A delighted flush crept into the man’s cheeks.
“Well, thank you, my Lady. I would be most appreciative.” He bowed low.
Madeleine stepped around him.
“I must go. Cook will be furious if I keep her waiting much longer.” She swept along the hallway.
Indeed, the household cook appeared fit to explode by the time Madeleine reached the parlour. The woman glowered at her employer.
“You mark my words. The dinner will be late and probably ruined now that I have delayed here for so long. Those kitchen maids will be chattering and gossiping and idling away the hours if I am not there keeping an eye on them every minute of the day.” The woman huffed out an exasperated breath.
Madeleine dropped into a chair and motioned with her hand for the other woman to take a seat.
“I am sorry to have kept you but the accounts needed doing and my father’s things needed removing from the study. This has been a difficult few days for all of us. I am sure we can cope with dinner being slightly delayed.” Madeleine rubbed her temples. “But regardless of that, I have a funeral to cater for and a new husband to think of. Mrs. Grenfell says that you intend to do smoked trout.”
Cook pressed her lips together for a moment.
“Only if young Michael and Jimmy catch one, and I wouldn’t be none too certain about that. Up to some devilry they are, but I don’t know what. I’ll give their ears a good clipping if I find out it was them that kept me awake last night. Three times I rose from my bed to look out of the door. Could have sworn I heard footsteps in the corridor.” She pressed her hand over her mouth as if stifling a yawn.
Tempted to yawn herself, Madeleine refused to show any weakness and stood once again.
“Michael and Jimmy aren’t usually a bother. They are young and a little mischievous but they are learning fast and I doubt they were out of their beds last night.” The two boys were the troublesome twin sons of a widow in the town. Learning some kind of trade wasn’t always easy when there wasn’t a man in the house. Madeleine’s father had taken them both on permanently after making them work off a punishment for scrumping apples from his orchard. He had thought to turn them into decent household staff and they seemed happy enough with their daily chores.
Cook sighed.
“Perhaps you are right. Mary said that she hadn’t slept either though she didn’t know why.”
Madeleine stood in a patch of warm sunlight. She felt tired enough to drop.
“I think everyone’s imaginations are playing tricks on them. We could all do with a good night’s sleep.”
Cook agreed with her.
“I won’t rest properly until I know Thomas Leyman has been hanged by his murdering neck. Can’t think why it is taking Mathews so long to find the man. It’s not like he left on a horse as all of ours are still in the stables, and as far as I am aware, no one has reported one missing in the neighbourhood. The man walked out on two legs. If he walked all night and all the next day he won’t have gone that far.”
Madeleine considered the point.
“I wonder if constable Mathews has thought of that. He said he was sending out word, but I don’t know how far he is looking.”
Cook shrugged.
“Not much further than the end of his over large nose, I shouldn’t wonder. He has never liked to lift more than one finger at a time. Now, I must ask about the menu for guests tomorrow and the next few days. See here, I have some thoughts on his Lordship’s requests.” The woman passed a note.
Madeleine glanced down the list of dishes for the post funeral gathering. Everything looked perfect. She handed the list back to the cook and took a second list entitled ‘His Lordship’s Pleasure.’ Madeleine’s eyebrows rose before she glanced at her cook.
“You discussed this with my husband before he left?” Shock reverberated through her tones. Had the man really found time to see his cook, but not his wife? She looked at the list. Oysters, mussels, prawns, cockles, eel. There were many more items on the list.
Cook nodded eagerly.
“He turned up in the kitchen quite by chance after losing his way in the house. Took a few minutes to discuss what he really liked for his meals. It seems he has travelled a lot with his ships and has a particular fondness for seafood, though how he expects us to find these here is quite another matter.”
Madeleine looked at the list again.
