by Jane Ashford
“Mr. Brinmore?” replied the maid. “Oh, yes, miss. Please to come in.”
“Y-you mean, he is here?” Elisabeth’s surprise overcame her poise.
The maid blinked. She looked at Elisabeth warily.
“I wasn’t certain I’d found the house,” added Elisabeth hastily, trying to recover her original tone. She stepped into the hall. “Will you tell him, please, that his cousin Elisabeth has arrived? And can someone see to my horse?”
The housemaid nodded silently and shut the door. She indicated that Elisabeth should enter a room off the front hall, and when she had seen her do so, disappeared.
Elisabeth walked into a small saloon papered and hung in dark green satin. There was no fire and no candles had been lighted, though the afternoon sun hardly penetrated through the heavily draped eastern windows, and the room was a little dark. But she sank down gratefully on the sofa in front of the fireplace, wearily rubbing the muscles of her neck and shoulders. She sat thus for at least ten minutes, surveying the old-fashioned furniture and murky pictures that dotted the walls. She was becoming impatient when she heard a noise from the doorway and turned to find a very odd-looking gentleman confronting her.
In her surprise, Elisabeth said nothing at first, and the man was also silent. It was not so much his appearance that was unusual. He was a slight person of medium height and about sixty years of age, she thought. But his dress was such as must catch the eye and amaze. He looked like an historical portrait. His full-skirted coat was of satin and liberally embroidered. There were cascades of lace at his wrists and throat, and he wore knee britches and white silk stockings ornamented with clocks. His shoes had three-inch red heels and ornate buckles that seemed to Elisabeth to be made of diamonds. She was still blinking at this vision when he pulled an enameled snuffbox from his coat pocket, flipped it open with one thumb, and said, “Good evening.”
“G-good, evening,” replied Elisabeth. “I…I am sorry to arrive at an inconvenient hour, but Tony gave us very little idea of how far he might be from London.”
The man raised his eyebrows. “Indeed. I am told you are Mr. Brinmore’s cousin, Elisabeth, ah, Brinmore?”
“Elisabeth Elham, sir.” She was beginning to resent his tone. “And I am told that my cousin is here? May I see him, please?”
“In a moment. Young Tony arrived here in rather odd circumstances, you see. I remain somewhat puzzled. Shall we sit down?” He motioned her back to the sofa and sat down beside her.
Elisabeth sat very straight and lifted her chin. “What do you mean, odd circumstances?” she asked. “And why can I not see Tony? Is he worse?”
“Worse?” answered her companion, looking at her closely.
Elisabeth was too tired for such sparring. “I believe you heard me. My cousin said in his note to me that he had been wounded but was recovering. I wish to see him immediately.”
The man held up a hand. “I understand your anxiety,” he replied. “But you must understand that Tony has been in some sort of danger, and I don’t wish to see him harmed in my house. I must be sure you are indeed his cousin.” His brown eyes remained hard. “Why do you arrive alone and without warning?” he continued, surveying her critically.
Elisabeth leaned back on the sofa with an angry sigh. “Because I’m a fool,” she said. “As is Tony. He neglected to give us his direction, and I followed his wretched dog here.” At the gentleman’s uncomprehending look, she explained the events of the last few days to him. By the time she’d finished, he was looking less forbidding.
He smiled slightly. “I must say, had I not become somewhat acquainted with Tony in the last several days, I would dismiss your story as nonsense. But having done so, it sounds remarkably likely. You and your cousin have much in common.”
“I sincerely hope not,” answered Elisabeth fervently.
This time, the man’s smile was warm. “Come,” he went on, “I will take you to Tony.” He rose and waited for her.
Elisabeth had nearly forgotten his strange costume as they talked, but now she was made aware of it again. Why, she wondered, did he dress in this outmoded way? No one had worn such clothes for thirty years, at least.
As they started up the stairs in the hall, the man spoke again. “I should introduce myself. You must think me abominably rude. I am Lucius Aldgate, and this is my house, Steen. Belatedly, I make you welcome.”
