An Unexpected Title (Suspicious Circumstance Book 1)

by Jackie Williams

  Madeleine gulped back the bile that threatened to rise.

  “Very well. I will wait here and send Mathews and Doctor Finch directly to the lake. I hope they will be here soon.”

  Ash placed his hand on her waist and guided her towards the garden room.

  Madeleine’s eyes followed him as he strode across the lawns and disappeared behind the rose arches. He reappeared a few minutes later looking somewhat smaller, but no less imposing, as he made his way from the formal gardens down to the lake. The split tree was obvious even from the garden room, but the fallen trunk would be hidden in the long grass.

  A knock on the door distracted her. Flack entered, Mrs. Grenfell at his side with a tray of tea.

  “Mathews and Doctor Finch arrived a few moments ago, my Lady. Apparently they were both on their way here anyway. I sent both directly to the lake and have asked young Aiden to take a cart.” He nodded towards the window.

  Madeleine turned to stare at the two figures now walking rapidly across the lawn. It would be some minutes before they caught up with her husband. The clatter of crockery caught her attention and she turned once again to see Mrs. Grenfell placing sliced ham and buttered bread onto a plate. The woman put the fare on the table at the side of the settee and looked somewhat aggrieved when Madeleine didn’t move directly towards it.

  Mrs. Grenfell sniffed loudly to attract Madeleine’s attention.

  “You can see him just as well from here as you can from over there, though what he was thinking coming back like that all covered in dust and grime from the road. He must have ridden like the wind to return from London that quickly, though I suppose that monster of a horse of his can travel twice as fast as most. Mark my words! We’ll be scrubbing the halls for a week! Now, come over here and eat, I will not take no for an answer. You will be wasting away if you carry on like this.”

  Madeleine tore her eyes from where she could now see Asher standing at the side of the lake peering into the water and took the few steps to the settee. She picked up one of the delicate canapés and let her eyes wander back to him. Somehow, his huge frame still managed to look elegant. Perhaps it was the length of his legs encased in suitably tight riding breeches that added to the allure.

  She took a small bite of the bread and hoped Mrs. Grenfell hadn’t heard the unladylike rumble her stomach suddenly produced. A second morsel of bread and ham followed the first as she realized how ravenous she was. She looked over the plate. There were several other delicacies. Some with boiled egg and others with paté. All looked delicious. Another wouldn’t hurt. It wasn’t as if she had eaten anything of substance for several days. Her stomach rumbled again as if to confirm the sudden gnawing hunger. Now she had actually eaten the two tasty morsels, she felt famished. Starving.

  Until, third dainty in hand, she turned back to the window and the scene unfolding before her.

  Asher had climbed onto the fallen tree trunk. He leaned out over the water, bending low, peering about, obviously not finding what he searched for. Madeleine stifled the bubble of near hysterical laughter that threatened to leave her lips. The boys had clearly made a mistake. Not surprising given their active imaginations. It was as Asher had guessed. They had probably seen nothing more than a floating log, a drowned sheep at worst. The tension in her shoulders fell away and she sagged back into the seat.

  But it came screaming back at her when Asher’s head lifted suddenly, his hand rising to cover his mouth as he visibly wobbled on his perch.

  The place hadn’t been difficult to find. Two fishing rods and two pairs of small shoes lay abandoned on the fallen stump. One of the lines stretched far out into the lake. The other drooped nearer to the shore. Bad casting or maybe the boy had pulled his line back for more bait.

  A dragonfly, its gossamer wings flitting over the surface of the water, passed Ash by before heading across the field behind him. Shade from the split lightning tree played over the water. The place looked serene, beautiful. He glanced up towards the house, only partly visible due to the couple of trees he had walked past. Could Madeleine see him? Did she watch him from the garden room window?

  Her beauty had struck him anew as he had walked towards the group of people gathered around the two red haired boys who had dashed, bare footed and eyes full of fright, into the house before him. With genuine concern on her face, she had taken control as the boys told their tale. His wife had been nothing but sensible, reassuring, about to rein in any misplaced hysteria from the staff. He wasn’t sure how she was holding herself together. First her father and now her friend.

