by Kerry Tombs
‘I am pleased that we were able to recover them,’ replied Ravenscroft gazing down at the works displayed in the glass cabinet.
‘Rest assured, Inspector, that we shall take far greater care of them than we have done in the past.’
‘I am pleased to hear that, Dean.’
‘A new librarian has already been appointed. But I hear that you are leaving us today?’
‘Yes, my work is completed. I have given evidence at the trials of Henderson and Miss Griffiths. Both have, of course, been found guilty of their crimes.’
‘What a terrible business this has all been. What will happen to both of them Inspector?’
‘Hang, sir,’ interjected Crabb.
‘Oh dear me,’ said Touchmore, shaking his head.
‘In Henderson’s case, he will be brought to the gallows next week. Miss Griffiths has been granted clemency in view of her failing health. She will remain in prison. I fear she is not long for this world,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘The poor woman. I will pray for her. Such a shame. And what of Dr Renfrew?’ asked the Dean.
‘It is my one regret that in this case that I was not able to bring that man to book. Almost certainly he paid Henderson a great deal of money to acquire the two works for his collection. However he also acquired the services of a top London barrister, who claimed that his client had purchased the manuscripts in good faith, and that he was merely acting as their custodian, with the full intention of eventually returning them to the cathedral. Unfortunately, the jury believed him rather than me in this matter, and so he has walked free. The man is as slippery as an eel. There is nothing more I can do to bring him to justice,’ replied Ravenscroft, with more than a hint of regret in his voice.
‘Well, at least we have recovered the manuscripts,’ said Touchmore, smiling.
‘Indeed we have, sir.’
‘Apparently Renfrew has vacated the house. One of our men saw him and his manservant leaving the day after the trial,’ said Crabb.
‘Gone to London, no doubt. Perhaps he will eventually return to America,’ suggested Ravenscroft.
‘If he returns to Worcester, he will certainly be denied access to the library,’ said Touchmore.
‘I doubt he will do that,’ said Ravenscroft. ‘He may have escaped justice, but his reputation will have been harmed. Well, sir, it is time I bade you good day.’
‘I cannot thank you enough, Inspector Ravenscroft. You cannot hope to imagine the gratitude that the Dean and Chapter feel towards you. The Bishop also sends his kind regards and words of thanks,’ said Touchmore shaking Ravenscroft’s hand with vigour.
‘I thank you, sir. Perhaps our paths might cross again one day.’
‘I do hope so. There will always be a warm welcome for you here at the cathedral.’
As the two policemen made their way down the stairs and into the nave of the cathedral, they could hear the sound of boys’ voices. They paused to listen to the choir, and to look upwards towards the stained-glass windows.
Matthew Taylor was conducting the boys with his usual casual flourish, and waved in their direction. Ravenscroft signalled back and smiled, before making his way out.
‘Mr Ravenscroft, I would be glad of the opportunity of a few words with you, before your departure,’ said Sir Arthur Griffiths who had clearly been waiting for them to leave the building.
‘Certainly, sir. May I say how sorry I am for your daughter’s imprisonment,’ offered Ravenscroft.
‘Thank you. We are trying to persuade the authorities to allow her to spend her final days at home.’
‘I am sure they will give your request a sympathetic consideration.’
‘You may be interested to learn that I have decided to relinquish my seat in the House of Commons. It is not prudent that I should continue with my parliamentary career given the present circumstances.’
‘That is a pity. I am sure you will be a loss to both the country and your party. What will you do now?’
‘I have a large number of business interests within the county which will occupy my time. I do not intend to be idle. I realize that I have been a very foolish man. If I had accepted the boy as my own all those years ago, none of this would ever have happened, and my daughter would not now be languishing in a prison cell. I seek now to make recompense, and to regain that which I had thought lost. I may have lost a daughter: it is not my intention to lose a son. I understand the boy is being cared for by you and your wife, Constable Crabb?’
‘He is indeed, Sir Arthur,’ replied the constable.
‘If you would return him to my house, you will have my assurance that the boy will be well cared for and acknowledged as my true son and heir. He will want for nothing.’
‘I will bring him over this evening, sir.’
‘Thank you, Constable Crabb. If I can in anyway recompense you for all your trouble, I would be happy to do so.’
‘It is no trouble, Sir Arthur. My wife Jennie, has taken quite a liking to the lad, and will be sorry to see him go.’
‘Then you must tell your wife that I am eternally in her debt, and should she care to visit us at any time to see the boy, she would be more than welcome.’
‘Thank you, Sir Arthur.’
‘Now, I wish you good day, gentlemen. It is my regret that we could not have met under different circumstances,’ said the Member for Worcester extending his hand.
‘I wish you well, sir,’ replied Ravenscroft, shaking the politician’s hand.
The two detectives watched as Sir Arthur strode towards his house.
‘So Ruth Weston’s words have come true at last,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘And what were those, sir?’
‘On that morning when I met her here with her son, she said that one day her son would live in a fine house. It is a pity that she was not here to see it,’ said Ravenscroft sadly.
‘At least the boy will grow up a gentleman,’ said Crabb.
