by Kerry Tombs
‘Lucy, I cannot tell you that, however much I would like to. The fact remains that four men have been murdered in Malvern, and your brother is held on suspicion. He cannot account for his movements. We know that he had found out about the railway company and that he saw the possibility of an end to his work at the almshouses — and he was discovered hiding at Troutbridge’s farm,’ said Ravenscroft, hating the pain he was causing.
‘Then is all lost?’ asked Lucy, looking deep into Ravenscroft’s eyes.
‘My dear Lucy,’ he replied, placing his hand on her shoulder. ‘I would so like to tell you that your brother is innocent, but I cannot do that until we have caught the murderer. I am sorry.’
‘What has my brother said?’ asked Lucy, drying her eyes with her handkerchief.
‘He adamantly denies that he is responsible for the deaths of the four men, maintaining that he was in Hereford when Sommersby and Gladwyn were both killed. He also declares that he was staying with Troutbridge for one night on his way back from Hereford.’
‘And you cannot believe him?’ implored Lucy, turning again to face him.
‘Lucy, I cannot. I am sure that I saw him at Troutbridge’s farm earlier in the week. I believe it was his face I saw at the window, as I drove away.’
‘But you cannot be sure it was him?’
‘No, I cannot be certain,’ replied Ravenscroft. ‘Did your brother ever own a walking stick?’ he asked, changing the subject abruptly.
‘Yes, but why do you ask?’ asked Lucy, looking bewildered.
‘Did it have a silver engraved handle?’
‘No. James would never have been able to afford such things.’
‘Do the interlocked initials M.W.B. mean anything to you?’
Lucy thought for a moment, and then said, ‘No, they mean nothing to me. What is their significance?’
‘At present I do not know. Lucy, your brother is in serious trouble. He is our chief suspect in our murder inquiry and will remain in our cells until either charges are bought against him or if there are future developments in this case that can prove his innocence. At the moment he denies everything. We know that he was involved with Troutbridge but your brother is reluctant to tell us the nature of that involvement. If he refuses to answer our questions truthfully, I cannot do anything for him. Only you can help him,’ said Ravenscroft, hoping that his apparent coldness would provoke her into disclosing the truth that he sought.
‘How can I help my brother?’ asked Lucy.
‘By telling me the truth, Lucy,’ implored Ravenscroft. ‘I think your brother is reluctant to speak out for fear of hurting you. By protecting you, he may end up going to the gallows. I know that you would not want that. I implore you to help save him, my dear lady,’ said Ravenscroft.
Lucy Armitage looked at Ravenscroft for a moment, then quickly rising to her feet crossed over to the window. Ravenscroft could see again the tears forming in her eyes as she did so — whatever the secret was that bound Lucy, her brother and Troutbridge together, was not one that could be disclosed easily or without pain.
‘Very well, Mr Ravenscroft, I see that I must take you into my confidence, but before I do so, I must swear you to secrecy on this matter. Promise me that?’ she asked, looking into his face.
‘My dear Lucy, I cannot give you that assurance,’ said Ravenscroft rising from his seat and walking over to her. ‘What you have to tell me may have some bearing on the murders of three prominent men and one innocent homeless man and as such may have to be made public. However, what you have to say may have little or no relevance to the murders, and if that should prove so, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to guard your secret. I believe that what you have to tell me may help your brother to prove his innocence, and that is why I urge you to this course of action. I think you know that I would never do anything to bring unhappiness to you.’
‘Come with me, Mr Ravenscroft,’ began Lucy, after a moment’s silence.
‘I would hope that you would find it possible to call me — Samuel,’ interrupted Ravenscroft.
‘Mr Ravenscroft — Samuel, I know that I can trust you and that you have the interests of both my brother and I at your heart. After what I have to tell you, however, you may well think differently of me. Come with me, I have something to show you.’
