Posted on: 2011-11-16

Chapter 11

"Are you sure you want to know who killed Uncle Joseph?" said Richard Redmayne "After all it's as likely to be your….betrothed as anyone. More so indeed. My man was full of the quarrel when Featherstone first came to this house; and we saw the continuation of that at the ball."

"My godfather enjoyed quarrelling" shrugged Featherstone "As you ought to know."

"This bickering is preposterous!" burst out the squire "Most unseemly! Mr Colt you will agree with me!"

"Indeed" said the vicar "A very unchristian display if I may say so."

"You may not" snapped Richard.

"I am sure you find this most painful, Mr Colt" said Jane "I am sure that there is no reason to deny you the chance to leave should you wish to return to your parishioners where you will not have to listen to the morbid vulgarity only too prevalent in a bereaved household where legacies are involved and other interested parties will doubtless wish to bluster to avoid being considered as possible suspects."

There was a stunned silence.

"Oh Jane, you are clever!" said Euphelia "I believe you managed to insult everyone with one sentence."

"Thank you" said Jane "My position will make me unpopular in any case so I might as well enjoy myself by saying all the things I have been thinking."

"Jane dear" said Miss Bates "That is not very nice."

"Aunt Hetty" said Jane "I do not feel very nice. Somebody has upset you, and friends of mine because some people here have genuine grief on their faces and in the main they represent the minority of people. And indeed those that have shewed themselves to be pleasant people. And Simmy was getting fond of the old man and he is going to be much upset when I have to break it to him when he comes in."

"Henry will be upset too" Edward Snook spoke up "He's - was - fond of Uncle Joseph too. It seems incredible; but you have the knowledge. As one who aspires to a military career I will take orders from you. Captain? Lieutenants?"

"I have to say I am not sure what to do or think" said Captain Sheffam "Is there any real reason that any of us need remain at all?" He laid a protective hand on the shoulders of each of his subordinates.

"The lieutenants have no quarrel that I know of with Mr Redmayne" said Jane "And as I understand it, no interest in the estate. Unless anyone knows anything to the contrary, they and Mr Gatfield may retire along with Mr Colt, as soon as I have ascertained that they heard and saw nothing germane to this grievous matter."

"Unless the old man knew anything to their detriment" said Richard nastily "Perhaps he feels that Haz Gatfield only fell because there was a burr under his horse's saddle, or the horse was startled at the fence as only Gedeliah Gatfield saw him cramming as sounds most unlikely to me."

"Now look here!" said Gedeliah Gatfield.

Richard yawned.

"I would rather not; none of your family are that prepossessing" he said. "Of course we do not know what my uncle knew about these young officers to force them to come to dance with my cousins."

"Who needs forcing for a free meal and pretty girls?" said Lieutenant Hazeldean.

"My tactless friend meant to say, pretty girls and a free meal" drawled Lieutenant Parker "And if I were you, Mr Richard Redmayne, I would recall that you are not in our good books and nor were you much in Mr Redmayne's judging by what I have heard."

"He isn't in anyone's good books" said Peter Snook. "But I have - reluctantly - to point out that I overheard a quarrel between Uncle Joe and Lieutenant Hazeldean in which my uncle threatened to expose to the captain certain actions of the lieutenant. Indeed as I understood it he planned to do so; which might have got the said Lieutenant cashiered. So he has every reason to kill our uncle!" he added looking well pleased with himself to find someone outside the family to shift the blame on to, thought Jane.

Hazeldean burned red.

"Why you…." he began.

"For someone ready to take me to task over my manners before ladies you are singularly ready to lose yours" said Richard "Well done Peter; if you had to be snooping and prying like the cit you are at least it was to some end."

Peter's face suffused with blood.

"I was not snooping or prying" he said "if you want to know how I came to overhear it, I had gone onto the terrace to smoke a cigarillo and the window of the anteroom was slightly open at the time. I could hardly avoid hearing my uncle dressing Hazeldean down!"

"Surely my sons need not be detained here until some fellow comes from London?" demanded Thorpe, getting his word in edgeways "You cannot suspect them - or me - of having anything to do with this?"

His younger son appeared to have been fighting, for there was a light bruise on his face. Or maybe he had been pursuing the maids and his father would rather hide such amorous adventures that had got the boy well slapped.

"I have observed," said Jane with a carefully crafted sweet smile, "that men can become unreasonably hysterical when their sporting so-called rights are denied to them. You and your younger son, sir, were still hot this morning about the refusal of Mr Redmayne to permit you to ride roughshod over his orchids. And unwilling to accept his reasons. I should point out that the dagger used to kill Mr Redmayne appeared to be one that was a part of a display of weapons in his office; at least there was an empty scabbard on the wall. It was a peculiar design, with a silver thistle at the top and an orange-brown stone set in it. It could have been snatched up in the heat of the moment and used without thinking of the consequence and if anyone is willing to confess to that I am sure it will go easier" she added knowing in conscience that she had to say so.

"That is Uncle Joseph's trophy that his father, my great uncle, took from a Highland warrior at Culloden; it has a cairngorm stone set in it. It has some outlandish name" said Richard.

"Sgian dubh" said Featherstone.

"Oh you would know" said Richard nastily.

"I believe" said Captain Sheffam stiffly "That as you consider my quarrel with Mr Redmayne to be important that I am entitled to know what he intended to say about my subordinate."

"It was just mischief making sir" said Hazeldean instantly.

"I will be at pains to discover that and I will decide whether there is anything to pass on or not" said Jane "I will speak to everyone individually and alone who may have had any motive to kill Mr Redmayne. And may it be said that if anything untoward happens to Mr Snook who overheard the quarrel then I will know what to think."

"I won't let Peter out of my sight" said Edward "Because if the lieutenant is innocent, that comment, ma'am, if I may say so gives the real killer the opportunity to pin it on him."

"You are correct Mr Snook" said Jane "A singularly foolish thing on my part to assume that just because everyone here is gently born that they must also be honourable. Someone after all has been most dishonourable. Julia, my dear, perhaps you will take your girls and Theodora and Araminta to your sitting room? Aunt Hetty will go with you. Nobody can suppose that a lady can have had the strength to do what was done. I certainly could not have done so" she swallowed hard as her gorge rose at the thought of the dagger - sgian dubh - buried to the hilt in the old man's back. If it fit the scabbard closely it would have taken considerable strength to have driven it in.

Henry and Simmy crashed into the room with several freshwater eels on a string. The eels slithered nastily and their dead eyes gazed as accusingly on the company as Henry and Simmy.

"Look here is it true?" demanded Henry "John Ostler says Uncle Joseph's been murdered!"

"I am afraid it is true" said Jane holding out her arms for Simmy to run to and enfolding him against her "And your cousin Euphelia has asked me to make enquiries while all that everyone did is fresh in their minds in case anyone overheard, saw, or might know something that might hold a clew to who did this."

"Cousin Euphelia? And how is my dear brother taking Euphelia taking charge?" Henry asked levelly.

"Doesn't have a choice" said Featherstone laconically "We got betrothed after the ball so she's the heir under your uncle's will."

Henry frowned, looked as though he was about to say something and shrugged.

"Like that is it? congratulations" he said instead. "Can you find out who did it Mrs Churchill and can I put my legal training at your disposal to help?"

"Only if you can prove where you were all the time from the end of the ball until you and Simmy slipped away" said Jane.

"Oh that's easy" said Henry "I went to sleep over the stables to get John Ostler to wake me so I shouldn't sleep in and disappoint Simmy. I should think any one of the boys would have woken if I'd got up; they sleep light in case the horses need them you know."

"I think that's a fair alibi" said Jane. "Moreover getting back into the house until the servants unlocked would be next to impossible."

"Good" said Henry grimly "I have always been fond of the old man even though we had our occasional differences. I want to know who killed him too."

"Is papa coming?" demanded Simmy.

"I hope so" said Jane "But I have written to him only this morning and the note will not reach him until tomorrow so I fear it is two long days at best that we must wait."

"He'll have the cramp-rings on the fambles of the cross cove that put the old man to bed in a box" asserted Simmy with rather more confidence than comprehensibility to most of the company.

"I will make use of the anteroom next to the ballroom where the card tables were set to ask questions" said Jane "If Lieutenant Parker, Mr Colt and Mr Gatfield would be good enough to join me there for a few minutes I will hopefully be able to permit you to go on your way quickly."

"It's not a question of permitting, Mrs Churchill" said Henry, sotto voce "You can't detain anyone, you know."

"But do they know that?" asked Jane serenely.

"It isn't legal…..well I suppose it's not a court of law so it don't matter" said Henry. "Where have you sent Simmy off to?"

"To question all the outside staff on the faintest of hopes that any might have seen lights in rooms when all should have been asleep; or indeed that there might be some chance of an outside killer employing what I believe is known as a Bessie to pick locks" said Jane "Which possibility I had not the slightest intention of admitting to your brother or Mr Snook because I was quite out of charity with both of them."

"That's how I feel most of the time" said Henry cheerfully "Edward Snook is not a bad chap though."

The Reverend Mr Colt was ready to decry this waste of time and to bring up St Paul on the subject of froward women.

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection but I suffer not the woman to teach or to usurp authority over the man; but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in transgression" he declared.

"You left a bit out" said Jane sweetly "About women being saved by childbirth. So I am saved already. And while we are on the subject that fine lustre waistcoat of yours is woven with a mix of cotton and mohair, and if we are busy quoting the Bible out of context, that is specifically banned in two separate places in Leviticus, rather like eating the mussels you were consuming with such relish at dinner last night so I pray you do not try to intimidate a clergyman's granddaughter with the Bible."

Colt spluttered.

"Mrs Churchill, what a shame it is that women may not come to the bar!" cried Henry "I declare you would have made an excellent barrister! Mr Colt, as legal counsel of Mrs Churchill I advise you to answer her questions or discover that the law will be less gentle in asking you when they arrive."

"This is intolerable!" spluttered Colt.

"Indeed it is" said Jane coldly "It is intolerable that a man should be done to death foully in his own house by someone in a position of trust under his own roof. I would hope that a man of the cloth would agree with that and ought to be prepared to tell anything he might know. Your room was over the study I believe."

Mr Colt looked uncomfortable.

"I - well I fear I am deaf in one ear" he admitted "As the result of a shotgun accident when I was a boy. I sleep with that ear uppermost so as not to be disturbed."

"I can confirm that" said Gatfield "Trying to wake him with anything much short of the last trump is difficult."

"Gedeliah my dear boy!" the vicar reproved.

"What I resent" said Gatfield, ignoring the reproof "Was Richard Redmayne's implications that I killed my brother."

"Did you?" asked Jane.

"No I did not!" Gatfield bridled.

"Had anyone previously made suggestion that you had done so specifically Mr Redmayne?" asked Jane.

"No!" he almost yelped.

"Then in that case if I were you with a clear conscience I would not be worrying" said Jane. "I have no interest in your brother whatsoever save that of Christian charity I pray that he makes a full recovery. However if you quarrelled at all with Mr Redmayne speak now. The servants will know all of those who had ever been at odds with him" she added "Servants know everything."

"You will demean yourself to question servants?" Gatfield looked revolted.

Jane smiled sweetly.

"I think, Mr Colt" she said "You should re-acquaint Mr Gatfield on St Paul on there being no class difference between the Good Lord's children. He appears to be remarkably worldly for a curate. Well if you can throw no further light on this I will not keep you" she added.

The lieutenant too disclaimed having seen or heard anything overnight.

