Less Than a Treason

by Mary Birk

  “Do you need some first aid? I’m sure there’s a kit somewhere around here.”

  Lance shook his head. “I don’t need anything. It’s not deep.” He put a finger gingerly to where he’d been hit. “Miranda. She was upset.”

  Stone thought of the china crashing in the kitchen after Meg had sent Miranda in search of Reid there. Then, following so closely after that, Miranda had found out her mother was dead. Not a calm young woman in the best of circumstances, Stone wasn’t surprised she’d snapped. “Anything I can do?”

  “No.”

  Stone sensed Lance wanted to ask him something, something he seemed reluctant to ask. “Are you certain? I’m here to help.”

  “You didn’t get to meet with my mother today, did you?”

  “Why do you ask?” Stone was experienced in avoiding questions by asking questions.

  “I never got to see her before she died.”

  Stone felt a pang of sympathy for the boy. “No, actually, I didn’t. I was supposed to see her after luncheon.”

  Lance stepped toward the work bench, and with his head turned away, said, “When will the will be read?”

  Now they’d all asked. Rafe, Miranda, Rodney had all managed to bring it up earlier. Hearing quiet footsteps behind him, Stone turned and saw Darryl Duggan, smiling enigmatically. Stone nodded in greeting.

  Duggan went over to Lance, took the injured hand in his. “What happened?”

  Lance tossed back his hair. “Nothing. Just a cut.”

  Duggan fixed Stone with his eyes. “I interrupted. You were saying?”

  Stone shook his head. “I don’t believe I was saying anything.”

  “The reading of the will. Lance asked when it would be.”

  “Ah, yes.” Stone paused, frowning to let them both know he didn’t appreciate these questions, particularly at this time. “Generally, it would be sometime next week in these kinds of circumstances.”

  Duggan’s eyes were as cold as hard frost. “Why the wait?”

  Stone didn’t feel he needed to answer this man’s question. Darryl Duggan was neither a relative nor a beneficiary. Stone had seen Duggan before at the Club, and he had been shocked when he first saw him here with Lance. He’d wondered if the two of them were lovers. Now he was sure they were, judging by the intimate, protective way Duggan was acting with Lance. But his presence here was trouble, no question about it. He wondered if Lady Flora had known what was going on.

  Lance looked nervously at Duggan, got a nod of encouragement, then asked the question himself. “Why do we have to wait?”

  “I would assume you’d want to wait until you’d left Dunbaryn. Also, some of the paperwork is at my offices in Inverness.”

  Again, Lance’s eyes went to Duggan in silent inquiry. Duggan nodded as if to encourage Lance to go on. “But we don’t have to wait, do we? Not if we don’t want to? Can’t you get the papers sent here?”

  “Lance, I'm not comfortable discussing this without the rest of your mother’s potential heirs here. Suffice it to say, I’ll coordinate the reading of the will date with the person she appointed to be the administrator of her estate. Then, I’ll let you know. I need to get back to the house now.”

  *****

  “Where did you find it?” Reid, ensconced behind the closed library door, examined the roughly torn piece of paper.

  Arthur pointed outside. “Nailed to the door of the Falcon House. Two nails, one on top and one on bottom, apparently to keep the wind from tearing it off. It wasn’t there this morning, so it had to have been put there today sometime.”

  “We’d better get the new locks put on straight away. If these people are serious, the eagle could be at risk, to say nothing of the other birds. I’m not comfortable with just the padlock.”

  “Aye, my lord, exactly my thoughts. I’ve managed to get a locksmith to agree to come out tomorrow as soon as the roads are passable.”

  “I’m concerned whoever put the warning note there somehow managed to get here in spite of the roads. Did you see tracks anywhere?”

  “Aye, some boot tracks going toward the road, but after that, the snow covered everything. The local roads are passable. It’s just the way to the bigger towns and Inverness that are closed right now. I didn’t have much trouble getting here myself from the village. Could be someone in the village. They’d be most likely to know about the Falcon House, and to have learned about the eagle being transferred here temporarily.”

