by Aria Norton
“The reward that my father promised me, I shall give you half if you promise not to marry Mr Down.”
Freddi was silent, but her mind was already thinking of possibilities. He would share his reward with me? Why?
“Are you certain that you wish to do such a thing?”
"Yes- do you accept my offer? I guarantee you that you will be happier than if you became Mr Down's wife. What of a new business? Have you never considered it?"
Her own business? Yes, she had considered it more times than she cared to count, but it was never something that she had assumed could become a reality. I could have my own dress shop, Mama always said that I would be the perfect seamstress. She could find a lovely room in town, rent it, and start her business from there. The thought both excited and frightened her, loosening her tongue.
“Yes, a business sounds wonderful, but I would also use those means to find the answer to the mystery surrounding my parents' deaths.”
Nash's brow creased. “A mystery? I was told that they were sick.”
“Yes, but suddenly so. There is something that does not sit right with me, Nash, and I intend to find it out.”
“Do you believe that there was foul play involved?”
Freddi nodded. “Possibly. I am not ruling out anything until I have sufficient evidence.”
"Do you intend to do this on your own? That is far too dangerous, Freddi. If there is anything to find out then I shall do it for you."
“No, you do not need to do that. You are busy with your father's investigation; do not concern yourself with mine.”
“I shall do it, Freddi. You parents were important to me as well, and if someone did harm them to the point of death, then I must bring that person to justice.”
Freddi sighed. “I see that you will not listen to me if I say no, I should have never told you anything of it. How could I have forgotten about your persistent nature?”
Nash gave a little laugh. "But now you have.”
Perhaps it would be a good thing to have Nash help her, especially if she should run into any problems. However, he did not want her to be involved in unravelling the mystery and she simply could not have that.
“If I allow you to do this for me, there must be a condition met.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “I do not think that I shall like this condition.”
“Nevertheless, it must be met. If you decide to take this personal matter upon your shoulders, you will have to allow me to be a part of the investigation.”
Nash looked away, shaking his head. Freddi would not give into his demands, but he would have to give into hers. There was simply no way that she would allow him to work on this mystery alone. They were her parents, after all, and if they had been murdered, she wanted to know about it and find the mastermind behind their untimely death.
Chapter 8
She had lost her mind. Allow her to work on a potential murder with him? What kind of a man would he be if he allowed the woman he loved to be involved in such an unsavoury matter? After a moment or two, he turned his head, encountering the piercing gaze of a determined woman.
“Murder leaves no place for a woman, Freddi.”
“And yet neither does it discriminate. Be you a man, woman, or child, it consumes all who meet it in its path.”
He looked skyward. “Was there ever a time where she has not quarrelled with me to the end? Good Lord, what kind of woman have you created?”
“One who knows her own mind, Nash.”
Nash shook his head again, walking some paces away from her. She has lost her marbles if she thinks that I shall allow her to join me in this. Yes, I admit that I would not have known of a potential murder unless she had first told me, but now that she has I feel that I must protect her at all costs. What if the murderer were to pursue her?
A terrible feeling stole upon his body, one that sucked out any hope of happiness. It descended upon him like a dark shroud, blotting out the light and suffocating him. He was fearful of losing Freddi; he simply could not handle it if she were to be lost to him forever. Nash swung back to Freddi, striding to her and grabbing her arms.
“No, you hear me? No! I shall not put your life in danger by giving you admittance into this matter. Leave me to it, I shall give you updates where necessary.”
“But, Nash-”
“No!” he shouted. “No, Freddi. Can you not understand that this is a dangerous situation? If there was indeed a murder, what is to stop the person from trying to take you as well? Put my mind at ease and step away from this.”
Freddi struggled out of his arms. “Leave me be, Nash!”
He could see that she was not pleased about his insistence, and he could already tell that she would not heed his request. She raised her finger, pointing it at him.
"You have no right to keep me from this, none whatsoever. I am alone in the world, Nash, I have no one! My parents were the very breath I breathed, the reason why I remained in Blackmore Estate for all these years. They did not deserve this death, Nash, they were humble people who were kind and tender-hearted to all. Even your father held them in great respect, and we both are aware that Lord Blackmore is not one to easily hold anyone in high esteem. I am their daughter, and I should be the one to bring about their justice if there is any to be found."