"Well that was no help" said Jane to Henry. "I wonder why your uncle was in the study?"

"Your cross examination technique is not half bad!" said Henry enthusiastically "As to why he was there, he was a poor sleeper and often sat in his study half the night. Everyone in the family knows that!"

"So everyone in the family, or who knew him, knew he could likely be found there. Well that gets us nowhere" said Jane.

Chapter 12

Jane did not seriously think that the squire or either of his sons was likely to have killed Joseph Redmayne; but murder had been done for less than the use of a piece of land, even if was only to pursue foxes and hares over it. And a change of ownership might have led to a change of policy regarding the fencing of that land.

"You have no right to do this!" Mr William Thorpe shouted when she asked for them to be ready to answer questions "None of us went anywhere near the old man in his study last night or laid a finger on him or his stupid paintings!"

Jane asked to have John Thorpe sent in first, the most level headed seeming of the three Thorpes. The younger was doubtless just a blowhard and as foolish about hunting as Gedeliah Gatfield - Jane found it difficult to separate the two names in her head - and the squire was used to blustering and having his own way. William Thorpe might yet prove to have lost his temper and his senses to have stabbed his neighbour, but frankly Jane anticipated that if he was one who might be easily provoked then he might equally be easily provoked into confessing. He had revealed that he had been in the study.

John Thorpe bowed to her.

"Mrs Churchill" he said "My father and brother say the first thing that comes into their heads; it does not make them likely to act upon it, or to kill a man who likes wildflowers for no better reason than that."

"I think that the issue is not that Mr Redmayne was by way of being a botanist but that a piece of land judged common was denied to those who are hunting mad" said Jane "Dear me! I should have found out Mr Gatfield's sentiments!"

"Gedeliah's too upset about Haz to want to hunt" said John "He might rail about him having crammed the horse but he's fond of his brother. And being a curate suits him for he has a legacy from an uncle and the freedom to have his own household, so he doesn't want to be shackled to the family land. As to it being common land, well we all knew it belonged to Mr Redmayne. We had just been fortunate to use it to hunt and as a short cut because he had never minded before all this. I'm sure that nobody could believe that a man would be killed for a piece of land!"

"There have been thinner motives" said Jane dryly. "However let that pass. I concede that it's a motive you find too thin. You know your brother; and answer me truthfully and I will do all I can if you think it might have been that he might have reacted in a blind rage if Mr Redmayne were in a mood to…..provoke him."

John Thorpe flushed.

"He would never stab a man in the back however enraged!" he declared. "Never! I accept that he might have struck the old man - and been sorry for it afterwards, of course. But he would not do that!"

"Thank you" said Jane gravely "I will assuredly bear your character witness in mind when he tries to prejudice me against him by saying to me all the things his glowering face indicate that he is thinking."

"He is young and impulsive" said John, his eyes pleading.

"That too I will take into consideration" said Jane. "You may send him in."

William Thorpe came in after a long enough pause for his brother to have given him some pithy advice. He still looked truculent.

"Mr Thorpe" said Jane "Your brother assures me that even in a rage you would never stab a man in the back. However accidents can happen and if any did happen, it is better to speak up and let us look for mitigation."

Jane did not see how anyone could drive a dagger so deeply accidentally but he was young and if it had been him, then perhaps a shock might make a better man of him. He had already lied to her.

"I haven't laid a finger on him!" said William Thorpe "I wasn't even anywhere near him last night!" he looked her defiantly in the eye and made himself hold her gaze.

"Is that the tale you are going to hold to?" asked Jane.

"Yes!" declared William his eyes finally sliding sideways.

"Then you had better hope that apart from the other lie you have told that I do not find better proof of your untruths" said Jane.

"It is not an untruth, I have no reason to kill the old gaga and I did not!" cried William.

"The trouble is, I should have less trouble believing that if you had not already been shown to my satisfaction to be a liar" said Jane sadly.

"Your satisfaction? Well, Mrs Churchill, around here, you are nobody and I am the son of the squire!" declared William.

"Mr Thorpe" said Henry, who had listened carefully "In the Old Bailey, you are nobody and Mrs Churchill is a respected witness. I suggest you re-think your story."

"You are trying to put it on to me to avoid one of your own precious relatives being indicted!" cried William and stormed out.

His father crashed back in.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF TREATING MY SON LIKE THIS YOU BLASTED HARPY?" he roared.

"He has lied to me" said Jane.

"NONSENSE!" roared the squire.

"It's quite true" said Henry "I heard the initial lie and then he decided to stick to his story despite all the help Mrs Churchill was trying to give him."

"DAMMIT TO HELL HE DID NOT KILLTHAT MISBETGOTTEN APE JOSEPH REDMAYNE!" bellowed the squire.

"Mr Thorpe if I miscarry because you cannot moderate your tone and your language I will prosecute you" snapped Jane. "I did not ask to be the only person here qualified to carry out an investigation any more than I asked to have my host murdered under my very nose, now do I pray you, try to recall that you are a gentleman and not a fish seller in Billingsgate!"

The squire spluttered.

"I apologise" he said stiffly "But I know that my son did not murder Joseph Redmayne" he added.

"How can you know that?" asked Henry in an interested tone "Is that because you did it?"

The squire opened his mouth to let fly with another blast of invective and managed to control himself.

"No" he said with a snap.

"Then unless you were in his presence all the time from the end of the ball until rising, and are certain he did not leave you while you slept you cannot be certain, not in law" said Henry.

"If your son had been frank about his movements it would have been easier to believe him over not killing Mr Redmayne" said Jane coldly "I know that he was in Mr Redmayne's study; and that there was a scuffle in which Mr Redmayne's sketch book was torn. I believe it was Mr Redmayne who struck Mr William Thorpe, unless he has also been engaging in unsuccessful amatory adventures with the maids. If he had been truthful he would not have found himself so likely to be disbelieved. Can you shed any light on anyone else who might have killed Mr Redmayne?"

"It was undoubtedly a housebreaker" declared the squire "Everyone knows he sits up late in his study; a felon might readily have slipped inside during the ball and laid concealed waiting for everyone else to go to bed; and a bold villain could have then waited for the morning. Plenty of hiding places in this rambling old pile."

Jane exchanged a quick look with Henry.

"Possible" said Henry "Though he'd have to be an extraordinarily bold villain. I credit you a good theory sir. But urge your son to tell the truth."

The squire left banging the door behind him.

"Unrestful man!" said Jane crossly "I'm not surprised he's a widower, being married to a yard of tin is enough to drive any poor woman into the grave!"

Mr Featherstone turned up next with Euphelia.

"Go away Henry" said Mr Featherstone "I don't want to share my testimony with you."

"Why?" said Henry.

"Because it's about my betrothed and it's a delicate matter that has no bearing on this but Mrs Churchill has a need to know so she knows it has no bearing on this" said Featherstone.

"Oh, you mean about not really having popped the question at the ball and neither of you having had a chance to get your story about that straight?" said Henry. Featherstone looked at Euphelia who pulled a face.

"Apparently he noticed" she said.

"That's why I'm going to be a very good barrister" said Henry. "Actually Edward noticed and put me by way of it so I should not make any embarrassing faux pas when helping to question you. A good barrister also knows whose testimony is important."

"You can't hide a thing from boys scarce out of the schoolroom" sighed Featherstone. "Mrs Churchill, I think you had guessed too?"

"Yes" said Jane. "But I know why you did it; you thought that Richard and Peter between them would declare it an unknown burglar and spend all the estate's wealth on solicitors going to litigation over who might be the heir."

"Exactly" said Featherstone "And decrepit and unattractive as I may be I thought it only fair to buy some time for Miss Redmayne and her sisters."

Euphelia flushed.

"I may have been a little hasty and harsh in my judgements" she said "Though obviously this betrothal is a sham and I will cry off when the culprit is caught."

"And I should like to be cleared of being that culprit" said Featherstone grimly. "I may not have liked the idea of it being bruited abroad by the old man that I had fought a duel over charges of cheating - which is now proven by documents he kept to show both Captain Sheffam and I to be innocent and which under the circumstances I am more ready to talk about than had my Godfather still been alive. And yes, I had an argument with him during the ball in which I told him to stop persistently singing the praises of any of his er, wretched pack of pulchritudinous parasites. I was feeling irritated; my apologies, Miss Redmayne, I did not mean it like that."

"I quite understand" said Euphelia. "Uncle Joseph can sometimes make one feel quite contrary - could, I mean" she added sorrowfully. "And if we are supposed to be betrothed, Mr Featherstone, it would be better if you call me Euphelia."

"And you should call me Clement as you have already managed most beautifully in public" said Mr Featherstone.

"Oh dear!" said Henry "This so-called sham betrothal is already threatening to dissolve into the most awful amount of billing and cooing, wouldn't you say, Mrs Churchill?"

"If you ask me we should leave them to discover that for themselves" said Jane "They have both proved their innocence."

"How's that?" asked Henry.

"It has been noted" said Jane, recalling Caleb's comments on the subject "That those who are innocent of murder will often have trouble speaking of the deceased in the past tense; whereas those who have killed have no trouble with this at all. It could also indicate a great deal of precision of manner and self control I suppose" she added. "Euphelia - who would not have had the strength required in any case - speaks of him in the present tense, and Mr Featherstone did so readily at breakfast ere we knew he was dead, expounding with some enthusiasm on the old man's passion for orchids. Had he known I think he could not have carried that so well."

"Was that only this morning?" sighed Featherstone "But wait - there was a comment that could have been construed as the past tense!"

"Yes" said Jane "And it's sufficiently ambiguous that I'd rather not consider it too seriously without further evidence to back what might be suggestive. Certain other comments and reactions make me feel that I know who it is but I will not move until Caleb - Armitage" she hastily added " - arrives and there is enough evidence to make an arrest. I will not harry a man purely on an ambiguity and possibility."

"And that's why you're in charge of this not any of us" put in Henry "Because of most of us wanting to arrest Peter Snook for being mercenary enough to have done it in the hopes that if nobody was betrothed it might devolve on him as closest blood relative."

"I suppose," said Jane, "it is natural for a lawyer to return to Cicero and ask cui bono? Which to be honest under most circumstances is a very reasonable question. But we have to keep an open mind here; there is more potentially at stake than the gain of wealth from Mr Redmayne's estate, and the disposal of that is a potentially convoluted matter. There is also the gain of not being cashiered which is a real fear for Lt Hazeldeane, and it may be that the old man did know something else to the detriment to others."

"Labyrinthine!" said Henry cheerfully. "I say, Mrs Churchill, you should be called Ariadne that like Theseus we might all cry to you for the thread!"

"Young idiot" said Featherstone.

Posted on: 2011-11-20

Chapter 13

Luncheon was a dismal affair, the squire and his sons and the military men being in the habit of a hearty enough breakfast to carry them through to dinner, the Captain and Lieutenant Hazeldean having retired for a walk in the wilderness and Richard Redmayne having retired to the Blue Boar once more. The Snooks partook of a noon meal, and Mr Featherstone joined the meal with Euphelia and the twins, Julia and her remaining daughters declaring that they were too insensate from shock and depression of the spirits to join the company.

"Which if you ask me, Mrs Churchill" confided the footman who brought the message and who was enjoying the sensation no end "Is no more than nasty temper on Miss Cora's part, her being the Beauty, that Miss Redmayne got betrothed first, account of if she was insensate with shock she'd not have sent down for a cup of rich chocolate and bread-and-butter."

