by Janet Woods
Hal stepped forward. ‘I’ll help you carry her to the cart.’
‘Many thanks. Would you allow me a private moment with the earl, Hal?’
Hal took the sodden body in his arms and moved out of earshot.
Ryder said, ‘Offer the reverend my condolences and tell him I’ll call on him in the morning about eleven. Tell him Mary lost her life trying to open the sluice gate, and an enquiry is unnecessary.’
‘He’ll appreciate that. By the way, I’ve decided to take you up on your offer. Will you accept my hand on it?’
‘You might like to take a few days to think on it, Luke.’
‘I’m through with thinking.’
‘Very well, then we will exchange contracts the day after tomorrow at Stephen Tessler’s office.’
A handshake was exchanged, the purchase sealed.
Ashburn and Hal strode off with the body of the unfortunate Mary Bryson, skirting around the water. It was already beginning to recede, leaving a muddy rim around the edge.
Hal was soon back, bringing Henry to Ryder’s side. ‘You look exhausted. I’ll help you mount?’ He made a stirrup with his cupped hands and tossed him up, and then plucked his bag from the branch he’d hung it on.
On the way back to Madigan House, Hal said, ‘You’re too quiet, Ryder. What’s bothering you?’
‘The manner of Mrs Bryson’s death. She must have been terrified. I was.’
Hal understood fear. ‘It was an unfortunate accident.’
‘Remember the stone that took two of us to lift from the sluice? I found it pinning her body to the bottom of the creek. Her feet were bare and she was wearing only a nightgown.’
‘You were in no state to examine the scene, my friend, but I did, so you can lay your mind to rest. There were deep imprints of her feet in the mud and slide marks going into the stream. Remember that the stream wouldn’t have been as deep as it is now, but it would still be too deep for someone of Mrs Bryson’s small stature. After consideration it appears as if she tried to use the stone as leverage to regain her footing and her feet went from under her. She fell backwards. The stone followed and pinned her to the bottom. Perhaps she was walking in her sleep … some people do.’
‘You make everything sound so simple, Hal. What if she was already unconscious and someone placed the stone on her to weigh her down, and then slid her over the mud and down the bank into the water?’
‘Someone murdered her, you mean? Why should they?’
‘Mary Bryson was a gossip, and was nasty with it. She was also addicted to laudanum.’
Ryder sighed. ‘There will be no enquiry unless the reverend insists. Mrs Bryson was lying on her back with the stone on her stomach and chest, like a stranded turtle. What was she doing there in her night attire in the first place?’
‘Trying to flood Duck Pond Cottage, as she had on occasions before. I imagine she was trying to further the petition of Ashburn, in trying to cause annoyance to the occupants. The lady was muscular, and the depth of the footprints, especially the heels, tell their own story – as one of the men there witnessed when I pointed it out. They are almost too perfect.’
‘What if the coroner ruled that a crime had been committed? Who would they suspect first? Adele, I imagine.’
‘You think the reverend did it?’
‘Mary was becoming a nuisance to him but I doubt if he’d go so far as to murder her.’
‘That leaves Luke Ashburn. For what reason?’
‘Adele hasn’t found the deeds to Duck Pond Cottage yet?’
‘It matters not. I’ve bought the entire Lawrence estate from Ashburn. It will become part of mine, as Adele’s father and I had originally planned. Ashburn has agreed to stay on and set the place to rights.’
‘That’s an odd thing for him to do.’
‘Not when I tell you that Ashburn has his eye on young Sarah and intends to take her to America with him.’
‘The devil he does!’ Hal fell quiet for a moment or two, and then he laughed. ‘I’m of a mind to settle down myself. Young Miss Pelham is a spirited little filly, and practical as well as fair. I might give him a run for his money in that regard.’
‘Really, then you should be made aware that something has happened that might change the direction of her life entirely.’
‘Which is?’
‘Her father and grandfather have turned up.’
‘But I thought … Edgar Pelham?’
