When Midnight Comes

by Beryl Matthews

  Charles gave a weary sigh. ‘This is twice I have nearly lost my son. By some miracle he returned from the Crimea, only to be shot at his own home. How much more grief does a man have to take?’

  ‘We’ll keep him safe, your lordship. Every worker on the estate is alert and watching for anything unusual happening around the place.’

  ‘Yes, I know, and that is a comfort. There is another task my son has set me, and that is to find Chrissie and bring her back here. I need someone who will search for her.’

  ‘Adam is a sensible lad and he would be happy to do that, I’m sure. Have you any idea where he should start?’

  ‘The village is the logical place to start. She might have gone there first.’

  ‘I’ll send him straight away and then meet you at the stables when you are ready.’

  ‘I’ll see you there in fifteen minutes. I must see Harry first and let him know what we are doing.’

  The young boy was soon on his way, happy with the task of finding Chrissie, who he had liked very much. Then a group of six men rode out to search the area where Harry had been shot. They soon found the spot where the assassin had waited, and although they searched it inch by inch, the only indication that anyone had been there were broken branches and flattened grass.

  After two hours, Charles called off the search, disappointed not to have found even one small clue. Whoever the culprit was, he had been careful not to leave anything behind.

  ‘What can we do next?’ the estate manager asked.

  ‘I shall have to pay my club in London a visit. It’s also where Edward spends a lot of his time, and I might be able to gather some news there. My son and I both believe he is the likely candidate for this crime, and we have either got to prove it or eliminate him and look elsewhere. Let’s return to the house and I’ll discuss it with Harry, if he’s up to it.’

  Harry was awake and anxiously waiting for news.

  ‘The search was fruitless, I’m afraid,’ he told his son. ‘The spot he used to conceal himself was clear; he was careful not to leave anything behind, not even a cigar end we could have used to identify the make.’

  ‘I’m not surprised. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. You’ll need to find out if Edward is a good enough shot to hit a moving target. If not, he might have engaged someone to do it for him. I can’t think of anyone else who would want me dead, and I did make it clear to him that I would take steps to see he couldn’t inherit the estate. That might have made him desperate enough to try and get rid of me before I took any action on that.’

  ‘On reflection, telling him was perhaps unwise.’

  Harry snorted. ‘Add that to the list of mistakes I’ve made since arriving home. And talking of mistakes, what steps have you taken to find that girl?’

  ‘Will you stop calling her “that girl”? Her name is Chrissie, and the lad, Adam, is out there now trying to trace her.’

  ‘She can’t have got far.’ Harry sighed and rested his head back against the pillows. ‘What are you going to do next about Edward?’

  ‘I’m off to London in the morning to pay a visit to our club. I haven’t been there for some time, but I know a lot of the members and they do love to gossip. If Edward has been up to anything unusual they will know.’

  ‘Good place to start.’ Harry moved to get more comfortable and winced.

  ‘Try and rest. I know how frustrating it must be for you to be confined to a bed, but you have to leave this to us. Everyone on the estate is willing and anxious to help.’

  His son nodded. ‘Thank them for me.’

  There was a quiet knock on the door and the head groom looked in. ‘I thought the major would like to know that the two mares he bought the other day have arrived.’

  Harry was immediately alert. ‘Come in and tell me what you think of them. I purchased them on impulse.’

  ‘They are beautiful, Major.’ The head groom smiled excitedly as he stood at the end of the bed. ‘I’ve never seen a colour like the golden one, and the other is so black she shines blue in the sunlight. They will be perfect.’

  ‘That’s what I thought when I saw them, and I had a job making the man part with them.’ He gave a rumble of laughter. ‘I didn’t go out to buy horses, but when the owner saw how much I wanted them the price kept going up.’

  ‘Well, they could turn out to be worth every penny you paid for them. Midnight and Red are already showing an interest in them.’

