Untitled

by Wendy Bayne

  They satisfied the Major’s curiosity enough without giving away the nature of their work or who exactly was involved in the business. The doctor assured him that Billy had not been damaged, that in fact he was a remarkably well-adjusted, intelligent and curious boy. He did warn him though that raising him above the station from which he had spent the last eight years would take time and patience. The Major dismissed these concerns and tried once again to ask questions about the family business. Samuel and Miles did not indulge him, so he left to retire somewhat disgruntled.

  We were all exhausted from the previous night’s events and those that took us through the early morning hours to dawn. Mother was asleep on her chaise lounge with one hand dangling off the side to rest on my father’s shoulder. It was decided that we should all retire. Emilie and Samuel left to go to their own home. I climbed the stairs while Miles and Dr Jefferson decided to partake of one more nightcap. As I reached my own door, Beth came out of my parents’ room looking perplexed and agitated, she was wringing her hands, so I motioned for her into my room. Once she was in I closed the door. “If you are concerned about my parents, Beth…”

  She cut me off before I could continue. “Oh, no, miss, I’m so sorry. Robert told me what had happened. But that’s not what’s amiss right now, it’s your parents’ room! I went in to get your mother’s shawl and a few pillows, but I found it all tops turvy. I can’t for the life me understand who would do that or why!” I started for the door when she reached out. “Robert has gone to fetch Mr Johnson.” I was unsettled to say the least, was this another attempt of Lord Burley’s to scare my father and uncle into stopping their investigation?

  I heard Miles’ and doctor’s voices and opened my door. Beth and I both stepped out to find Meg and Dalton standing outside of my parents’ room along with Mr Allan. Miles and the doctor stood on the threshold of the room, taking it all in. I walked up and stood behind them, the room looked like a whirlwind had passed through with things knocked over, tossed about, pushed over or torn open. Books had been ripped apart, clothing was in shreds with linings pulled out and hems cut open. A trail of clothing led to their dressing room. My mother’s jewellery on inspection was all there though her jewellery case had been destroyed. The same could be said for my father’s things. In their dressing room the same level of destruction was to be found.

  Dr Jefferson looked ill. “We’d better notify Sir Thomas about this.”

  Miles nodded. “In the meantime some of us have been up all night and need to get some rest. Beth, will you please go to Mrs Turner and stay with her. Robert, will you wake me as soon as Murphy and Jacob return. I’ll send a message to Sir Thomas and Mr Hughes. Mr Allan, please lock the door to this room and the hallway entrance to the dressing rooms. I think perhaps the staff should keep their weapons of choice nearby as well. This is an act of a desperate person.” He turned back to our butler. “Mr Allan, we need to search the house, find out where they entered or if they are still here.” Miles walked me to my room and opened the door letting Meg precede me then he took me in his arms, hugged me close and kissed my forehead. “Try and get some sleep, my darling, and lock your door, Meg should sleep there as well.” Then he let go of me and stepped back.

  I looked up at him. “Miles, what could they have been looking for?”

  He shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know, Lissa, maybe this was just a scare tactic.”

  “Oh my god, I have to check on James!”

  “I’ll do it, love.” He walked down the hall to where the doctor stood waiting, but he said, “I’ll go with Miss Turner, we’ll check on James together. You need to send a message to Sir Thomas and Samuel.” Miles nodded looking back at me and smiled before descending the stairs. Then the doctor came to me and we went off to check on my brother.

  Lettie was with James, but he was sound asleep. She had not heard a thing, but I insisted that when we left that she lock the door. I knew that she would keep watch and wouldn’t get much sleep especially since Murphy had not returned from tracking the Viscount.

  When I returned to my room, Meg helped me prepare for bed. “I don’t understand it, Meg, who could have gotten into my parents’ room without anyone seeing them.”

  Meg bit her lip. “Well, miss, it was a large party with lots of people coming and going. There were ladies coming up here to find a place to rest or freshen up all evening. A there was that son of Lord Burley’s, he was up here with a lady.”

