“Looks clean and light enough. A few spiders and a bit of dust on the floor, but nothing to fear. There must be a trestle somewhere.”
Aiden nodded and ran for the next-door building. He reappeared a few moments later with another lad. Both carried an end of a wooden structure between them.
“Top’s already under Mr. Leyman, my Lord” They disappeared into the small building, coming back out but moments later to pull the body from the cart. With Mathew’s help, they carried the stable master into the shed.
Doctor Finch waited until the two lads came back out before entering the small space. Afternoon sunshine spilled in through the only window and cast a long ray of light over the grisly remains. Finch began undoing the buttons on Leyman’s jacket. The white shirt beneath strained at its seams where the man’s belly had filled with gas. Finch took a knife from his bag and cut through the damp linen, spreading it wide and revealing pale, waterlogged flesh beneath. He glanced up between Ash and Mathews.
“The body looks as though it has been in the water for a good couple of days, I’d lay money on it. This amount of decomposition doesn’t happen overnight even if the body has been in water. In fact, the coolness of the water in the lake might have even delayed it. The cloud of flies we disturbed had only gathered since the boys fishing antics exposed the body to the air. See, there is no maggot infestation.” He pointed at the exposed torso.
Ash looked reluctantly.
“Let’s take the jacket and shirt off. We’ll be able to see if there are any injuries.” They struggled to raise the torso, but Mathews took a sudden step forward as the fabric fell away. He pointed to the side of Leyman’s neck.
“Gawd! Look at that. He never got that falling from a log.”
Both Ash and Finch bent slightly and stared at where the man indicated. There was a narrow but clear wound in the skin of Leyman’s neck. Finch immediately bent the body forwards and to the side to give a clearer view. He peered closely for a few seconds before straightening. His eyes flicked back at the other men.
“A thin bladed knife, by the looks of it. Not particularly deep but enough to cause damage on a throat. I think it has ruptured his trachea. The man drowned in his own blood.”
Mathews swept his hand across his brow.
“Lord alive! Who would do such a thing?”
Finch shook his head as he examined the wound further.
“No idea, but whoever it was must have used their right hand if the man was attacked from behind. And it must have been from behind as I can’t imagine anyone walking into the lake and around to that reed bed to approach him from the front. He would have been able to defend himself too easily. Or put up a fight.” The doctor lay the body back down and moved around the side of the table. He lifted Leyman’s arm and studied his hands. “There are no wounds on his palms or knuckles, so it appears he made no defence if someone came at him from the front,” he said as if to prove his point. “But if he was attacked from behind; well that’s another matter. And it wouldn’t take any great show of strength if the man was surprised by his assailant while sitting getting his head together on that log.”
Ash’s brow furrowed.
“But that would suggest two different assailants if the person who killed the earl was left handed.”
Finch shrugged noncommittally.
“Possibly. Could have been a woman too. I’m no expert on this kind of thing, but the neck is full of soft tissue and plunging a knife in from the side wouldn’t be difficult. Though no one too short could have done it.” He qualified. “Leyman wasn’t a small man and the log was of a considerable circumference. His murderer would have had to be a certain height to reach forwards over the distance and catch Leyman unawares. Young Aiden’s height at the minimum I would guess to get the straight angle of the wound here.” He acted out stretching forwards and plunging a knife into an imaginary victim.
Mathews looked up at Ash as the doctor’s meaning became clear.
“So by your reasoning that would exclude anyone too tall as well, or the stab wound would have had a more downward trajectory?” He looked almost disappointed as the doctor nodded. Ash clearly didn’t measure up to the murderer’s profile. He peered more closely at the wound on the body. “A narrow bladed knife you say?”
Finch nodded.
“As small as a folding knife, or vegetable knife. Not a paperknife as on the earl. They don’t tend to have such a fine edge.” He pointed to the fine slits at the edge of the wound. “And don’t forget the use of the left hand on the earl. It must be predominant for them. No one right handed would ever do such a thing. The change over would be too awkward and they might be unable to use enough force.”
Ash frowned, deep in thought.
“The use of the left hand is odd. It marks the person out for their difference. You would have thought they would try to disguise the trait.”
Mathews rolled onto the balls of his feet and back onto his heels.
“I hadn’t considered the difference. How would you know in normal life unless a person wrote something down? Half the people around here can neither read or write at all, and those that are taught all use their right hand. How would we know?”
Ash bent and picked up a leftover piece of kindling from the floor and tossed it towards Mathews. The man looked surprised but instantly reacted and caught the piece of wood in his left hand. Ash nodded as the Constable’s eyes widened.
“See, it doesn’t matter if you are forced to use your right hand to write. You can’t avoid the dominance if it is already there. It is a reaction you cannot stop unless well practiced. Not that we think you are the culprit, of course... though one might want to know where you were on the evening of the murders.” He added with a glint in his eye.
Mathews’ cheeks flushed scarlet as he spluttered.
“But, but I was in bed with my wife! We had supper together before that. You cannot possibly think that I had...” He stopped as Ash waved his excuses away.