She led the way out of the room and across the hallway. Ravenscroft followed her up the narrow stairs of the cottage, wondering what was about to be revealed to him, and whether such a disclosure would alter the lives of both he and Lucy.
Lucy paused for a moment on the landing, as if deciding whether she should proceed or yet turn back even at this last minute, but then turning to Ravenscroft, she said in a quiet voice, ‘In here. Please do not judge me too harshly.’
She pushed open the door of one of the rooms.
‘Thank you, Sally, you can go now,’ said Lucy, addressing her maid. ‘Master Richard will be quite alright with us for a while.’
‘Very well, ma’am,’ replied the maid, leaving the room.
‘You see there, Mr Ravenscroft, you have now discovered my secret.’
Ravenscroft entered the room. There on the floor was a small child, who was busily engaged in playing with a collection of wooden toys. Lucy walked over to the boy and lifted him up in her arms. Ravenscroft estimated that the boy was probably around three or four years of age.
‘And how is my little angel this morning?’ asked Lucy, kissing the child on his cheek. ‘Have you and Sally been playing with your train?’
The child nodded and smiled — the same smile that Ravenscroft had caught briefly on his hostess’s face on his first visit to the house.
‘I have bought someone to see you. This is Mr — er — Samuel.’
Unsure of his own reaction, Ravenscroft crossed over to the child and taking one of his small hands said, ‘Hallo, Richard, I’m pleased to meet you.’
The boy smiled again. His mother kissed him once more before returning him to his playthings on the floor.
‘So you see, Mr Ravenscroft — Richard is my son.’
Ravenscroft said nothing, uncertain of what he should say next. Lucy turned to her boy. ‘Mummy and Samuel have a few things to say together. We will leave you with your toys. Will you be a good boy for mamma?’
The child nodded and soon became engrossed once more in his game.
‘We will go downstairs, Mr Ravenscroft.’
Ravenscroft followed her down the steps and into the drawing room. Lucy gave instructions for the maid to return upstairs. The two of them sat silently on the sofa.
He felt uneasy, not knowing what to say. He had feared, with mounting anxiety, that the revealing of the secret would not be easy for both of them, but the knowledge that he had now gained was the last thing he had expected. He looked out of the window, at the world outside the small cottage, and wondered whether he should now leave before he caused any further pain.
‘I warned you that you would think harshly of me,’ she said, after what had seemed like an eternity to him.
‘Lucy, I could never sit in judgement upon you,’ was all he could say, but he knew the words would sound empty and meaningless.
‘That is easy enough to say. Let me tell you my story first, then you will see how foolish I have been and why my brother attempts to protect me. Then you will be in a better position to condemn my stupidity,’ began Lucy turning towards him. ‘Five years ago, I met and fell in love with a young man, whose name need not concern you. I was just eighteen years old at the time, young, headstrong, and yes, impetuous. The young man promised that he would marry me, and I was foolishly deceived into believing that he meant what he said. We were in love, or so I thought. Then I found myself with child. I knew that the knowledge of this folly would lead to the disgrace of our family, and so it proved. My father had been unwell for some years and once he learned of my plight his illness became more marked and he quickly sank into a decline from which he never recovered.’
&nb
sp; She paused for a moment, the tears beginning to form once more in her eyes. Ravenscroft placed his hand on hers, but she quickly drew back and continued with her story.
‘I only thank God that my mother had died some years previous. At least she had not been a witness to my disgrace. Worse was to come, however. Once the young man knew of my plight, he had no further need of me. He was more than content to discard me, claiming that the child was not his and that I had slept with another, but I can assure you, Mr Ravenscroft, that I had been entirely faithful to him alone. He left shortly afterwards and went with his regiment to India. Last year I read that he had returned and had married well into London society. I bear him no grudges; the fault had been entirely mine. After my father’s death, my brother and I had little to live upon, once my father’s debts on the estate had been settled. We were forced to sell our family home, and came here to Ledbury, where James was fortunate enough to find employment as warden of the almshouses in Colwall. I had a little money saved, which enabled me to rent this property and engage a maid. Shortly before we arrived in the area, my darling Richard was born. At first, I’m afraid I was a very bad mother and wanted little to do with the child of my sin, but after a few weeks I found the love between us growing and I realised that my son would be my salvation. I would devote my life to him, see that no harm would ever befall him — and above all else, see that he would never be tainted by the foolish, wanton behaviour of his mother.’
