Chapter Nine
‘If the lining’s wet and warm’
The night was black and windy when Julia retired to her room. After blowing the candles out she tried to settle down to sleep but her mind was racing with the events of the day.
Philip Stratton, now the heir to Sharnborough! It seemed somehow unreal.
The warning of her great uncle that there could be noises in the night, which even Mrs Knight had alluded to, could only mean one thing. Smugglers!
Julia shivered despite the warmth of the bed and tried instead to concentrate her thoughts on the excursion next day with Gerald Hamilton. Finally sleep overtook her.
It was with some surprise that she was awakened some hours later by the noise of carriage wheels, which seemed to be almost outside her bedroom window. Remembering her great uncle’s words, she lay there for a moment. Then curiosity got the better of her. She arose in the darkness and went to the window, cautiously pulling the curtain aside.
It took a moment or so for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Although there were no lights visible, she could discern the outline of a closed carriage and what looked like pack horses and outriders in a tight formation, moving around by the stables. There were muffled sounds but on the whole it was comparatively quiet. Julia, dreading what to think, went back to bed and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
But not for long! Galloping hooves and torches shedding light woke her. A loud authoritative voice demanded, ‘Open, in the name of the King!’
Julia leapt from her bed, threw her shawl over her nightdress and, grasping a taper in her hand, rushed downstairs. Ridges unbolted the front door as Lieutenant Wareham and other revenue men burst in.
‘Miss Farraday.’ Lieutenant Wareham looked surprised to see her. Julia took in his stained dusty appearance and how drawn and strained he looked although his eyes were keen enough.
‘Lieutenant! What brings you here at this hour of the night?’
As soon as she said those words, Julia was aware of how inane they sounded. Yet she must appear unaware of anything amiss, seeing Ridges’ worried face beside the door and knowing Mrs Knight and the other servants behind her were quavering with fright.
‘There has been a run tonight and the smugglers have been in this vicinity. I need to search the house for any suspects or any contraband. My men will do the same in the grounds and the stables.’ His voice was stern and his face severe.
Trembling, she invited the officer to step into the morning room. He opened his mouth as if to speak but Julia turned abruptly and led the way, asking Mrs Knight if she would light the candles. After a brief conference with his men, Lieutenant Wareham joined her.
While Mrs Knight lit the candles, Julia’s mind was racing. Hearing the sound of booted feet and the slam of the front door, she knew his men were in the grounds where there were sure to be obvious signs of the horses and carriage that had called earlier. Heaven only knew what they might find in the stables. Her great uncle had not come downstairs so she would have to speak for him.
Lieutenant Wareham was obviously no fool. Her only option was to be honest with him.
‘Tell me, Miss Farraday, have you had visitors tonight?’
‘No, Lieutenant Wareham. However…’
‘Yes!’ His voice and look were sharp.
‘Please, will you tell me what this is all about?’
Julia was sure she knew what was coming, but felt compelled to try and keep control of the situation.
He looked grim. ‘There was a run tonight. We had information and thought to intercept them but their numbers were too great. One of my men was shot, mortally. He was a married man with a family. Tomorrow, no, today, I must see his widow.’ His face hardened. ‘As I asked you…’
‘I will tell you all that has passed here tonight.’ Julia was aware her voice was trembling, but kept her eyes fixed on her interrogator.
‘At about midnight, although I cannot be sure of the time, I was awoken by the sound of horses and a carriage. I looked out of the window, but it was so dark I really couldn’t see properly. They all seemed to go around to the stables and after that I went back to bed, and now you have arrived.’
‘Did any member of your household join these men?’
‘No, no. I’m sure they didn’t.’
Even as she uttered these words, Julia was aware that of course she had no way of knowing this. At the back entrance to the house and the servants’ door, anything could have occurred.
‘I’m afraid we will have to search the house.’
Julia gasped. ‘Is this really necessary? My great uncle…’
‘Yes, I’m afraid it is.’
There was a knock on the door and a dishevelled revenue man entered. He spoke to the Lieutenant in a low tone, then was dismissed.