Elisabeth smiled. “Thank you,” she said, “that is reassuring. But I could not think anyone rude who took such care of Tony as I fancy you have. I’m very eager to hear what happened.”
Mr. Aldgate nodded. “We must give your cousin his part in the telling, however. He would never forgive me else.”
They had by now reached the second floor, and her host turned into a bedchamber on the left. A fire was burning there, and it looked very cozy. In a huge four-poster bed against the far wall lay Tony, his face a little white. His shoulder was bound up, and the nightshirt he wore was uncharacteristically ornate, but otherwise he appeared all right. He looked up when they entered. “Cousin Elisabeth,” he cried. “I hoped you would come.”
Elisabeth walked over to the bed and embraced him gently. Then, she stepped back. “Did you indeed?” she asked, smiling. “I might have come sooner had you put your direction in the note, you graceless scamp.”
Tony’s eyes widened. “Did I not? I can’t precisely recollect what I did say, but I must have told you where I was and how kind Mr. Aldgate had been.”
Elisabeth shook her head, her eyes twinkling. “You did not.”
“Tony was burnt to the socket when we found him,” put in their host. “I was amazed he could write at all.”
At this, Elisabeth’s expression sobered. “And where was he found?” she asked. “There is a great deal I want to know about what has happened.” She looked at both of them with raised eyebrows.
“Will you begin, Tony?” said Aldgate.
Nodding, the boy said, “Yes, I suppose I must. I believe now that it began when I met an animal trainer in London who promised he could teach Growser all manner of things.”
“Growser!” interrupted Elisabeth suddenly. “Has someone found him?”
Tony looked surprised; he shook his head sorrowfully. “No,” he said. “He’s been gone for days now. Mr. Aldgate’s servants have searched everywhere.”
“No, no. He came with me. He must be here somewhere.”
“What!” Tony sat up suddenly, then winced and sank back on the pillows. “What are you talking about?” he went on more quietly.
Elisabeth told the story of her journey once more. Tony was delighted and full of admiration for his dog. “I knew he was a prime ’un,” he said as she finished. “What other animal could have led you here in such a way? We must find him.”
“He must be somewhere in the park,” said Elisabeth, looking to Mr. Aldgate. “He jumped over the wall where it is broken down.”
Aldgate went to the bellpull and summoned his valet. “We’ll find him directly.”
Elisabeth sat down in a chair beside the bed. Her fatigue was catching up with her. “Now,” she said, “you may continue with your story.”
Tony nodded. “Well, as I said, the trainer, Gibbs, convinced me that he could teach Growser to hunt. I see now that he never meant to do any such thing, but he did teach him to sit on command.” Tony looked at them defensively, but Elisabeth only nodded, smiling slightly. “At any rate,” the boy continued, “we had some talks about it and finally agreed to meet at the house of a friend of Gibbs’s outside the city. He said he needed a large space for proper training. I went out there one afternoon, expecting to return early, but when I arrived Gibbs and his friend offered me a glass of ale to cut the dust of the journey. I drank it, and the next thing I knew I was in a dark room, trussed up like a chicken, and feeling sick and dizzy.”
“They drugged you!” exclaimed Elisa
beth.
Tony nodded, and Mr. Aldgate said, “It seems so indeed.”
“This is outrageous. They must be caught and punished. To think we had that trainer in our hands and let him slip away.”
“Did you?” said Tony interestedly. “You were on my trail, then?”
“We and all our friends have been searching for you for days,” replied Elisabeth. “What did you think we would do?”
“I knew you’d try to find me,” answered Tony seriously. “Indeed, that was my first thought when I awoke in the darkness, and it kept up my hopes throughout the whole adventure.”
“Did you see your captors?” asked Elisabeth eagerly.
Tony shook his head. “Never. A maid brought me food and helped me eat, but she was always very frightened and obviously knew nothing of their plans. She would hardly talk to me and told me nothing of them, though I asked at every opportunity.”
“So we still don’t know why they kidnapped you;” said Elisabeth slowly, tapping the bedside table with one finger and staring meditatively across the room.
