Beyond Reason

by Gwen Kirkwood

  ‘I don’t think he’ll be pleased to be wakened so early. Oh, I nearly forgot. The Reverend Drummond gave me a note for ye. He was sure you would come.’

  Fingal broke the seal and read the brief note. He frowned. ‘He wants me to send word to him with Donald whatever time I arrive. He says something about a missing will and needing my help to deal with Mrs Ross and her son.’

  ‘He hasna seen the constable. He arrived after the minister had left for the burial.’

  ‘I will tell Donald on my way up to see the constable, then,’ Fingal nodded. ‘I wish I could think where Janet would go to feel safe. She has no one except us.’

  ‘We’ll both get some rest, then I’ll come up to the house with you and cook a good breakfast for you and the constable. It might get him in a better mood to listen.’

  Tired though he was, Fingal found it impossible to sleep and he was up at the crack of dawn bringing in water and boiling the kettle so that he could shave and make himself as presentable as possible. He had learned impressions were important when dealing with people in authority.

  ‘I will serve your breakfast in the small dining room so you will not be interrupted,’ Maggie said later, surveying him proudly. ‘And I will introduce you as Mrs Saunders’s lawyer so it sounds more official.’

  Fingal grinned at her but he agreed.

  His mother was right about the constable. Once he had eaten his porridge and started on a large platter of bacon, eggs and mushrooms, he seemed less irritable and more willing to listen. Besides which, he was impressed with the smart young man who had travelled all the way from Edinburgh to speak to him on Mrs Saunders’s behalf. They were just finishing their meal when the Reverend Drummond arrived. Maggie brought him some breakfast too. The minister praised the young widow and proclaimed her innocence even more than her lawyer and it put the constable in a dilemma.

  ‘It is not for me to decide whether she is guilty or not,’ he said awkwardly. ‘When the wife of the Right Honourable Edward Ross made such a serious charge I was ordered to take her in to stand trial before the magistrates.’

  Fingal sighed in frustration.

  ‘You must hear what young Lizzy has to say. Apparently she saw everything.’

  ‘The young maid? She was too nervous to answer any questions last night.’

  ‘Mrs Ross has threatened all the staff. They will lose their jobs if they talk to you.’

  ‘Bring Lizzy in here, Fingal. I must convince her to tell the constable the truth,’ the Reverend Drummond said decisively.

  When she came into the office, Lizzy was trembling with nerves but the minister took her hands gently and placed one on the Bible on the desk.

  ‘Now Lizzy, my dear child, do not be afraid. Even if you lose your job I will find work for you, I promise. But if you tell the constable everything you saw, you will help Mrs Saunders. You don’t want to see her taken to prison and locked up, do you?’

  ‘Oh no, no sir! She is not the one who is wicked. She couldn’t get away frae Master Henry. He – he had tied her hands behind her back. He was laid on top of her. She screamed in terror.’ Lizzy shuddered, then with a little encouragement she went on to tell the constable what she had seen. ‘Then Mr Saunders dropped the wee dagger. His legs seemed to crumple….’ she began to cry. ‘He d-died, sir! There on the floor in front of the fire….’

  ‘Wait a minute, Lizzy,’ Fingal said. ‘Do you mean Mr Saunders reached for one of the daggers hanging on the wall above the high mantleshelf in the library?’

  ‘Yes. It – it made s-so much b-blood everywhere….’

  ‘Thank you, Lizzy. You can go now. You have done very well,’ Fingal said and turned to the constable. ‘Will you come with me to the library please, gentlemen? I will prove Mrs Saunders could not have tried to kill Henry Ross with a dagger, even though he deserved it, taking another man’s wife against her will, under that man’s own roof too.’

  He led them to the fireplace in the library and pointed up at the semi-circle of daggers, flanked by the swords which adorned the walls. There was one dagger missing and it lay on the high mantleshelf now, waiting to be fixed back into place.

  ‘Now, Constable Reynolds, there was a good fire in the grate on the day in question. Can you lean over the fender and reach the place where the dagger belongs? Please try.’

  Puzzled, the constable obeyed. He could feel the heat from the fire and he had barely reached the first dagger, even less the space for the third one, still lying on the mantle.

