‘Is that for a year?’
‘You are still thinking like a scullery maid,’ he chided. ‘That will be your salary for a month.’
Her mouth dropped open and she shot to her feet. ‘A month! You’re joking.’
‘I’m perfectly serious.’ He was having difficulty controlling his amusement. ‘Is that acceptable to you? Do we have an agreement?’
‘You do, sir,’ she replied with as much dignity as she could muster.
He stood up and reached out to shake her hand. ‘Welcome to the Gretham firm of lawyers.’
‘Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.’
‘I am aware of that, Miss Banner, or I would not have considered employing you.’ He gave a deep laugh. ‘After these negotiations I think you would make a fine lawyer.’
‘Oh, they would never allow a woman to do that.’
‘One day it will become quite normal, along with other professions like doctors, politicians and many more. At the moment, too many men think women should be confined to the home – I don’t.’
‘Is that why you are giving me this chance?’
‘That’s one reason, but there is also a selfish one. I am in need of a good copier, and you have the skill. I don’t employ anyone on a whim. They must be capable of doing the work required, and you have proved to me that you have the skill needed for the job. The fact that you are a woman makes no difference to me.’
‘You are an unusual man, sir.’
‘So I have been told on numerous occasions. Now, I’d like you to start on the document on my desk immediately. I will need it by midday tomorrow. You can work in here and I will see you are not disturbed. You will break for mealtimes, and work no later than six in the evening.’
‘What about my other duties, sir?’
‘From now on you have no other duties. You work for me and no one else.’ He smiled at her. ‘I will leave you to your work. There is plenty of paper and ink on the desk.’
She watched him stride from the room, took a deep breath and hoped her dad was looking down, unable to believe that the games they had played with writing and drawing had led to this. ‘Dad, what do you think of this? I’m going to work in an office for a while.’
Settling at the big desk she put the first sheet of paper in front of her. It was a lengthy document and she would be very careful with it, because it needed to be perfect.
Two hours passed without her noticing when there was a quiet knock on the door. It opened and she watched in amazement as the maid wheeled in a trolley. ‘The master said you are to be given refreshments.’ The girl did a quick curtsy and giggled.
Chrissie tried to remain serious, but couldn’t, and laughed along with the young maid. She was being waited on!
Chapter Nineteen
The doctor changed the dressing and nodded in approval. ‘You heal quickly, Major. You may get up today, but only to sit in the chair. I expect you can do with a change of scenery.’
‘I certainly can.’ Harry was already on his feet with the aid of the doctor.
‘Let’s get you dressed and I will help you downstairs, but I want your word you will not go wandering around outside.’
‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t.’ Charles entered the room, delighted to see his son making good progress now. The change in him over the last few days was remarkable.
With one man either side of him, Harry made his way to the library where he could look out on the paddock and watch his horses. His favourite green leather chair was pulled up to the window and he sat down with a grunt of relief. ‘Just look at those two mares I bought. Aren’t they magnificent, Father?’
‘Prime specimens.’
‘Ask Bert, the head groom, to come and see me—’
‘No!’ both men stated at once.
‘In a day or two you can start ordering people around,’ the doctor told him. ‘Today you must remain quiet, or I’ll have you back in bed.’
Harry grimaced. ‘Good thing I didn’t have you at Balaclava, Doctor, or I would never have arrived home. I was travelling with injuries worse than this, and so was my brave horse.’
‘Quite frankly, after seeing the scars on you and your horse, I don’t know how you survived. That disaster took its toll on you, though, and we don’t want to take any chances you might still be in a weakened state. If you do as I say, then your complete recovery will be all the faster, but be patient.’
‘All right. For today I will be content to just look.’ He gave both men a determined glare. ‘But tomorrow I shall expect to become involved in the running of the estate again. There is a lot to do.’
‘No riding until you are strong enough to stay upright on a horse.’
‘I’ll wait a couple of days.’
The doctor sighed and turned to Charles. ‘I’m beginning to think I should have tied him to that bed. Please don’t let him do too much the moment my back is turned.’
‘I’ll do my best, but you know how stubborn he can be.’
‘And thank the Lord he is. I’ll be back this evening to help him up the stairs and back in to bed.’
‘I’m not a baby. I can look after myself now.’ He watched the doctor head for the door, and when he was about to leave, Harry called, ‘Doctor, thank you for all you’ve done. I do appreciate it.’
‘I know you do, Major, and you haven’t got rid of me yet. Your recovery still has a way to go, so behave yourself – if that’s possible.’
‘Everything is possible.’
It was the middle of the afternoon when the clatter of someone arriving woke Harry from a doze. After a few minutes the butler arrived.
‘There is a Captain Joseph Taylor asking to see the major. Are visitors permitted, your lordship?’
Harry hoisted himself out of the chair. ‘Send him in.’
‘At once,’ the butler answered when Charles nodded to him.
The man who entered was dusty from travelling hard. He was of stocky build, with fair hair and alert blue eyes, which gleamed with pleasure when he saw Harry.