  “You don’t think it’s someone working here at the castle?”

  Arthur thought. “I don’t think so. Most of the folks that work here have been here long term and they’d know the birds are well cared for and content. Have you had any new ones start?”

  “Some additional help for the house party, but they’re the same ones my mother generally has in when extra help is needed.” He ran through his mind who he’d seen in the house over the past few days. “I think perhaps they have a couple of new housemaids. I’ll ask my father about whether he’s added anyone new to work on the grounds. It being winter, I’d doubt it.”

  He didn’t voice what he was thinking, that it might not be anyone from the village, nor any of the employees, but one of the guests.

  Chapter 46

  “HELLO, THERE.”

  Reid looked up at the sound of Meg’s voice. He had set up his computer on the library’s massive desk and was sitting back in the big leather chair, going over his notes. He took off his reading glasses and smiled at his sister-in-law.

  “Come sit down. Would you like a drink?”

  Meg nodded and sat down across from him at the desk. “Sounds good. What are you having?”

  “Cognac.”

  “I’ll have that too, then, if you think I’ll like it.”

  “Indeed. This is from our label. It may seem a bit strong to you, but I think you’ll like it. Sip it slowly.” He got up and poured her a drink.

  “Am I disturbing you?”

  “No, I’m happy to have the company. Everyone settled upstairs?” He’d made a tentative advance to Anne this afternoon when they’d been alone in her room, but she’d made it clear he wasn’t that forgiven yet. Separate bedrooms, she’d reminded him, and sent him away—but with a kiss, at least.

  “Baby’s up. Anne’s nursing him while she’s madly drawing designs for the gardens. Apparently plants have to be ordered soon for spring planting and the nursery furniture needs to be put on a rush. The designer hadn’t known about needing a nursery. Fast work getting her to send those plans, especially the day after Christmas. You must be paying her well.”

  He smiled. “I’d pay the earth if she asked. I’m afraid I left it all a bit late.”

  “I’ll say.”

  “I’m truly sorry for how I acted. What it put all of you through.”

  “I know.” Meg took a drink from the snifter. “This is good. Strong, but I like it.”

  “We’ll make a Scot of you yet. Do you think Anne’s ever going to forgive me?”

  “You’re not much of a detective if you can’t figure that out.”

  “I bollocksed things up, I know. It’s hard to have another man in love with your wife, and have it be someone of whom she thinks so highly. And then to have her seeing him when I was thousands of miles away.”

  “I can imagine. She’s chosen you, though, over and over. Just quit leaving her alone and you’ll be fine.”

  He nodded. “That’s the plan. So, are you coming to Glasgow with us?”

  “Would you mind too much?”

  “I want anything that helps her settle in with me.” Then he realized that might not sound too flattering. “But I’d want you there anyway.”

  Meg laughed. “I’ll come for a little while, but then you two are on your own. Can you handle it?”

  “I think so. I’ve missed her so much; I just don’t want to do something that scares her away. I can be a bit intense, and I have a tendency to rush her.”

  “I don’t think she minds. She marri
ed you pretty quickly, didn’t she?”

  He gave a rueful smile. “That’s what I mean. I probably rushed her on that.”

  “Speaking of rushing, I have a clue for you, but if you tell anyone I told you, I’ll deny it.”

  “A clue?”

  Meg nodded, and an impish smile played at the corners of her mouth.

  “What is it?”

  “Six-weeks check-up.”

  “Six-weeks check-up?”

  She nodded.

  He looked at her, puzzled.

  Meg made a face. “Some detective you are.”

  “Help me out.”

  “That’s generally when a woman gets the all clear sign after having a baby.”

  “All clear?” Then realizing what she was saying, he smiled broadly. “Oh, aye, I get it. She can’t yet.” He’d wondered where Anne had all of a sudden developed that kind of restraint in the face of his advances. She wasn’t holding him off because she wanted to; she had to. That was good news. He figured the math in his head. “I’ve two more weeks at least, I guess.” He couldn’t suppress his smile. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll behave myself accordingly.”