  ‘Now imagine you are a young woman in wide skirts and your height is about here.’ He held a hand to the middle of his own chest and turned to the minister. ‘Janet is about this height. Am I right?’

  ‘Aye indeed. Now, why didn’t Doctor Carr think to tell ye that last night, constable? There is no way Janet could have reached any of the knives. Anyway, Lizzy said her hands were tied behind her with Henry Ross’s own neckerchief. Josiah Saunders was taller than I am. He would know the best dagger to choose. He had vowed to keep Janet safe. Seeing her molested in their own home would drive any man to fury.’

  ‘But I understood he was murdered first….’

  ‘Murdered? Of course he was not murdered, man!’ The Reverend Drummond stared at him incredulously. ‘He had a weak heart. He had already lived years longer than the doctors had predicted. I can imagine his anger at seeing his young wife held captive by that – that scoundrel…. No wonder his heart gave way,’ the minister finished. ‘In an hour, Doctor Carr will be here to meet with the lawyer from Dumfries. He will vouch for Josiah’s precarious health.’ He caught Fingal’s surprised glance. ‘Mr Saunders left two copies of his will,’ he explained. ‘We thought he was being too cautious when he said he didn’t trust Mrs Ross, or her son. It seems he was right. The copy he kept in his desk has disappeared. Burned, I suspect, but Mrs Ross does not know he sent the other copy to his lawyers in Dumfries. I despatched my man to inform Mr Glenlydon early this morning as soon as I heard you had arrived from Edinburgh, Fingal. Constable, if you care to wait for the reading of the will, I think you will discover Mrs Ross’s motive in sending for you. She wanted Mr Saunders’s widow removed because she hopes to inherit his estate herself.’

  ‘Well, sir, I would have liked to judge the widow for myself but you all speak highly of her, and you present a good case for her innocence. Perhaps the magistrates will understand the reason why I have not returned with the prisoner if you, as minister of the parish, will write a letter vouching for Mrs Saunders’s character and detailing the events. Also if Mr Glenlydon will confirm the contents of the will, and his belief in Mrs Saunders’s innocence, when he has met her? He and his brother are well respected in the town.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Fingal gave a sigh of relief.

  ‘If you don’t mind, gentlemen, I think I shall get on my way,’ the constable said. ‘My ten years as a constable will end in three months but Mrs Ross is one of the most formidable women I have encountered. As for her son, he did not inspire my respect, even before I heard of his dastardly conduct.’

  ‘I think you are wise, young man,’ the minister said. ‘I will write the letter now.’

  It was almost midday when Eliza came down. When she discovered Janet had not been found and the constable had returned to town alone she flew into a rage. Her fury increased when she found the Reverend Drummond and Fingal McLauchlan in Josiah’s office.

  ‘How dare you make yourselves so familiar in here?’ she demanded haughtily.

  ‘We are awaiting the arrival of Doctor Carr with Mr Saunders’s lawyer from Dumfries,’ the Reverend Drummond informed her calmly. ‘You may not recognize Fingal McLauchlan these days. Josiah had a high opinion of his abilities. He is a lawyer in Edinburgh now and he is prepared to act in defence of Mrs Saunders should you make any more scurrilous accusations.’

  Eliza’s face paled a little but she gave a scornful snort. ‘Who is this lawyer from Dumfries? How do you know he is coming here? What has it to do with either of
you?’

  ‘Mr Glenlydon will read Mr Saunders’s Last Will and Testament. I am one of the executors but that will not interest you.’

  ‘An executor? There is no will … I am his sister and expect….’

  ‘You are welcome to stay and hear the reading if you wish,’ the Reverend Drummond went on blandly. ‘As Josiah’s wife, Janet will be the main beneficiary but as she is absent….’

  ‘Wife! She was not a proper wife. She married him for what she could get and I mean to see she gets what she deserves and that will be prison, if not the gallows.’

  ‘It is a pity you have driven her from her home with your malicious gossip but Mr Glenlydon will be sure to convey her husband’s wishes to her when we find her.’

  ‘She is guilty or she would not have run away! And there is no will.’ She went out and slammed the door behind her.

  ‘I don’t think the will can have anything to do with me,’ Fingal said, ‘unless it concerns my mother. I pray to God we shall find Janet soon. If only I knew where to look.’