‘Yes. You certainly had visitors but they have now fled. I have another party of men searching the area. I would like to inspect the house and interview your servants and Mr Farraday.’
Everything happened in a whirl. Both Mrs Knight and Ridges went with the lieutenant and one of his men on the inspection of the house while Julia went to fetch her great uncle. As she approached his room she could hear his angry voice and other upraised male voices coming from inside his room. She decided she was better off where she was.
Smithers interrupted her with the news that the cook was having hysterics and Molly was trying to coax Hetty and Annie from under their beds. They were afraid of being murdered on the spot.
With a heartfelt sigh, Julia hurried off to calm them and to bring some semblance of order to a very disrupted household.
Fortunately, Mrs Knight in a harassed state appeared, confirming to the revenue men that all the servants were accounted for. When Julia returned from calming the maids, Lieutenant Wareham reappeared, looking out of sorts, and announced that everything seemed to be in order.
‘You are fortunate, Miss Farraday, that whoever the smugglers were, they have not disturbed your stables or grounds beyond repair,’ said Lieutenant Wareham grimly.
‘Certainly nothing has been found. I apologise for disturbing you. However, they were here, of that there is no doubt. Whether it was with the connivance of some member of this house, I do not know.’ He was looking at her sharply. ‘Pray, what is it?’
Julia took a deep breath, aware that her thoughts had expressed themselves on her face.
‘Wyatt. He is the only person who works for my great uncle who is not here tonight. He lives in the village and comes in daily to do the garden and other odd jobs’
For a moment she faltered. Her active dislike of Jeb Wyatt had made her speak out but she felt suddenly guilty. He seemed to be such a favourite of her great uncle and she couldn’t help wondering if by speaking out she had put Great Uncle Thomas in a precarious position. She dismissed the thought immediately, for if the servants were being questioned, they would surely admit the same thing.
Her voice trailed off, his eyes watching her intently.
‘Ah yes, of course. Jeb Wyatt. Hmmm. Well, we’ll just have to see what story he has to offer on tonight’s affair. Thank you, your servant, Miss Farraday.’
And with a hasty bow and a quick about turn, Lieutenant Wareham left the room. In a short while Julia heard the front door shut and the sound of horses galloping down the driveway.
After the disturbed night, it was a rather subdued household the next morning. Straight after breakfast, Julia decided to go outside and take a look for herself. There was no sign of Wyatt but plenty of signs of their visitors in the night. The flower beds were crushed and the lawns trampled, not to mention horse droppings deposited everywhere.
Julia entered the stables and walked along the stalls. Of Athene there was no sign. The gig was in its normal position but where the old fashioned barouche usually stood, there was just an empty space as if it had never been there at all.
She met an anxious-looking Ridges as she returned to the house. Briefly, she told him of her visit to the stables and what was missing
.
He nodded gravely and in a hushed voice said, ‘Don’t worry, Miss. Everything will be returned in a day or two.’ He cast around to ensure they were alone and added, ‘It’s happened before and best to just wait and everything will be as it was.’
Julia couldn’t question the wisdom of his statement, and on explaining the situation to her great uncle, his comments to her were the same as Ridges.
Her mood was not improved by the visit of Gerald’s groom with a note that Molly brought her. He was apologising because unexpected business had forced him to cancel their proposed ride that afternoon. Instead, he would like to have the pleasure of her company on Monday.
In fact the only consolation she had that day occurred when sketching in the garden later that afternoon, where she caught sight of Wyatt attempting to tidy up the flower garden in a desultory fashion and he sported a magnificent black eye.
On Sunday in church, it seemed a very subdued congregation. Nobody wanted to linger afterwards, choosing instead to hurry home.
Julia felt many eyes in her direction, but it was the vicar who took her to one side and asked, ‘I believe Mr Farraday was paid a visit by the revenue men on Thursday last?’
Julia stated that this was so, whereupon he gave her a searching look and then said, ponderously, ‘So unfortunate. However, I’m sure things will settle down presently.’
Beside him, Mrs Talbot nodded her head in agreement and peeped nervously around her as if expecting to see someone lurking nearby outside in the church grounds.
Shadows in the Night Page 15