  ‘Don’t let those two near them yet. They need to settle in. Damn! I wish I could come down and see them. Who have you got looking after them?’

  ‘I’ll do that myself, but if Chrissie was still here I would have given that job to her.’ The head groom smiled at Charles. ‘You know what a special feeling she had for the horses.’

  ‘Yes, quite remarkable how quickly they responded to her when they were in a fractious mood. You will be pleased to know that we are trying to find her and bring her back.’

  ‘So I heard, and that is good news.’

  Charles glanced at his son and saw that his eyes were closed and there was sweat on his brow.

  The doctor was already bending over the bed, and then spun round to face the men in the room. ‘Out! Everyone out.’

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Charles rushed to his son’s side, but the doctor made him move away.

  ‘It looks as if he is developing a fever. I feared this might happen. Send the maid to me.’

  Just then there was a rap on the door and Adam looked in.

  ‘Out!’ The doctor raised his voice this time.

  The lad flinched, but remained where he was. ‘I was told to come up here,’ he protested.

  ‘Let him come in,’ Harry said firmly. ‘I give the orders around here, Doctor. Have you found her?’ he demanded as Adam sidled into the room, keeping a wary eye on the doctor.

  ‘She went to the village, sir, and then to a local farm. I went there and found out she’s been helping with the strawberry harvest and potato crop, but they’re finished now and the farmer had to let her go. He doesn’t know where she went. I’m sorry, sir, I haven’t found her yet, but I’ll keep looking. She’s only been gone from the farm for two days so she can’t have got far.’

  Harry was clearly disappointed. ‘Thank you, Adam. Do your best to find her for me.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ The boy bowed slightly to his lordship and left the room.

  ‘That’s enough, Major. You are exhausted and have all the signs of a fever developing, and we must deal with that at once.’ The doctor ushered the two men still in the room towards the door, and said quietly, ‘Send me a man to help as well as the maid. I want plenty of water up here – hot and cold. We must get that fever down quickly, but your son is a strong man and a fighter.’

  ‘I know what you’re saying, and I’ll stay with him.’

  ‘No. I mean no offence, but I need a young man who is strong enough to help me lift him. Your son is a big man.’

  ‘I understand,’ Charles agreed reluctantly. ‘I’ll send the footman.’ He hurried from the room to make sure the doctor had everything he had asked for. A fever was the worst thing that could have happened, and the next hours could be desperately worrying. It didn’t matter how much he told himself that Harry was a tough man and could fight off anything, he was frantically concerned. His son had somehow survived that war, only to have this to deal with. If he ever came face-to-face with the criminal who had done this he wouldn’t be responsible for his actions. And if it did turn out to be Edward – well …

  ‘Bad business, your lordship,’ the estate manager said, ‘but the major will overcome this.’

  The manager’s voice cut through his troubled thoughts and he dredged up a semblance of a smile. ‘Of course he will. Will you go and ask Cook for the water the doctor needs, and I’ll send the footman upstairs, and then I’ll have a look at those mares.’

  With everything done he went out to the stables, knowing he had to keep his mind occupied. He wanted to be
in the room with his son, but he knew he would only get in the way. He had known Doctor Carter for many years and he was a competent physician. He would do everything in his power to see Harry survived this crisis. What he had to do was find some good news to help his son’s recovery.

  The hours stretched from late morning to evening, and all Cook’s efforts to tempt him with food were useless. Charles paced the library, unable to settle. The house was silent as if holding its breath as everyone waited, their attention focussed on the room upstairs.

  It was nearly midnight when the doctor came downstairs. Charles was waiting for him at the foot of the stairs the moment he had heard him, and he hardly dared ask.

  ‘The fever has broken and he is sleeping peacefully at last.’

  ‘Oh, thank God!’ He had to grab the banister to support himself, the relief was so immense. ‘Does this mean he is out of danger?’

  ‘He now has a very good chance.’ The doctor smiled, took his arm and guided him back to the library. ‘Let us get you a brandy, and then you can go upstairs and see him.’

