The Barrister's Challenge: A Regency Romance (Heirs of Berkshire Book 2)

by Johanna Evelyn

  Henrietta led her to another room where the pianoforte stood against bay windows. “Do you play? I can’t remember.”

  “Not well,” Patience admitted.

  Henrietta sat at the pianoforte and began a melancholy song, infused with whatever grief she carried. Patience felt for Walter’s young sister and wondered if there was more to offer the girl in support for Patience knew what it was like to be floating with no hope of the future to anchor one’s feelings.

  As Henrietta moved onto the next melancholy song, Patience quickly became weary of the depressing tunes of the minor chords.

  She stood as Henrietta finished. “I am quite thirsty. Do you think it is almost time for tea?”

  “Oh, I am sorry. Yes, let me fetch Mama.”

  Henrietta stood, but Patience waved her down.

  “No, it would be a delight if you would continue playing. You have such a wonderful talent. I can find a maid.”

  Henrietta hesitated then gladly took her seat again behind the pianoforte and began playing yet another dreary song.

  Patience took a relieved breath before ducking out of the room. She bolted up to the study to search for any more useful records Daniel had kept in reference to the new hires. Walter had been so focused on that letter she was sure there was something they missed.

  She quietly entered the study then went to the cupboards, looking through all the nooks and crannies. She knew she shouldn’t be snooping so, but Walter had practically given her permission. She kept an ear out for the music downstairs, its melancholy tones easily sounding through the house.

  Finally, she found the file she sought with information of the servants. She scanned the new groom’s documentation. He’d come with good references from respectable people in the neighborhood, names she recognized. There didn’t seem to be anything suspicious about him, though it didn’t seem they were in need of a new groom. Why would Daniel have over staffed the house? Perhaps Daniel had been planning on purchasing more horses.

  Setting aside the groom’s documentation, she found the maid’s. Anna Hopkins seemed to have been passed from household to household, hardly able to keep a job though there was no mention of any of Anna’s shortcomings in the file.

  Patience frowned as she scanned the list of her previous employers. Her heart nearly skipped a beat as she spotted a well-known name. Lord Pincock. Anna had worked for him about two years. It seemed she had been dismissed after Lord Pincock’s latest wife had passed away.

  Patience froze when she realized silence echoed through the home. Henrietta had stopped playing. She quickly gathered up the documents and stuffed them back into the file, replacing it in the drawer.

  As the keys of the pianoforte began tinkling again, Patience relaxed. It was time to return. Something caught the corner of her eye as she stepped from the study. Patience spun as she noticed a maid with light brown hair pulled back into a bun, staring at her, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “What’s all this, miss?” the maid asked.

  Patience wavered, trying to think up an excuse. “Henrietta asked if I might fetch her a shawl. I believe I got lost.”

  The maid clearly didn’t believe her.

  “I reckon I’d best ask Henrietta about that shawl,” she said slowly.

  “No.” Patience bit her lip. “Are you Anna?”

  The maid’s frown deepened. “Who wants to know?”

  “My name is Patience. Patience Hawthorne. I only had a few questions for you.”

  The maid looked taken aback for a moment, but she quickly replaced her scowl. “What kind of questions?”

  As the music still hung in the air, Patience took courage. “I wanted to know... where you were the day Daniel Longman died.”

  Anna’s eyes lit, and Patience wasn’t sure if she liked the way Anna’s lips quivered into a little smirk. “I can show you if you like.”

  Surprise took her at the maid’s answer, but she quickly accepted the offer. “By all means,” she said.

  Anna led her down the servant’s stairs, wiping her hands on her apron. “Mr Longman was a kind soul, he was,” she said over her shoulder as Patience followed. “Took me on when no one else would.”

  “Why ever not?” Patience inquired, relieved she was finally getting somewhere with her investigation.

  Anna opened the back door, leading Patience out into the gardens outside.