  ‘I can help you there, Fingal. Janet is safe and well, though still grieving for Josiah and the way he died.’

  ‘You know where Janet is? Did you…?’

  ‘No, her departure had nothing to do with me but on reflection perhaps it was better that she was not here. The constable might have taken her to prison before we had a chance to convince him she could not reach the dagger to attack Henry Ross. It would not have been easy to get her out of prison immediately once she was there, even though we know she has probably never committed a crime in her life.’

  ‘Then how do you know where she is hiding?’

  ‘It was dawn when Donald came to tell me of your arrival. No one would expect to see me abroad so early. I met Janet waiting to catch the mail coach into England.’

  ‘England? Dear heaven, I shall never find her there.’ Fingal’s face was white.

  ‘She was with Joe Foster. He and his mother were at the funeral yesterday. He overheard Mrs Ross telling her husband she had sent for the constable to take Janet to prison. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being locked up. He and his mother persuaded Janet to meet them later. They all spent the night with Hannah Foster’s mother.’

  ‘Thank God for that!’ Fingal said fervently.

  ‘Yes, we all need friends. Janet was to travel to England to stay with Hannah’s cousin. I persuaded her to return to Mrs Fortescue’s for one more night. I promised to send word if it was safe for her to return to Crillion Keep, or if she should go to England until we had proved her innocence. She gave me her bank book in case she needed money but she has great faith in you, Fingal. She seemed comforted when she knew you had come.’

  ‘I thank God she is safe,’ Fingal repeated. ‘I must tell my mother and Peggy. They are very worried. We could not think where she could go.’ Fingal stood up and took one of the minister’s hands in both of his. ‘Thank you, sir, for keeping Janet’s secret and for being such a good friend to her.’

  The Reverend Drummond eyed him quizzically and held on to his hands to detain him. ‘Just a minute, Fingal. You love Janet. That’s it isn’t it? You love the girl.’

  ‘I think I’ve always loved her,’ Fingal admitted quietly, ‘but I would never have betrayed Mr Saunders as Henry Ross tried to do. It was better for me to move away.’

  ‘Josiah was wiser than I realized,’ the minister mused. ‘Yes, he was indeed. As you will see when you read the letter he left for you with his lawyer. I thank God he was shrewd enough to send a copy of his wishes to Dumfries. Ah, I believe that will be Mr Glenlydon now, and Doctor Carr.’

  ‘I will tell my mother that Janet is safe, and ask her to send in some refreshments.’

  ‘Very well. Perhaps we should move to the library where there is more room. I think curiosity will bring the Rosses to hear what the lawyer has to say.’

  The Reverend Drummond smiled reassuringly at Maggie McLauchlan when she came in with a tea tray piled high with refreshments. She looked as though a weight had been lifted from her. Mrs Ross followed her in, looking haughty and making no effort to welcome the new arrivals. Henry followed, looking sullen and heavy-eyed. He had partaken freely of the wine and brandy available at the funeral and afterwards. His mother had assured him she had destroyed Josiah’s will; now nothing seemed to be going to plan.

  Mr Glenlydon took his time but eventually he stood up behind the table and began to read the will. Eliza gasped. She had known Josiah would have to leave something to his stupid wife but she had been too eager to destroy the will to study details.

  He had left Janet sole ownership of a small house which she had often admired as she and Josiah rode to Home Farm in the pony and trap. In addition, she would have a yearly allowance to be paid from the estate income. There was also a letter addressed to her. The Bairds and Maggie McLauchlan were guaranteed occupancy of their respective cottages for the remainder of their lives. The lawyer looked over the top of his papers and held Eliza’s gaze.

  ‘To Mrs Eliza Ross he leaves one hundred sovereigns.’

  ‘And Crillion Keep?’

  ‘No. It is as I have stated, Mrs Ross. One hundred sovereigns is a considerable sum.’

  ‘That will not pay my debts!’ Henry hissed. ‘Has he left me the Keep and estate?’

  ‘You, young sir? What is your name?’

  ‘You must know I am his nephew, Henry William Ross. I should be his sole heir.’

  ‘Mr Saunders did not mention he had a nephew and he makes no mention of you in his will.’ He looked enquiringly at the Reverend Drummond, who explained in a low voice that there was no blood relationship.