He marched in and saluted smartly. ‘Your message sounded urgent, Harry, and I came as soon as I could.’
‘Ah, it’s good to see you, Joe, and thank you for coming. This is my father.’
Joe bowed quite elegantly. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you, your lordship. Harry spoke of you often while we were travelling back.’
Charles shook the captain’s hand, liking him instantly. ‘Please sit down and I’ll order refreshments. I expect you would also like a drink to wash down the dust.’
‘That would be very welcome, your lordship.’
‘We don’t stand on formality here, Joe, so please call me Charles.’
He inclined his head and his eyes narrowed as he watched Harry make his way to the drinks table. ‘You’re hurt!’
‘Yes, that’s why I sent for you. Someone shot me and I need your help to track him down.’ He handed his friend a large whisky, then poured a smaller one for himself and his father before sitting down again.
‘Before we start on my story, tell me what you’ve being doing since we arrived back.’
‘Like you, I have resigned my commission and have applied to join the London police, and they’ve accepted me.’ Joe grinned. ‘It seemed the logical thing to do.’
‘Excellent.’ Harry turned to his father. ‘If we ever needed to find out what was happening in a certain area, or track something down, we always sent Joe. He’s as good as a bloodhound.’
‘He’s just the man we need, then.’
Joe emptied his glass and watched as a trolley was wheeled in piled with food. Once the maid left, he asked, ‘So, I assume you need to track down the devil that shot you?’
‘We have an idea who it is, but we need proof.’
‘Tell me the whole tale.’
It took a while to explain everything, and when Harry finished, his friend looked grim. ‘As this is a relative of yours, what do you intend to do when you have the necessary proof?’
‘That will be a tough decision for you, but I’ll see what I can find out.’
Charles sighed in relief as a weight lifted from his shoulders. Harry had been right to send for this man.
‘Thanks, Joe,’ Harry told him. ‘We can’t do this ourselves, because if we start investigating news will likely get back to Edward, and we are concerned what he might do then. As you know only too well, a cornered man is the most dangerous. If he finds out a stranger is asking questions about him he will probably think one of his debts is being chased.’
‘Don’t worry. He won’t even know I’m on his tail.’
Harry laughed. ‘I don’t suppose he will. You’ve had plenty of experience slipping in and out of places unseen. You’ll make a good officer of the law.’
He winked, showing he knew what his friend was hinting at, and then got down to business. ‘Have you got a likeness of this man?’
‘Only a miniature.’ Charles retrieved it from the drawer of the desk and handed it over.
The captain studied it for a while, and then handed it back.
‘You can keep it for reference.’
‘Not necessary. I’ll recognise him if I see him.’
‘Joe never forgets a face,’ he told his father. ‘That image is now firmly fixed in his mind.’
‘Ah, that’s a useful talent.’
‘I have found it so. The place to start will be Bath, to find out if the man was really there when he claims he was. Even if he was that doesn’t rule him out, because he could have hired someone to kill you, Harry. Though considering his financial situation, such an arrangement could have been too costly for him, but we mustn’t rule out any possibility.’
‘We did consider he might have hired someone, until we found out he’s an excellent shot and quite capable of hitting a moving target. From what my father has told me, Edward wants this estate quite desperately.’
‘He does seem to be the most likely candidate, but I must ask you, is there anyone else you can think of who wants you dead?’
‘None who would stoop to killing me on my own land …’ His words tailed off.
‘I need to know all the facts, no matter how unlikely,’ Joe urged his friend.
‘There is something I haven’t told you.’ He then explained about the girl he had dismissed, her background and how Edward was attempting to throw suspicion on to her.
The captain fixed his gaze on Charles. ‘You know her the best. Is there any possibility she could be involved?’
‘None at all. The idea is not even worth considering,’ Charles declared firmly.
‘I understand. Do you know where she is now?’
‘We’ve been looking, but haven’t been able to find her,’ Harry admitted. ‘I’m worried that Edward mentioned her. I don’t trust him.’
‘I’ll see if I can find her. What does she look like?’
‘Taller than the average girl, maybe five feet eight or nine inches, dark hair, dark eyes, slim and strong for a female,’ Charles explained.
‘Well, her height will single her out. However, our first task must be to find out who fired that shot.’
‘Agreed.’ Harry laid his head back and closed his eyes.
His father was immediately at his side. ‘You’ve been up too long for your first day. Help me get him back upstairs, Joe.’
Harry didn’t protest and was soon back in bed and sleeping peacefully.
The two men left the room quietly and returned to the library.
‘There is a room being prepared for you, and we dine at seven. Please join me before then for a drink. The butler will show you to your room.’
‘Thank you. That will give me time to freshen up after the journey.’
Charles found Joe an interesting dinner companion and the conversation flowed easily. ‘My son told me he would never have made it back here if it hadn’t been for your help and support.’