She paused again to wipe the tears from her eyes.
‘Lucy, you do not have to continue—’ began Ravenscroft.
‘Oh, Mr Ravenscroft — Samuel, but I do. When we arrived here, people began to feel sorry for me. I put it about that I was a young widow. My husband had been killed fighting in Africa. Everyone felt sympathy for me, and I was quickly accepted into local society. I did not like lying but I had my son to protect. If my true station should ever have come to light, we would be driven out, my brother would lose his position and my son would grow up cursing the mother who had caused his ruin. You must understand, Samuel — that is why I lied.’
‘Of course, Lucy, no other mother could have done more,’ said Ravenscroft sympathetically.
‘All might then have been well, but for Troutbridge. Troutbridge’s brother owned the farm next to our property in Devon. He must have visited his brother and learned of my disgrace. Everyone in the village had known of my folly and both my brother and I had been roundly condemned by local society before we left. One day, shortly after our arrival here, my brother and I were out walking in Ledbury. I remember it was market day, and the local farmers had come to town to buy and sell their animals and produce. One of them was Troutbridge and he recognised both of us. Shortly afterwards he approached my brother and said that unless James paid him a sum of money each month, he would inform everyone as to the true nature of my position. James was forced into taking money from the accounts of the almshouses to pay for Troutbridge’s silence. He hated doing it, and I begged him not to do so, but he said that if he did not do it, we would all be ruined. James said it would only be for a while and that one day he would repay all the money to the trustees. Troutbridge was sick and might soon die, or we would eventually go somewhere else, where we were not known, once James had secured a better situation. So now you see it all Mr Ravenscroft — the reasons for James’s silence, why he would not tell you of his true relationship to Mr Troutbridge. He was doing it all to protect me, and little Richard, my darling son. Now I am the cause of my brother’s downfall. My stupidity and callousness has ruined us all!’
Lucy burst into a new flood of tears. Ravenscroft moved closer and placed an arm round her shoulders. ‘Come now, Lucy, all may yet be well.’
‘But how can it?’ she said, pulling herself away from him. ‘You will condemn me as others have done, and as others will do, once they have learnt the details of my sorry foolish story.’
‘Lucy, there is no need for anyone to know of your circumstances. I am only thankful that you have sought to confide in me. I will never hurt you. It is not my business to condemn something which happened some years ago, when clearly you were the innocent party, and taken advantage off by another who should have known better.’
‘You are very kind, but others will not see it that way,’ she protested.
‘There is no reason why anyone else should ever know. You can leave Troutbridge to me. I will have words with him, and make sure that the blackmailing stops and that he remains silent. You need have no fears on that score,’ said Ravenscroft trying to reassure her. ‘Now dry your eyes. Your son will be distressed to see you so upset.’
‘You are a good man, Samuel Ravenscroft,’ said Lucy drying her eyes, ‘and a good honest friend.’
‘Perhaps one day you may allow me to be more than that.’
Lucy continued to wipe her eyes on her handkerchief. ‘Mr Ravenscroft — Samuel, I must see my brother and explain to him that I have told you everything. He is innocent. I must help him. Can you please take me to Malvern with you now? I must see him,’ she said, quickly rising to her feet, a new urgency in her voice.
‘Of course,’ he replied.
‘I will fetch my coat and explain to my maid that we will be away for a while. She is used to attending to my son’s needs.’
