CHAPTER 02. The Cinderella of Crimsworth

[Baron’s Eldest Son Found Dead

A. Bingham, the eldest son of Baron Bingham of Basvillage, was found dead in the forest near the baronial residence. Mr. Bingham was first discovered by a local resident who is being questioned by local police. A police official stated that an autopsy is necessary to determine the cause of death as the body was damaged by rain that fell in the area for three days. The motive is focusing on robbery and murder.

However, an acquaintance of the deceased who requested anonymity, Mr. K, testified that the deceased had frequented secret establishments in Whittingham and been involved in various illegal activities during his lifetime, suggesting that the case may involve more complex truths. Mr. Bingham was the son of Baron Bingham’s former wife, and as he was the only son, the baron suddenly faced the problem of having no heir to inherit his title and land.]

Local newspaper reporters are always so irresponsible. Despite requests to refrain from reporting, they went ahead and published articles, causing the investigation to face difficulties. Inspector Curson had already struck out twice. Baroness Bingham adamantly refused to meet with the police.

Sarah Bingham was an important reference witness who could testify about the deceased’s conduct during his lifetime and his activities on the day of death. However, if the lady refused to meet with the police, there was nothing he could do. In the kingdom, nobles were still above the law. If there was a suspect, they could be summoned as a witness in court, but an investigation had to take place first to identify a suspect.

Boris Curson was an elite who had already been promoted to inspector at twenty-eight. Now approaching thirty, he prioritized work above all else and had no thoughts about marriage or romance that would typically interest unmarried young men of his age. Nevertheless, he was quite handsome for a policeman, and given his profession, he was in good physical shape.

Remembering a hint his superior had once given him, the inspector decided to use his charm in the investigation.

“Miss Carter. Thank you for cooperating with the investigation. May I ask you a few questions about the late Mr. Bingham?”

In the inspector’s experience, those who worked in noble households were invariably arrogant. This Carter woman was no exception. She was said to be the governess of the deceased’s half-siblings, but in Curson’s opinion, she was large enough and authoritarian enough to work as a constable at Bathgate Station.

“About Mr. Bingham, I don’t know much. On the day he died, I was in Perth with the baroness and the children, and we only returned to the mansion the next afternoon. Mr. Bingham rarely stayed at home anyway.”

“I see. Do you know where Mr. Bingham usually spent his time if not at home?”

“How would I know that? I’m a decent person.”

“By that, you mean Mr. Bingham was not a decent gentleman.”

At Curson’s observation, Miss Carter closed her mouth. He smiled broadly.

“I have no doubt that Miss Carter is not only decent but also noble and moral. Could you tell me if Mr. Bingham ever acted contrary to your values?”

Only then did the governess soften. In fact, this type of person, convinced of their moral superiority, was more likely than anyone to expose others’ flaws. There’s no stronger excuse than a strong sense of justice.

“He came home three times a week at most……”

“The baroness must have been extremely worried about her stepson.”

“Of course. Especially since he always came home reeking of alcohol. On days when he returned like that, the baroness had to keep the maids in check.”

This was exactly the kind of story Curson wanted to hear. Noble sons always mess with pretty maids. Or with governesses or nannies.

“Perhaps there was a maid who escaped that supervision……”

In a noble household, a maid’s reputation directly affects the reputation of her mistress. Seeing the governess close her mouth, he quickly said:

“Have there been any recent changes in the household?”

“How could there not be changes? With this happening. Because of you people blabbing everything in the newspapers, the baroness has taken to her bed. The baron had to spend a large sum to prevent unfounded rumors from spreading.”

In this field, unfounded rumors don’t exist. And the police had never been on good terms with the press. Instead of pointing this out, the inspector gently placated the woman.

“I understand everyone is going through a difficult time. If the deceased was a gentleman who knew honor, the baseless rumors will soon subside. With someone like Miss Carter present, the baroness will soon overcome her grief and rise again.”

“I hope so. I have too much work.”

“How old did you say the children are?”

“Elise is eight, Kaylee is six. They’re at an age that requires constant attention, but there’s no nurse or nanny……”

It made no sense that children so young had neither a nurse nor a nanny.

“Did you say there’s no nurse or nanny?”

“The nurse quit a while ago. It’s just as well. She wasn’t a good example for the children in any way. And eventually the nanny quit too. She didn’t seem like such an irresponsible person.”

“When did the nanny quit?”

“It was the day we returned from Perth. She gave notice as soon as we got back, which sent the baroness into an absolute fury.”