“Hence the smoked trout. I suppose it is the best we can do until we find a supplier of the things he prefers.” Was she disappointed that cook knew Asher’s tastes but she, his wife, did not? A flicker of annoyance began to burn in her belly. How dare he make time for his stomach but not for her. The flicker became a flame that smouldered a little brighter until it burst into a fiery glow. Well, she would see about that! If he thought she was going to sit through him stuffing his face with his favourite dishes then he could watch her indulge in hers. She was about to mention to her cook that she would like a joint of rare roast beef for her dinner that night, and every night for the following month, when youthful shouts suddenly echoed in the halls.
“ ‘ELP! ‘ELP! He’s been done for!” Footsteps pounded along with the raised voices.
Madeleine rushed to the door and pulled it open just in time to catch a small lad as he hurtled into the room.
“Michael!” Or was it Jimmy. She couldn’t tell with his face plastered in her skirt and only the mop of red hair in view. She caught hold of his arms and set him back a pace. “Whatever is the matter?” The boy looked up with tears in his eyes as an identical young lad skidded to a halt by his side.
“Miss Madeleine! Miss Madeleine! He’s dead! Dead as dead can be!” The newcomer wailed as water dripped from his trousers and onto the floor.
“Who?” Madeleine ignored the growing puddles and pulled the second frightened boy towards her.
“Mr. Leyman!” Michael choked out the name before burying his head in her skirts again. “He is in the water, all swelled up in the lake. Amongst the reeds. Didn’t know he was there until Jimmy’s hook caught on his jacket.” The boy shook in her arms.
Madeleine was about to call for Flack when the man himself came limping into view, followed by a clearly curious Gertrude.
“I tried to stop them interrupting you my Lady, but they scarpered past as quick as whippets. Just let me deal with them.” Flack tried to grab hold of Michael’s ear.
Madeleine clasped the boys tightly.
“No! They think they have discovered Mr. Leyman’s body. You must send for constable Mathews and Doctor Finch. Immediately!”
Flack looked disbelieving.
“Leyman’s body? Where?”
Michael lifted his head.
“Down by the lightning tree. In the reeds in the lake. Jimmy is useless at casting. His hook caught his jacket. We thought it was stuck in some branches under the water, but then the body came up. It bobbed about and rolled over. ‘orrible it was!” His lips trembled but his brother glowered angrily.
“I am not useless at casting!” He shouted indignantly. “Michael shoved me with his elbow at the crucial moment! I was going to catch the biggest fish you ever seen for his Lordship’s dinner, but he has to go and try and catch it himself.” He stuck his tongue out at his brother.
If the reasons for their spat were not so serious, Madeleine might have laughed. As it was she gave both boys a small shake to stop their arguing.
“I don’t care who was going to catch what. I do need to know exactly what you saw and where.”
Michael took up the story again.
“It’s like I said. We saw the stable master. Dead in the water down by the split tree.”
“Oh my Lord!” Gertrude wafted her duster about her face and quickly sat in a hall chair. Flack ignored her and spoke to the boy.
“And you are sure it is Thomas Leyman? You said he was all swelled up.”
A moment of confusion flitted across the boy’s brow, but his twin sounded convinced.
“His face i
s all fat and puffy, but it’s his jacket all right. The one he always wears when out riding. I saw the patches on the elbows before the body turned over. Thought it was a great big log until his face suddenly appeared. And then we realized what we had actually caught.”
Cook bent down and frowned at Jimmy.
“What were you doing at the lake? I thought you were going to the stream for trout.”
Jimmy shrugged his thin shoulders.
“The fish in the lake are bigger. We thought you wanted a nice big fish for the new master’s dinner. The trout are smaller. My mum says perch taste better anyway, and Harry Martin told us there were perch this big in the lake.” He stretched out his arms to indicate the impressive size of said lake monster. He seemed to be getting over his shock.
Cook pressed her lips together and shook her head at the wide-eyed boys.
“Harry Martin is an old fool and should know better than to tell such stories.” The old man, a character in the town, was known to enjoy his liquor rather more than he should. “I don’t know why I trusted you. The lake becomes deep quickly and the edges are marshy. You could have fallen in and drowned. That’s why I asked for trout. The best spots are only knee deep on the stream. Your mother is going to have a fit when she hears about this.”