  Meg nodded. “Good.”

  He made a note on the pad in front of him. “We’ll need to get her a doctor in Glasgow quickly. I’ll call tomorrow.”

  She laughed. “You are a bit pushy, but I think that’s on her list too. Even before the plants and nursery. You aren’t the only one who’s been lonely. I thought there was a better chance of you making her wait if you knew. I know how she is with you.”

  “You’re a good sister, watching out for her.”

  “I’m just glad you’re taking over. Living with a pregnant sister nursing a broken heart isn’t the easiest thing in the world.” Meg’s face became more serious. “But I came to talk to you about some-thing else.”

  “You did?”

  “It’s about Miranda. I feel a bit hesitant about telling you. I don’t want you to think I’m telling you this because of whatever was going on with you two.”

  “Nothing was going on. Just tell me.”

  “It’s about her and Lady Flora. Something I saw.”

  “Go on.”

  “It may have a bearing on why Lady Flora was upset if it turns out it was suicide, but I’m not sure.” She sipped her cognac. “They had a big fight. Miranda all but threw her out of her room and actually threw a hairbrush at her. One of those heavy silver ones that seem to be in all the rooms here.”

  “When was this?”

  “The first night we were here. The twenty-third.”

  “Could you tell what it was about?”

  “You.”

  “Me?”

  “It was right after we got here. That first day. When you were up talking to Anne. You know.”

  “Yes.”

  “Miranda yelled at her mother that she hated her, and she would kill her if she told you.”

  Reid frowned. “Told me what?”

  “No idea.”

  “I’ll look into it. Any other thoughts?”

  “I’ve been too busy to notice much.” Meg pursed her lips in thought. “They’re a strange family, at least by our standards. The children don’t seem to be close to their mother or their fathers. Rodney and Miranda seem close to each other, but not to Lance. And Lance doesn’t seem to care much about his father. Maybe he did care about his mother, but he seems more involved with his friend than anything else. That’s probably normal for that age though.”

  “What about George Greene? Lady Flora’s ex?”

  “He seems the most upset by her death. Rafe seems lost, but not in the same way.”

  “I believe George may have some regrets about the divorce.”

  “But that was such a long time ago.”

  “True, but as I can attest from personal experience, for some people, time doesn’t change things.” His eyes sought out hers. “While we’re on that subject, how are you doing with the divorce, Meg? Regrets?”

  She swirled her cognac around the snifter, studying the waves it made as if reading something in them. “When I walked away, it was over for me. I think maybe it had been for a long time. I have no regrets, except that I stayed so long.”

  “Perhaps that’s better. The other way can be a bit turbulent.”

  “But you wouldn’t want anything else.”

  “It’s not a question of wanting. It’s just that way. For me, there is always only Anne.”

  “Luckily, she seems to feel the same way about you.”

  “Maybe, but she wouldn’t stay alone if we weren’t together. She’s made that clear, and I’d not expect that of her. I’m just grateful I’m first on her list. I’d hate to spend my life like George Greene has, trying to find a substitute for the real thing.”

  Meg put down her glass and stood up. “I’ve done my duty and reported what I saw. Now I’m going to bed. You staying up for a while?”

  He smiled. “A while. The police should be here tomorrow, and I’m just trying to make sure things are ready for them. The more I can do, the less intrusive it will be on my family and everyone else here.”

  “All right, then. I’ll leave you to it.”

  He got up, gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Thank you for taking care of Anne all this time. I’ll be there from now on. I promise.”

  “You’d damn well better. I’m exhausted. This has been a hell of a year.”

  Alone, Reid’s mind tried to make sense of what Meg had heard. What had Miranda told Flora not to tell him or she’d kill her? And what had Flora wanted to talk to him about the day she died?

  Chapter 47

  JEREMY STONE, restless with thoughts of Lady Flora’s unfortunate death, went over the events of the day in his head. She had been not only a client, but a friend. Death had come so unexpectedly, and just when the woman was expecting to start a happy new chapter in her life.