“Ransom?” suggested Mr. Aldgate.
She turned to him. “Perhaps. But I received no such request; I heard nothing, in fact.”
“Revenge?” added Aldgate more tentatively. “For some imagined wrong?”
Elisabeth shrugged and looked to Tony, torn between amusement and concern.
Tony snorted derisively. “A fellow would have to have quite an imagination to think I’d wronged him. I haven’t quarreled with anyone in London.”
Elisabeth shrugged again. “So it remains a mystery. But tell me how you came here, Tony. Did Mr. Aldgate rescue you?”
Tony looked outraged. “Of course he didn’t. I escaped.” He paused dramatically, waiting for Elisabeth’s reaction.
“Did you indeed?” she said appreciatively. “How did you manage it?”
Her cousin’s eyes sparkled. “Well, they kept me in an upstairs room, you know. But after a few days, they had the ropes removed. Didn’t think I could go anywhere.” He looked scornful. “So, I watched the yard below my window and learned the household’s schedule while I worked loose one of the bars.” He paused. “They were very old. Why do you suppose bars were put on upstairs windows?” Neither of his listeners appeared ready to answer this question, so he continued. “I could see Growser; they had him tied in the yard. And very unhappy he was about it. He howled the day long. Finally, I got one bar free, and that night, I skinned out and jumped for it. Twisted my ankle a bit, but not so that I couldn’t walk. I untied Growser, and we legged it for the road, but they had a man on watch at the gate. I didn’t expect that, hadn’t seen him before. He’s the one who shot me. But we kept running, and I stumbled onto Mr. Aldgate’s land where he found me the next day and kindly took me in. Growser had gone. Back to London, I guess.” Tony looked very proud at this idea.
Elisabeth turned to Mr. Aldgate, frowning. “The house where he was kept must be very close then,” she said.
“Oh, yes,” replied her host. “I believe we’ve found the house. It only remains for Tony to confirm it when he can get about again. But it’s quite deserted, of course. They left when Tony escaped.”
“But we can inquire…” began Elisabeth.
Mr. Aldgate inclined his head. “I have done so. The house was rented two months ago to a Mr. Smith from Bristol.”
“Oh.” She looked down. “There is no possibility of tracing them, I suppose.”
“I fear not.”
“Perhaps Growser could find them,” put in Tony. “He found me, after all.”
Elisabeth smiled at him. Mr. Aldgate rose. “I’ll inquire about Growser,” he said. “I hope he is found. And I’ll have a chamber prepared for you, Miss Elham. You will stay with us, I hope?” Elisabeth nodded. “And perhaps you would like to dine here with your cousin? I will give the orders.” He nodded to them and went out.
Left alone with her cousin for the first time, Elisabeth turned to him. “I’m truly glad to have found you again, you know, Tony,” she said. “Thank God you’re all right.”
“Thank Mr. Aldgate, rather,” answered Tony irreverently. “I don’t mind telling you I was run off my legs when he came upon me. He’s been truly good to me.”
Elisabeth nodded. “I’m grateful to him indeed. Why does he wear such strange clothing? Do you know?”
Tony frowned for a moment, then his brow cleared. “You know I’ve become so used to them, I forgot how odd they must look to you. But I don’t know why he wears them. Likes ’em, I suppose.” The topic didn’t seem to interest him much. “I wonder if they’ve found Growser yet.”
“If they’ve searched near the kitchens,” replied Elisabeth drily, “I wager they have.”
Tony laughed. “I daresay you’re right. It’s good to see you, Cousin Elisabeth. I’ve had no one to laugh with for ages.”
There was a light tap on the door, and a middle-aged woman entered. “Hello, miss,” she said, curtsying slightly. “I am Mrs. Deal, the housekeeper. I’ll show you to your chamber when you’re ready.”
Elisabeth rose. “Oh, thank you. I should love to wash and get tidy again. Tony, I’ll see you later.”
“Mind you hurry,” was her cousin’s only reply. “I’m devilish hungry.”