"Indeed" said Jane, torn between depressing such improper familiarity and interested in the histrionics of the family Beauty. "I am sure that shock takes different people in different ways and it is not for others to comment on it."

Properly chastened the footman bowed and left and was heard to comment to another that despite being with Bow Street, Mrs Churchill was a real lady who knew how to give a set-down in proper style. That this made him more respectful and devoted to her interests rather than otherwise made Jane smile despite all the tribulations.

Richard Redmayne returned to Kettlethorpe Place in the afternoon in the company of the family solicitor whom he had met upon the road and engaged to bring the last couple of miles.

Mr Prewitt of Prewitt, Dean and Satchwell, was an acidulated little man, bird like in his mannerisms with a head that nodded on a skinny neck and an air of disapproval.

The main reason for the air of disapproval became apparent when he informed Richard with some asperity that now he might address all who were affected he would be ready to disclose the contents of Mr Joseph Redmayne's will and not before.

The family gathered in the dining room, and Jane with them.

Mr Prewitt gazed on Jane with some doubt.

"Mrs Churchill is undertaking the preliminary enquiry into the death of our uncle" said Euphelia firmly. "It is germane for her to be present at the proceedings."

"Ah" said the solicitor. "You are not then, er, Miss Bates?"

"No; that is my aunt" said Jane. "Is her presence required? I had not thought it would be so and she is quite prostrated. She held Mr Redmayne in considerable regard."

"Er, I see, quite" said the solicitor. "No her presence is not required; Mr Redmayne had written to me, only yesterday indeed, requesting that I add a codicil regarding Miss Bates pending other more formal arrangements."

Jane felt her eyes fill with tears.

"That was good of him to think of it" she said "Dear me! It would be cruel though to tell her that at the moment."

"Assuming that his will is in the order that he said it would be, dear Mrs Churchill, Clement and I will see that his wishes are carried out, regardless of them not being signed and sealed" said Euphelia.

"Miss Redmayne, it is a considerable sum!" Mr Prewitt looked over his pince nez in some shock.

"I don't care; the old man was fond of her and she is a delightful lady, very kind" said Euphelia.

"Euphelia, don't you think you ought to find out just what you are considering giving away before taking all OUR birthright for a stranger?" said Richard.

"If Miss Bates had become Mrs Redmayne the question would have been academic for there would have bee a settlement for certain" said Euphelia. "Don't be so uncharitable, Richard! Let us all hear the terms of Uncle Joseph's will. Then you will know whether or not to consider yourself the main residual legatee or not."

"I was always Uncle Joseph's favourite" scowled Richard.

"Dear me" said Mr Prewitt "Well if I may….."

"Oh, it is all too much!" cried Cora who suddenly recalled that she had not drawn attention to her tragic beauty yet.

"Being potentially disinherited for a stranger insinuating herself into our uncle's good graces is certainly too much" said Peter Snook.

"Be fair Pete" said his brother "The old lady never did any such thing; she had no need. She never was his pensioner to have to ingratiate herself; and she never toad-ate to him in the least."

"I like Miss Bates" said Theodora unexpectedly. "She doesn't - didn't let Uncle Joe walk on her like a lot of people do. That's why he liked her; I wish I could have stood up to him like that and still managed to sound like a lady."

"Well said Theodora" said Euphelia with a warm smile.

Mr Prewitt cleared his throat.

"Being the last will and testament of Joseph Redmayne of Kettlethorpe Place being as I am in as sound a mind as ever which is to say sounder than most of the rest of the population" he began.

"That's Uncle Joseph all right" said Henry. "True too."

Mr Prewitt frowned at him and went on firmly,

"All legatees to be disqualified from small reward should they be a part of the major legacy in which case their award to be split equally" he cleared his throat "We have a list of awards to the servants which of course they will have to hear later but the family business is to be considered first."

"Do they count if any otherwise awarded small amounts should become major legatees in the equal splitting?" asked Clement Featherstone, interested.

"I - well it is not specified" said Mr Prewitt, flustered. "I suppose that they would."

"Well I don't suppose it matters under the circumstances but I like to get these points cleared up" said Featherstone.

"Ridiculous!" said Peter.

"Quite so" agreed Zilia "Uncle Joseph set sums for the servants; he cannot have meant them to benefit from one of us marrying, which is what this is all about."

The twins looked at each other, in accord again in the face of such meanness.

"We think he would have meant that" said Zira, taking the role as spokesman "So that the servants might celebrate more heartily any nuptials."

"Because he was good to his servants as well as shouting at them a lot" said Cilly.

Mr Prewitt cleared his throat.

"Whatever he meant, in law as Mr Featherstone points out, the servants will be amongst those to benefit from the equal sharing of any sum or sums involved" he said firmly. "There are two stipulations that are not to be changed regardless of any other events that are specified; that Mr Featherstone is to receive all of Mr Redmayne's books on botany and his sketchbooks; and that Mrs Julia Redmayne and any unwed daughters are to have a home for life in the Place."

Julia burst into tears of relief.

"Oh he is too good! How kind of dear Uncle Joseph!"

"Beneath his abrasive manner he was kind" said Featherstone.

"Mrs Redmayne also receives a small stipend in addition of some hundred pounds a year from the funds" said Prewitt. "The rest of the initial legacies are as follows; 'four thousand pounds each to Mr Richard and Mr Henry Redmayne, one thousand each to Messers Peter and Edward and Miss Theodora Snook, and two and a half thousand each to the daughters of my nephew Daniel Redmayne and the same to my Godson Mr Clement Featherstone. The house and the bulk of the property to go to the first of the daughters of the aforementioned Daniel Redmayne to become engaged so long as the wedding takes place within a year of the betrothal; which if it does not, the property will revert to any of the said daughters of Daniel Redmayne should they have become engaged in the mean time and providing their marriage also takes place within the year; and failing the ability of pretty girls to manage to catch a man'" he cleared his throat "Mr Redmayne insisted on such crude wording I am afraid" he put in "Er, 'then the house is to be turned over to the use as an orphan asylum to be administered with the income from the home farm, regarding only that the rights to live within it of Mrs Redmayne and her unwed daughters not be disturbed, since if they are unable to being up the children of their own husband they may as well be usefully employed caring for the children of others.'"

There was a long silence of shock; and Jane started laughing.

"Oh I LIKE the old man!" she said.

"Why, so do I!" said Featherstone. "Richard, your face; that is not what you were expecting!"

"It's iniquitous!" cried Richard "Why it cannot be legal!"

"We should contest it!" cried Peter "One thousand pounds? It is derisory!"

"It is quite legal" said Mr Prewitt dryly "None of Mr Redmayne's nieces and nephews have any real legal right to inherit his goods and lands; he has been all that is generous to his relatives. The sums left are adequate to invest for a frugal but comfortable living. Especially since the daughters of Daniel Redmayne are also offered a roof over their heads. Mr Redmayne felt that the Snook relatives would be sufficiently well cared for by their father's legacy. However I am to infer that the situation of turning it over to be an orphan asylum does not arise as I understand a betrothal has taken place?"

"It's a sham" said Richard "Undertaken purely to let that Churchill woman poke and pry; Uncle Joseph was killed by a poacher or some such - or by that military fellow maybe. Or a disgruntled servant. Not one of us."

"Excuse me?" said Mr Prewitt "I believe I may have missed something; he was murdered?"

"Mr Redmayne was stabbed to death in his own study some time during the early hours of this morning" said Jane "The dagger was one from his own collection. The windows were neither unlocked nor broken nor was there sign of forced entry. The other outer doors and windows of the house were likewise sealed. I have acted before as a consultant to Bow Street and Miss Euphelia Redmayne and her betrothed, Mr Clement Featherstone, have asked me to make some preliminary enquiries pending the arrival of an officer of Bow Street who has been summoned."

"So that was what you meant by preliminary enquiries into his death!" cried Mr Prewitt "I confess that I assumed it was to determine whether a betrothal had taken place before his death or if there was more than one betrothal which had occurred first!"

"As Featherstone was arguing with my Uncle at the ball over not wanting his hand forced I hardly think it likely that this betrothal - if betrothal it is not a scramble to get their hands on his money - took place before his death" sneered Richard.

"Oh that does not matter in the least" said Mr Prewitt. "Mr Redmayne wished his nieces to be suitable established, and though he preferred the matter to be settled in his lifetime he was happy to accept that he might die before a happy event."

"So we do not have to prove that he was alive during our elicit assignation then?" said Featherstone.

"Clement!" said Euphelia, blushing.

"Dear me no; so long as there is no other betrothal that needs a time proved" said Mr Prewitt.

"Then all that is to establish is whether Euphelia was betrothed first or Cora" said Richard.

"But I'm not betrothed to anyone, Richard" said Cora.

Jane thought that if looks could kill, the Beauty would have become a pile of smouldering ash for not having the wit to play along as Euphelia had done with Featherstone.

"Come, Cora" said Richard, with an edge to his voice "Did we not have an understanding? Surely it counts as a betrothal?"

Cora stared at him uncomprehendingly.

"But I don't want to marry you, Richard" she said "You are a bully and I don't like you and besides I want to marry someone rich; your portion is only four thousand pounds."

It had evidently not penetrated the beautifully shaped and elegantly coifed skull that marriage to anyone would have been worth a very great deal more.

"Perhaps" said Zilia "It is time to speak of my long standing secret betrothal to my Cousin Henry."

"No it isn't" said Henry "I'm very happy with four thousand, coz, and I'm not about to be leg shackled to you just to get more. Let Euphelia have it and the rest of us can touch her for loans."

"Illuminating conversation" said Mr Prewitt, polishing his pince nez. "Does anyone else wish to disclose a supposed secret betrothal? For my own part I must say that grief aside, Mr Featherstone and Miss Redmayne appear to be smelling of April and May and any suggestion that their betrothal is in any way spurious I am bound to disbelieve. Miss Redmayne, Mr Featherstone, under the terms of the codicil, Miss Bates was to be provided an income of six hundred pounds a year from the estate income. This would reduce your own yearly income to some eight thousand three hundred pounds."

"He was a canny investor" said Featherstone "We'll continue to invest in his project of growing desirable flowers, won't we Euphelia as well as carrying out his wishes for Miss Bates?"

"Of course we will" said Euphelia warmly "And Miss Bates will always have a home with us too if she wishes! I will like to feel that the flowers the old man loved will be nurtured; I do so wish he had spoken of them to me before though" she said and burst into tears.

Featherstone was a trifle ahead of her mother in embracing her comfortingly.

"It is a mother's task to comfort her daughter Mr Featherstone; you do not yet have the Right!" said Julia firmly.

"Anyone would think you grieved for the horrid old man Phelie!" said Cora "When by dying on us like this he has done us out of balls and assemblies that he was going to take us to; it is too bad of him to get himself murdered!"

It was not the most ladylike of things for Euphelia to slap her sister; but Jane thought that under the circumstances it was quite understandable.

Chapter 14

Dinner was not a very convivial meal. Richard had managed to corner Cora and explain in biting terms how many kinds of fool he thought her, and Cora had promptly had hysterics and had slapped Richard for not having thought of it before and explaining it to her not catching her by surprise. Ella heard it all from the maid who dressed all the girls and relayed it to Jane, not without some malicious glee. Ella did not think much to Cora.

"Less of a lady by instinct than that Dorothy you set up as a milliner" sniffed Ella.