“No, of course not, but you see what I mean. If we have only your wife to ask for confirmation of your whereabouts at the time the earl was being stabbed in his study, the whole thing becomes a little tricky. She is hardly likely to offer up her own husband to the gallows, which is why spousal testimony is not relied upon in a court of law.” He turned back to Doctor Finch. “I didn’t see any evidence of blood on the log, though it has not rained since this happened.”
Finch agreed.
“His neckcloth would have absorbed a lot of it, you see the slight staining where it was folded,” he pointed to the material. “He probably lifted his hand to the wound in shock as well, but he would have been struggling for breath immediately. He probably fell forwards almost instantly. As to any other blood, well, I noticed that there was a gentle flow in the lake. From where the stream entered it, I would imagine. That would have been enough to wash any away after he hit the water.”
Ash glanced at the other men and then to the doorway. Claiborne stood framed in the space.
“Whatever way you look at it, it means we still have a murderer or two in our midst. Possibly members of the staff here now.”
Mathews shook his head.
“But they have all explained their whereabouts at the time of the earl’s death. And none have a particular motive. Especially for killing both men, and certainly not one good enough to risk hanging over. It must have been someone from outside. I need to discover if the earl had enemies, anyone he had argued with or owed money to.”
Finch rolled his eyes.
“The earl was extremely ill. His temper was short. He had argued with almost everyone. As to owing money, as far as I was concerned his bills were up to date. The new earl will have to advise you on the rest of his expenses, but I do know that he never went out to drink, gamble, or socialize. And of late visitors had been few. Whatever they are telling you, I think it far more likely to be someone within the household.”
Ash recalled the conversation he had overheard while hidi
ng in the secret passage behind the master suite. Not everyone had told the constable the truth. He wondered if others had been lying too. Finch distracted his thoughts as the man bent to pick up the fallen sacks.
“Sounds to me as if it was some kind of random robbery gone wrong. His Lordship did have his accounts on the desk when I first saw the body. Perhaps Leyman came back to talk to the earl a second time and saw something he shouldn’t. It is possible that the killer observed him and not knowing what the man might have seen, killed Leyman too. Though that makes the left and right handed thing unworkable.” He replaced the sacks over the dead body, wiped his hands on the cloth from his bag and folded it again. “Unless the culprit is ambidextrous, a possibility I suppose, but most unusual... Well, have done all I can here. I’ll call on the coffin maker when I get back to town if you like.”
Ash nodded his thanks.
“I must go back inside. My wife will be upset at the news but it has to be told. And I am also concerned for her safety as well as everyone else in the house.”
Finch’s head shot up and his cloth fell from his hand.
“Your wife? You are married already? But I thought there was some arrangement with Madeleine. Those letters...” Confusion filled his tone as he stood there, his hands poised in mid air while he stared at Ash, clearly in total shock.
Ash glanced at the constable. Surprise was written on Mathew’s brow too. Neither had apparently heard the news.
“Madeleine and I were married by special licence late in the afternoon on the day I arrived. I am sorry that you had not yet heard but I had to return to town and had not time to announce it publicly. I suspect the household have been too occupied with funeral arrangements to have spread the news.”
Finch’s face darkened. His eyebrows furrowed.
“And Madeleine agreed to this? I don’t believe it! She is fiercely independent. Besides, how could you have applied for the licence so soon?”
Ash noticed the man’s hands fisting at his sides, but he wasn’t about to back away. The doctor wasn’t as indifferent as he liked people to think. Was there more to the man’s attitude than first suspected? Only one way to find out. Ash lifted his chin and rolled his shoulders.
“I am the heir to the estate and will be living under this roof from now on. Do you think I would turn Madeleine out? We were going to be married anyway. To do it quickly seemed the best way to keep her reputation intact. I went to see the Bishop at Barnston and petitioned for the licence immediately. We were wed by the vicar the same afternoon. Flack and Mrs. Grenfell stood as our witnesses.”
Finch’s mouth had dropped open. He slammed it back shut as he puffed out a furious breath.
“By God! But why? You didn’t need to marry her! You could have waited until after the funeral before you moved in. Arrangements could have been made for Madeleine without going to such extremes if she objected to her father’s choice.” His fists shook at his sides.
Ash let the corner of his mouth turn up. He had speculated that the doctor might harbour a secret passion. Now the man had confirmed it. But how far would the doctor have been prepared to go in his desire to court Madeleine. Ash had to know.
“But it seemed that she didn’t object as much as we thought. Perhaps my good looks swayed her opinion. That and the title. Of course, I am not complaining either. What man would? She is a beautiful woman. Her charms are considerable and I shall enjoy discovering them all as and when I desire. Why would I not want to marry her?” He cringed inwardly at his lascivious, careless tones, but they caused the reaction he wanted. Finch’s eyes widened.
“Her charms? HER CHARMS! You blackguard! You speak as if she were a common trollop on hand for your own titillation,” he growled out, his face became a worrying shade of puce.
Ash smiled. His words were having the desired effect. Would the doctor go further in revealing his interest? Should he provoke the man more? It was worth a try.