  The footman was still there, and he stood up the minute Charles walked in to the room. ‘Go and get something to eat, John, and I’ll stay with my son for a while. Thank you for all you’ve done.’

  He bowed and left, leaving father and son alone.

  ‘Are you awake, Harry?’ he asked softly. When his son opened his eyes and gave a weary smile, he let out a silent sigh of relief. ‘You’ve got to stop this, you know.’ He sat on the edge of the bed. ‘I’m too old to cope with the fright of nearly losing you twice.’

  A deep rumbling laugh came from the patient. ‘Don’t try and fool me, Father, because you are tougher than any of us. Now, if I remember correctly, all investigations so far have been fruitless. What are you going to do next?’

  ‘Now you are out of danger I’m going to take that trip to London to see if I can unearth any gossip about Edward. If anyone knows it will be the members at the club who, as you know, keep a sharp eye on what everyone is doing. We have to find out quickly if he is responsible, because if not then you have another enemy out there.’

  Harry said under his breath, ‘Be careful. You are surrounded by danger.’

  He had spoken softly but Charles heard Chrissie’s last words to him, but he didn’t remark on them. ‘I saw the two mares you bought and they are magnificent. They should produce fine colts.’

  ‘I agree. I had to negotiate hard for them because I wasn’t the only buyer interested.’ He looked pointedly at his father. ‘What is being done to find that girl?’

  The quick change of subject showed Charles just what was really on his son’s mind. ‘Adam is continuing his search, and her name is Chrissie,’ he reminded him. ‘Will you tell me why you are so insistent she is found? You were appalled to find a girl working as a stable lad and didn’t hesitate to send her away. Why this sudden interest in finding her?’

  ‘I was wrong, and you know I don’t admit that lightly. That picture of her walking away wearing her own shabby clothes instead of those breeches is haunting me. It surprised me, because I thought she was going with you, but she didn’t. She was alone with nowhere to go, and even knowing that she warned me of danger – a warning I ignored. If I had treated anyone else like that they wouldn’t have given a damn what happened to me, but do you know what I saw in those dark eyes at that moment?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Concern – concern for me. When I was on the ground with a bullet in me I heard her words and finally realised what a wrong I had done her. I’ve got to put that right or I’ll never sleep easy. That’s why I want her found.’

  Seeing his son was getting agitated, he grasped his arm. ‘You stop fretting and get your strength back. We’ll find Chrissie, and the devil who tried to kill you.’

  Chapter Sixteen

  The attic room was dark and cramped, with only room for a single bed and nothing else. Chrissie sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. The farmer’s wife had told her this family might want some help, so with a packet of bread and cheese and water to drink, she had set out for the ten-mile walk. It had taken her most of the day, and when she had finally arrived her instinct had been to keep walking, but the sun was beginning to set and she didn’t relish the thought of sleeping in a field. Weary in both body and mind she went to the servants’ entrance and knocked. The housekeeper who spoke to her said the only position available was for someone to help nanny with the three children.

  She liked children and had been happy to accept the job – until she had met the children. There were two girls and one boy with ages ranging from three to ten, the boy being the eldest. The two girls were not much trouble, but the boy was rude, arrogant and had taken an instant dislike to her. He needed a firm hand to keep him in order, but no one bothered, and he was allowed to run wild. She had only been here for one day and didn’t know how long she would be able to stop herself from giving him a clip round the ear. His mother called him her little darling, but she could think of a more uncomplimentary description for him. Another worrying thing was Chrissie sensed there was something wrong with the mistress of the house, but couldn’t quite decide what it was. She ought to have followed her instinct and kept walking. This was not a happy house.

  She stood up and braced herself for another difficult hour as they got the children ready for bed.

  ‘She’s not helping me!’ the boy declared the moment she walked in to the room.