As Dorothy had been Frank's mistress this was quite a condemnation of Cora. Jane however permitted Ella a lot of licence; because her dresser had a good instinct for finding things out.

The three officers were generally self effacing at the meal; it was impossible not to be aware that the will had been read and that there had been something of a contretemps regarding its provisions. Lt Parker was heard to mutter that facing Boney might have been preferable to another night in this house.

Richard had not eschewed dinner, though Cora was reputedly prostrated; Zilia was plainly sulking; Peter was brooding his wrongs, Edward and Henry were initiating Simmy into the mysteries of cricket and ignoring the rest of the company and Theodora was trying to be as ladylike as she could and treat her disappointment over a smaller legacy than she might have hoped with dignity. She was chatting to Miss Bates who as yet had not been apprised of the codicil since Euphelia wanted a document drawn up with all due legality. Miss Bates had not much appetite but had stated that it was most unladylike to withdraw from company for personal feelings, which had been relayed gleefully to Cora by Cilly and had had the effect of driving the Beauty into even more prolonged hysterics. Julia had been persuaded to leave Cora to her own devices by Euphelia but she was plainly worrying about her second daughter.

Mr Prewitt however did justice to the haddock stuffed with onion, bacon and herbs served on a bed of cabbages removed with a green goose well stuffed with three kinds of forcemeat and about them peas, radishes, dressed artichokes, bread sauce and pigeon and mutton pies. Orange cheesecakes, rich rice pudding and potato fritters provided something for those with a sweet tooth and Simmy under strict orders to eat his savouries before he might indulge. It was not a lavish meal but it was well prepared and Mr Prewitt did appreciate a well prepared table.

He raised an eyebrow when he congratulated Julia who murmured that she had left it all to Mrs Churchill.

"It is hard to think straight when recently bereaved" said Jane "But Euphelia will make an excellent chatelaine of the Place, for she has been listening and taking note of my ordering of Mrs Pender. She will permit herself to be advised by her housekeeper whilst maintaining the reins of control of the household."

Euphelia went pink with pleasure. She thought that ordering a rather intimidating being like Mrs Pender about was a very brave thing for Jane to do; but was not about to let her friend down by failing to take her lead!

The Thorpes were not at dinner; Jane had told the squire that they might return to their own home as it was close to the vicinity, where they would receive a visit from the officer from Bow Street unless Mr William Thorpe had any more to add to his story in the meanwhile. Knowing what a good table was set at Kettlethorpe Place it had been with mixed feelings that the squire had taken his sons and withdrawn.

The ladies had withdrawn and were drinking tea when Pender came into the room.

"Excuse me, Mrs Churchill" he said "But there's a ….gentleman of the name of Armitage who says he has come to see you. Now I recall that was the name of the Bow Street Runner you summonsed but there cannot have been time for him to arrive yet. Will you have me put this fellow out?"

"No, I will come and see if he is indeed an impostor" said Jane. "Perhaps you will precede me and announce me, Pender, to be on hand?"

"Certainly ma'am" said Pender, impressed by her cool bravery. "He's a tough looking customer."

Jane laughed.

"Caleb Armitage is a tough looking customer" she said "He is adept at the art of boxing."

She did not add that he had learned most of his fighting skills in a very dirty school indeed. She went a pace behind Pender who took her to the small salon in which he had placed the visitor.

"Jane-girl!"

Caleb was walking forward, his hands outstretched.

"Caleb! Mr Armitage! Why how came you so quickly? I only wrote this morning to ask you to come!" cried Jane, letting him take her hands and kiss them. "Oh you are an answer to a prayer!"

"Now that's a thing any man likes to hear from a lovely woman" said Caleb "Any chance… oh good, the Friday-faced fellow who let me in has tact at least."

Pender had withdrawn.

Which being so Jane gave herself up to Caleb's strong embrace and kissed him with all the longing she had been sternly repressing.

"Well now!" said Caleb teasingly "If that's the way you mean to behave every time a butler leaves the room we shall have to get one!"

"Pender is a good man" said Jane "He knew I had sent for you and that you were not looked for at least for two days; he wished to be sure you were no impostor."

"Well that summons must have crossed me" said Caleb. "I came because you sounded a little strained when you wrote of this house party; I thought I should take that leave due to me and come. Jane-girl, you look strained; what has happened?"

"My host has been murdered" said Jane "Come into the parlour and drink tea; the ladies will not mind your mud. And then I can tell you all about it. Oh and Pender must have your luggage sent to a room."

"Let him send me with it so I can wash and change" said Caleb "If you did not look for me for a couple of days, an hour will make little difference; but a hot drink while I wash will go down well."

"Mrs Pender shall make you her special chocolate" said Jane "She makes it with thick cream and more beaten eggs than you could get in London without pawning a watch I wager."

"Tell her I love her already" said Caleb.

Caleb was followed downstairs by Cora, who had heard sounds of a new guest and on peeping through her door had seen Caleb in his evening clothes looking, as Pender described it to the servants' hall, every inch the gentleman so nobody would credit that he was a Runner, and quite worthy of Mrs Churchill after all.

Cora thought that the tall, well built figure of Caleb with his golden brown hair cut short enough to pass for being fashionable was rather enticing; and unaware who this new guest might be, determined that he should see the most beautiful female in the house at her best.

Caleb had been sat down by Miss Bates and filled in on what had happened, the other ladies keeping a discreet distance, and those gentlemen who had come through doing so too. Richard and Peter were lingering over the port drinking to their wrongs.

The military gentlemen had taken themselves tactfully to the Blue Boar for the evening.

As Caleb put it when he was filled in on who was who, more by nature a tactical withdrawal then a tactful withdrawal.

Jane had managed to explain the greater part of the problem to him, after brief introductions, before Cora had made her toilette and made an entrance.

"I am feeling much better now after such an affliction to the nerves!" she declared in a thrilling voice. "Why - we have a visitor?" she simpered and curtseyed to Caleb, who had of course risen.

He sketched a bow.

"This is Cora Redmayne" said Jane wishing that Cora was not such a beauty nor so reed slender.

Caleb's eye ran over her in a bored fashion.

"Oh yes, of course; one of Miss Redmayne's schoolroom sisters" he said.

Cora's face was a study.

"Come and sit down over here, Cora dear" said Julia "Leave Mr Armitage to find out from dear Jane what has been happening; he has come early from London, just fancy! All this horrid business will be cleared up so much faster now that there is a man in charge."

"So much for her faith in your abilities, Jane-girl" murmured Caleb as Cora rather sulkily went over to her mother exclaiming that so fine looking a man should be nothing but a Bow-Street Runner.

"Oh Julia is one who has to lean on men" said Jane "That was why she was so glad the old man offered a home to her and her daughters and the funding to launch them on the local society. She has all the backbone and ability of a cheese trivet."

Caleb laughed.

"Quite a simile; when placed in the fire she collapses and melts eh?"

"Precisely" said Jane. "Euphelia runs the family which is why I befriended her and ended up here. Simmy by the way is like to be up early if you want to grab him before he disappears for the day; he's learning Latin and learning how to set about poaching at the same time under the ready tutelage of our would-be lawyer, Henry Redmayne, and I fancy Edward Snook might be inveigled into joining them. You may as well breakfast with them before we set to work talking to our precious military gentlemen. Do you agree with me about young Thorpe?"

"Without having met him, it's hard to be certain, but your judgement is good, Jane-girl. If you think his lies are about another matter that hangs on him heavily, then I accept that belief. I'd rather he came clean though."

"Me too" said Jane.

"Oh DEAR Caleb, he is a most TRUCULENT young man!" said Miss Bates "And NOT very polite, though that seems to extend to several of the young men here; why Richard Redmayne called me DESIGNING and I cannot think why!"

"Well if he says anything of that nature in my hearing he'll taste knuckles Aunt Hetty" said Caleb grimly.

"Oh Caleb! You must be CAREFUL!" cried Miss Bates "He is something called a CORINTHIAN which I do not properly understand but it means he actually LIKESfighting!"

"He won't when I've finished with him" said Caleb. "Don't worry about me, Aunt Hetty; Boney couldn't kill me, I doubt this sprig of fashion, however well he might strip to advantage, will manage to do so either."

Caleb strolled over to have a word with the other house guests before bed, and extracted a promise from Henry Redmayne to awaken him to greet Simmy.

"He's got such a lot of bottom" said Henry "He is a good lad; hard working and good fun too, knows how to sit still and quiet for the fish, doesn't complain when he's in pain - actually he ought to complain more - and as he reckons you're the sun and moon, I'm a bit overawed by you to start off with!"

Caleb laughed.

"Simmy's a good lad" he said "It's not you I want to overawe though, lad; it's whoever killed this poor old man and made Aunt Hetty weep. For that I'll go a lot further than overawing, believe me."

"I do believe you, sir" said Henry, who would have laughed to scorn a week before the idea that he would call an officer of Bow Street 'sir'. "And I'll do what I can to help. Uncle Joseph had his foibles, and he could use unscrupulous methods to get his way, but in general his way was one of kindliness. Did Mrs Churchill mention our suspicions?"

Caleb hid a smile at the pronoun.

"Yes" he said "And I consider them sound; but not sound enough without more investigation."

"Yes sir" said Henry "May I continue to help?"

"Well you won't if you're away with my rapscallion son" said Caleb. "Take him out briefly and maybe this friend of yours - Mr Snook isn't it? will keep him amused while you sit in."

"Delighted" said Edward Snook who was listening "If only my brother will join us; I'm watching him to be sure he can give his testimony without being murdered. And it's fine, a ball and a stump will keep us occupied; that boy gets about remarkable well!"

"I doubt he will" said Henry "But he's thick as thieves with my brother right now watching each other's backs I suppose; and he'll be safe being questioned tomorrow too by Mr Armitage. I should think in broad daylight it'll be safe to leave Peter to give time to Simmy."

"Thank you" said Caleb.

Posted on: 2011-11-24

Chapter 15

"Mrs Jane, I know why that lieutenant fell foul of Mr Redmayne" said Ella as Jane was preparing for bed. "Well strictly speaking, it was Harriet found out and she's only just now told me because the silly creature has no turn for investigation."

Bearing in mind how scandalised Ella had been when Jane wanted to investigate Frank's death Jane hid smile; her dresser had been furiously jealous to be left out of the investigation into the corruption of Araminta's father. That Harriet Briggs had been, if only for a short time, able to work with Jane had meant that Ella was ever ready to put Araminta's unfortunate dresser down. They got on well enough on the whole but there was a decided rivalry.

"Well you had better tell me quickly then" said Jane "And not waste any more time."

Ella smiled tolerantly; she recognised this as part of the game that must be played to keep the proper distance between them.

"It's that silly piece, Molly, one of the chamber maids" said Ella "Lieutenant Hazeldean made up to her, like gentlemen do, and her a silly little piece from the country who thinks men only kiss a girl if they mean to marry them. Really! Lieutenant Parker comes from far less well connected antecedents than Lieutenant Hazeldean but even he would not be marrying a labourer's daughter. Her father is a mole-catcher; not even in steady employment" she added contemptuously.

Jane reflected that consequence was of more importance to her dresser than it was to herself.

"Mole catchers are very important" she said "With the Corn Laws forbidding the import of grain, all farm land is precious."

Ella sniffed.

"That's as maybe, Mrs Jane but it's a low profession, and what I mean is, a molecatcher's daughter would be lucky to get a sergeant in the army but shouldn't be expecting or aspiring to an officer."