* * *
Within a few minutes, Ravenscroft had secured a cab for them both and they found themselves on the way to Malvern. The two of them sat in silence as they began the ascent up towards the hills; Ravenscroft running over the morning’s events in his mind, attempting to reconcile Lucy’s disclosures with the murders he was investigating, his companion anxiously looking at the road, and wishing that they would soon reach their destination. After the events and revelations that had taken place inside the small cottage, Ravenscroft found the bracing air and passing scenery a welcoming relief, affording him a breathing space before the events that would shortly unfold.
‘I think you may find your brother somewhat changed,’ he began, as they travelled through the Wells. ‘When we apprehended him, he was still wearing the same clothes he had taken with him from the almshouses. His appearance is a little dishevelled, to say the least.’
‘James was never the tidiest of men,’ she replied.
‘You must realise, Lucy, that I will have to confront your brother with what you have told me and that I will need to question him further.’
‘Can you go any faster?’ asked Lucy, passing over Ravenscroft’s last remark.
‘Old Patch is doing the best he can,’ grumbled the cabman.
Arriving at the station, Ravenscroft showed Lucy into one of the small rooms and instructed Crabb to fetch Armitage from his cell. Lucy paced up and down the room, looking down first at the floor, then at the ceiling, and finally at Ravenscroft.
‘All will be well; trust me,’ he assured her, wanting to place a protective arm around her but realising that the next few minutes would be difficult.
The door opened and Armitage entered, followed by Crabb.
‘James!’ exclaimed Lucy running towards her brother and drawing him close to her. ‘Let me see how you are.’
‘Oh, Lucy, but why have they bought you here? You should not have come,’ said Armitage, embracing his sister. Ravenscroft and Crabb looked away.
‘I have told Inspector Ravenscroft everything, James. Yes, everything. He knows about our situation, about Richard, and why you were paying Troutbridge. There is no need for you to protect me anymore.’
‘Lucy, Lucy, why have you been so foolish? There was no need,’ he protested.
‘There was every need. You could have gone to the gallows. I had no choice. I had to tell him everything. The inspector is a good man, he can help us now.’
Ravenscroft coughed, ‘Miss Armitage, I wonder if you would be kind enough to leave the room for a few minutes while I have a few words with your brother. I can assure you that you will be reunited presently.’
Lucy taken aback by the strange formal tone in Ravens
croft’s voice, said merely, ‘Yes, of course, I understand.’
‘Crabb, show Miss Armitage into the other room if you please,’ said Ravenscroft. Lucy kissed her brother and after hugging him close and casting an imploring glance at Ravenscroft, left the room with Crabb.
Ravenscroft indicated that Armitage should sit. Now that the truth had been disclosed, he hoped that the warden might be more forthcoming than at his previous interview.
‘You should not have involved my sister,’ said Armitage declining the seat.
‘Sit down, be quiet, and listen to what I have to say, Mr Armitage. If you had told me all about this business with Troutbridge earlier there would have been no reason for me to have visited your sister. You are a foolish man, but you are loyal to your sister and I admire that. I know that you were seeking only to protect her. Now tell me, why did you go to Troutbridge’s when we left the almshouses?’
Armitage seated himself on the chair. ‘I had nowhere else to go. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before you discovered the discrepancies in the accounts and would seek to arrest me. I panicked. I thought if I saw Troutbridge I could persuade him to let me have the money back and I could replace it in the almshouses accounts, but I realise now that I should have known better. The man was not to be persuaded, of course. I did not know what to do. He seemed content to let me remain there in hiding. I think he gained a great deal of satisfaction from witnessing my plight. One evening I even thought of killing him; that would have put an end to all our misery, but I could not bring myself to do so,’ said Armitage running his hands through his hair.
‘It is as well that you did not. We already have four murders on our hands.’
‘I know I have been incredibly foolish in taking the money, but that is all I have done, Mr Ravenscroft, I swear to you. I did not kill a single one of those four men,’ implored the warden.
‘What about the newspaper containing the railway article, Mr Armitage?’