  Ash picked up the fishing rod with the drooping line and tugged. Definitely snagged on something, but what? He climbed up onto the log and peered into the murky water. The line disappeared into the water on the other side of a large boulder whose upper surface protruded from the weeds. The two red headed boys hadn’t mentioned the rock, but it made a good stepping stone. One that could take him a little nearer his quarry, whatever that might turn out to be. Nothing probably, as there was definitely no body of any kind in sight. Ash bent his knees and dangled a leg over the side of the tree trunk. Perfect! If he stretched his leg out, his booted foot would just reach the boulder. Wouldn’t even get the leather wet with luck.

  A cloud of buzzing flies startled him as his foot descended. Ash stopped and regained his balance as he stared in horror at what lay submerged in the long stemmed and shadowy reeds below him. He retched as he realized that there was no boulder.

  The body was well camouflaged amongst the plants, by luck or design Ash didn’t know, but the man’s buttoned jacket was the same muddy brown as the dark water and what showed of his white shirt was covered in green slime.

  He held still for what felt like hours before he wobbled again and his booted foot accidentally touched a jacket button. He raised his hand to his face and pinched his nose at the smell. The cloud of flies rose and hit him a moment later. The boys hadn’t made any mistake, though how they had recognized the man was a different thing altogether.

  He withdrew his foot and jumped down from the log back onto bank of the lake. Though not afraid of the task, the body was in an awkward spot. He would need ropes to pull it out and probably a couple of men to help. Dragging a dead weight the size of a man was no easy matter, even when dry. It was only worse when waterlogged.

  Voices alerted Ash to other interested parties. He was about to warn them away when Finch and Mathews hurried past the split tree and came into view.

  “Ho there!” Finch called and waved a hand. “No need to ask what you have found. I can smell him over here.”

  Ash glanced at a pale-faced Mathews. The man retched suddenly and reached into his pocket for a handkerchief.

  “It’s a wonder no one realized he was here before.” He breathed into the cloth he held to his nose.

  Ash glared at the man.

  “The house is in mourning. I doubt anyone would have taken a stroll down here before today.”

  Doctor Finch lifted his chin towards the fallen tree.

  “It’s definitely him then?”

  Ash shook his head.

  “I have no idea. I never met the man before, and you can’t see much of him now. The body has settled again. Only his swollen belly lies above the water surface.”

  Mathews retched again as Finch nodded.

  “It is the gasses in the gut caused by the decomposition. I suspect that being a shipping man, you might have seen it often enough before.”

  Ash confirmed the doctor’s suspicions.

  “Generally the whole process is more advanced when we get them. Tend to have been picked clean by ocean creatures. This smells more like a gangrenous wound than anything preserved in brine.”

  This time Mathews could not hold down his horror. His lunch and what remained of his breakfast came up, leaving him gasping and wiping his sweat-streaked brow.

  Doctor Finch slapped the constable on the back.

  “Come on, man. Brace up. You must have seen a dead body b
efore now.”

  Mathews spat on the ground and wiped his mouth.

  “Of course I have, but I’ve not had the pleasure of one several days old and festering in a lake.” He took a breath before continuing. “Though at least this means I can put this case to rest.”

  Ash frowned.

  “What? How? You don’t even know if it is Leyman yet. And if it is, how does that make him the murderer?”

  Doctor Finch looked over towards the reeds.

  “Let’s ascertain who the body belongs to and the means of death before we reach any conclusions.” He took a step forward.

  Ash caught hold of the man’s arm.

  “We’re going to need a hook and some rope unless you don’t mind your trousers becoming wet. He’s four feet beyond the log.”

  Finch hesitated and turned back to search the horizon.

  “Flack was going to ask one of the stables lads to bring a cart. Ah! There he is now!” The man pointed up the slope to where an open backed vehicle made its way along the track from the side of the house. The lad driving the cart stepped down as he greeted the group.