‘Yes, that is indeed so.’
‘I think that someone else is trying to attract your attention, sir,’ said Crabb.
‘Good morning to you, Inspector,’ said the eldest Miss Tovey walking towards the two men, a greeting that was echoed by her two younger sisters.
‘Good morning to you ladies. I trust I find you well?’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘Very well Inspector, thank you. But we hear you may be leaving us?’ said Mary Ann, looking wistfully into Ravenscroft’s eyes.
‘We are going to miss you so much,’ said Alice Maria sadly.
‘That is very kind of you to say, but my work is completed here, and my superiors will be expecting my return to London at any moment.’
‘It is so good to hear that the books have been returned—’ began the eldest sister.
‘—to their rightful place in the library—’ continued the middle sister.
‘—where they can be enjoyed by everyone who desires to see them,’ completed Alice Maria.
‘Indeed so, ladies,’ said Ravenscroft, smiling.
‘It is such a pity that you have decided not to stay with us,’ said Mary Ann.
Crabb coughed and gave Ravenscroft a puzzled look.
‘You are too kind, ladies. It is true that I have been offered a position with the local force here in Worcester, but I suppose I can be of greater service in London. There is nothing now to keep me here,’ said Ravenscroft, wondering how the sisters had gained knowledge of the offer that had been made to him only hours previously.
‘What a shame!’
‘We are so sorry.’
‘But we quite understand your decision.’
‘Thank you, ladies. Of course, I have not finally—’ began Ravenscroft.
‘We understand that a new librarian has been appointed.’
‘We shall have to have him to tea one afternoon, sisters.’
‘I am sure he would appreciate that,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘We thought you would like a little something to take back to London,’
said the eldest sister handing over a brown paper parcel.
‘My sister’s cakes are the envy of the town,’ said Emily proudly.
‘Hush, Sister!’ said the youngest sister turning bright red.
‘You are most kind. I am sure your cake will be delicious, and when I am eating it in my rooms in London I shall remember all the kindness I have received here.’
‘Time we went to the station, sir,’ interrupted Crabb.
‘We must not detain you, Inspector.’
‘You must not miss your train.’
‘That would never do.’
‘Thank you again, ladies,’ said Ravenscroft raising his hat, before they walked away.
‘I was not aware, that you have been offered a place with the force here in Worcester,’ said Crabb, as they made their way back towards the Cardinal’s Hat. ‘I hope you will accept such a position. May I say it has been a great honour to have served alongside you, sir.’
‘Stop it, Crabb! I have not yet refused the offer. I need to return to London and have time to consider the matter.’
‘I understand. I suppose if a certain young lady—’
‘Enough, Crabb!’ said Ravenscroft firmly. ‘If you want to make yourself useful, you can carry my bag from the Cardinal’s to the station.’
‘A pleasure, sir,’ he grinned.
After collecting his bag and paying the landlord his account, Ravenscroft made his way to the station with his colleague. They climbed up the steps to the station platform.
‘You know, Tom, it was a good thing that we went to Hay, otherwise we would never have discovered Henderson’s true identity. Until then, I was so sure that Cranston was our murderer, but I now realize that my intense dislike of the man clouded my judgement,’ said Ravenscroft.
‘Good job we didn’t arrest him then,’ replied Crabb, ‘otherwise we would have had that smart London lawyer after us.’
‘That idea does not bear thinking about. But enough of Cranston and the Whisperie. Tom, give my best regards to your wife and son.’
‘I certainly will, sir. Things are going to be a little flat around here, now that you are returning to London,’ said Crabb sadly.
‘Good morning, Inspector,’ interrupted a familiar voice.
‘Brother Jonus. How pleased I am to see you again,’ said Ravenscroft shaking the monk’s hand, ‘I was hoping to see you at the cathedral before my departure, but I see you are also travelling to London.’
‘The cathedral has a number of business interests in London, which necessitate my presence there from time to time,’ replied Jonus.
‘Then perhaps we might share a compartment together,’ suggested Ravenscroft.
‘That would be an honour, Inspector.’
The group were suddenly disturbed by the arrival of a uniformed officer, who emerged running from the stairway and on to the platform. ‘Inspector Ravenscroft, sir. I’m glad I’ve caught you.’
‘Whatever is the matter?’ enquired Crabb.
‘I’m so sorry, sir. This arrived for you yesterday. I meant to give it to you then, but placed it on the station desk and forgot all about it. I hope it is not anything important?’ said the breathless constable, handing Ravenscroft a letter.
‘Thank you, Constable.’
‘A young girl delivered it. Said her mistress had sent her all the way over from Ledbury, saying it was most urgent and that you were to read it straight away. Sorry for the delay, sir.’
‘That’s quite all right, Constable, better late than never, as they say,’ said Ravenscroft recognizing the handwriting. ‘Gentlemen, if you will excuse me for a moment.’
‘Of course, my son.’
Ravenscroft withdrew a little way down the platform, leaving Jonus and Crabb talking to the constable. He stared down at the envelope, his heart beating, a sudden hope taking possession of his mind, his hand shaking and unsure whether he dare read its contents now, or later.