Madeleine glared at her cook and took hold of both boys’ hands.
“I think they have learned their lesson already.” She turned to Gertrude who still sat slumped on the chair. “Take the boys and organise baths before giving them both some biscuits and hot chocolate. Mr. Flack, please see that Mathews is informed of the developments and that Doctor Finch is fetched. I will go to the split tree and stand guard over Thomas Leyman until the constable arrives.” She didn’t want to see the stable master’s dead body, but someone in authority had to make sure that any evidence was kept safe. She was about to wave away Flack’s gasp of horror at her suggestion when movement behind the man’s shoulder caught her eye.
Asher came striding down the hallway.
Chapter Nine
Evidence Arises
“You will do no such thing!” Ash’s voice rang along the corridor.
“Asher!” Madeleine thought her legs might give way beneath her, so relieved was she that he had arrived. “Where did you come from? I was not expecting you until tomorrow.”
Ash pushed past the group of servants and took his wife’s hands in his own.
“My business was finished sooner than I expected. Captain Merriweather had everything under control and I only had to oversee a few perfunctory details. I set out at first light this morning and made good time, but arrived here only moments ago. I was about to stable Titan when I saw the boys run in from the gardens. I gather from their shouts that our errant stable master has been discovered.”
Madeleine gazed at him standing there in his dusty jacket. It seemed that he had ridden hard and long to get back so soon. Had he been eager to see her? She didn’t know, couldn’t tell from his expression. She forced herself to remain still though she had an almost overwhelming desire to throw herself into his arms and cry uncontrollably. Instead she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin to meet his gaze.
“The boys have discovered something, that I am sure. Whether it is Mr. Leyman remains to be seen. I was about to...”
Ash interrupted.
“I heard, but you will have to forgive me for forbidding you to do any such thing. And before you argue, while I know you are perfectly capable, this is not something any woman should have to see. I will secure the site if someone would direct me as to where exactly I should go.”
Michael and Jimmy looked up at him with fearful eyes and then looked gleefully at each other.
“Cor! It’s a giant!” Jimmy crowed in delight.
Ash squatted down in front of the boys, hitching his breeches as his knees bent.
“Not quite a giant, but big enough. Now, can you guide me to the split tree?”
The slightly taller of the almost identical boys nodded.
“So long as I don’t have to look at his face again. Something has eaten out his eyes.”
Ash heard a strangled sound at his side and glanced up. The maid had placed a handkerchief over her mouth and turned a strange shade of green. He ignored her. There were more important things to consider.
“I think just some directions will do. North or south side of the lake?”
Michael stepped forwards.
“South side past the split oak. The one that was struck by lightning last Michaelmas. You can’t miss it. Half of it is dead and the other half covered in leaves. About another fifty paces past there...” He looked uncertainly down at Ash’s legs and recalculated the distance. “Well, maybe twenty-five of yours seeing as your legs are so long. You will see the reeds clearly enough. There’s an old trunk of a tree just fallen over in the shallows. Jimmy and I were sitting on it waiting for something to take our bait when he miscast. Nearly got my ear!” He glowered at his brother, who took up the story.
“If you hadn’t of distracted me it wouldn’t have happened. Besides, I missed you by a mile!” He shoved his brother with his elbow before carrying on. “The hook snagged a couple of yards out. Thought we had caught a monster carp until the log floated into better view. And then it caught in the reeds and flipped over. Ghastly sight!”
Ash nodded and stood up.
“I can imagine. Mathews will probably want to question you when he arrives. Go with Gertrude for now and wait here afterwards.” He turned to Madeleine. “Would you please wait with them.”
She looked a little uncertain.
“But I can show you exactly where they mean. I know where the fallen tree is.” She hesitated a moment then added quietly. “I am so glad that you have come home.”