Freddi's bosom was heaving, her hand trembling. He thought to embrace her, but Nash knew that it would not be welcomed. They were no longer children where a simple embrace could be seen as something innocent. No, he would further damage her reputation, not that she had much of one left to her.
His father had managed to ruin the young woman's reputation, degrading her to that of a hated and scorned harlot. It pained Nash to know that people thought so lowly of the woman he loved, but he would set things right.
“You have no right to demand that I take no part in the investigation,” she continued. “And I will not accept your reasoning. Why should I merely wait for any information from you? Were you in my shoes, you would never sit back and allow another person to do what you should do. I may be a woman, but that should count in my favour as no one would suspect me of undertaking such a dangerous mission. It is either that I do this with you, or I shall do it alone without your help. 'Tis your decision to make, Nash. Whichever way you may look at it, I shall be involved.”
Stubborn woman! But perhaps it would be better that she remain by his side as he searched for any information surrounding her parents' deaths. I can better guard her life if she is near my side, I need not worry that someone is after her life. Still, this was hardly a situation he would have liked to have been in, for it placed him between a rock and a hard place, but there were definite advantages to keeping her near.
“We shall go about in circles if we continue to quarrel about this issue.”
“Then agree to my condition, Nash. 'Tis a simple thing to do.”
"Simple? I think not. However, it shall be as you say, Freddi. You may join this investigation, but it must be under my guidance. I do not want you to get ahead of me, you must wait for my direction."
Freddi tilted her head. "I find it quite presumptuous of you to assume the position of leader."
Nash could see the small smile she was trying to hide, and there was no bite to her words. Just as well, for I would not have relented on this.
“I am not a harsh leader, and you shall have a respectable amount of freedom to do whatever you think necessary. Now, I wish to get started, and the first location I think would be best to look in is the cottage. Do you permit me to enter it?”
A sad expression passed over her face. "It shall soon cease to be my home, but you are more than welcome to search in there if it helps the investigation. Come, I shall take you there."
“No, just a moment. I cannot go in there with you, Freddi.”
Confusion filled her eyes. “Why ever not?”
“We are no longer children that I may enter your abode unchaperoned.”
Be her a lady or servant, doi
ng such a thing would set tongues wagging. It was the last thing that Nash wanted for her, and he would shield her as best he could from the rumours that were rife in the town. He saw the minute that comprehension dawned on her face.
“I see. You are right, Nash. It is best that you go to the cottage on your own, I shall go to the market and see what is available for my meal this evening.”
She turned away, but he stopped her, unwilling that she should leave his side so soon.
“Uh, Freddi, is there anything in particular that you wish I rather not go through?”
Freddi frowned. “I have nothing of great importance, only memories.” She looked down for a moment, drawing her foot in the sand. “Do you really think it necessary to look through the cottage? I have searched through it and have come up with nothing.”
He tilted his head. Does she not want me to do so? I thought that she had been willing a moment ago.
“One can always miss something, Freddi. I am not saying that you have not done a meticulous job, but we are human, after all. Let me do this, Freddi, allow me to do it for your parents."
She gave a great sigh. “Very well. Do not make a mess of anything, I do not want your father's housekeeper to speak ill of my cleaning abilities.”
He mockingly put his hand over his chest, earning a little chuckle from her.
“It shall be as you say, m'lady.”
Freddi rolled her eyes. “Goodness, such a gentleman. Where shall we meet once you are done?”
“I can come to the market. You need only tell me where to meet you.”
“Do you dare to be seen with me in public? Are you not afraid of what the town's people might say? You must have heard by now that I am a woman frowned upon for my supposed behaviour.”
“Why should I fear them? I know the kind of woman that you are, Frederica Dunn, they have simply bought into a lie about you.”
“Are you that confident?”
“Unquestionably so.”
“But you are Lord Blackmore's son, surely it will be...” She stopped, her brow wrinkling. “I find this quite peculiar, but I have not heard any rumours of your return to Alfriston. Do people not recognise you?”
“Why would a recognise a man they have not seen in the last ten years, and who is no longer a cripple save the use of this walking stick?”
She gave his stick a cursory glance. “Do you not introduce yourself as Lord Salisbury?”