‘So did she, but it seems not. I haven’t told her yet. I need to prepare her, before a meeting with the concerned parties, and see what emerges. I’ll ask Stephen Tessler to co-preside over it with you, if you don’t mind.’
‘What does your lady love think of your machinations concerning her home?’
‘Adele doesn’t know.’
‘And if her papers come to the surface?’
A grin spread across Ryder’s face. ‘All for the better since I won’t have to explain myself. If Adele finds out first she will raise merry hell.’
‘Am I to believe that Mrs Pelham has finally been conquered?’
Ryder’s smiled faded. ‘That subject is not for discussion. Let’s say she is not some woman of convenience, but the woman I’ve loved all my life.’
‘My apologies, Ryder, I wasn’t suggesting otherwise.’
‘Something is holding her back I feel … something I’m missing. I have the strongest feeling it’s something to do with the late Edgar Pelham.’
Madigan House came into view, and Gypsy must have broken free from Duck Pond Cottage, for he hurtled through the door from the kitchen, throwing warning yaps left right and centre. Horses neighed, and chickens clucked their way around the stable yard.
It all seemed so normal and Ryder felt at peace as they unsaddled their mounts and let them into the stalls for the groom to deal with. He had everything he wanted in life – except Adele. She would come round eventually, he was sure of it, but he wanted her body and soul. He’d meant what he’d said about loving her for ever.
They went in through the kitchen, Gypsy sniffing at their heels. Mrs Betts looked shocked at their unkempt appearance.
‘We’ll clean ourselves up and then will have some tea in the drawing room.’
‘You didn’t eat much breakfast, my lord,’ Mrs Betts pointed out.
What he’d had he’d left under a bush. ‘I had a repast of pond water and weed with a couple of ducks hanging off my heels.’
‘He will have coddled eggs, and toast, with a slice of ham, and so will Mr Stover,’ Adele said from the doorway. Her glance grazed against his, and there was a shy awareness about her, so she could hardly meet his eyes. A smile edged along her mouth. ‘We saw you coming past the barn so have prepared some hot water so you can wash. If you take the kettle with you there should be enough for two.’
He crossed the room and gazed down at her, quite willing to kiss her senseless in front of anyone who wanted to gossip about it.
She must have guessed it because alarm filled her eyes. To break the tension between them she took a step back. ‘Tell me what happened?’
‘I nearly drowned.’
Her face drained of colour and she whispered, ‘You nearly drowned? It cannot happen again.’
His ears pricked. She must be referring to Edgar Pelham. ‘I’m very much alive.’
‘So you are, and thank goodness.’
Her colour began to return and as she took a visible grip on herself her smile returned.
Tremors ran through Ryder’s body and he began to tremble, even though he fought to control it.
Adele gave him a quick look before she turned to gaze at Hal. ‘Is that everything?’
‘A tree was blocking the sluice and he went down to free it and discovered the body of Mrs Bryson.’
Adele gasped. ‘How terrible a tragedy … poor Mrs Bryson.’
‘Our host didn’t have enough strength left to fight the sudden rush of water that occurred, so I went down and brought him up. Neither of us could
see a hand in front of our faces.’
‘Hah … then you were both addle-brained.’ She gazed at Hal. ‘Are you all right?’
He nodded. ‘Just cold.’
Ryder’s teeth began to chatter and she crossed to him. She took her shawl from her shoulder and set it around him, still warm from her body. He captured the faint, musky perfume of loving on her.
‘There,’ she said, and softly, as though she was comforting a child. He touched her hand for a moment under the shawl, and she smiled when her fingers slid through his, leaving behind a tingling awareness of him.
‘The pair of you must go and change. It’s important that you keep warm in case you catch a chill. No doubt you can fend for yourselves in the absence of a male servant. Is the fire lit in Lord Madigan’s chamber, Mrs Betts?’
‘Yes, Mrs Pelham, and the cook has a large pot of chicken broth simmering on the hob. That will go down a treat, I daresay.’
Hal smiled at the housekeeper. ‘You’re an angel, Mrs Betts. So is the cook.’