“On the contrary. I did this for her. For her reputation, her safety, her well being. She has no other relative to go to, no one to rely on and I wasn’t about to let a gaggle of wagging tongues ruin her. As you rightly say, I was going to be the earl anyway. Whatever you might believe, while I find her more than a little alluring, I did not do this entirely for my own satisfaction.” Ash paused. “Well, perhaps a little. She is a rather tempting morsel.” He waggled his eyebrows.
The doctor’s expression grew thunderous.
“Damn you! She should have married...” Finch stopped suddenly and coughed into his hand, his temper dropping almost as quickly as it had arisen. He looked back at Ash with dead looking eyes. “Well, there is nothing anyone can do about it now. I offer you my congratulations, but must leave immediately. I have other clients waiting.” His tone belied his felicitations as he turned towards the door.
Ash felt his eyes narrow as he stared at the disappointed man. Had Finch offered for Madeleine but been turned down by the earl? Had her father told Finch about the marriage arrangements? It seemed likely. Finch was a regular visitor and friend of the earl as well as his doctor. And Ash knew from personal experience that jealousy could be a powerful emotion. Perhaps another test was in order. He bent to the floor.
“Finch! You forgot your cloth.” He straightened quickly and threw the folded wad at the doctor. Finch grabbed it out of the air, crushed the cloth in his hand, and thrust it back into his bag. He stalked towards the door without sparing Ash another glance.
Ash turned his attention to the covered body and gave Mathews a grim but knowing smile.
“It would appear that his nose has been put out of joint.” He couldn’t help commenting with a lilting tone. It felt good to have the upper hand.
Mathews scratched the side of his own nose. He lifted the sack covering Leyman’s head and bent to take another look at the wound. He nodded as if making a decision.
“It would seem so. Caught his towel left handed too.” He appeared pleased with his powers of observation. “I would never have thought it, but it appears that he has more motive for murder than we originally thought. And he is a surgeon. He probably has the knife to do it too.” He added thoughtfully.
Ash glanced at the body on the trestle again. The doctor had demonstrated plunging the knife into Leyman. He was the perfect height and had used his right hand, but the experiment with the cloth made the man appear to be left handed. Was Finch one of those rare ambidextrous people he had mentioned before? Had the man just put his head in a noose? Ash didn’t know. Mathews hadn’t seemed to be the brightest star in the sky, but he could obviously add two and two when pointed in the right direction. Not that being jealous and able to use either of one’s hands with equal dexterity was proof of murder, but it certainly gave one something to consider.
“Hmm. I hardly think he would put the murder weapon back in his bag, but who knows. Perhaps he has it hidden in plain sight amongst his other surgical instruments.” Ash didn’t really believe the doctor had killed anyone but he didn’t want Mathews thinking about the doctor’s description of the killer too diligently. He might recall Finch stating that a woman could have just as easily done the job and Ash didn’t want Mathews pointing a finger back in Madeleine’s direction again. Being taller than most, she would also be the perfect height and as yet had no alibi apart from her assertion that she remained in her room for the evening.
Mathew’s tugged the sack back into position over the body.
“I’ll make further enquiries. Finch will be easy enough to eliminate if he attended any other patients the evening the earl died.”
Ash nodded.
“Of course, but the man is clearly concealing something, even if it is just a tendre for my wife. Just as well I acted quickly and snapped her up before he could make any move for himself. Women can be fickle creatures and in her state of mind she might well have done something reckless and accepted the man.” Ash turned to the door, feeling somewhat gleeful and more than a little superior as he stepped outside into the fresh
er air.
But his buoyant mood quickly dipped as he noticed Aiden’s appalled expression. The lad’s eyes remained wide and his mouth open as he lifted his hand and pointed towards Claiborne.
“Lady Madeleine. She heard what you said about her charms and all. I don’t think she liked it.”
Aiden didn’t have to say more. Ash knew exactly how his words would have been taken, but they had been intended so. He had wanted to rile the doctor, to make the man envious. He had never meant them for Madeleine’s ears. He didn’t know her well yet, but he already knew that he would never intentionally hurt her. But his words had. And Ash’s heart fell into his stomach like a stone as his gaze followed the boy’s finger and caught sight of pair of slippered feet and a glimpse of swirling black silk disappearing around the corner of the Claiborne.
Chapter Ten
Building Bridges
Ash stared at his still full breakfast plate and yawned as he cursed himself soundly. It was the second morning he had sat there alone after a second sleepless night. The same thought had gone around in his head for hours. The one where he had become a complete and utter blithering idiot! Why hadn’t he checked outside the woodshed before opening his mouth? He might have guessed that curiosity and concern would have made her come to check.
He glanced up the table. Madeleine’s place sat empty after sending word that she had a severe headache, again. She had sent the same message the previous night. And the previous morning. And the evening before that. She had kept to her rooms, taking all meals there and not venturing out once as far as he knew. He wasn’t really surprised. It was no wonder. He would have a headache himself if he had overheard someone being such an arrogant arse, disparaging an old family friend, and making claims of such conceited self-sacrifice all while a friend’s body lay cold on a table in front of him.
An Unexpected Title (Suspicious Circumstance Book 1) Page 16
