“Longer than it should have been, my Lord. It didn’t start out so bad. We hardly noticed until this time last year, but even then we didn’t think anything of it. Lots of people like a tipple.”
Ash rolled his eyes.
“This is a lot more than a tipple. The evidence suggests that he drank a whole bottle in an afternoon. Regardless of his nerves, this is clearly out of control.”
Flack nodded.
“I agree, but what to do about it apart from show him the door.”
Ash shook his head.
“No, that won’t help the man. He’ll end up living in a gutter drinking cheap gin, or worse. You will have to lock up the brandy and any other alcohol we have on the premises and only get it out when either myself or my wife are present.”
Flack nodded slowly.
“And if cook needs wine or port for cooking? And what about the servant’s rations? The old earl was kind enough to provide wine with our dinner for those that like it, and ale for those that don’t.”
Ash plucked his bottom lip as he stared at the valet’s limp form.
“I don’t see why that cannot continue, but Phillips is forbidden to partake of any alcohol from now on. It might seem harsh but if he carries on like this he won’t be long for this world. If he wants to remain here he will have to live by my rules, otherwise he is welcome to leave.”
“As you wish, my Lord. And thank you. Cook’s excellent trifle would have been a little lacking without the sherry.”
Ash threw a blanket over Phillips before both he and Flack backed out of the room.
“I can imagine! But I do want a ledger of what cook uses. Please tell her that I do not distrust her, but I cannot have Phillips helping himself to feed his addiction.”
“Of course, my Lord. Perfectly reasonable under the circumstances.” The man limped along the corridor.
Ash glanced down.
“Thought that was getting better? You didn’t appear to limp on the way up. Mrs. Grenfell’s mustard poultices no longer working?”
Flack shook his head.
“It was getting better. This is just a twinge. I don’t think the poultices were going to help much more. I have been on my feet for longer than usual the last few days. What with going out delivering all the invoice payments, then the funeral and wake today. I am sure everything will be back to normal by tomorrow.”
Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Remind me. How long ago did you do it? And how did you do it at all? I am sorry, I know that you did explain but in all the confusion I have forgot. It appears to be extremely painful.”
Flack smiled.
“Only to be expected, my Lord. It was almost a week ago. The evening before we discovered his Lordship’s body. Leyman had traipsed mud and muck across the downstairs hall when he came to see his Lordship. In view of your anticipated visit, I asked Mary if she would clean the floor again. I didn’t expect her to make quite such a fine job of it and as I was making my way across the newly polished hall floor, my feet suddenly slid from beneath me. Next thing I know I am on my backside with an ankle as fat as my thigh and with bruises to match.”
Ash winced in sympathy.
“I am surprised that the earl didn’t hear you and come to see what the commotion was about.”
Flack scowled then shrugged.
“He might have done if it hadn’t been the anniversary of his wife’s death. I knew he was well into a bottle of brandy by then and he had argued with both his daughter and his stable master. I wasn’t expecting him to show his face before lunchtime the next day.”
Ash let out a sigh.
“So you had to call for help?”
Flack nodded.
“Mrs. Grenfell appeared quickly enough and took charge. She must have been in the servants’ passage by the hall. Mary, Phillips, and that new maid Gertrude helped carry me to my room. Mrs. Grenfell wrapped my ankle up, gave me one of her tonics, and asked Phillips to find me a couple of books. I didn’t make it down again for supper. I waited hours for someone to bring me something. It was if I was out of sight and out of mind!” He sniffed indignantly. “I only moved again the next morning when I heard all the screaming. Fortunately the poultice had worked well and though still weak and excruciatingly painful, my ankle hadn’t stiffened. Mary came to fetch me and asked Michael and Jimmy to help support me while I hopped down the stairs.”
The story sounded genuine enough.
“And you have barely had time to rest it since. I cannot thank you enough for the way you have supported the family while going through such pain yourself. I’ll make a note to add a small bonus to your wages.”