‘Thank you, sir. Speaking for myself, I’d rather remain earthbound for the time being.’
‘Very sensible, I’d say.’
The pair of them left, Ryder hugging Adele’s shawl around him. He turned at the door. ‘Can you manage by yourself, Del?’
‘I’m not by myself. I have your entire staff at my disposal. Go, make yourself comfortable and rest.’
‘Then I’ll see you in the library about five. Ask Miss Pelham to join us if you would … for dinner as well, since it concerns her.’
Eighteen
It had been a busy day, with workers cluttering up the kitchen while they waited for breakfast.
The aunts had arrived, chattering with excitement and with a cat clutched to each chest under their shawls. Adele got both them and cats settled in a room with a cosy fire and a tray of tea.
Gradually everything regained a semblance of order. The workers left. The daylight faded into twilight and William Swift was lighting the candles. Madigan House resumed its normal background hum.
When the long clock in the hall chimed the hour, hair tidied and faces washed Adele and Sarah entered the library.
The men stood. John Moore had transformed the two formerly bedraggled men into lean and elegant creatures.
Goodness, there hadn’t been much resting going on, Adele thought, eyeing the empty glasses and the game in progress on the chessboard. Both men were smartly turned out and she could smell the sharp lime scent of Ryder’s soap.
Adele had also managed to wash, and she felt refreshed. Her gown still had the smell of rain lingering about it but had been dried and pressed, her shawl returned earlier by John Moore.
Her heart soared when Ryder smiled at her. Both men stood. All she could think of was the time they’d spent together in the barn, and her knees felt weak at the thought of repeating it. All those years she’d gone without the need for a man, and now she had cravings that were positively indecent.
Ryder indicated the chaise longue and they seated themselves. ‘I’ve asked Hal to stay in case there’s anything legal you don’t understand, Miss Pelham. If you’d prefer privacy he will leave … and so will Adele.’
Sarah smiled at Hal. ‘I missed greeting you earlier. Welcome back, Hal, of course you must stay. As for Adele, she knows everything there is to know about me. What is it you want to say, my lord?’
‘What if I told you that your father was alive?’
Adele put her arm round Sarah when the girl moved closer to her. Only in her wildest nightmares had she imagined that Edgar could have escaped his fate and still be alive? She felt as though somebody had punched her. ‘What sort of cruel trickery are you inflicting on Sarah?’ she flung at him. ‘Edgar drowned. I know he did. I was there, and I … I saw it happen.’
Sarah gazed at everyone in bewilderment. ‘How can he still be alive when he’s drowned? Do I have to go back to him?’
‘No … I put that very badly, Sarah, I’m sorry. It’s your real father who is alive. So is your grandfather. His name is James Pelham and he’s the person who delivered the trunks. The man known as Edgar Pelham was actually your uncle.’
Sarah looked totally confused. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Your real father is named Jeffery Pelham. Edgar took you from his care, and then he wrote to him and told him you’d died.’
‘Why did he steal me in the first place?’
‘I don’t know. Perhaps he wanted a daughter.’
‘He didn’t act as though he wanted one. He scared me half to death. He said I was a nuisance and knew too much. Sometimes he hit me. He said he was going to sell us into slavery.’
‘Perhaps he did it out of spite. I understand that he and your father didn’t get along.’
‘I can’t remember. The only thing I clearly remember from that time was when he killed my mother. He put his hands around her neck and he shook her backwards and forwards and he threw her down some stairs. There was a snap and she went all floppy, like a rag doll. My mother’s eyes were open and they were brown.’ Sarah placed her hands against her face. ‘He said he’d kill me if I told anyone.’
‘Which is probably why he stole you from your family, so you wouldn’t tell anyone.’
‘He said he had a legacy to collect, and when he got it he was going to leave without us, and never return.’
‘He said that?’
‘He wrote it in his notebook.’ Sarah lowered her voice. ‘I think my father – Edgar Pelham – was going to kill us.’
Ryder and Hal exchanged a glance, then Hal said, ‘What made you think that?’
