He must have inherited Vance Calder’s shares.”

“He did, or rather his trust did. Before you ask, I am his trustee.”

“You seem to be involved in very interesting properties, Mr. Barrington.”

“I have that good fortune.”

Bourne handed him a card. “Perhaps we could have lunch sometime, when you’re in London.”

Stone slipped the card into his pocket. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a horse waiting.”

“Ah, yes, I saw him on my way in. Handsome animal.”

“Yes. He was your father’s before.”

“Tell me, how did you come to buy Windward Hall?”

“I was introduced to Sir Charles by a mutual friend.”

“I see.”

“I must go. I’m sure your father would like to see you once more.”

“I very much doubt it,” Bourne replied.

Stone left him standing on the front steps and rode away.