Flack looked as if his eyes would pop from his head.
“Why... thank you, my Lord. That is very decent of you, though I didn’t tell you the story to gain sympathy or to elicit any...”
Ash interrupted the man with a wave of his hand.
“It is the very least I can do. But now I have to go and see young Aiden. I have not had time to look at this new foal properly or to get to know any of the men working in the stables. I need to appoint a new stable master too.” They reached the bottom of the stairs.
Flack walked to the front door and held it open, a huge smile lighting his usually dour face.
“Of course, my Lord. Don’t let me hold you up.”
The sweet smell of straw and hay mixed with the stronger scent of horse and leather hit Ash’s nose. He drew in a long breath. Overall he preferred the subtle scent of the open seas, but this was a good smell too. He strode in and found that the stables exuded an air of calm that the house did not.
Aiden, two other lads, and an older man all looked up from their varied tasks. Aiden was the first to come forwards.
“My Lord, let me introduce Mr. Parker. He might be old and bent but he has been at Claiborne for many years. I do not know how we would manage without his assistance.” He indicated the older man who shuffled forwards on unsteady legs and tipped his hat.
“Af’ noon, me Lord, it is good to meet you at last.” The old man’s white whiskers hid his mouth, but they all curled up in what was clearly a smile.
Ash returned the sentiment.
“Aiden’s recommendation means much to me. With age comes experience. I hope you remain in my employ for many years more.”
The old man chuckled and nodded at Aiden.
“See lad! I told you that a man with a nag as contented as ‘is, couldn’t be a bad employer.” He chuckled some more as he went back to his work.
Aiden’s eyes flicked up to Ash.
“Sorry. I was afeared for Mr. Parker’s position. Many people wouldn’t be bothered with an old man like him, but he would simply fade away if he wasn’t in these stables every day.”
Ash knew old sailors with a similar disposition.
“How old are you, Aiden?”
The young man shifted his feet nervously.
“I’ll be eighteen next year, my Lord.”
Ash tapped his foot on the cobbles.
“And Mr. Leyman trusted you with Milady when he went to seek advice from the earl?”
Aiden nodded.
“I remained with the mare just as he instructed. Not that I could help her at all. Couldn’t stop the bleeding after the foal was eventually born. Was as much as I could do to get the wee animal to suckle from his dying mother.”
Ash glanced about the stables.
“There are no others who have worked here longer than you?”
Aiden shook his head.
“Apart from Mr. Parker. He knows plenty, but his strength and health isn’t what it used to be.”
Ash glanced at the old man, who gave Ash a knowing wave and another whiskery smile. Ash turned back to Aiden.
“Then Mr. Parker’s experience will be invaluable to you in coming years. I am appointing you as my new stable master.”
Aiden’s expression left Ash in no doubt of the youth’s surprised delight.
“I can’t thank you
enough, my Lord, I’ll not let you down, I swear it! But let me introduce you to the rest of the team. These two here are Sam and Eli. You saw Sam a couple of days back when we brought the trestle to the woodshed, but we didn’t get time for introductions.” Aiden continued as he caught hold of the two lads and pulled them closer.
Both whipped off their hats and gave short bows.
Ash acknowledged them both.
“Pleased to meet you. I can only apologize for the delay in making myself known to you. It has been rather a hectic few days.” A familiar neigh from one of the stalls had him walking along the clean cobbled floor. Titan’s great head appeared over the door. “Hello boy. How are they keeping you...No complaints I hope.” The horse nodded and drove his nose into Ash’s chest, nuzzling and snorting as he tried to search his master’s jacket pockets. Ash laughed and rubbed the animal’s silky soft muzzle.
Aiden came up beside Ash and handed him an apple.
“Windfalls from the orchard,” he explained. “He is rather partial to them. Cook is going to be fighting with Titan over them soon. She prefers them for her apple pies.”
Ash laughed.