  “Too much history,” Anna said darkly. “One master couldn’t bear the sight of me and sent me off. Another didn’t like the way I polished his shoes. Sent me off. One’s child died in my arms—nothing I could do, the child was sickly—and sent me off. It’s been a hard life, miss.”

  This was true enough, but the maid’s smirk set something off in Patience and she instantly put her suspicions up. She watched the maid carefully as she confidently led them through the gardens and toward the thicket of trees ahead. She was a woman of unfortunate circumstances, indeed. But was it entirely coincidental? Anna had a child die in her care, Lord Pincock’s wife had passed away while she was there, and now Daniel...

  Patience stopped in her tracks when Anna made no sign of slowing.

  Realizing Patience was no longer following, Anna turned to face her. “Coming, miss?”

  “I... I don’t want to leave Henrietta’s company entirely. Not while she’s expecting me back any moment.”

  “It’s not far,” Anna promised. “There’s something there you should see.”

  Patience hesitated, looking at the thick trees and underbrush ahead. She and Walter used to play there. The small candle factory lay just off Walter’s property, but not much else stood near it. Why would Anna be out here at all?

  Anna shrugged. “Fine by me. Mr Longman had told me to keep it a secret, so a secret it shall remain.”

  Patience bit her lip as Anna began to walk back to the house. “Wait.”

  Anna turned, her eyebrows raised.

  Patience let out a breath. “Just hurry, please.”

  Anna nodded. “Right this way, miss.”

  Patience followed her into the thicket which turned into a dense forest. Squirrels and birds chattered in the trees giving Patience comfort as she walked.

  “How much further?” she asked.

  “Nearly there.”

  Patience’s senses heightened, her heart beating in her ear drums as she realized they were indeed heading for the candle factory. The situation she was in didn’t make any sense. Why was a maid showing a complete stranger a potential secret of Daniel Longman’s? Why would it be all the way out here in the first place?

  The old factory cropped up in the underbrush. The caved-in roof was visible from afar. It was even more run down since exploring the estate lands with Walter when they were children.

  Anna pointed. “In there.”

  Patience stopped.

  “We don’t need to go any further.” she said doubtful of the maid’s motives.

  “It’s safe,” Anna assured, though it did not bring much comfort as Anna’s hands twisted in the fabric of her dress.

  Anna’s eyes flickered from tree to tree. She was nervous.

  Patience knew it was time to back away and leave. The situation was unsettling, and danger pricked her awareness. But something inside her urged her to continue on. She somehow felt if she were to solve the mystery, Walter would come back to her. Let her share his life, even without her parents’ blessing.

  Swallowing back her fears, she stepped forward.

  Anna went into the house first, ducking through the rotting door. Taking a deep breath, Patience moved inside.

  Her eyes tried to adjust to the dark as she twirled, looking for Anna. What she saw instead, made her blood run cold. A sinking feeling settled into her heart, and she knew instantly she had fallen into another trap.

  Walter’s face was the last thing she remembered as the end of a shovel whizzed toward her head. A splitting pain blossomed at the back of her skull before she fell to her knees. The world blackened around her. Patienc
e fell to the ground, her hands scraping against twigs, dried leaves, and dead bugs that had found their way inside. She had no more time to think as the darkness took her completely.

  Chapter Fourteen

  WALTER RODE ON HORSEBACK into Wallingford in his haste to return promptly, thinking of his family and Patience. Always Patience.

  Lord Pincock’s threat had shaken him to his core, and he needed to discover if they were safe. He made it back to Wallingford in record time. As he rode up the cobbled drive, all he could think of was his family’s safety. Once he was sure everything was sound, he would check on Patience and discuss everything he had learned. With the two of them working together, he was sure they would be able to come up with the evidence he needed to bring Lord Pincock to justice.

  He dismounted, racing up the steps. As he barged through the doors, silence met his ears. His sister didn’t play the pianoforte as he’d expected. She’d been drumming on the thing incessantly since his first arrival. It was her way of dealing with the loss, so he couldn’t deny her the distraction.

  With his heart in his throat, Walter raced up the stairs. “Henrietta!” he called. “Henrietta, are you here?”

