The Church

I contemplated, for a moment, the front entrance. I could knock, and tell the Butler that Lord Peter'd given me permission to look around the estate. But my funding was hinging on him believing that I didn't think of he or the family he served as suspects, and while Lord Peter might tell him anyway...I'd rather cling to the hope that he wouldn't, instead of depriving myself of money.

The fence was easy to jump. I swung myself over it, careful not to catch my coat, and landed on a well-kept path leading to my left and right. I shrugged and chose a direction.

The path wound leisurely past immaculately-kept garden plots full of twining green things and bursts of red and yellow and white and pink. Whatever else Lord Peter was, he was a fantastic gardener.

Evidently, however, I'd chosen wrong. The path ended in a wrought-iron gate leading into the mansion house's private cathedral. I didn't hang around long, not wanting to be seen by any servants who happened to be on duty, but I did take a glance around. It's always good to see how the other half lives.

The cathedral was small, compared to most public churches, but too large by half for the aging Lady Myrna and her only son. Great windows twice my size dominated every wall, ornate stained-glass depicting blushing maidens and pious saints. I shouldn't have worried about servants, though. Creeping closer, I saw that the place looked like it hadn't been set foot in in years, nevermind being cleaned. Thick carpets of dust coat every surface, and happy spiders wove away in the rafters.

I shrugged and turned away. Not being particularly religious myself, it didn't shock me that Lord Peter had been shirking his prayers. It was odd that Lady Myrna did not insist, however, and odder that she too would have neglected her duties to God. The one time I had met her, years ago, had painted her in my mind as a something of a ship in full sail, strong and proud and moving forward at any cost.

But it hardly mattered. I doubted very much that if Lord Peter had committed this crime (or even if he hadn't) it was a religious one in motive. I'd seen those before, and they tended to involve more nails through hands and less stealing of hearts.