‘I’m sure he would have managed, but we’ve been friends for some time, and I couldn’t leave him. When the regiment was preparing to move out neither Harry nor his horse was in any fit state to travel. He could have gone in the wagons with the other wounded, but that would have meant shooting the horse, and he wouldn’t allow them to destroy him. I was a good scout and could find the safest places for us to camp. Once they were fit enough we started back, but it took some time to reach these shores again. It was a hell of a journey as I watched both Harry and the animal fighting with determination to keep moving. You can be proud of your son.’
‘I am, and I owe you a debt of gratitude.’
‘You don’t owe me anything. I was the one repaying a debt. I wouldn’t have survived that carnage if it hadn’t been for Harry’s bravery, but that is another story.’ He changed the subject. ‘I had the impression he’s very worried about this girl. What else can you tell me about her character? Can you start from the moment you met her and why you gave her a job here?’
Charles smiled gently as he remembered the day a young girl walked in, and he began to tell the story.
Joe listened intently, his whole attention focussed on Charles.
‘She wasn’t at all afraid of the huge horses, and when she saw the condition Midnight was in she refused to leave him. She stayed in his stall until he had recovered.’ Charles laughed quietly. ‘She used to ride them bareback.’
‘And they let her?’ Joe exclaimed in amazement.
‘She had a wonderful way with them and they liked her. In fact, I believe they still miss her.’
‘If she was so good, why did Harry dismiss her?’
‘I really don’t know, and we had quite a row about it, but when he saw a girl working as a stable lad and wearing breeches he sent her away immediately.’
‘Well, I would say he’s sorry now. I like the sound of the girl and will see if I can find her once we have settled the question of who fired that shot.’
‘Yes, my son could still be in danger.’ He went to the desk and took out a packet from the drawer. ‘You will need money if you are to blend in with the gambling crowd at Bath. Edward will be at the tables if he’s there, and even if he isn’t the best place to glean information will be with the gamblers. If you need more then let me know.’
Joe looked at the money and shook his head. ‘This is more than enough. I rarely lose, unless I want to.’
‘Really? How can you be sure of winning?’
‘I can remember every card that has been played – and no one can detect when I’m cheating.’ Joe laughed. ‘I was taught by the best card sharps in the brigade, and that’s why I never gamble. However, I may need to use those skills if I am to get the information we need.’
‘Do be careful. Hardened gamblers can be dangerous.’
‘I’m always careful,’ he assured Charles. ‘That’s why I’m still alive. I will be leaving at first light, so if you will excuse me, I will retire early.’
Chapter Twenty
It was an anxious ten minutes as she watched the document she had copied being examined. It hadn’t been easy because she didn’t know what many of the words meant. It had been like a foreign language in places, and each letter had to be done with great care.
‘You have done well,’ Sir Stuart Gretham finally said. ‘I will be returning to London tomorrow and will take you with me. How do you feel about that?’
‘To be honest, not very happy, sir. I have no desire to see London again.’
‘It will only be for a short time and then you can come back to the country again. You might find it exciting. I have a court case and I’ll see you have a seat in a good position so you can watch the proceedings.’
‘I’m sure that will be very interesting, sir.’
He laughed then. ‘From your expression I can see I haven’t convinced you.’
‘It will be a new experience for me, but it’s the thought of going back to
London I don’t like.’
‘I won’t keep you there any longer than necessary, but I have work for you to do. Even my experienced clerk can’t copy documents as expertly as you. Now, come with me. I want to see how well you can ride.’ He began to walk towards the door, and then turned a frown on his face. ‘You are quite happy to ride for part of the journey, I take it?’
‘Yes, sir.’
He nodded and she followed him to the yard where a groom was holding a mare and a boy was there ready to help her mount. ‘Er …’ she stared, puzzled. ‘What’s that on her back?’
‘A saddle.’
‘But it’s facing the wrong way.’
‘It’s a lady’s side-saddle, miss,’ the groom told her. ‘Haven’t you seen one before?’
‘No, and I can’t use that. I ride bareback.’
The master gave a spluttering laugh. ‘Give the saddle a try. I’m told it is quite comfortable, and you will soon get used to it.’
She tried – she really did, but the next few minutes were hilarious, and in the end the men had to admit defeat. ‘Can’t I try an ordinary saddle? I’ll be much happier if I’m facing the right way.’ Chrissie stroked the horse’s nose. ‘Don’t you get upset about this. It isn’t your fault. That saddle is ridiculous, don’t you agree?’ When the animal tossed her head up and down, she stroked its nose and turned back to the men. ‘There you are, she agrees with me.’
‘But, miss, you can’t ride astride. Ladies use this kind of saddle.’
‘That may well be, but I’m not a lady.’
The groom gave his master a helpless look. ‘She can’t ride astride, sir. It isn’t possible with a skirt.’
‘That isn’t a problem.’ She smiled happily at the men. ‘I have some breeches.’
The groom looked scandalised, and the master was roaring with laughter. ‘That would really make a stir if we rode into Southampton to board the locomotive to London with you astride and wearing men’s breeches.’
When Midnight Comes Page 14