  “What!? Where?”

  “He was with a lady standing by the servant’s stairs, he had his back to me, but I recognized his wine-coloured cut away and those breeches like he was dressed up for Almacks instead of a musical evening and cards.”

  “The lady, did you see who she was?”

  “No, miss, he was standing in front of her.” At which point Meg blushed and swallowed several times, I assumed by her demeanour that the couple were intimately engaged. Then Meg continued, “All I could see was the train of her gown, it was pale, but the light was poor, it could have been blue or maybe lavender.”

  “Thank you, Meg, would you be so kind as to tell Mr Johnson what you saw, he should be in the study or library. I’d go myself, but I’d rather not have to dress again and I’m exhausted…” just then I yawned in a most unladylike fashion, “ring for one of the footmen to go with you.”

  Meg smiled, rang and quietly gathered up my clothes as I sunk down under the covers and fell asleep.

  Chapter 43

  The Great Strategy

  When I awoke, I knew that the day had slipped away from me. The light which usually brightened my room in the morning was gone and the shadows of late afternoon snaked across the floor. My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool as I sat up reaching for the water beside my bed, it was tepid but satisfied my parched mouth. I turned and rang the bell for Meg then sat there and waited and waited. Finally, I flung back the covers, slipped into a simple day dress and ran a comb through my hair, tying it back with a ribbon then slipping on my shoes I left the room. In the hallway all was quiet but the noise emanating from downstairs sounded like an army was camping in our entry hall. Just then Meg appeared at the top of the stairs blowing a stray lock of hair out of her eyes while carrying a tray of my mother’s porcelain figurines and my father’s snuff box collection. “Meg, what on earth are you doing?”

  She looked up with a harassed expression on her face. “Mrs Turner ordered all breakables and pocketables to be removed and locked in the box room on the third floor.”

  “Whatever for? And what is all that noise down there, are we hosting a division of cavalry?”

  Meg looked aggravated. “Not quite, miss, just a few of Major Hopewood’s regiment are here along with Sir Thomas and some of his special men. It seems that someone killed Lord Burley and set fire to his town house.”

  “WHAT!”

  “Yes, miss, that’s exactly what your uncle said.”

  Then she shifted the weight of the tray and it almost overset so I urged her to set it down on one of the hallway tables. “Perhaps you’d better start from the beginning.”

  But before she could say another word Robert came the up the stairs equally burdened with items destined for the box room. He huffed and then said, “Oh, miss, glad to see you’re awake. Mr Johnson and your mother would like to see you in the breakfast room. Dr Jefferson, your aunts and uncles are already there.”

  I looked from one to the other then at their burdens. “Is that the last of it?” They both just nodded. “Then just put them in my dressing room and go get yourself a cup of tea and put your feet up.” They both smiled and lugged the trays into my dressing room after I opened the door for them. As they passed me I slipped the key into Meg’s pocket. “You had better lock both doors just in case.”

  She smiled. “I will, miss.”

  I walked to the head of the stairs looking down on the organized confusion of strange men both in and out of uniform racing across the entry hall between the library and the di
ning room. I was convinced that I was in the midst of a counsel of war. Uncle Samuel was standing at the foot of the stairs looking up at me and it brought back memories of the Abbey and the many times he had waited for me just as he was now. He smiled up at me and held out his hand, “Come on, brat, don’t dawdle. I’m starving. You’ve practically slept the day away. But that fiancé of yours wouldn’t stand for you to be awakened.”

  I raced down the stairs and took his hand, smiling to myself at the word fiancé. “Why the breakfast room?”

  “Ah. Well… Sir Thomas has seconded the dining room as his office and Major Hopewood has taken over the library with his men. Did you know that he was called back to his regiment last night on Sir Thomas’s request?” He chuckled. “Next the old man will want to start a special branch in the military.”

  I pulled on his hand to stop him. “And Father?”