“I think I would prefer them in apple pies.” He gave the horse his reward and turned towards the other stalls.
“How many animals do we have here?”
“Eight if we are including Titan and the foal. Of course it would have been nine, but now Milady has gone...” He sighed deeply before continuing. “Two, Summer and Lily are grazing in the paddock. They are both with foal and we’re hoping for good results. Then there’s old Charlie Boy here. He doesn’t do much more ‘n eat these days. Bit like Mr. Parker,” he added in a low tone before continuing in his normal voice. “But I suspect Charlie could pull a cart if pressed.” Aiden picked an apple from a basket and made encouraging clicking noises into the next door stall. He moved on after the grey headed nag accepted a stroke along his neck and took his snack. “And then we have Daisy and Buttercup. They are the carriage horses.”
Ash laughed as he recalled seeing the black and white horses that morning. Their resemblance to cows he had seen explained their names. He took a couple of apples from the basket and made himself known to them before moving onto the next stall.
A gangly white foal lifted its curious head from where it had been sleeping in the straw. Ash glanced back at Aiden.
“He is making good progress?”
Aiden nodded.
“Better than I expected. He is still not as strong as I would have hoped, but that is not to be wondered at given the beginning he’s had. We are still maintaining an all day and night vigil, though if he continues as he is, we’ll cut that back towards the end of the week. He’s not been named yet.”
Ash nodded.
“I’ll ask her Ladyship to think on it. She has been a little pre-occupied.”
They moved to the last occupied stall in the line.
“And this is His Lordship.” Aiden smiled. “Named for his Lordship, of course. And father of the little lad next door.”
Ash smiled back as he looked at the chestnut’s sleek lines.
“A beautiful animal.”
Aiden nodded and grimaced.
“A beautiful animal with an ugly temper. Lady Madeleine and Mr. Leyman were the only ones able to ride him since her father stopped late last year.” The horse responded with a clearly impatient whinny and a stamp of his hoof.
Unperturbed by the animal’s show of irritation at his visitors, Ash leaned over the stall door and held out an apple.
“How goes it, old friend?” He waited patiently while the animal eyed him warily. “Now come on, my beauty. It is an apple, not a pickled egg. Remove that stubborn attitude and enjoy the treat I am offering you.” The horse snorted and threw its head up and down.
Aiden shook his head.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He was always difficult, but he has been worse this last week.”
Ash kept the apple in his palm.
“His life has changed and he doesn’t like it. He lost his master, his mare, and his friend. And to cap that all he now has a rival to his superiority in the stables.” Ash glanced back at Titan, who gave him a gentle nod.
Aiden sighed.
“When you put it like that, I can see why he might be more cantankerous than usual. Don’t know what we’re going to do about it though.”
Ash thought for a moment.
“Now that the coffin maker has removed Mr. Leyman’s, can we clear the woodshed and use that as an individual stable. Titan won’t mind being on his own until we have His Lordship more settled. Removing a rival stallion will take one pressure off the beast while we try and get on his good side.”
Aiden frowned.
“Blast! I should have thought of it myself.” He immediately turned to Sam and Eli. “Go and get the woodshed good and clean. I want Titan stabled there tonight.” He turned back to Ash. “I am sorry, my Lord. Mr. Leyman would have suggested that. He had taught me so much but it clearly wasn’t enough. I feel as though my right arm has been cut off.” He rubbed his eyes and blew out a long breath.
Ash laid his hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“Do not berate yourself. You are doing a fine job in horrible circumstances. Thomas Leyman would be proud of you and your efforts.”
Aiden’s hands curled into fists.
“If I knew who did for him, I’m not sure what I would do.”
Ash kept his eyes on the horse. The young man had given him the perfect opening.
“I still don’t understand why he was at the lake when Milady was so ill. He doesn’t seem the type to leave his post.”
Aiden sighed deeply.
