Murder Most Royal

’

‘That’s a relief. We’re not aware of other violent incidents, are we? Is this something we need to worry about?’

‘Not as far as we know. I’ve had a quick chat to the estate manager. Cassidy’s references were immaculate, and in the way of these things, the staff know several people who’ve known him for years, back to his days as a biology student at Oxford. He was known for rescuing injured birds and hedgehogs and so on.’

‘Yes. There was quite a female following who thought of him as a bit of a St Francis of Assisi.

The Queen tried to picture the bean counter storming down to London from Sandringham with murderous intent . . . But of course, it wouldn’t have been ‘storming’: Ned was lured there, it seemed. It would have been planned. That was even harder to imagine. One didn’t want to harbour a cold-blooded murderer on one’s estate, but she really didn’t think she was.

Sir Simon was followed shortly afterwards by Mrs Maddox, who was armed with the week’s suggested menus for approval.

‘Not really,’ the Queen admitted. ‘It’s been an interesting morning. Actually, there’s one thing. Do you know how Mrs Raspberry from the WI is getting on? I gather she’s had an accident.’

Mrs Maddox was north Norfolk born and bred, and thought it a personal affront if she didn’t know what was going on in any village within a twenty-mile radius.

‘Oh, that! It was awful! We did wonder whether to tell you, ma’am, but we didn’t want to worry you so close to Christmas, with you so busy in London, and then with your cold. It was very upsetting. She was tossed into the air like a rag doll. Not that anyone saw it directly, but she must have been, the way she landed in that bush. My niece works at the ICU at the Queen Elizabeth. She got the shock of her life when they brought Judy in. All over knocks and bruises and a gash on her head .

‘I spoke to her nephew at the stud,’ the Queen said. ‘His sister seems to rely on her.’

‘Is there a Mr Raspberry?’ the Queen wondered.

The Queen got up and stood at the window, brooding. What a winter this was. Two people injured – one of them almost certainly dead – and it struck her how both of them had been described as particularly alive.