"I take your point" said Jane "It is extremely unlikely that a gentleman would marry anyone but a gentlewoman. Is Molly simple?"

Ella sniffed again, an eloquent sound full of profound disapproval.

"If she were it might have been better for her" she said "The girl has a fondness for fairy tales; seems she's been sneaking into the master's library to read translations from the French of that Perro fellow. Having learned to read, always a mistake for the lower orders" she added.

"I disagree, but leaving that aside, what have Charles Perrault's tales to do with it?" said Jane making an interpretation of what Ella meant.

"Well stands to reason; goose girls marrying princes and things, it turns the head of a good girl" said Ella "Especially as nobody has ever warned her about how gentlemen go on. And her thinking a kiss is a betrothal seal."

"Ah; I see" said Jane "You must forgive me, I was being slow. It's been a long day. So was it a misunderstanding and she accused him of breach of promise to the old man?"

"No not at all" said Ella "The silly piece let him talk her into going a lot further than any good girl ought to, and Mr Redmayne caught them at it. He got the story from her that they were betrothed, the lieutenant denied, and Mr Redmayne let fly about taking advantage of silly little girls. Molly cried all over Harriet about it" she added.

"Well that is very useful" said Jane in satisfaction "well done Ella; had he er…. Is the girl likely to be with child?"

"As I gather they had not quite got so far" said Ella primly "But no thanks to either of them. Six of one and half a dozen of the other; still a man of the world ought to have known she was an innocent little fool" she sniffed again.

"How old is Molly?" asked Jane.

"Fifteen I think" said Ella.

"Then the onus of responsibility certainly rests on a man of the world" said Jane. "Was she to be turned off do you know?"

Ella shook her head.

"She had an earful from the master and told to think herself lucky he knew where the blame lay" she said. "Very chastened she is; and small wonder. And napping her bib thinking it's her fault the master is dead because her erstwhile lover was driven to fight the master."

"Melodramatic" said Jane "I suppose that goes with the love of fairy tales. Dear me! And I can't entirely assure her that she is wrong. Ella! Did you really just use so vulgar a phrase as 'napping her bib' to describe her paroxysms of grief?"

Ella blushed.

"I'm sorry madam, it slipped out" she said.

Jane hid a grin. Catching out Ella's not entirely genteel background was always a slight victory.

In the morning Simmy was so pleased to see Caleb he clung to him as though he would never let him go.

"See here young shaver" said Caleb "We'll have some time together but I need to catch the villain what killed that old gaga first; and you, being my son, are now in danger from anyone as wants to stop me. I don't think it'd occur to our man that he could force Mrs Jane's hand, but they'd see a man different. You've asked questions of everyone who works outside and found out that not one of them saw any suspicious characters, Mrs Jane tells me; that was well done."

"Do you trust me to have him, sir?" asked Edward.

"Yes; because Mrs Churchill does" said Caleb. "Besides lad, not wanting to denigrate you, but you've not come into your full strength. And I've seen Mrs Churchill's drawing of the wound and I've seen the Scots knife and I don't think you could do it yet. Another year will make all the difference; and will make the difference to how well you do in the army. And I'll have a word with some people about that too if you've a mind still in a year's time. If your father's still refusing you, a man with bottom can join as a volunteer and when it's seen he's educated, these days he has a good chance of a cornetcy. Fewer people are joining now the chance of glory is over, only real soldiers. And if I put in a word you could be put places where you could prove yourself. Not a fashionable regiment mind! But a good one with good officers on the whole."

"Oh sir! I should be grateful!" said Edward, looking like a puppy that had just been given a bone. "Though - I guess I can buy my own cornetcy with the legacy from Uncle Joseph, but a good word put in with someone and advice on what regiment to join would be very kind of you."

"Well you work hard in the meantime on your figuring and reading - read about battles and tactics - and on getting as fit as you can be" said Caleb. "When you can walk all day on broken ground and still set up camp to cook and raise a shelter overnight, you're better than any but a real soldier. When you go on errands for your pa, you walk rather than taking a carriage, unless it's stupidly far."

"Oh yes sir!" breathed Edward.

Well a lad who wanted a career as a soldier was to be encouraged, thought Caleb; far more use than some effete young fool who wanted a pretty uniform and thought that by waving his sabre in the right battles he would gain renown like being seen at the right assemblies in London.

Simmy went off happily enough and Henry and Caleb put their heads together over an early breakfast cadged from Mrs Pender. Jane had slipped a note under Caleb's door - reprehensible and really quite an offence to propriety - regarding the girl Molly; and Caleb sat at Mrs Pender's table and called the girl over.

She looked scared.

"Now then Molly, you come and talk to me and tell me about the cozening ways of some of the gentry folk" said Caleb "Mr Henry needs to know too, being young and innocent as he is, so as to make sure he knows if gentry morts - er, gentlewomen - are as busy in their ways as gentlemen, before he finds himself leg-shackled to a termagant of the first water."

Molly managed a giggle at that, and with Caleb's rough kindness told her story again with much blushing and stammering and passing over the particulars of the last bit.

"Stupid little piece" said Mrs Pender "Can't think why your mother didn't warn you, Molly my girl. She were in service here long enough."

"Oh!" said Molly and her eyes filled with tears "Was that what she was talking about? Oh Mrs Pender, I didn't never understand what she meant!"

Mrs Pender rolled her eyes.

"Full o' book learnin' account o' her mother betterin' herself - bettering; herself to marry a mole catcher I asks you, Mr Armitage - and no common sense" she said "Look at them big blue eyn o' hers; all shutters open and nobody at home."

Molly burst into tears again and begged Mrs Pender not to be so unkind, and Mr Armitage to tell her that Lieutenant Hazeldean hadn't been the one to kill the master in a wicked duel.

"Well it wasn't a duel anyway" said Caleb and escaped.

As summers went it was still chilly, and Jane wore an iron-grey satin merino spencer with black and silver frogging over her stylish, but not very warm Esterhazy grey calico morning gown with its black lace trim. She made a very severe figure in it, and Lieutenant Hazeldean flinched slightly as he came into the salon where she and Caleb Armitage, a straight and soldierly figure in his Black Brunswicker pantaloons, waited, looking to the young lieutenant's mind rather like a court martial. . Jane reflected that she and Caleb had reached a point where they had not even had to consult each other on this but knew each other's mind.

Caleb's black Bath coating coat by Scott, bought on the proceeds of his award for the arrest of Sparkler Jack, rather accentuated this impression with its distinctly military cut and perfect fit across Caleb's broad soldiers.

The rather cocksure stance of the young man wilted slightly; which had been the general idea.

"Lieutenant" said Caleb "Regarding your rather incontinent and pathetic seduction of a country girl I will say little; beyond expressing my opinion that to take advantage of a young girl who has about as much idea of what's what as a kitten is an act that does not become a gentleman. I dare say that Mr Redmayne was quite eloquent upon the subject so I need say no more on that matter. However!" he raised his voice slightly as the Lieutenant relaxed a little "It is the result of that perfidy that leads me to question you today; having failed to act as a gentleman in one thing, is it possible that to prevent the story of your iniquities reaching your colonel you so far forgot yourself as to murder your host?"

The lieutenant flushed a dull red.

"May it please the court - er, I mean, that's a foul calumny!" he said "I don't know what that fellow Snook has been saying but I would not kill an old man in cold blood! And it's said he was stabbed in the back - and I would not do such a thing!"

"Snook? I haven't had to ask his testimony on the matter" said Caleb "I questioned the girl since the story was all about the servants' hall. Singularly half witted; but after the manner of many girls of her class able to recall and repeat a conversation inflexion and all with remarkable accuracy. She is afraid that she has tempted you to kill the old man in a duel poor child. I reassured her on that point; Mr Redmayne would not have stooped to accept any such challenge."

Hazeldean flushed angrily.

"Now look here!" he said "I come from an old and respected family with generations of tradition behind us!"

"Tradition as libertines?" said Jane coldly. "One wonders whether you might have attempted the seduction of my ward Miss Coate, or Miss Zira or Miss Cilly Redmayne."

"Excuse me, Mrs Churchill, it is an entirely different matter!" said Hazeldean.

"In what respect?" asked Jane "They are of a similar age to the girl Molly, and the only difference I can see is that she has no family beside her to advise her or protect her interests; men who seduce innocent village maidens who have no protection from their advances and then leave them ruined are despicable. We need to know whether you are also despicable enough to kill Mr Redmayne to hide your callous actions."

"She was willing enough" said Hazeldean sulkily.

"Yes; she thought you loved her and wanted to marry her" said Jane "Singularly foolish but there! Something you should have ascertained. Did you resume the quarrel with Mr Redmayne to ask him not to tell your Colonel?"

He went white.

"Well as you seem to know about it, yes I did. I went to see him after the ball in his study. He - he made me swear on the Bible that - that I had not on any previous occasion gone further with Molly than - than when he caught us and that I would buy her a piece of jewellery that she could put by as a dowry as I had sullied her reputation. But I didn't kill him; and there was someone else wanting to see him after me, that younger Thorpe boy, in fact he barged in on us and Mr Redmayne sent him out to wait until he had finished chapter and verse to me!"

"And you did not return when William Thorpe banged out of the study in a hurry with Mr Redmayne shouting of retribution behind him?" asked Jane.

"How the devil did you know about that?" demanded Hazeldean.

"Mrs Churchill has seen the study with the dead man in it and has read all the clews" said Caleb sententiously.

"Mr Thorpe will not confess it but I know that he damaged certain property" said Jane.

"Yes, it was a sketchbook; Mr Redmayne was shouting at him, how dared he think he could demand the right to ride over someone else's property and then come and tear sketches willy nilly as if he had no more idea of property and ownership than a common thief or guttersnipe" said Hazeldean. "Young Thorpe came fairly flying out of there. I had lingered with a view to continuing discussion but with the old man put in a rage like that by the young idiot it seemed pretty futile so I went to bed. And that is the truth sir" he hesitated "I - I got the impression of someone else waiting; it felt like someone large but it may have just been imagination. There was no sound of anyone approaching."

"Very good; if you recall more, tell me" said Caleb "I trust that you will consider yourself bound by the oath you made to the old man?"

The Lieutenant flushed again.

"I'm not an oathbreaker" he said "I'll give the silly wench a handsome present as though she had given me her favours. I thought she was willing" he added sulkily.

"Experience may teach you when a girl is willing and knowing and when she is merely carried away by fantasy" said Caleb dryly. "I will not go to your colonel either; nor will I tell your captain anything but that you have been a damned young fool who is putting right your damned foolishness. If you want to tell him that's your business. I will also ask Mr Snook to remain silent on the subject - assuming his account tallies with yours and Molly's - for her good name's sake. Try not to take advantage of an innocent again."

"No sir. Thank you sir" the young man saluted automatically "Please - you will not tell Gerald - Captain Sheffam?"

"Said I not that he need not know?" said Caleb "Dismissed!"

Hazeldean saluted again and almost stumbled out.

"You do a very good impression of a senior officer" said Jane.

"Watched my own" said Caleb grinning. "You see Henry, sometimes a different form of intimidation works. May I call you Henry by the way?"

"Please do sir" said Henry "More friendly than Mr Henry Redmayne and it shouts better. Simmy calls me Henry; I asked him to" he confided. "When he was calling me Mr Redmayne it made me think of being back at Oxford. Do we infer that the lieutenant is innocent?"

"No but we can see that it's looking likely" said Caleb. "how did you guess he would overhear William Thorpe, Jane?"