  He fell silent and bit his lip. “He has a fever, Lissa.” I gasped and could feel my lower lip tremble. “But Matthew says it’s not serious, that it was to be expected and that he should come through it alright.”

  “He said ‘should’ and not will?!” I was breathing rapidly and felt sick, I couldn’t move and closed my eyes trying to catch my breath.

  Then suddenly Miles was standing in front of me with a hand on either cheek. “Poppet, poppet? You have to let go of Samuel’s hand before you break it.” I automatically released my uncle’s hand as he whispered a quiet thank you. Then Miles’ took my hand in his. “Samuel, will you get the doctor? I think Lissa is in shock.”

  When he said the word shock it was like a trigger that unlocked my limbs. I shook off Miles’ hand and ran to my father’s study. Lettie and James were there with him. James was laying down beside Papa and giving him kisses on the cheek as Lettie bathed my father’s head with a cool cloth. She smiled at me when she looked up and James put a finger to his lips and in a loud lisp said, “Sssh, Issa, Papa sick and nees us be quiet.”

  As he finished his announcement my father opened one eye. “You tell them, son.” Then he closed the eye and went back to sleep.

  James got up and ran to me putting his arms up. Miles was there beside me and bent down to swing him up to eye level. James popped his thumb in his mouth and looked at us then at our father. He caught me watching him and pulled his thumb out and touched my cheek with his wet hand then with his darling lisp asked, “Is Papa gonna get bettar, Issa?” He caught the sight of a tear rolling down my cheek and his chin started to quiver when I didn’t answer him. “Issa, is Papa…” and he choked on his own tears. I couldn’t lie to him or tell him that I didn’t know.

  My father came to my rescue. “James…you’re a Turner, just like me and Lissa and we don’t give up. I’m going to be alright. I just need to rest… Now you take your sister and go get something to eat… Lettie will watch over me till your mama returns.” He grimaced and closed his eyes for few seconds before saying, “I’ll see you both later.” Then he winked of all things…he winked at us! But this small interaction had exhausted him, and he was sweating more profusely but his eyes were closed again, his breathing was not deep, but it was regular. I looked to Lettie and watched her wring out the clothe yet again. She looked over at us and smiled then nodded that it was okay for us to leave.

  In the breakfast room Mother sat in her usual spot, toying with her soup, she was pale with dark circles under her eyes. She had obviously slept very little and if this kept up it would not be good for the baby. James squirmed to get down out of Miles’ arms and ran to her. “Papa is gonna be okay, Mama, he says Urners don give up!” She smiled at him and pulled a chair close to her, so he could sit beside her and share her soup. Miles and I sat down at the table then John and Richard served us.

  I looked to my Aunt Mary, but she shook her head as if she could read my mind, so I decided not to state the obvious about my mother. Instead I turned to Emilie and asked how she was feeling. From her appearance, she was only marginally better than my mother. In fact, everyone looked exhausted. Sir Thomas came into the room followed by Major Hopewood, Murphy and Jacob. I raised my eyebrows at the state of Murphy and Jacob, they both looked like they had been beaten within an inch of their lives but they each managed a smile as I stared at them open-mouthed. Mother asked them all to be seated though Jacob tried to resist, but Sir Thomas insisted. John and Richard both gave him a nudge and a smile as they served the newcomers.

  Sir Thomas ate his soup in silence and when he was done, and we were waiting for the next course, he looked pointedly at my mother. “Mrs Turner, I have talked to Matthew and he says that with great care Colin can withstand a trip to the country, therefore, I want you to move there as soon as possible.”

  Mother raised her head with a look of astonishment. “Sir Thomas, my husband almost died. He is still very ill, and you advise us to journey to the country?!” Then she turned and glared at Dr Jefferson who wouldn’t meet her eyes.

  Sir Thomas was not to be put off by her and continued, “Yes, I want you to go to Mr Johnson’s home in Dorset.”

  Mother sat with a sour look on her face wringing her napkin. “Colin will not be happy.”