Ash stared into her bright eyes. Tears had gathered on her lashes. ‘Home’ the word triggered startling thoughts in his mind, but he drove them away. As much as he wanted to crush her against him in his arms, this was not the time to think of himself. Madeleine had known Leyman well. The horror of what she might have had to do was not lost on him.
“So am I, but I would rather you remain here and wait.” He gentled his voice as her eyes registered shock at his brusque tone. “Please don’t misunderstand me. I simply should not wish for you to discover your friend like this.”
Madeleine gave a quick but grateful nod.
“Thank you. You had best go. We don’t want anyone interfering with the site. There may be clues.”
Gertrude whipped the handkerchief from her lips.
“Clues? What sort of clues? It is obvious what has happened. Leyman killed the master and then clearly threw himself into the lake when he was overcome with remorse. It’s probably his ghost that has been walking the halls of Claiborne the last couple of nights waiting to murder us all in our beds!”
Madeleine gaped at the woman before pulling in a sharp breath, but it was Ash who spoke first.
“I will hear no more talk of ghosts or spirits or anything else returned from the dead. All houses make noises at night. This one is no different to others, and you are frightening no one but yourselves.” His eyes travelled over the people in the hallway and rested again on Gertrude. “I know that you had a dreadful shock the other day, but this ridiculous attitude cannot continue. If I hear one more word about ghosts I will personally throw the person uttering them out of the door.” He lifted his chin and squared his huge shoulders leaving no one in any doubt that he could manage the task with ease.
Gertrude’s gaze went nervously to the two boys.
“You two best come with me. You’ll catch your death standing about in soaking wet clothes... And where are your shoes? Don’t tell me you both left them at the lake?” She rolled her eyes as both boys nodded. “Perhaps you’ll be lucky and the master‘ll bring them back.” She grumbled as she took both boys from Madeleine’s hands and began ushering them up the stairs.
Flack turned on his heel and hobbled as fast as he could to summon t
he constable. Cook shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, that’s settled then. As there’s no fish, it will be roast beef tonight.” She waddled off and gave Ash a quick nod before disappearing below stairs. Ash turned to Madeleine as the two of them stood alone in the hall.
“Sorry to intrude unannounced and immediately begin throwing my weight around. And I also apologize for my unexpected departure the other day.” He bowed over her hand, taking in the subtle scent of summer flowers.
Madeleine shook her head and tried to take her hand back.
“It is your house and they are your staff. You may come and go and say what you please.” He refused to let her hand go and her voice caught in her throat. While Asher might be the new earl, it wasn’t easy to give up the little control she had.
Ash softened his voice as he deftly threaded his fingers through hers.
“No, it is our house and I didn’t mean to overrule your decision, but this will not be a pleasant task. Nor will I stand for ridiculous rumour. I will make a note to speak to Phillips about this apparent sighting, but I’ll have no more nonsense over it.”
Madeleine refused to admit the relief that suddenly warmed her. Asher Derwent was clearly not like other men of her acquaintance. Perhaps being in trade altered one’s attitude. His words had supported not demeaned her position. She had to support him in return.
“Nonsense or not, we must not stand about here delaying. We must go to the lake instantly.” She made as if to walk along the corridor but Ash held her back. He looked into her eyes, a troubled expression playing across his features as he spoke.
“Like as not those boys have made a mistake and their unexpected catch really will turn out to be a lump of long forgotten wood, but that said, I would prefer that you stay here. If their find is as true as they say, given the lack of any sightings of him and the way he never returned to tend the horse, Leyman has probably been in the water since the evening your father died. He will not be a pretty sight. The weather has been warm.” He didn’t want to elucidate further. He had seen plenty of bodies pulled from the sea. None of them had looked pleasant and the boys had already given a graphic enough account of what he was likely to find. He didn’t want Madeleine’s last memory of her friend to give her nightmares.
An Unexpected Title (Suspicious Circumstance Book 1) Page 14