  A door to the drawing room opened, and his mother came scurrying out. “Walter, whatever is the matter?”

  Walter rushed to his mother, catching her at the elbows. “Mother, have you seen Henrietta?”

  His mother blinked up at him, alarm welling in her eyes. “Yes, she was at dinner not half an hour ago. Tell me what has happened, Walter.”

  Walter took off for Henrietta’s room, knocking wildly at the closed door. “Henrietta?”

  “Leave me alone.” Her voice sounded thick with anguished sobs.

  His concern spiked as he twisted the knob, pushing the door open to find Henrietta laying on her bed, hugging a pillow, tears streaked down her face. She was otherwise unharmed though she cast him an icy glare.

  “I told you to leave me alone,” she whimpered.

  Walter gingerly sat on the edge of her bed with his mother in tow, appearing at the door, hovering in concern.

  “Why are you crying, Henrietta?” he asked gently.

  They had all been through so much as of late.

  His sister only buried her face in her pillow. “I don’t want to talk of it.”

  Walter looked to his mother as she walked into the room. She took a seat gingerly on the opposite side of the bed, bending to stroke her distraught daughter’s hair. Henrietta turned to her mother, as she softly comforted her daughter.

  His mother brought her eyes to his. “Miss Hawthorne came to see her this morning. Henrietta began playing for her, and Miss Hawthorne left without a word.”

  “She hated my music!” Henrietta wailed.

  Walter’s heart twisted. This wasn’t like Patience at all. “Miss Hawthorne was here? When did she leave?”

  “Sometime before noon, I imagine. That’s when Henrietta realized her guest had left her while she was playing.”

  The story didn’t make sense. “She just got up and... left? Without a word?”

  “She left under the guise of getting the maid to ring for tea.” Henrietta moaned into the pillow, and his mother nodded her confirmation.

  Walter nearly cursed under her breath. He knew exactly what Patience had done. She’d gone to interrogate the servants, but why had she left without a word?

  The sickening answer penetrated his mind.

  “Mother, have you noticed anything suspicious from the servants?”

  His mother frowned at him. “That is an odd question to ask. Of course not.”

  Walter grit his teeth. “Where is the new maid? I want to speak with her.”

  “Anna?” His mother pursed her lips. “We haven’t seen her all day. A shame, because she was supposed to finish the wash today. I’ll need to have a talk with her about how this house should be run.”

  Walter’s mouth dried. “You’re saying she’s missing?”

  With his mother’s nod, he shot up. “There is something I must attend to. Excuse me Mother.”

  He darted from the room before anyone had a chance to protest. He needed to visit Patience to reassure himself everything was as it should be. Patience was safe, surely. At her mother’s side, needlepoint in hand, wishing she was with him.

  He headed straight for his stables, mounting his still saddled horse.

  He urged the horse on, passing a carriage on his way down the road. He’d seen the carriage before, in London, but he had no time to stop and think. Patience came first.

  PATIENCE PEELED HER eyes open as her head pounded out in pain. The setting sun pierced through a broken window, blinding her. She groaned from the throb in her head and tried to stand, but her hands were fastened tightly behind her.

  Patience froze as memories flooded her mind. Anna. The factory. She looked around, gauging her situation. Her eyes landed on Anna, who leaned against the stone wall, and her heart sank. The shovel stood within arm’s reach from her, propped against the corner of the abandoned shack. Anna didn’t smile as she stared at Patience, her eyes glinting in the filtered light.

  Patience licked her dry lips trying to best appraise the situation.

  “Let me go, Anna,” she said slowly, trying to sound as authoritative as possible.

  Anna shook her head. “My employer will be arriving shortly.”

  “Your employer is the Longman family,” Patience reminded the maid, her mind still spinning. “Please, just let me go.”

  Anna ignored her. Patience was about to implore again, not against groveling for her life when the door rattled and opened. A hulking figure filled the frame before stepping inside, coughing from the new dust he’d swirled up.