  Sir Thomas cleared his throat. “Nonsense, the country air will be good for him and I understand that the gypsies have returned to winter there and with them there it may be a deterrent to anyone planning any hostile action. Those old Tudor homes not only have character but conveniently thick walls and small windows plus the two floors make it adequately defensible.” He seemed very pleased with himself as he looked around the table, but no one was smiling with him.

  Mother straightened up and glared at Sir Thomas. “I beg your pardon, Sir Thomas, but I would like to know why you think you can order my family about on a whim. Is the investigation to be continued here in London?” Sir Thomas nodded in the affirmative. “Then I see no reason to impose on Mr Johnson. If I move my family, it will be to our country home in Somerset and only when my husband says so.”

  Sir Thomas smiled at her as he might at a child and I could see my mother setting up for a fight. At this point it was Miles who jumped in. “It’s a trap, ma’am, if you go to Somerset that’s what they want. They can’t risk a major altercation in London, not with the resources available to us here. By bringing everyone to Dorset with the gypsies there, it should be a great inconvenience for anyone to attack your family…if that is their goal and so far, that’s what all our intelligence indicates. He wants to eradicate the Turners and Hughes, ma’am, so we intend to give him a target that he cannot resist with everyone congregated in once place. My home is not a great entailed property and as such has been considered expendable.” He turned and glared at Sir Thomas. “But as Sir Thomas has indicated it is very defensible and the gypsies will provide us with a decided advantage…that is if I can convince them to once again stand with us.” Miles started to pace which was indicative of his unease and concern about this plan. He paused and taking a deep breath continued, “Therefore, the new Lord Burley, if it is him, will have to bring to bear all of his associates…if his goal is to eliminate you. The Crown will be sending some troops to support the effort. This could be the end of it, Mrs Turner, no more threats, no more unexpected attacks, it will be over.”

  Mother’s shoulders slumped forward. “You make it sound like a siege, Mr Johnson.” Then she looked at Aunt Mary and Uncle Arthur, both nodded as did Uncle Samuel and Emilie. Lastly, she turned her head to look at me and I nodded. She started to cry, and James reached up to catch a tear from her right eye before it could roll down her cheek. “Don’ cry, Mama… Papa says ‘Urners don’ give up.”

  She smiled at his innocence, wiped her eyes on the back of her hand then sniffed and looked at Sir Thomas then Miles. “Miles, it’s lovely of you to invite us to take shelter in your home, thank you. I’m looking forward to seeing the improvements you’ve made. Will your father and Lady Jane be there as well?”

  Miles looked perplexed, “Well, ma’am, I…I’m not sure.”

  Mother sm
iled her most winning smile. “I should think that it would be a perfect time for a wedding and they surely wouldn’t want to miss out on the festivities.” I was as shocked as everyone else.

  Then Mother stopped smiling and looked around the table. “Come now, if we are to set a trap in Dorset, doesn’t it make sense to act like we are carrying on with life as usual and not burying ourselves behind fortifications?”

  Sir Thomas puckered his lips, nodding, “Very astute, Mrs Turner, it will be easier to hide my men amongst your revellers.” Then he turned to Miles. “Johnson, how amenable are the town folk to you?”

  Miles was concentrating as if tallying up potential allies. “Well, the local vicar is a most persuasive man and Father did donate the money to repair the church roof and bell tower. Plus, I intend to build a larger school and hire more people from the local populace as the estate begins to show a profit. The Dawsons buy all our supplies and food stuffs from the locals and towns people and Dawson has been assisting with repairs to the vicarage. The gypsies even set to rights the graveyard after the last storm, though I’m not sure how he’ll feel about the flowers they planted. I would say he’s our biggest ally and can win over most of the village folk that are not impressed with my unconventional wandering tenants. With him on our side I would say that we could count on the general population to stand behind us or at least not side with our enemies.” He grinned, “And the additional commerce of a wedding and the business from a house full of guests just before Christmas will be welcomed.” He turned to my mother beseechingly. “But, Irene, I haven’t much in the way of staff beyond the Dawsons.”