“Mr Salisbury, at your service, miss,” he said bowing. “I am a humble man from France looking to do some business with Lord Blackmore. I am in the livestock business, my dear lady.”
“Ah, I see. Well, how do you do, Mr Salisbury? I suggest we meet near the old smith's workshop- do you remember it?”
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do."
They soon parted ways, although he would have liked to have spent a little more time speaking with her. However, to do so would mean that any person could happen upon them and draw their own conclusions for their impromptu meeting.
On his way to Blackmore Estate, Nash mulled over Freddi's words.
I do not know which is worse. The fact that she was going to marry that old man and throw her life away, or that her parents may have been murdered.
Thank goodness he had met her before she could get to the cobbler. What had brought about Mr Down's proposal? Had he possibly kept a close eye on her for all these years, and now that she had no parents to object, he was able to make his move? If that were the case, then the cobbler was not as innocent as he made himself to be.
Is he capitalising on the fact that she does not have many options available to her? Had I not told her of my plans to solve my father's problem and give her part of the money, then she truly would have had no other option.
It had to be fate that he met her when he did for Nash was not a great believer in coincidences. From what he could see, even the heavens were in agreement that Freddi was his.
I would have liked to have asked Mr and Mrs Dunn for her hand in marriage, but I believe that they will rest easy knowing that I shall take care of her.
The more Nash thought about Mr Down's proposal, the less he liked him. The man should have acted as a father figure instead of seeking Freddi's hand in marriage.
Was he not Mr Dunn's friend? What sort of a man is he to prey on a woman he has known from her childhood? Does he not find his behaviour the slightest bit strange?
Well, at least the crisis was averted. Nash wondered if Freddi would refuse his proposal or if she would hang on to it should his investigation into his father's situation not prove favourable.
But it must, this is my only chance to have what I wish and save Freddi from men like Down and Father.
He arrived at the cottage knowing that the key would be kept in a pot plant by the window sill. Nash let himself in, taking a moment to look at the room that had once been so familiar to him. It felt strange now, and the Dunn's absence could be felt in the room, leaving it a sad space.
“Freddi must feel bereft being in this cottage without them. 'Tis bittersweet, is it not? It is the only place where she can see her parents in every detail, but that is also bound to stir up sadness.”
Her parents had often invited him to have tea with them, and he had enjoyed it far more than he had in the main house. Nash had always enjoyed the cosy warmth of the home which had more to do with the Dunns themselves than a roaring fire during winter.
To think that someone had wished to harm them to the point of death was a terrible thought indeed, unbelievable almost. Evil hearts carry no regard for the innocent; they only see what they can gain through the end of others. The problem was that Nash could not begin to imagine who would have wanted them out of the way, or what kind of grudge a person had to have had to bring about such untimely deaths.
It all makes no sense, none whatsoever. They hardly had much, and what they did have they shared with others. A murder seems farfetched to me, but if Freddi has her suspicions, then there must be something to point me in the right direction.
There were far fewer items than he remembered; Freddi must have given many things away. His heart ached for what she must have gone through having to sort out her parents' belongings, knowing that she would have to let go of a great bulk of their memories. Nash shook off his feelings of melancholy and started in the drawers, sifting through papers. He imagined that Freddi would have thoroughly cleaned the cottage from top to bottom, but he still got down to his knees to look under furniture, hoping that a vital clue would be found.
Finding nothing in the front room, he entered the first sleeping room, tackling the cupboards before turning the mattress over. Nash knew that this was the Dunns’ room as Freddi's one would be more feminine. He recalled her father painting butterflies in her room, and how she loved to pick wildflowers to place in her room. Did she still have her dolls?
They had been a gift from his stepmother, second-hand dolls from her own childhood. Freddi had cherished them, giving them a place of honour in her room. He left her parents’ room, entering a smaller room with just the bare necessities. Nash smiled when he saw the butterflies, gliding his hands over the fading paint.
I would paint her a thousand butterflies if it would keep the smile on her face.
Other than the butterflies, there was nothing immediately visible that pointed to her love for soft and beautiful things. Has she changed, or is she hiding beneath all this dullness? Freddi was a colourful and vibrant woman, at least, that was the Freddi he had known as a girl. Nash recalled her dreams of becoming a governess or a celebrated author, but so far none of those dreams had come true.