Seventeen
They sat down to dinner about an hour later. The two cousins asked Mr. Aldgate to join them, and though he was at first reluctant, their sincere wish to have him present won him over. A table was arranged next to Tony’s bed, and Elisabeth soon understood that this had become the customary arrangement since Tony’s arrival at the house.
When the servants had brought coffee and retired and she had duly praised the food, Elisabeth turned to Mr. Aldgate. “I’d like to hear your part in Tony’s story,” she said. “I don’t yet know how you found him.”
“Ah.” Mr. Aldgate sat back in his chair. “I really had little part in the adventure, I fear. I’d taken my gun out just before dawn in hopes of getting some birds. I walked down through the park rather sleepily at first, not trying too hard to find a target, and when I reached the wall, I turned along it. As I passed the broken place you noticed, I heard a low moaning and stopped. When it came again, I began to search, and soon, I found Tony lying in some underbrush, very well hidden. He showed a great deal of sense in crawling there, wounded as he was.” He nodded at Tony, who beamed. “But he’d taken a chill during the night and was nearly delirious, so I covered him with my coat and got help as fast as possible. We brought him in and sent for the doctor.” He looked up at Elisabeth. “And that is my entire participation in the story.”
“I’m so grateful to you,” said Elisabeth. “You saved Tony’s life.”
“He did,” continued Tony. “And he’s said nothing about the trouble he’s taken, searching for Growser and investigating my kidnapping. He’s been nearly run off his legs waiting on me.”
Mr. Aldgate made a deprecatory gesture. “Nonsense. This has been the most exciting thing to happen at Steen in thirty years. It is I who should be grateful.”
Tony snorted, but the older man went on quite seriously. “It’s true. I’ve shut myself up here too long. It was very good for me to be shaken up a bit.” His eyes twinkled. “In fact, I found I quite liked it. Perhaps I shall come up to London once again and call on you when you return.”
“Do,” cried Tony.
And, “Of course, you must,” said Elisabeth at the same time.
Mr. Aldgate smiled at them warmly. “You’re very good,” he added. “But of course, I shan’t. You have no wish to be saddled with an old eccentric.”
“That is not true,” said Elisabeth.
“Of course it isn’t,” insisted Tony. “You can come home with me when I’m fit and stay as long as you like.”
Mr. Aldgate looked over their heads into space. “London,” he said meditative
ly. “I haven’t seen her for more than thirty years.” He looked down again and smiled at them before either could speak. “Well, well, it’s not yet time to think of travel. Tony will require rest and quiet for some time.”
Diverted, Elisabeth turned to look at her cousin. “Yes. You are still very white, Tony. Perhaps you should sleep now.”
“At seven o’clock?” replied Tony, aghast. “I’m not the least sleepy. And in any case, I can’t sleep until I find out that Growser is safely back.”
Elisabeth looked at their host, but he shook his head. “He was not yet found when I last checked,” he said. “I’ll ask again.” He rose, and before Elisabeth could protest, he was out of the room.
“What a kind man he is,” she exclaimed.
Tony nodded. “But he never gets Holy Ned about it. That’s what I like.”
Elisabeth laughed. “I see. Well, you were exceedingly fortunate to fall into his park. I hope you feel it.” Tony vowed that he did, and Elisabeth’s expression sobered. “Perhaps he wears clothes like those he had when last in London,” she added meditatively. “I wonder why, though?”
“Are you still fidgeting over that?” asked her cousin. “What does it matter?”
“It doesn’t matter,” answered Elisabeth. “I’m curious; that’s all. Aren’t you at all interested in the question?”
“No,” replied Tony promptly. “He might wear rags for all me. I shan’t like him one whit the less.” He shrugged. “What can have become of Growser? Do you think he went back to London again?”
Elisabeth frowned. “It seems unlikely. He appeared to know just where he was going. I thought he would come directly to you.”
“Perhaps he went back to where I fell and hid,” suggested the boy.
Elisabeth rose. “That is a sound idea,” she said. “I must tell Mr. Aldgate to have them look there.” But as she was preparing to leave the room, their host entered.