  “My, this shabby place gets worse each time I visit.”

  Patience’s eyes widened as they settled on Lord Pincock. He spotted her and visibly startled. “Miss Hawthorne?” His eyes snapped to Anna. “Anna, what are you doing with this poor girl?”

  “Lord Pincock, please release me!” Patience cried out. “That maid is insane!”

  “Certainly, Miss Hawthorne. I am baffled. Truly baffled, I say.” He lumbered over to Patience, lowering himself to the ground.

  Patience twisted, exposing her tied wrists so he might undo them.

  He took her wrists in his hands and examined the ties. “Anna, why did you bring Miss Hathorne here?”

  “She was snooping, sir. Looking through the Longman’s things. Asking about me. About Mr Longman’s death. It’s like she knows.”

  Lord Pincock stilled, Patience’s hands still in his. Her heart beat hard against her throat. “Lord Pincock, please...”

  He dropped her hands and made her look him in the eyes. “Miss Hawthorne. Care to share any suspicions with me?”

  “No!” Patience stuttered. “What is it I am to suspect?”

  “Why are you looking into Daniel Longman’s death?” Lord Pincock’s charismatic smile had taken on a forced look.

  “I’m not,” she insisted.

  He sighed then looked to Anna.

  Anna grasped the shovel.

  For the first time, a nasty grin spread across her face. “Would you like me to take care of her, sir?”

  Lord Pincock stood. “No, Anna. You’ve done quite enough already.” He looked down at Patience as she squirmed though it did her little good as her feet were tied together as well.

  “Well, this is a mess, isn’t it?” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pistol, too small in his meaty hands.

  If she hadn’t known the damage it could do, her fright might not have been complete.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to dispose of you now,” Lord Pincock mused. “And Walter, because that boy just doesn’t know when to quit.”

  Patience’s eyes widened as her breath came out in short, shallow gasps. “Why are you doing this?” she whispered.

  Lord Pincock pursed his lips. “Alright, fine then. We can delay the inevitable.” He shifted from one foot to the o
ther. “You don’t think I’ve become wealthy from inheritance and petty investments, do you?” he asked as the glint in his grey eyes deepened. “I’m a bad man who doesn’t like to follow the rules if I can help it.”

  Anna giggled from somewhere behind him, but Patience forced her concentration on the devil in front of her.

  “I need a good barrister in my pocket. Mr Bamber is one of the best, but your dear friend Walter Longman has gotten in the way of Mr Bamber’s promotion. Anna here set up the Vanderbilt case by murdering the opium-addicted Peer and then placing damning evidence in Mr Vanderbilt’s rooms. It was an easy case to win, but one that also captured public interest. Two very good things for my plans for the future.”

  Patience pieced together what Lord Pincock was saying. She didn’t know much about the case Walter was working on but never would have guessed they were connected.

  “You killed an innocent man,” she rasped, “then framed another, all so Mr Bamber could win a case and get a promotion?”

  “Precisely.” Lord Pincock grinned, quite pleased with himself. “I’ve been in this game for years now, Miss Hawthorne. Ever since I realized I could grow my fortunes much faster with multiple wives.” He shrugged. “So, I pushed her off a cliff.”

  Patience’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

  “The rest had more finesse—a bit of poison here, a bit of poison there. The doctors could never figure out what illness took my other three wives.”

  Patience thought she might vomit.

  “I’m building my wealth bit by bit, Miss Hawthorne,” he continued. “And I need Mr Bamber as head barrister to cover me. When we learned Mr Walter Longman had a high possibility of taking on the case, we quickly formed a plan. The death of his brother would be a sure way to get him out of London and off the case.”

  Anger surged through Patience’s whole being. “You killed Daniel just so you could get Walter off a case that you constructed?”

  A sickening laugh bubbled from Lord Pincock’s throat. “Devious, isn’t it? It’s rather addicting, picking off souls one by one.” He leveled the pistol at her. “You’re next on the list, Miss Hawthorne.”