"I thought it likely that, having had his own affair finished off rather quickly because young Thorpe was wanting to see the old man too that he might kick his heels in some resentment that Thorpe had interrupted and in the hopes that he might get more concessions from Mr Redmayne" said Jane "He's resentful because in his eyes he hasn't done anything wrong; he spoke bitterly you notice of buying Molly the sort of gift a man would give a lightskirt when he had not, in fact, had his pleasure of her. In his mind it is her fault for being more of an innocent that he realised. He's a spoiled young man used to having his own way but he has the instincts of a gentleman to compensate for wrongs even if they should not - to his mind - have been wrongs. I fancy this might make him more careful in his choices in the future."

"I hope you may be correct" said Caleb. "Snook next?"

"Why not?" said Jane.

Chapter 16

Peter Snook looked simultaneously truculent and somehow triumphant.

"And now I can refute whatever lies that Hazeldean told you" he said smugly "I was surprised you saw him first without knowing what he was being censured for."

Caleb let himself look faintly surprised.

"Oh did you think I had not the means to find out by other methods?" he said.

Peter Snook stared.

"But - I was sure I was the only witness!" he said.

"Well there were two others; three if you count Mr Redmayne but I've often found corpses singularly reticent on conversations they've had" said Caleb.

Snook flushed.

"Who else was there then? I saw nobody!" he said.

"Well if you saw nobody you'd have a lame sort of story to tell" said Caleb "Since both the lieutenant in question and the girl Molly were rather intimately involved in the whole incident."

"You talk to servants?" Peter was revolted and surprised.

"You don't? that'll be why your military supplies business doesn't thrive as much as it should then" said Caleb "And why you are so irritated to get what you consider a paltry sum from the old man's will. If you let your man relay more gossip to you, you'd be a better business man for picking up the right tips other men's men let slip. But that's none of my business. What did you overhear?"

Peter stared at him angrily.

Part of the anger was a realisation that perhaps this damned stranger was correct.

"A gentleman doesn't listen to servant hall gossip" he said.

"Now what gave you that idea?" said Caleb. "Possibly the fact that your cousins seem to consider that you are not a gentleman. The old man made quite a lot of it, didn't he?"

Peter flushed.

"And what if he did?"

"Well as your expectations were higher than what you in fact received, being out of charity with the old man to start off with, what it is becomes a motive to kill him" said Caleb.

"I don't have to take this!" Peter leaped to his feet "I'm here to tell you what that damned little libertine did not be insulted!"

"Sit down" said Caleb "You do have to take this because if you refuse to answer I can take that as suggestive of your guilt and arrest you. And yes, you are here to talk about Lieutenant Hazeldean - and yourself."

"I didn't kill him" said Peter sulkily "I had no cause to do so. He was a trying old codger who made a lot about my father being in trade but that was nothing new. I must say the will was iniquitous and if Euphelia and that Featherstone fellow are truly betrothed at least it means the money stays in the family and won't go to a pack of foundling brats. If that had come to be the result I should have contested the will on the grounds that he was in his dotage and not of sound mind when he made it. Foundling Asylum indeed! This fine old house turned over to a pack of brats to wreck; why just the Chinese wallpaper in the study is worth hundreds of pounds on its own, the Wedgewood medallions in the ballroom a pretty penny too, and what would become of the ornaments? There are Sevres vases, and there's an Audubon carpet in the parlour, incalculable in value!"

"Now I had thought you might have calculated it" said Henry with a glitter to his eye. "You know why we make fun of you Cousin Peter? Because you know the cost of everything and the value of nothing."

"What do you mean?" said Peter "If I know the cost, I know the value too, you are stupid!"

"No cousin" said Henry "The cost of our uncle's sketchbooks would be negligible; he wasn't that fine an artist. However to Clement Featherstone their value is priceless because it's a reminder of times together discussing plants. That's what I meant; you have only the shopkeeper's eye for how much something would sell for. I argue that Peter is less likely to have killed our uncle without ascertaining exactly what it was worth to him in monetary terms and how many of the small and valuable collectables he could negotiate being passed to him."

"Well upon my word!" spluttered Peter.

"Interesting and valuable as these little cousinly spats may be," said Jane sweetly, "perhaps we might finally hear Mr Snook on Lieutenant Hazeldean's little iniquities?"

Peter, certain she had insulted him and not sure how, gave her a fulminating look; but told his story.

It differed in detail but not in substance, the differences being accounted for by missing some of the build up before he began to eavesdrop seriously and too for missing much in the nuance of tone. It was the pruriently interested account of a man who enjoys the woes of others.

Caleb dismissed him thankfully.

"I meant what I said about my - regretful - feelings that he might be innocent" said Henry.

Caleb nodded.

"And I think that judgement is fair" he said. "Half the morning gone; a light luncheon and then ride over to see William Thorpe I think; Jane-girl, will you feel able to come?"

"I am with child, not wasting away of a consumptive habit" said Jane tartly "And a ride out would be pleasant; if only to escape the glowering disapproval of this horrid family. Present company and a few others excepted" she nodded at Henry.

"I think all large families, unless they're close knit, must be alike" said Henry "If they were not, there would not be a profession of solicitor."

"That" said Caleb "Is a very profound point."

The squire was ready to try to browbeat a lowborn Bow Street Runner; he was not prepared for Caleb who was shown into the parlour without question by the squire's butler.

Only Caleb knew the pains he had taken to acquire the air of a gentleman, though Jane had some idea. The idea of speaking with a round stone or child's marble in his mouth suggested by her footman Fowler had made a great deal of difference to his speech when he cared to make use of that; and Caleb cared. He had no desire to see his beloved Jane looked down upon by these well connected, wealthy and unpleasant acquaintances of hers over something that hard work had largely eliminated, the sound of the Rookery in his voice.

"Excuse me you are the officer from Bow Street?" demanded the squire.

"I am" said Caleb.

"Well bless my soul! Bless my soul! And to think I was wondering that a ladylike lady like Mrs Churchill would take up with - Harrrumph, forget what I was going to say!"

Caleb laughed easily.

"You wondered that she would find anything in common with men who tend to be of rather rough manners and little education. Well of course, Mrs Churchill, who is an intelligent and widely read lady would not have much in common with some of my fellow officers. I have no fortune, Mr Thorpe; and since I was invalided out after Corunna my services are considered invaluable for dealing with cases that require a little more tact and delicacy."

This was true enough as far as it went; having learned a lot about the ways of gentlemen by being batman to Major Sir Henry Wilton; and having the incentive to pass as one for Jane's sake. It merely implied that he was born gentry but impoverished, had made a career in the army and had taken a low but honourable occupation to aid law enforcement since.

"Ah, quite so" said the squire, embarrassed. "My dear fellow! I - Mrs Churchill was suspicious of my younger son's activities; may I say that I have questioned him quite thoroughly and I can assure you that his actions have no bearing upon the killing of Mr Redmayne."

"So Mrs Churchill believed" Caleb bowed to Jane "She told me that she believed he had bearded Mr Redmayne in his study to complain about the fenced off land, that the old man tried to explain about his orchids, and that in disbelieving anger young Mr Thorpe managed to tear the painting on top and was driven from the study with harsh words. Subsequent enquiry has turned up a witness who heard those harsh words from a very much alive Mr Redmayne. I can see why the boy did not wish to speak about being accused of being no better than a guttersnipe or common thief; but may I say I am glad that he has been induced to tell you the truth."

"He didn't tell me that bit" said the squire grimly.

"It would have been embarrassment" said Jane "And that is quite understandable! I was concerned for his conscience though if he had not felt able to tell the substance of the truth. You will tell him please that we understand his reticence, but that truth can never hurt the innocent? What he feared was that he was not innocent of damage to property, and of losing his temper."

"Ha! Hum! Quite so" said the Squire. "Can I offer you some refreshment? Ratafia for the lady?"

"I should very much like a cup of tea if you please" said Jane "Alcohol makes me feel unwell in my condition for some reason; though pray do not let me stop you gentlemen from a stronger liquid refreshment just because I am so foolish at the moment!"

The squire murmured something that sounded like 'not at all' and mellowed considerably before a female being properly docile, foolish and in need of maudling her insides with such pap as tea.

He and Caleb drank brandy, talked of horses and the scandalous way the government was mismanaging the country - safe enough ground since the squire was a man to always disagree with any sitting government regardless of its policies - and parted on good terms.

"Well now that we are out in the countryside away from any ears, even Henry, my dear." said Caleb as they rode back, "do you set any great store by Henry's assertion that Peter would not kill the old man without ascertaining his precise portion?"

Jane hesitated thoughtfully.

"In principle yes" she said "But in practice, that's a different matter. Richard assumed authority as heir at first and Peter tore into him quite vigorously over the precedence of a niece's son over a - I believe Richard and Henry would be first cousins once removed to Joseph Redmayne. In any case, both seemed to be under the impression that each was himself the major heir if there was no betrothal. Their faces had to be seen to be believed at the reading of the will when it turned out that beyond their initially stipulated legacies, neither would have a groat more since the residual legatee became a Foundling Asylum."

Caleb laughed.

"I wish I might have been there to see it! But I started as soon as I had your first letter, I felt uneasy about you - foolish I know - and I made it my excuse to myself to send a letter to Sir Nathanial and catch the night mail by the skin of my teeth. I had already packed in anticipation. Describe their looks."

"Shock" said Jane "They don't look much alike as a rule, but in that instant they might have been shelled from the same pod; chagrin, horror, fury, disbelief. Especially Richard who looked as though someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on him."

"Mmm" said Caleb. "We haven't checked what that captain quarrelled about with the old man, but I think we can eliminate the lieutenant and the Thorpe boy. Featherstone? He got betrothed pretty quickly but he could have avoided asking her the night before, and used the anticipated argument over the will to enlist her aid in not giving way to the unpleasant Richard - whom I have yet to meet."

"You are to be envied in that felicity" said Jane. "Featherstone would have to be a very clever man - I know he is, but I'm not sure he's that clever - because he had trouble or seemed to have trouble mentioning Mr Redmayne in the past tense. How many people know about that trick the brain plays on a murderer - a kind of verbal mark of Cain if you will?"

"It's something I've observed and discussed with a few colleagues" said Caleb "I should not think it is well known. I like that, a verbal mark of Cain! And did you not say that there was an instance when he was spoken of in the past tense even before it was known that the old man was dead?"

"Yes" said Jane. "It is quite clear…. We need to talk to the Captain, and tie up as many loose ends as we can. The difficulty lies in the proof."

"A large shadow that was light on its feet has some suggestion; but as you say, no proof" said Caleb. "Perhaps you'll get Ella to talk about the difficulty of getting blood out, asking the men if their gentlemen ever cut themselves shaving and making a mess of the towels. The blade seems in your pictures to have plugged the wound mostly but there was some blood; and if our man had to wash his hands, do you think such a man as he would think about his valet noticing?"

"You're quite right" said Jane "The only real gentleman around here at the moment is you, dear Caleb; though Henry has potential to become one, and so too has Edward. Though I suppose Mr Featherstone is worthy of the description" she added "He was only rude to his godfather, and that appeared to be a normal sign of - well, in a way, of affection. He has been everything that is proper for Euphelia and I hope they will be very happy. However I shall be glad to leave this unhappy house when the culprit has been taken in charge."

"Amen" said Caleb.

Posted on: 2011-11-28

Chapter 17

"Captain" said Caleb "We might as well get to the point here and march to the sound of the questions rather than emulating the grenadiers of the Old Guard and failing to engage."