  He was shaken, he had to admit. You never knew how much time you had left, and there was no percentage in waiting—tomorrow might never come. He’d call Gregory in the morning and tell him they would go ahead full steam with their plans to adopt a child. Lady Flora’s death, and seeing the joy the new Reid baby had brought, had made up his mind.

  He wished he could’ve brought his partner with him today. It was still a bit difficult in his profession to be gay, but not as much as it had been, and not with the Reids. He felt perfectly accepted here, and the Reids were his best clients and good friends. Even with their deep Catholicism, they didn’t follow or condone Rome’s hypocritical reluctance to accept homosexuality. In fact, the Earl’s favorite cousin, a frequent visitor at Dunbaryn, was openly gay. Things were easier now, he was glad to say, and the Reids were a loving, accepting family with problems of their own which probably made them empathetic. But with Gregory’s family visiting, he’d had to stay behind.

  Maybe he was a bit old to be a father, but he wasn’t going to get any younger, and he didn’t want to miss the chance to enrich their lives, and the life of a child. They’d talked repeatedly about the possibility of adopting a child. He and Gregory would be good parents, he knew. If they couldn’t get a baby, a toddler would be just fine. But he wanted to raise their child starting when the child was young enough to only remember their home as his, or hers, as the case may be. A daughter or a son. Either one. That little Hannah, Jeanne’s daughter, was positively angelic. Yes, either a girl or a boy would be fine.

  His eyes appraised the room he had been given for his stay. It was big and elegant, but lonely. He’d been trying unsuccessfully to read but he wasn’t ready to settle down for the night. His visit earlier in the day to the Falcon House had been curtailed by the presence of the other people there. He would just pop out to the Falcon House now and visit Reid’s birds, this time in peace. It was late, and most of the household had gone to bed. He went quietly down the stairs and turned the light on in the library, retrieving the padlock key from the desk drawer.

  He went to the mud room an
d fitted himself up with boots. Opening the door, he felt the refreshing cold of the night air and heard the silence. A luminescent glow came from behind the snow. He raised his eyes to the sky where the snow obscured the moonlight, then closed his eyes and breathed the frigid air deep into his lungs. It smelled clean and pure and full of possibilities. Opening his eyes again, he surveyed his surroundings, elated by the crispness of the night.

  His footsteps made a satisfying crunch as they went through the snow, leaving deep holes in their wake. The outside lighting shone softly down, catching the crystals in the snow and making them wink with little sparkles. He cherished the feeling of being outside in such a pristine environment, as he were alone in a safe world, insulated by the snow and the distance of Dunbaryn from any civilization.

  Stone felt vaguely guilty about not having been completely forthright with Reid in answering questions about Lady Flora. Casting aside a life of discretion about client confidences just wasn’t something he could easily do. Even so, he’d answered all of Reid’s questions truthfully, except regarding the nature of the documents and his business with Lady Flora.

  After all, the documents he had brought to Dunbaryn for this meeting with Lady Flora had never been signed. Stone did know enough, and disclose enough, to have been able to assure Reid the woman hadn’t been despondent or suicidal in any sense of the word. She had challenges, and a difficult family situation, but had definitely not been depressed. Therefore, what happened had to have been accidental and the police wouldn’t need to know the details of her private business.

  The mood at Dunbaryn was becoming a little oppressive with all the emotional accoutrements of a sudden death. Even worse, Lady Flora’s family was too obviously interested in what he had been meeting with her about and whether any documents had been signed and, one by one, had cornered him to try to get information out of him. But if he wasn’t telling the police, he wouldn’t be telling Lady Flora’s family either. They could wait until the reading of the will. That would cause enough of a disruption.

  He swung open the heavy wooden door, and shut it tightly behind him, taking care not to slam it and startle the residents of the Falcon House. He found the light panel and flipped the dim night light on. No need to wake the birds just because he was up. They’d be used to visitors, but not to a violent disruption of artificial daylight when they were at rest, and he wouldn’t subject them to that.