As an investigator, Boris Curson’s instinct stirred. Alec Bingham was killed on the night the baroness went to Perth. The next day, the nanny suddenly quit her job.

“The nanny didn’t go to Perth? Why did she quit?”

“That day was Miss Harcourt’s…… the nanny’s day off. That’s how young ladies are these days. No perseverance.”

“Do you have Miss Harcourt’s contact information?”

“That girl is an orphan. She left suddenly, so she wouldn’t have left any contact information. She was pretty, so maybe she eloped with a lover?”

The governess criticized. Curson tried not to show his satisfaction. A nanny who disappeared suddenly without leaving contact information, and who was pretty to boot.

After asking a few more questions, Inspector Curson politely thanked Miss Carter. Although he couldn’t meet Baroness Bingham, he had achieved his objective.

As he was leaving through the entrance, sorting out his next investigation target, a small pink shadow darted across his vision.

Curson quickly extended his hand to steady the child who nearly fell.

It was a little girl in a pink dress with a pink ribbon.

“Are you alright?”

The child blinked her light brown eyes. He crouched down to meet her gaze. Judging by her attire, she was undoubtedly a daughter of the Bingham family. If so, he needed to extract information from the child quickly before that frightening governess came out.

“You must be Elise.”

“I’m Kaylee.”

Elise was the first, Kaylee the second.

“Right. Kaylee. I’m Boris. I have something I’d like to ask a little lady.”

It was doubtful how much a six-year-old child could understand, but the child looked quite intelligent, and when he called her ‘little lady,’ pride even shone on her small face. However, that face quickly clouded with worry.

Kaylee glanced furtively toward the house.

“Miss Carter will scold me.”

“Miss Carter won’t come. I want to ask about Miss Harcourt, not Miss Carter.”

Kaylee frowned.

Of course, they wouldn’t have called the nanny by her surname. For children in noble families, nurses and nannies were much closer than parents.

“I’m talking about the person who disappeared from the house recently.”

“Bronwynner.”

The child answered promptly.

Bronwynner, Bronwynner Harcourt. Quite an elegant name for a nanny.

“Yes. Bronwynner.”

He nodded.

“What kind of person was Bronwynner?”

If the nanny was pretty as the governess said, and even had a lover with whom she eloped, she would have been negligent in her childcare duties. However, Inspector Curson didn’t believe the governess. If the nanny had taken over the nurse’s duties after the nurse quit, she wouldn’t have had time for romance outside.

……Unless she had something going on with the dissolute young nobleman living in this house.

“Bronwynner is the prettiest in the world.”

Kaylee said. When she said that, the child’s eyes sparkled. She even opened her sketchbook to show him. Being a child’s drawing, one couldn’t expect the quality of a professional montage artist, but he could tell that the woman had red hair and mysterious green eyes.

“What’s this on her face?”

He pointed to the red woman’s face. Was the red patch on the face rouge? But why was it drawn only on one side?

“She hurt.”

“Bronwynner was hurt?”

Kaylee nodded.

When playing with children, it’s common to get hurt by carelessly swung arms or thrown objects.

“How did it happen? ……When?”

“Don’t know.”

“Bronwynner didn’t tell you?”

Kaylee’s face saddened.

“She left without saying anything……”

“Kaylee!”

Another girl’s voice came from behind the house. It was probably Elise. Inspector Curson took a mint candy from his pocket and placed it in the child’s hand.

“This is for answering my questions well. It’s a secret from Miss Carter and Elise.”

“Yes!”

Kaylee nodded vigorously and ran off in the direction her sister had called from.

Curson watched her go, lost in thought.

According to the governess, the baroness was so angry that she didn’t even give the nanny time to say goodbye to the children. But the children might have seen the nanny through their mother’s shoulder or from a window. Children’s powers of observation are much sharper than adults think.

What if that injury was recent? For example, if she had resisted the advances of a young nobleman who was harassing a young, pretty employee…..

‘You’re going too far, Boris Curson.’

He shook his head to dispel the imagination.

However, there were many questions about Alec Bingham’s death that warranted keeping all possibilities open.

According to the medical examiner, Alec Bingham’s cause of death was excessive bleeding. This was caused by a head wound; initially, his skull was cracked by hitting something blunt, and then a subsequent attack with a blunt weapon was decisive.

The body was found in a forest not far from the baron’s residence, but the weapon was not found with it. Even a rookie officer could tell that this wasn’t the actual crime scene.

Alec Bingham had been killed somewhere and moved to the nearby forest.