The sound of the approaching train, brought him back to the reality of his present situation. He tore open the envelope and read its contents.
My Dearest Samuel,
I do hope that this letter is able to reach you before your departure to London. I had hoped that you would have found it in your heart to have visited me again, here in Ledbury, now that you have brought your investigations to a satisfactory conclusion, but I realize that after my coldness towards you during our last meeting, you would be too hurt and would want to put me out of your mind as quickly as possible.
When you arrived — so unexpectedly — I was unsure how you would be with me, after my foolishness of last year. I hope you will forgive my aloof manner towards you. It was never my intention to be so distant and seemingly uncaring. The truth is, since your generous offer of marriage last year, there has hardly been a day gone by when my thoughts have not turned in your direction wondering what you would have been doing at that moment, and whether you would still be thinking of me, and cursing my own foolishness.
There I go again — repeating the word ‘foolishness’. You must excuse such repetition, but it is an apt word to describe my behaviour towards you. I hope you will excuse these strange ramblings from one who cares for you. In time you will forget all about me — and it is all that I can expect.
However, should you find it in your heart to forgive the pain I have caused you in the past, and desire to see me again — and wish to repeat your more than generous offer that you made last year — you would receive a more than favourable response.
If I have said too much, then please excuse me, but the contents of this letter are what I feel, and are written from the heart.
Your ever loving
Lucy
‘I think your train has arrived, sir,’ interrupted Crabb.
‘Yes. Yes, of course,’ replied Ravenscroft folding over the letter and replacing it within its envelope. ‘Brother Jonus, you will have to excuse me. I find that I am unable to travel with you today.’
‘I understand my son. Follow your heart,’ said the churchman shaking Ravenscroft’s hand vigorously, before boarding the train, ‘I’m sure our paths will cross again sometime in the future.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ said Ravenscroft, closing the carriage door.
‘Good news, sir?’ enquired a smiling Crabb.
‘It is very good news indeed, Tom! When is the next train to Ledbury?’
‘In about five minutes, I believe.’
‘It looks as though I might be staying after all.’
‘Capital news, sir. Capital news indeed!’
‘Oh, and Tom, how would you like to be best man at a wedding?’
‘Delighted, I’m sure. Delighted!’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WHITECHAPEL, LONDON
She could hear the distant sound of a church clock striking the night hour of two as she arrived outside the drinking house in Commercial Street. Despite the lateness of the hour, the voices of people singing and shouting drifted out into the cold night air. One or two ladies of the night waited for clients further down the road, and an old blind beggar lay slumped in an adjoining doorway, his empty cap before him on the cobbled stones.
She had drawn the veil over her face, not wishing her features to be seen by anyone, as she had made her way to this final encounter. The instructions had been short and to the point, giving her the time and place, and warning her to ensure that she had not been followed on her journey.
As she moved away from the lamp, seeking the shadows, coughing as she did so, she wondered whether he was there already, watching her every move, awaiting his opportunity, his moment, when he would make himself known to her, and lead her to Kelly’s rooms. She looked down at her shaking hands, anxious that the final act should begin, and straining to see whether he was there in the swirling damp fog.
The doors of the inn suddenly flew open.
‘Get out, you drunken sod!’ came an angry voice from within.
The ejected drinker, a rough-looking unshaven man, wearin
g mud-splattered trousers and a torn coat, picked himself up from the floor, uttering loud curses as he did so, and waving his fist in the direction of the drinking house.
She withdrew further into the shadows as the man, noticing her presence, staggered towards her, waving his arms in the air. ‘Hello, my little fine doxy,’ he said, in a slurred voice. ‘Like to come back to my place, and I’ll give you a good time?’
She recoiled. Surely this drunken man could not be Monk?
‘Come on, my little Polly. Don’t be shy. We all know what you are here for,’ said the man lunging towards her and attempting to seize her by the shoulders.
‘Go away!’ she protested, seeking to distance herself from this new intrusion.
‘Are you all right, miss?’
The voice was that of the beggar.
‘What’s it to you?’ growled the man turning his attention towards the speaker.
‘Are you all right, miss? Has he hurt you?’ called out the beggar again.
Trembling, and coughing, she retreated into a nearby doorway, as she heard the sound of a creaking cart approaching somewhere in the distance.
‘Shut up, you old piece of horse meat!’ shouted the drunken man, lashing out with his foot at the blind beggar.
‘Please don’t hurt me!’ cried out the other, covering his face with his hands.
She turned in the direction of the cart, as it made its noisy way towards the buildings, an old bearded man pushing the vehicle before him.
‘I told you to shut your mouth!’ The drunken man landed his boot in the chest of the old beggar, making him cry out in pain. Instinctively she began to move forward, seeking to help the unfortunate victim.
‘Follow me!’ instructed the man with the cart, in a voice barely audible as he passed by.
‘Now shut your mouth, you old tramp!’ shouted the drunken man, lashing out once more at the beggar, but missing his aim and collapsing on the cobbles.
She stood still and watched the old man and the cart turn the corner.
So he had kept his word.
He had come for her.