  ‘I see. Then everything is in order. Apart from several bequests to his workers, Mr Saunders leaves the remainder of his estate, including Crillion Keep and Home Farm, plus the rented farms and cottages equally to his wife Janet, and to Mr Fingal McLauchlan.’

  Fingal gasped aloud. ‘Surely there is some mistake!’

  ‘There is no mistake, young man. Here is a letter for you. The other one I shall give to Mrs Saunders when we can locate her. The letters detail the plans Mr Saunders hoped you would carry out between you, I believe, though I am not privy to the exact contents. You cannot be compelled to carry out the deceased’s wishes but he trusted both of you to do what you considered best and were able to do. The Reverend Drummond tells me you are making a good career for yourself in Edinburgh, Mr McLauchlan, so I am sure Mr Saunders would understand if you choose your own path.’

  ‘This can’t be true! You have got it all wrong!’ Eliza Ross shrieked, standing up, almost hysterical with rage.

  ‘Everything is as my client instructed, madam,’ Mr Glenlydon said stiffly. ‘I believe he left a copy of his will, presumably so that anyone who had any questions could read it for themselves. However, I understand someone had access to his private papers and destroyed the copy,’ he added smoothly, giving Eliza a level look from beneath his dark eyebrows. He watched guilty colour rise to her cheeks before she gave a haughty sniff, turned on her heel and headed for the door, calling, ‘Come, Henry. We leave for home today. Please tell Riley to have the coach ready.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  On the Reverend Drummond’s advice, Fingal waited until the following morning before he took the pony and trap to bring Janet home to Crillion Keep. His only thoughts were to see she was safe and well. He had barely considered the terms of Josiah’s will or the changes it might mean to his own destiny. His mother and Doctor Carr had warned him Janet blamed herself for the manner of Josiah’s death and that she was taking it badly and scarcely eating.

  ‘Mrs Ross and her evil aspersions would make matters worse,’ Fingal said grimly. ‘There is a different atmosphere already. Lizzy and her sister were creeping around like mice being stalked by a hungry cat.’

  Fingal had not discussed Mr Saunders’s will with anyone until he could talk to Janet but the Reverend Drummond had assured Maggie, Donald and Peggy that their homes and work were s
ecure for their lifetime. That proved a big relief after the veiled threats cast by Mrs Ross.

  When Fingal saw Janet’s small, black-clad figure standing beside the elderly woman whom he remembered as Mrs Fortescue, he longed to seize her in his arms and promise to protect her for the rest of her life, but he knew he had to restrain himself while she was in mourning for her husband. Janet tried to pay Mrs Fortescue for giving her safe refuge but the old lady smiled and shook her head.

  ‘I know you were a good friend to Molly and I believe my poor Hannah might have died having that last baby if you had not been there to cook and care for her. I am the one in debt to you, lassie.’

  ‘It was Mrs McClure, the midwife, who saved your daughter’s life,’ Janet said simply, but the old lady shook her grey head and hugged her.

  ‘Hannah told me she couldn’t have gone on without you, especially after Molly drowned herself. That brute Foster deserves to rot in hell. Now,’ she said briskly and straightened upright, ‘I’m glad everything will be all right for you at Crillion Keep, Janet. Will you come back to visit sometimes?’

  ‘Of course I will, and thank you with all my heart,’ Janet said sincerely.

  ‘Aye, things are different up at Braeheights too now. No more bullying and blustering and spending his money on drink and women. Himself is dependent on Hannah and young Joe now. He’ll be a cripple for life. Hannah has hired a cousin of Lily Bloddret to help in the house. She’s a widow in her fifties and as different from Lily as chalk from cheese. That was the first time Hannah has spent the night under my roof since she married Foster, but she’ll be back again now things have changed. She is sending the younger boys to stay with me so they can attend the school. They will all be coming to the kirk on Sundays too so you’ll see Hannah then.’

  Janet was quiet on the drive home to Crillion Keep but as they approached the long drive up to the house, she turned to Fingal.

  ‘Are you sure it is safe for me to return?’ She shuddered. ‘I know Mrs Ross hates me but I never thought she would send for the constable to put me in prison. I thank God Joe overheard her plans and was able to warn me.’