A Malevolent Manner (Patrick Pierce #1)

by William Scott

  *

  “You spend some time with Lord Lodge don’t you?”

  “I see him at least three times a day,” Jane replied to Phillip’s question as they walked in the courtyard. Both had finished their duties for the day and had decided to get outdoors while the weather was mild. A storm was on its way and the Crow’s Nest would take the brunt of any inclement weather.

  “I know you bring his meals each day,” he continued patiently. “But I mean other than that.”

  “Really Phillip, I didn’t take you for the jealous kind,” she replied buying her time. She really didn’t know where these questions were heading, but she wanted to be ready to react plausibly.

  “I didn’t mean…” he stumbled over his words.

  “I was just teasing,” Jane said affectionately, seeing his reaction. She decided to be as truthful as precaution allowed. “Lord Lodge has been good enough to lend me some books from his library. His only condition is that we discuss them once I’ve finished reading them.”

  “Oh.”

  She could tell from his monosyllabic response that he understood her answer, but couldn’t fathom the reason for such an action. She imagined that reading for enjoyment was not one of his pastimes, although to be fair he probably didn’t have much free time. Since arriving at this mountain top prison, she had noticed that Phillip and the other groundskeepers were constantly busy. But they had the outdoorsman’s blood in them, enjoying the crisp air and the physically demanding tasks.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Well he asked me something that seemed strange at the time and seeing that you know him better…”

  “You want some advice on what to do?”

  “I know he’s the Master of the Manor and we’re to obey,” he stated hesitantly, “but…”

  “He’s here under strange circumstances,” Jane finished for him. He began to nod with approval knowing they were thinking the same thing.

  “It’s almost like he’s a prisoner here. And I don’t want to lose this job by doing something foolish.”

  “Tell me what he asked and I’ll tell you if it’s foolish or not,” she responded logically as their walk led them to the stone balustrade that offered protection against the cliff’s edge that dropped off towards the valley below.

  “He asked me if there were any ropes and pulleys in storage.”

  “So?” She asked pretending to be nonplussed by the question while her mind raced. Knowing that she and Lord Lodge planned to escape by the fake chair delivery, she wondered what this was about. She avoided looking down the cliff face, in case that was indeed the reason for the supplies. Perhaps it was a back up plan in case they couldn’t get in the crates?

  “So what if he really is being held here and I give him those things and he escapes!” he exclaimed. “He could use ropes and pulleys to get down the cliff.”

  “You really have the most vivid imagination,” she lied dismissively. Realizing he might have a point and needing to keep her accomplice safe she looked over the edge into the darkness. “I can’t imagine a man of Lord Lodge’s age climbing down that cliff. I bet a strong young man like you would even find it a challenge.”

  She reached out and held his hand, garnering a smile and an ease in tension from her escort. She hoped a compliment and some physical contact would cloud his mind. She could tell from his reaction it did, he quickly reddened and turned his gaze away from her. Deciding to take in the view, she followed suit.

  However as they both looked out over the vast expanse as the stars began to appear, she found her own mind clouded. The hand she was holding began to feel warmer and she started to feel a slight tingle spreading up her arm. She let it happen, having never felt this sensation or this close to someone before. She looked up slowly and found that Patrick and not Phillip was smiling back at her. She smiled back and returned her gaze towards the sea in the distance.

  “Of course you’re right, there’s no way he could get down there,” Phillip conceded proudly, breaking the silence.

  “Hmm,” uttered Jane coming out of her short daze. She blinked a couple times and looked back up to find that she was once again with Phillip. They turned and headed back towards the buildings.

  “But I wonder what he wants that stuff for?”

  “Who knows?” Jane replied trying to suppress her curiosity. “He’s probably building some kind of contraption. He’s quite scientific you know.”

  Phillip offered a shrug, wanting nothing to do with science.

  They walked the rest of the way in silence, with only a quick goodbye when they reached the main courtyard. Phillip and the other groundskeepers lived in an out building in the back and he waved to Jane after they parted ways. She let herself in the kitchen entrance and was relieved to find it empty.

  Although having Mrs. Hobart a witness to her budding romance made it more believable, she was tiring of the cooks motherly tendencies and advice. She was sure the old woman had started making a wedding menu in her head in the hopes the celebration would be held here at the Crow’s Nest.

  Upon reaching her room she took in its utilitarian nature and sighed. She’d found some brighter linen in storage and filled a small vase with mountain flowers in an effort to brighten it up. The log walls of the room made it appear slightly warmer than the stone walls of her room at the Manor. But it was at the expense of being infinitely more rustic, which was not her style of choice.

  She had spent the majority of her adult life in rooms such as this and it had never bothered her before. So why now? Jane knew the reason before she even had to ask herself. Every time she thought of Lord Pierce she quickly found flaws in such a match and tonight was no different. She looked in the mirror and only saw a servant in a servant’s uniform, living in the servant’s quarters.

  Having finished her daily dose of self-pity, Jane put it behind her and carried on with the real task at hand. Escape plans continued to progress and she had some new problems.

  Phillip’s revelation gave her a small pause as to Lord Lodge’s actual plans. She had believed she’d been privy to his plan up until tonight. However she now wondered what other arrangements he had been making on his own. She couldn’t make out what he planned to use the rope or pulleys for, but surely not to descend the cliff face. Nothing else came to mind and she struggled with how to proceed with this new information. Should she confront him about it or ignore it and continue as before?

  She knew one thing for certain, that she would not report it to Lord Cleaver. As agreed, she had been sending letters to the Manor, informing Cleaver on the progress of their escape. She had included everything; the forged note, the crates, and even the destination. Every time she tried to figure out how this was going to help them she became confused and just continued sending information. Jane knew it came down to a bluff and a double bluff (or maybe a triple bluff), so she just hoped that Cleaver fell for the right one.