"Are you calling me a coward, Armitage?" demanded Captain Sheffam.

"Nobody ever called the Old Guard cowards Captain; but they did not stand and face what was coming" said Caleb. "You quarrelled at the ball with Mr Redmayne; let us get that subject into the open and then I can hopefully eliminate you from the entire matter."

The captain went purple.

"It was merely because I promised to sponsor his nephew Edward Snook if the old man would find money for his cornetcy" he said.

"That seems an innocuous enough subject to cause so hot a quarrel," said Caleb, "since Mr Redmayne was not opposed to his nephew's becoming a soldier, only to him disobeying his father."

Jane leaned forward.

"Was it not rather, Captain, that Mr Redmayne had realised your….predilections and took you to task fearing that you might lead young Edward into such practices?"

The Captain bared his teeth.

"Has Hazeldean been telling you lies?" he demanded.

"Hazeldean did not speak of you at all" said Jane. "I thought that your feelings were perfectly obvious myself. Mr Armitage is not here to pursue the rigour of the law over the matter and is not about to ask any questions over whether you confine yourself to feelings or whether you break the law in practice; he does not actually care."

"Not in the least" said Caleb. "None of my business so long as you don't force me to take notice of it. But if that was what the quarrel was about, maybe even a misunderstanding of your motives I can understand you being very hot about it."

"It was a calumny" said Sheffam "I would never hurt Edward Snook, he is a fine young man!"

"Did the old man threaten disclosure of your preferences?" demanded Caleb.

White as chalk the captain nodded.

"I had to promise him to stay away from Edward - Mr Snook" he said "I was not - every man has free will, I was sorry for him."

"But the old man would keep his silence if you did not encourage Mr Snook?" Caleb's blue eyes bored into him.

"I had no need to kill him for him to refrain from passing anything on" said Sheffam, pale but positive. "He believed my word, though he heaped scorn on me."

"I have never seen it make a man less of a man" said Caleb. "I do not judge and I do not want to know more. Very well; you and the other officers may depart. If I need more I will find you in York."

"Thank you" said Sheffam, tight lipped as he marched stiffly out.

"Jane-girl, you never cease to amaze me" said Caleb. "How in the world did you figure that out?"

"Well several things impinged upon my mind" said Jane "Lord Byron being very much in the public eye and so an exemplar so to speak. Sheffam was almost tender of his officers, as though they were girls; Hazeldean I think is inclined towards both men and women for he spoke of not telling Gerald, the captain, almost as one would speak of not telling a husband that one had engaged in a flirtation. Hazeldean was more desperate not to give Sheffam cause for jealousy than he was afraid of being cashiered. One cannot but wonder if Hazeldean, who is still not very old, was persuaded into something he is now less sure about that he try to seduce a maid. I can only assume that Mr Redmayne had no idea of this when he invited Sheffam and a couple of his choice of junior officers, it being merely to effect a reconciliation between him and Mr Featherstone. As Mr Featherstone has also been relatively reticent about the quarrel beside the incidence of the sharping with er, fulhams, I do wonder if the Captain had previously made some kind of intimation to him that he would be interested in greater intimacy that predisposed Mr Featherstone to dislike him."

"By jove, Jane-girl I believe you had the truth of that!" said Caleb. "Why that opens Hazeldean as a suspect again; for fear of his lover finding out about his abortive tumble with the wench!"

"Assuming he did not believe Mr Redmayne's word to remain silent" said Jane "He seemed to expect his word to be believed; which is indicative that he would also take the word of a gentleman. It is to bear in mind if we do not receive our proofs but I cannot honestly think it so. Our heavily built gentleman with light feet - a trait of one addicted to boxing - is more likely"

"And when Ella has reported we can act" said Caleb. "You recall Fowler volunteered his services as gentleman's gentleman for me? Well if I am to be a gentleman for you, I think I might accept. He's cat footed, discreet, clever and enjoys the work. And though I like having my three assistants around, I fancy Fowler is about as efficient as I would get at obtaining information from servants."

"I agree" said Jane "Moreover it will give Ella entertainment to complain about him."

"I can't say," said Caleb, "that I was planning on asking for Fowler's services just to entertain that arch-wife."

Caleb came face to face with Richard Redmayne for the first time at dinner; the younger man raised his quizzing glass to stare offensively at Caleb through it.

"So you're the Bow Street Runner" he drawled "I have to say you don't look much like one."

Caleb smiled, suppressing the flash of anger.

"Why sir, you must be Mr Richard Redmayne!" he said "And it is true that appearances can be deceptive. You after all do not sound like a gentleman."

"Bravo Armitage" said Featherstone.

Richard's face was suffused with angry blood.

"Come outside and say that" he said through gritted teeth.

"Certainly - after dinner" said Caleb.

Richard's lip curled.

"You would box on a full stomach?" he said.

"Well I shan't be the one likely to be casting up my accounts" said Caleb, mildly "We may be matched for weight, young bantam, but I fancy one who is used to sparring only with local champions at best is not up to snuff."

"Oh? I suppose you have stood up with Gentleman Jackson?" sneered Richard.

"No; but I've arrested a few who've claimed to be his pupils in my time" said Caleb with apparently unimpaired good humour. "Such young bravos as betray their breeding by games like boxing charley. And this is not the sort of boxing that is the noble art pf pugilism but refers to drunken young ruffians who think it funny to trap a night watchman in his box by bodily, as a pack of them, turning it round to put the entrance to the wall, regardless that this means the streets are then not patrolled and honest citizens then at risk. I know their kind; and I have never had any difficulty bringing in any two of them nor in defeating them when they declare a desire to make a fight of it. I may have a game leg, but I and my game leg are equal to any amateur boxer" he permitted the contempt to leak into his voice.

"And as there are ladies present Richard, I advise you to be seated and not to say whatever intemperate thing that it is you are thinking" said Featherstone who had assumed the head of the table with Euphelia on one side and Julia on the other. "Armitage, if you would be good enough to take the place by Mrs Churchill then that hideous epergne is between you and Richard."

"Thank you Featherstone" said Caleb.

"Tell me, Mr Armitage, what was happening in London?" asked Julia.

"There are some worries about Princess Charlotte" said Caleb, having no illusions that Julia might be in any wise interested in either the reforms in Bow Street or in politics "She has been unwell at times during her pregnancy. The whole country prays for her good health and that of her child of course."

"Poor young thing!" cried Julia "Is it true that despite her scandalous life before her marriage that she has been an exemplary wife to Prince Leopold?"

"So I understand" said Caleb "A love match is always a happy accident for one of royal blood. Oh, and speaking of royalty, that reminds me, the sovereign - the new pound coin - has been successfully introduced. You'll be seeing them in circulation - a moment; I believe I have one on me" he felt for his money in his pocket "Yes here" he said, passing the coin to Julia.

"What is the man on the horse doing? I cannot perfectly make it out" said Julia.

"It is a picture of Saint George slaying the dragon" said Caleb "Yes it is rather a pitiful dragon, is it not? One might almost feel that our national saint would have been more sporting to have dismounted to deal with it. It is hardly larger than the crocodile I have seen in the menagerie at the Tower of London. Simmy will tell you it is a fearsome looking brute."

"It has an awful lot of teeth" said Simmy "And it looks as though it is smiling but it isn't really. You'd expect it to be slimy but it looks dry and as hard as rocks. I like the elephant better."

"Pliny wrote about tight-rope walking elephants" said Henry. "By jove, I'd give something to see that!"

"I think I shall like reading Pliny if he wrote about bang-up things like that" said Simmy.

Dinner passed in more conviviality than might have been hoped at the outset with that descent into frivolity; and the sovereign was passed around the company, even Richard deigning to examine it and agree on the inadequacy of the dragon as a challenge for any true Englishman and laugh at the timidity of the artist. The company might give their attention to the meal which astounded Caleb in its degree and variety. A cod's head was removed with boiled turkey. All was served with giblet soup, curry of rabbit, patties, eel pie and boiled neck of mutton with peas, potatoes, French beans and carrots served about them, followed by a fricandeau of veal, scraped beef, orange pudding, lemon creams, assorted tarts and anchovy toasts as well as an assortment of wild fowl.

"Profligate" murmured Caleb to Jane.

"No, it will serve the servants' hall tomorrow and too leftovers will go into pies, haricots and curries" said Jane in a low voice. "Mrs Pender knows her job; there is very little wastage."

The ladies rose and left the men to their port, Simmy on his way to bed and collected firmly by Miss Adcock.

Caleb looked at Richard.

"Did you want to take that discussion outside before the port?" he asked.

Richard scowled.
"It was a joke" he said sulkily "I see no need to fight."

Caleb nodded.

"A wise man knows when not to fight as well as when to join it" he said. Richard was ready to get into a fight in hot blood; and would doubtless be quite happy to take on any even match but he had been given time to reflect that a man as supremely indifferent as Caleb might just be his master. Without being a coward he might back out by passing the initial quarrel off as a joke; and Caleb thought it perhaps the first wise thing the young man had done since he had arrived.

He was ready to join the ladies glad not to have had to brawl with Richard, and caught Jane's eye as she returned from seeing Simmy to bed. She gave him a slight grim smile and an almost imperceptible nod.

Caleb went to sit by the piano with an interrogative look at Jane who came over to get out music.

"Ella got something?" he asked quietly.

"Blood spreads such a horribly long way" said Jane "It is as we thought."

"'Who'd have thought the old man would have so much blood in him'; that's Shakespeare" said Caleb.

"'This, my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red'" added Jane "You quote Lady Macbeth and I quote Macbeth himself but it is the shirt and the towel incarnadined not the multitudinous seas that speak of our man's guilt. Blood is hard to get out and a gentleman has no idea how to set about it. A lady would know that she must set her garments to soak in cold salt water and then use lemon salts for any that remain pernicious. A dark coat shows less but a fine linen cuff is a different matter. And he wiped his hands on a towel before then washing them; and the stains have dried in. Ella has taken the items in question under pretence of seeing what may be done about the stains. Bach?"

"If you please" said Caleb. "Then on the morrow we shall confront him."

Chapter 18

Caleb asked for the family and Mr Featherstone to foregather in the parlour after breakfast and regarded them all seriously.

"You are about to reveal that you know who did it?" said Featherstone.

"Indeed" said Caleb. "Mrs Churchill had done most of the work and to her I cede much of the credit. Her understanding of men's hearts meant that she was able to exonerate both William Thorpe, guilty of no worse than damage of property in the heat of a quarrel, and Lieutenant Hazeldean who behaved disgracefully but who was prepared to make amends. We do not need to go into that. I have every reason to believe him when he declared that he last saw Mr Redmayne he was very much alive and shouting at Mr Thorpe. He also spoke of another person he noticed lurking."

"Lurking?" sneered Peter Snook.

"My word not his" said Caleb "I have a wider vocabulary than the Lieutenant."

"So it was an intruder" said Richard Redmayne "Only an intruder is likely to - lurk."

"Oh I think anyone might lurk if it is to his purpose" said Caleb equably. "The Lieutenant was not prepared to put a name to his lurking shadow. However there are more ways to the truth than one man's testimony."

"So are you going to get to the truth?" demanded Peter Snook.

"In good time" said Caleb. "I want to demonstrate why this crime was committed as well as by whom. It was a nasty piece of work and I don't intend to spare the killer one iota of the scorn of his relatives."