‘He put something in Adele’s drink on the night he fell overboard. I think it was laudanum, for she was sleepy. He didn’t like us talking to the other passengers or the crew. We had to restrict ourselves to the cabin for most of the time. Adele and I used to take a few turns around the deck in the evenings when the water was calm. On that last night it was rougher, so he took her. Adele was in pain that evening. She said she was suffering from sea sickness, but I knew he’d hurt her again because she had a bruise on her face and more bruises on her upper arms, and she’d been weeping.’
Ryder gazed Adele’s way and she grimaced. ‘I’m not a very good sailor. I fell over when the ship canted sideways.’
‘That’s what you always say. But this time you were quite befuddled and didn’t seem to know what you were doing. You said you were tempted to throw yourself overboard and put an end to it. I was so worried I confided in the watchman, who promised to keep you in his sight.’
Sarah was peeling back the layers of something Adele didn’t want to remember. ‘Stop this at once!’ and her voice was sharp enough to bring the girl to heel. ‘You’re here to prepare for the meeting with your relatives, Sarah, not to indulge in discussing my private business. It seems that gossip is catching, and I would be obliged if you didn’t encourage her in the practice of repeating what is little more than supposition, my lord.’
‘Forgive me, Adele,’ he said, looking slightly abashed.
Sarah’s eyes had widened at the rebuke and now she coloured. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, but it’s the truth. Ask the other passengers. They knew you were ill-treated by him, and most of them avoided us because of it.’
‘Oh, God,’ Adele groaned. ‘Is there no end to this?’
Hal intervened with, ‘Let’s stick to the point of the meeting. Do you still have Edgar Pelham’s journals, Sarah? They should be handed over to his father and brother. It will help them piece together what happened.’
‘I can’t, I burned them in the trunks.’ Sarah considered for a moment, and then gazed at Ryder rather doubtfully. ‘Thank you for finding my kin, my lord.’
‘It was accidental, since they found us first. I believe you expressed a hope that you had family still living. Now you know you have.’
‘What’s your impression of them, my lord?’
Adele became the recipient of a raised eyebrow and a grin bef
ore Sarah said, ‘May I ask him that Adele. They are my kin, after all. Or would the answer be classed as gossip too?’
Adele’s annoyance faded. Sarah certainly knew how to snap back. Picking up a cushion she threw it at the girl and the chess pieces scattered.
‘Damn, and just when I was in the winning position,’ Hal muttered.
‘I only met your grandfather. He seems to be a good man and he was overjoyed to discover you were still alive, and eager to see you. I believe they will have your welfare at heart. I wanted you to get used the idea first. Perhaps they would like to stay for a while. Do you have any other questions?’
William Swift entered. ‘Supper will be served in ten minutes, my lord. Miss Manning and Miss Prudence are waiting in the drawing room.’
‘Then let’s not keep the ladies waiting any longer. And Swift. I have something I’d like to discuss with you later.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
There was a hubbub of greetings when the Manning sisters set eyes on Hal and Ryder. They were the recipient of a kiss apiece, then hardly pausing for breath Prudence said, ‘Such heroic gentlemen, and what a terrible day for some, though we must be thankful the flood was mostly held back, thanks to your bravery, my lord, otherwise it might have crept up and covered the village and drowned us all in our beds. It was such a fright to get out of bed and go down the stairs to find ourselves waist deep in water, and with the ducks clucking at us through the window. Noisy creatures.’
Patience took over the conversation. ‘Poor Mary Bryson; how tragic an event to take place in our community. We will offer a prayer for her soul tonight. Is it true that she threw herself in the stream, I wonder?’
Prudence looked from one face to the other. ‘Do you suppose … dare I say it?’ And Prudence did dare. ‘Will they bury her body in hallowed ground?’
‘Oh, don’t start that again, Prudence, nobody in their right mind would choose to die by throwing themselves into a raging flood. It is merely conjecture. Besides, the doctor has to examine her body first to establish cause of death. Then we shall see.’
‘Such a pity … poor dear Mary … I heard …’