“I don’t suppose it matters if I tell you. Rumours have been floating about all week. You might as well hear the truth, and what I think.” He glanced about and lowered his voice but the two lads were still busy cleaning the woodshed and Mr. Parker appeared to be absorbed in spreading more bedding. “Mr. Leyman was a good man, but he had some issues that made his life difficult. He could neither read nor write. Even I knew more than he. Lady Madeleine was kind enough to begin teaching him. This summer has been gorgeous. He would take either the latest book she had brought him or his slate, and spend an hour in the evening sitting on the log by the lake practicing whatever her Ladyship had taught him. Now I don’t expect he was doing that the night he died, but I know he had a thing for your wife. He tried to hide it, but hopeless love is a cruel thing. And he had apparently just heard that she was going to be marrying you. I swear he never came back here after he left to speak to the earl. After hearing the news of your imminent arrival and the reasons for it, I think he went to the lake to calm himself and to grieve over what could never have been.”
Ash sucked in a breath. He knew exactly how Thomas Leyman would have felt. He swallowed hard, feeling a sudden kinship with a man he had never met.
“If it gives you any comfort, I didn’t know. Perhaps I should never have come.”
Aiden smiled.
“You would have come at some time and it wasn’t as if Lady Madeleine returned the man’s affections. I don’t think she even knew.”
Ash nodded.
“She had guessed, but thought teaching the man his letters more important than dashing his hopes.”
Aiden twirled a loose straw between his fingers.
“He should not have asked her to help him. I could see that it was a disaster waiting to happen, but he was in love and she has a kind heart. I would have taught him his letters, had offered more ‘n once, but it seemed like he wanted to torture himself with what he could not have. Lady Madeleine came to the stables often enough to ride or just see the horses, but Mr. Leyman never had her individual attention until she began teaching him.” He rushed on when Ash looked as though he might speak. “Don’t get me wrong, they was never alone and nothing was hidden, my Lord. That she was teaching him was no secret. They used to sit over there by the tack, quietly working together while right
in front of us all.” Aiden pointed to a low bench. A slate lay at one end. Ash could see some markings.
“So others knew of his feelings for Lady Madeleine?”
Aiden pondered the question.
“Down here, yes. Up at the house, I don’t know. I do know that new maid had a thing for him though. She made excuses to come over here often enough and it weren’t me, the lads, or Mr. Parker either, that she fluttered her eyelashes for. While Mr. Leyman didn’t detest her, he couldn’t stand her advances. Would pick up a shovel and begin clearing manure whenever he caught sight of her, but she wouldn’t take the hint.”
“Interesting.” Ash thought about the stable master’s refutation of the woman. She was neither too young nor too old, but with her buck teeth, thin hair, and dreadful skin, she was definitely not instantly appealing. And from what he had seen himself, her personality didn’t make up for her lack of looks. If she knew of Leyman’s attraction to Madeleine, jealousy might have risen its ugly head. But though that might be a reason to kill Leyman, he couldn’t see how she fit the profile of the earl’s murderer. He stored the information away for later. “You know that Mr. Leyman is being laid to rest on Thursday morning. You will be there, I take it.”
Aiden’s young face crumpled and he blinked hard and fast.
“If you will allow, my Lord. I don’t have any time off scheduled and didn’t like to assume.”
“Both Lady Madeleine and I will be attending. We had rather hoped you would drive us again, and as you will already be there...”
Aiden gave a watery smile.
“Thank you, my Lord. I’d be delighted.”
Ash turned back to the horse in the stall. The irritable animal now stared at the apple. Ash stretched his arm out an inch or two further. His Lordship’s nostrils flared, but not in anger. The animal sniffed the air and suddenly bent his head and walked forwards. He snatched the apple from Ash’s palm and stalked away.
Ash grinned at a surprised Aiden.
“It’s a beginning. We’ll bribe him into being good natured if we have to. It generally works.”
Chapter Thirteen
A Shadow of Suspicion
An Unexpected Title (Suspicious Circumstance Book 1) Page 20