  “You’ve found Mr. Leyman, my Lord?” The young man pulled his cap from his head and squashed it nervously between his hands as he directed his question to Ash.

  Ash gave a nod.

  “We are unsure as to whom it is yet, but yes, we have definitely found someone. I’ve not met you before, but I take it you are young Aiden. Lady Madeleine has told me of your success with the foal.”

  Aiden nodded in return.

  “That’s right, my Lord. Been worried sick about him but he seems to be picking up. Thought he wasn’t going to make it for a while. Wasn’t sure if he’d had enough of his mother’s milk.”

  Ash could feel the young man’s anxiety and tried to reassure him.

  “Time will tell. Whatever the outcome, know that you are doing a fine job. Don’t think I will forget it.” Ash glanced back over his shoulder before continuing. “We have a distressing task ahead of us. I will quite understand if you are reluctant to...” He stopped as Aiden shook his head firmly.

  “I’ll be fine, my Lord. Mr. Leyman was good to me. I want to show him my respects even if they come through hauling him out of the lake.”

  Ash took Aiden by the shoulder and gripped it briefly.

  “Good lad, and thank you. If you bring the cart nearer the fallen trunk we won’t have to carry him far.”

  Aiden climbed back onto the cart. He twitched the reins and drove the vehicle onwards. Clearly embarrassed by the younger man’s apparent bravery, Mathews took a deep breath and gathered himself for the task ahead. He stood by the lake removing his boots, trousers, and jacket before wading into the water. He waved the flies away from his face as he spoke a few moments later.

  “He’s definitely dead, but it’s hard to say who he is exactly. I wouldn’t like to lay a bet that he’s your stable master.” He glanced up at Ash who once again stood looking down from the log. “We’ll need a formal identification from someone.”

  Ash shook his head.

  “I’m afraid I cannot help. As I said before, I have never laid eyes on the man before now.”

  Aiden drew in a steadying breath, closed his eyes briefly as he pulled off his own boots and jacket, and stepped into the reeds. He waded forth and set his young jaw as he frowned down at the bloated body. He rolled up his sleeves before dunking his hands into the water and lifting the waterlogged corpse more clearly into view.

  “It’s Mr. Leyman all right. See that scar through his eyebrow.” Aiden pointed. “Told me he got that in a brawl years ago. Someone was wearing a ring and he didn’t duck quickly enough.”

  Mathews swallowed several times before he gave a nod.

  “I recognize the scar too. That’s good enough for me. Now let us have him out of here so the doctor can take a quick look at him.” Puffing and blowing, they dragged the body through the reeds to the shore, and hauled Thomas Leyman onto the bank. Water poured from the man’s clothes and his open mouth.

  Doctor Finch frowned down, his eyes travelling quickly as the flies descended. He waved his hand over the body, dispersing the black cloud.

  “Nothing obvious from here. Looks as though he just drowned. I’ll have to take a closer look, but at the moment I would say he simply threw himself in.” He glanced up at Aiden. “Could the man swim?”

  Aiden looked up from where he drew his trousers over his damp legs. He shoved his feet into his boots as he answered.

  “Like a fish. He used to come down here for a swim most summer evenings. Working with the horses can be hot and sweaty work. Seemed easier taking a dip in the lake than hauling water for a bath.”

  Mathews finished dressing and touched the body with the toe of his boot. More water ran back down the bank and soaked into the ground.

  “So he would have come here the other evening after seeing the old Earl?” He asked the lad.

  Aiden shook his head.

  “I doubt it. He told me he would be right back. Milady was in dire trouble and wasn’t likely to birth easily. The foal was turned and we’d had no luck trying to move it back in the right direction. It can be a messy business and we had already guessed the mare might not make it, but we wanted the go ahead from the earl before doing anything more to save the foal. Mr. Leyman wouldn’t have stopped to take a bath in the lake. Besides, he wouldn’t swim near anywhere near here. Too many weeds for a start. And there is the possibility of being seen from the house.” He pointed up the hill to where Claiborne stood on the horizon. “He would swim down by the shingle beach. Easier to wade in and out besides being concealed by the willows. And he wouldn’t swim with his clothes on either. Especially not his riding boots.” The lad pointed to the man’s footwear. It might not have been of the highest quality but no one would have walked into a lake with their boots on.