  ‘I’ve no intention of doing anything for you,’ she declared. ‘You are old enough to look after yourself, and you should be spending your time at your studies and not running riot in the nursery disturbing your sisters.’

  ‘The last tutor left after four days,’ he sneered. ‘None of them stay long.’

  ‘I’m not surprised. They are educated people and don’t have to waste their time on a bad-mannered child.’

  ‘You can’t talk to me like that,’ he shouted. ‘I’m the oldest son and you are nothing but a servant. I’ll tell my father what you said and he’ll throw you out.’ He stormed out of the room, slamming the door and making the house rattle.

  ‘Oh dear,’ the nurse moaned. ‘And I was so hoping you would stay.’

  ‘He needs taking in hand. How do you put up with his behaviour?’

  ‘Because I have to. In his mother’s eyes he can do no wrong. I can’t understand it; she never used to be so withdrawn and oblivious to what is going on around her. All of her attention is on that one child.’

  ‘What about the father? I haven’t seen him yet.’

  ‘He’s away a lot, but returned just an hour ago. I have heard him reprimand his son, but he’s never here long enough to straighten the boy out. He works hard and I think he likes a quiet life while he’s home.’

  ‘What does he do?’

  ‘He’s a lawyer – barrister, I believe, and works in London.’

  Chrissie nodded and let the subject drop. She would no doubt meet him soon, when he dismissed her.

  As soon as the two girls were safely tucked up in bed Chrissie made her way up to her room. When she opened the door she was horrified to see the boy in there. He had pulled her belongings out from under the bed and was holding the box containing the crystal ball.

  ‘Put that down,’ she demanded.

  He opened his fingers and let it crash to the floor, and then laughed, dancing up and down as if it was a huge joke.

  She scooped it up and her eyes clouded with distress and anger when she saw the box had split down one side, and she was afraid to look inside. If this monster had damaged Elsie’s precious gift she would give him the hiding he deserved and take the consequences for her action.

  ‘What is going on here?’ A man caught hold of the laughing, prancing boy and demanded, ‘Be quiet! Your noise can be heard all over the house.’

  ‘Send her away, Father. I don’t like her.’

  ‘I told you to be silent.’ The man turned his attention to Chrissie. ‘I would like an explan
ation, please.’

  This was clearly the master of the house and she had been surprised by the word ‘please’. He was quite tall and rather imposing-looking, with an air of authority about him. Feeling for sure she was about to be sent on her way – again – it didn’t enter her mind not to tell exactly what had happened. ‘I discovered your son in my room, sir, and he was holding this box. When I asked him to put it down, he just dropped it on the floor.’

  ‘What were you doing up here?’ he asked the boy.

  He shrugged. ‘Looking round and I wanted to see what she had. That box is too good for her. I bet she stole it.’

  ‘I didn’t, sir,’ she protested, unable to keep the distress out of her voice. ‘It was a gift to me from a lovely woman.’

  ‘And therefore very precious to you,’ he said softly.

  She nodded. ‘And now the box is broken and I’m afraid to look inside. It’s very old and had been in Elsie’s family for a long time.’

  He held out his hands. ‘Let me see.’

  She handed it over very carefully, and watched as he removed the crystal ball from the broken box. When she saw it was undamaged, she gave a huge sigh of relief.

  Turning it over and over in his hands, he said, ‘It’s beautiful.’

  The boy was staring at it in wonder. ‘A servant can’t own a thing like that. She stole it, Father. She must have.’

  The look he received shut him up immediately. ‘I’ll hear the young woman’s story, and if you have done wrong, which I firmly believe you have, I will deal with you later. Now, I don’t want to hear another word from you, and I won’t tell you again.’

  ‘I didn’t do anything wrong. She’s only a servant.’

  ‘Don’t you dare defy me, young man! I told you to be quiet and I mean it. I will decide who is in the wrong here.’ He handed the crystal ball back to her and began to examine the box. ‘I know an excellent handyman and he will repair this for you. Will you allow me to take it to him?’