"Any man who would stab his uncle in the back - or if you're including me, godfather - is not likely to have the scruples of conscience" said Mr Featherstone.

"I wasn't including you" said Caleb "You managed to prove yourself innocent by your speech quite early on; a clever criminal might have tried to fool an Officer of the Law by showing difficulty speaking of the old man in any but the present tense, but I don't think it would occur to anyone to use such a ploy before the family and Mrs Churchill."

"What nonsense is this?" demanded Peter Snook.

"Some Banbury tale" said Richard.

"On the contrary" said Caleb "Guilty knowledge will often lead to a murderer speaking of the deceased in the past tense from the time of the very first news, and sometimes before it is known. There are those people able to assimilate bad news and speak thence in the past tense, but it is not common. And our cove is known to have chosen his whids without care" he added with something of a lapse into cant under the strain.

"Which I heard and which seemed odd at the time and made more sense once Pender had apprised me of his master's death" said Jane.

"Are we all suspects?" asked Edward Snook, horrified.

"Henry Redmayne is not" said Jane "He managed to inadvertently provide himself with an alibi; and neither Mr Armitage nor I ever felt that you would have the strength to… to push that thing home."

"In effect you are saying it is between Richard and me; you are insane!" said Peter Snook.

"Am I?" said Jane coldly "The first thing that happened when I brought news that your uncle was dead was that you and Richard Redmayne were quarrelling over who would be the residual legatee if none of the girls had got engaged. You both apparently believed that there would be the greater part of his estate coming to you. I should say that such a belief constitutes a significant motive to kill before anyone did become engaged in order to retain what is a significant amount of wealth. The looks of shock on the faces of each one of you when you learned that the money would have gone to found an orphan asylum was quite educational. It was quite plain that you mourned the loss of the legacy far more deeply than you ever mourned Mr Joseph Redmayne who might at that have known what he was doing in anticipating that the orphans would at least remember him in their prayers."

"Why you…." Snook's expression was ugly.

Richard gave a nasty laugh.

"He's determined to pin it down to one of us coz" he said "Probably the one who gets provoked into taking a swing at him first. I don't know why; perhaps because his … Lady friend …..dislikes us."

"My betrothed wife's likes and dislikes have, as you well know, nothing to do with it" said Caleb, levelly. "Though she dislikes arrogance of any kind and there is ever an arrogance in anyone who will take the life of another. However besides the observation on behaviour that have been made up until now there is more proof. Firstly, the man Lieutenant Hazeldean described was large, but light on his feet. Such a description might fit very well someone who considers himself a fine amateur boxer" he was looking at Richard who sneered.

"It might equally well describe a poacher who had broken in to kill my uncle; or a phantasm of the lieutenant's imagination; or an invention of his guilty conscience" he said. "And does not pick between us since Peter also is light on his feet, though in his case it is the training of the mercer out to catch pilferers in the warehouse."

Peter flushed.

"You have a damned nasty way of saying things, Richard" he said.

Richard effected a yawn.

"You have a damned nasty smell of shop about you" he said.

Peter half started to his feet.

"If you even start I'll have you both in the stocks overnight in the village" said Caleb calmly "And it's looking fit to rain fitfully on and off for days."

They both glared at him.

"There is however more" said Caleb. "Evidence that despite all appearances our man is not really much of a gentleman."

"In what respect?" Featherstone sat forward to ask the question as the girls glanced involuntarily at Peter who went purple.

"In the respect that a gentleman would confide to his valet that he had been having some trouble - whether he told the truth or not would depend on their relationship and how much he trusted him - and enlisted his aid in removing the bloodstains. Not being aware that it was damning evidence against his master, Brenton, as I believe his name is, spoke freely……" he broke off as Richard, white faced, leaped to his feet and stared about him like a cornered rat.

"You questioned my valet?" he cried.

"No; I asked a servant to ask leading questions to check if the person I was expecting to answer them might do so" said Caleb. "After all I didn't expect one of your arrogance to take him into your confidence. I have your shirt and the towel you tried to clean your hands on to present in court" he added. "And Mrs Churchill has told me that your face when you realised that there was a chance that your uncle might marry was filled with hatred. You killed him as much to prevent that as to see that he died before a betrothal took place."

"But Richard, why?" demanded Julia Redmayne, bewildered. "Why would it matter?"

He snarled.

"That wretched Bates woman" he growled, and pointed at Jane. "You! It's all your fault, bringing her here, putting ideas into the old man's head, letting her snare him! I didn't think it mattered who got betrothed when once she was in his orbit, he would marry her and then she would benefit from his will, indeed as we saw he intended! How was I to guess that he would favour homeless brats over his own flesh and blood?"

"Maybe," said Jane dryly, "he realised that you had so little respect for your flesh and blood that you would not be ready to treat them well; and felt that beyond caring for Julia and her girls the greater part would do more good left to strangers. I assure you that Miss Bates had no intent of 'snaring him' as you put it. She had formed a tendre for him as it seemed he had for her. I am most displeased that you have caused her so much distress."

The door was behind Jane; and Richard leaped at her, punching at her belly.

"Your lover's brat will not live in any case!" he shouted.

Jane could not avoid the blow, all she could do was to fall away from it, fall to the ground with the waves of pain forcing a cry from her. Caleb hesitated.

"TAKE him" Jane managed through gritted teeth feeling her waters flood out soaking her gown and the waves of pain of labour.

Whatever happened, Caleb could not do much save be there to comfort her; and knowing that Richard was taken was more comfort than anything else right now.

Featherstone had already leaped at Richard and Jane was dimly aware of a scuffle and the sound of a sickening crack and the
screams of the women.

Euphelia came to her side, and Jane heard her, as though from a long way away, tell Cilly to get Araminta and Miss Bates and to go to Mrs Pender and ask for water to be boiled.

Then Caleb's strong arms were lifting her to carry her up to her bed.

"Caleb…. What of Redmayne?" asked Jane through the haze of pain.

"Dead" said Caleb. "Seems Featherstone learned a few fighting techniques abroad that Richard Redmayne did not know and somehow his neck was accidentally broken."

"Accidentally?" Jane managed.

"Well that's what's going in my report anyhow" said Caleb.

Miss Bates was glad that Araminta was a sensible girl and quite capable of being an assistant to a rather unexpected birthing. True she had come to Kettlethorpe Place on the offchance that Jane would go early into labour, but she had never expected it!

Caleb told her concisely what had happened and Miss Bates praised him for managing more fortitude than most men in such a situation. As the daughter of the old vicar Miss Bates was no stranger to a lying-in and had handled more distraught husbands, as she told him, than he had had hot dinners. Caleb could believe that; he felt distraught, but to give rein to that was not about to help Jane.

He permitted himself to be hustled out of the room and told to go and see to Simmy and Frances since whilst Jane might have sustained some hurt, the baby was well cushioned in her waters, and the blow had merely forced them to break and start an early birth.

Caleb did not know if this was true or not or whether Aunt Hetty was merely reassuring him, but one thing he was certain was that he regretted Redmayne's death since if the baby did die, and prevented Jane from having a stake in old Churchill's property, he would have liked to have taken him outside and shown him a thing or two about dirty fighting.

He had to face the possibility that with a blow like that Jane too might die if it made the birth harder; though she had done the right thing, risking the fall to throw herself backward away from it. He collected Simmy and Frances and took them down to the stables. Frances might be penned in a pen of hay bales and coo at the stable cat and her kittens, old enough to investigate this odd little being, walking with a stiff legged kitten gait with their triangular tails stuck straight out behind them, bouncing sideways out of her reach when she got too close.

Simmy he told all to; and was honest with him that he did not know what was to happen. Simmy squared his shoulders.

"Well Pa, reckon we has to ask God to keep her in care" he said "She taught me to pray. If he's as bowman as she reckons, reckon it'd be a bene thing t'do."

"Well at that you're probably right" said Caleb "And it can't hurt. Though personally I'm putting more faith in Aunt Hetty."

"Well since you say, me too" admitted Simmy. "But then maybe HE is helping her."

Jane came through the last waves of pain to hear someone cry who was not her.

"There you are Jane, a lovely little boy" said Miss Bates "And how often it is that seven month babies survive much better than eight month ones! I really do not know why since you would expect that the further on they were developed the more likely they would be to survive but I have seen it over and over that a seven month baby will fight for life and though he's very small he will soon pick up that weight, where an eight month baby is often inclined to sicken and die. You should put him to breast dear Jane and let him start to fill himself with nourishment."

"He is alive!" said Jane, softly "And it is a boy? Uncle Jasper will be pleased. I must say I am glad that it means that the inheritance problems are entirely sorted out. I - I was going to call him Jasper for his uncle; oh, but Aunt Hetty, would it pain you or please you if I were to call him Joseph in memory of the man you have loved?"

Miss Bates' eyes filled with tears.

"Oh DEAR Jane, I should be overwhelmed with joy if you did!" she said.

"Then Joseph he shall be" said Jane. "Joseph Henry; so he is called after you as well."

Informed of the decision, Caleb was in full agreement, and took little Joseph into his arms.

"Nothing to stop us getting married as soon as you want, Jane-girl" he said.

"Only the soreness of birth that will mean I shall not enjoy it" said Jane. "But you are right. We shall put up the banns as soon as we return to London; unless you can find a bishop to arrange a licence."

"As it happens" said Caleb, with his sudden smile "I know a bishop who owes me a favour. He wasn't a bishop at the time, but there was some suggestion that he had been involved in a nasty case of murder, and I was able to catch the true culprit. His blazing innocence and a few other things meant that he was the successful candidate to the bishopric. It was a Covent Garden girl who had got herself killed" he added.

"Poor girl" said Jane. "I am glad you sorted it out. I would like to leave this house as soon as I may; it has unhappy associations for Aunt Hetty, and too we cannot be terribly welcome."

"Well that's where you'd be wrong for once" said Caleb "Because Mr Featherstone and Miss Redmayne are pleased that this has all been cleared up and that I'm ready to swear to an accident to keep things a bit quiet. Saves the price of a length of rope in any case" he added "And means less unpleasantness for young Henry. And there's Simmy keen as mustard to see with his own eyes that you're in bowman trig and his little step-brother too."

"Bring him in" said Jane.

With Simmy and little Frances, and her new son, and Caleb, Miss Bates and Araminta around her, Jane knew that she could not be happier to have such a wonderful family.

Jane was well enough over the birth in three weeks time to go to the village church to see Mr Featherstone and Euphelia married; and Euphelia looked radiant.

Zilia and the twins were her bridesmaids since Cora had refused hysterically. The three younger girls were, now the funds were available, to go to Miss Goddard's school in Highbury, as recommended by Jane; Cora might have gone as well but as Cora considered herself to be out, she had refused. Jane thought her foolish since half a year's study before the next season might have made all the difference to her skills and deportment, but one could only advise.

Jasper Churchill had been delighted by the safe delivery of a boy to whom he could leave his wealth without any complications, and proceeded to tie it up carefully, placing the income into the hands of Jane and any husband she might have. He was aware that Caleb was courting Jane; for Jane had been scrupulous to tell him so, and having once met him properly in the social situation of becoming a house guest he grudgingly admitted that dear Frank's children would need a guiding influence of a steadier man than their sire.

When Jane and Caleb returned to Highbury in September it would be to get married in the little old church where Jane's grandfather had once presided; and if Philip Elton had not yet managed to have his frantic pleas to transfer listened to by the church authorities, even that was not, Jane determined, going to spoil her wedding day for her!

the end for now