  Mathews grunted as he glanced about the area Aiden indicated.

  “Hmm. So what was he doing down here then? Could he have gone for a walk, sat here for a rest and then gone and slipped in?”

  Ash’s eyes fixed on the fallen log. A dip along the trunk made it a perfect sitting spot. The water was restful and calming.

  “Is it possible that he might have come here after his argument with the earl before heading back to the stables? It is a good place to relax, and he needed a clear head to help the horse.” Ash thought of the reasons the man had stomped out of the house. Would Leyman’s dashed hopes have affected his attention to the sick mare? Possibly. Anger burned through Ash as he remembered his own shattered feelings when he had read Jane’s letter breaking off their engagement. He would have run Kirkdale through if the man had been in the vicinity, such was his ire. Ash knew that he wouldn’t have given a thought to a horse. But then he hadn’t a sick animal to think about. Leyman had. It was entirely conceivable that he walked to the lake to rein in his temper before going back to the stables. Ash spoke again. “If he had sat on the log and then suddenly fallen forwards...” They all peered over the other side of the lump of wood to where they had discovered the body.

  Mathews scratched under his hat as they stood back.

  “Looks as though he did exactly that, though why is a different matter. No one just falls off a log and drowns. Especially when they can swim.”

  Ash looked at the water again.

  “It’s not even that deep. Only came up to Aiden’s thighs.”

  The doctor spoke up.

  “You can drown in an inch of water. Believe me, I’ve seen it before. About five or six years ago. A local drunk fell over after an evening of indulgence at the inn in town. It had been raining. He landed face down in a puddle and drowned.”

  “I remember that!” Aiden bobbed from foot to foot, clearly eager to tell his view of the tale. “Old Ben Billings. I was only about ten but I remember my mother saying that she always knew how he’d die of the drink one day. She cuffed me around the ear for laughing when I said that I bet she never guessed that he’d die dri
nking from a puddle.”

  Ash stifled a chuckle.

  “Sounds as though you deserved it.”

  Mathews coughed impatiently.

  “Drowning in puddles aside, if someone would give me a hand getting Leyman into the cart, perhaps the doctor will be able to make a proper examination of the body back at the house.”

  Ash shook his head.

  “Not the house. The staff are upset and nervous as it is. If they see Leyman like this, they are only going to be worse. Besides, with the best will in the world, he’s already a day or two past burial. Is there an outhouse or somewhere more suitable until I can arrange for the coffin maker to attend him? I’m afraid that I have not yet had the time to tour the estate.”

  Aiden gave a quick nod.

  “There’s the old wood store. It’s been almost empty since his Lordship had the new one built. Just a few piles of kindling left to move. I can take Mr. Leyman there right now.”

  Doctor Finch moved around the body while Aiden lifted a wide board from the back of the cart. He lay it beside the stable master and Mathews, Ash, and Finch lifted the unfortunate man onto it. A few moments later they pushed the still dripping corpse onto the cart and covered the body with a couple of empty feed sacks.

  The doctor and Mathews climbed up beside Aiden while Ash said he would walk. His long stride kept pace with the cart as they made their way back to Claiborne

  A small, curious crowd had gathered at the servants’ entrance to the house, but most glanced away as they travelled past. Ash heard a sob and a few sniffs as they bore the body around the side of the house. He glanced over the observers. Several of the women held handkerchiefs to their eyes. The men held their caps in their hands. No one returned Ash’s gaze.

  Aiden jumped from his seat as soon as he stopped the horses outside the old wood store. He pushed open the creaking door and held it back for Ash to peer around inside. A stack of kindling remained at one side but that was all.