Taking in a deep breath then slowly letting it out, to calm her nerves, she waited until the last button was fastened.
“Amanda, what I’m about to say is to remain between the two of us. You’re not even to mention it to that scoundrel Evan as you know he’ll inform His Lordship. Do I make myself clear?” she demanded.
“Yes, m’ lady, and congratulations. I suspected you might be increasing as your courses didn’t arrive when due. As now, when you noticed your bodice a little tighter, so did I. You also have my word on not saying anything until you give permission.”
“Thank you. If you’ll pass me the dark green shawl I must be on my way as I’m meeting Lord Markson privately in his office. And no, I’m not going to tell him, at least not yet.”
With a final glance in her mirror, Kristina swept from her suite into the hall amazed that Robert wasn’t waiting. For her this was somewhat of a relief as it meant he’d not overheard the conversation with Amanda.
As she made her way to the stairs, she saw a footman at the junction of the corridors, in particularly the one leading to where Ethan’s suite was. If she didn’t miss her guess Robert had put the man there to keep her brother in his room. Probably because of the meeting they were about to have. Sensing his concern for privacy she smiled then continued down to the first floor and the office.
Gliding down the hall to Robert’s office she stood at the doorway for a second then stepped in, right into his arms.
“Now this is a pleasant way to greet your wife.”
“Considering how Ethan treated you I thought you might love to know I do appreciate you. Can I get you a sherry?” he whispered into her ear.
“He does seem to be returning to his old ways so your hug is greatly appreciated. Yes, a glass of sherry would be nice. Then I can tell you why it’s going to be difficult in finding the murderer and who’s selling the gold.”
With his hand on the small of her back, she let him guide her to the divan she’d occupied earlier. Once seated she could feel butterflies in her stomach and she knew from what—keeping the joyous news from him.
Accepting the glass, she waited while he was settled beside her.
“Let me pose this question to you, what if Reverend Wallace’s sons are involved in the gold smuggling? As we know, at the mine we saw one having an argument with him. Later, I thought I saw the same man but it turned out not to be true because of the different coloured hair. We know the one who followed his father into the church sent the letter to Bow Street and seems to have disappeared from London.”
“I agree. Do you believe Reverend Wallace is somehow involved and if so to what end?” Robert asked.
“No I don’t. As I said, he was hesitant about going in the tea shop and we’ve since learned the reason. If anything he could have heard what the two were up to, possibly from a worker and when we saw him he was demanding answers as to their traitorous activities,” Kristina said.
“But how do we get one or the other to admit their involvement?”
“The easiest, but not necessarily the quickest way, would be to catch one of them handing over the gold to the French. The problem with that, we don’t know how often it occurs. We could be here for several months before that happened. Once we apprehend that son and we threaten him with a choice, hang for being a traitor or transport to Australia. My guess, they’d take the second,” Kristina explained.
“That would work and if you don’t mind staying here then we can take that approach. I’ll talk with Glenn in the morning about setting up guards to keep a watch over the mine. He also might have an idea where the ship to transport the gold comes in as it would seem Ethan doesn’t,” Robert spoke.
“Either that or he knows and refuses to tell us. That would be my choice. Now, as I heard the dinner bell being rung shall we adjourn to the dining room and enjoy our meal?”
“Then, after which refine your suggestion.”
With dinner finished Kristina thought of retiring to the office but decided they’d use her sitting room instead. Settled on the divan, she glanced over to Robert who seemed troubled, as he had been all through their meal.
“Darling, I can easily tell when something is worrying you so out with it.”
“Yes, my concern is, what if we don’t get one of the son’s to confess?”
Kristina opened her mouth but snapped it shut on hearing distant footsteps in the corridor. Robert listened closer as the thudding of boots grew heavier. Kristina lifted a brow in curiosity and he shrugged. They both turned to the door as it opened.
“Pardon the interruption, m’ lady, Robbie, but I’ve received disturbing news. A French schooner dropped anchor in a cove nearby and a skiff has landed. The men are heading for the mine,” Glenn sputtered out.
“How did you learn of this? And how does this person know it’s French?” Kristina demanded.
“M’ lady, the man who passed this information along had served in Spain before getting wounded and returning home. He’d spent enough time there to not learn the language but knew it when he heard it. Also, I trust him explicitly as he’s my uncle,” Glenn explained.
Kristina read her husband’s expression.
“Robert, if you don’t mind you’ll have to go without me. As much as I enjoy a good gallop doing so at night isn’t for me. I’ll stay here and patiently await your safe return.”
“My dear, I’ll trust you on that and with luck we should be back in two hours, three at the most,” Robert told her. He then wrapped her in his arms and gave her a kiss.
With Kristina following down to the ground floor she listened while her husband and Glenn discuss the best way to approach the mine. She almost changed her mind to accompany him but through the opened front door saw how dark the night was, no moon to help illuminate the way quickly reversed her decision.
Stepping out the door she noticed Julius being brought into the courtyard by a groom with several others also mounted following. An unfamiliar clanging of metal on metal caught her attention. She was about to enquire but was saved when Hamish informed Robert.
“M’ lord, your saber and a brace of pistols are already fastened to your saddle. The grooms are also well armed,” the butler announced.
Even though she knew he was going well prepared, her hands began to gently shake from fear of the unknown he’d be facing.
“Return soon and safely,” she whispered.
“I will.”
Kristina waited until the men had left the courtyard and were out of sight. As she went back into the castle, she laid her palm against her stomach, hoping to ease the tension she was feeling. Her husband made her proud, but she could not ignore the danger of war.
“Please have a tea for two delivered to my sitting room and have Amanda join me,” she directed Hamish.
“At once, m’ lady,” he said with a bow.
As she made her way up the stairs and down the corridor she thought back over the events of the past few days focusing on Rose and Keith. So far she’d not been assigned a duty and with her in a delicate condition Kristina wanted to make sure she would be safe. This would be the primary discussion she’d have with her maid. If anyone knew it would be Amanda or Mrs. Fairbairn. Right now, though she wanted to keep it between the two of them, then if necessary approach the housekeeper.
Stepping into her sitting room she barely took a seat on her favorite divan when Hamish entered followed by Amanda. Directing the man to set the tray on the table in front of her she dismissed him then turned to her maid.
“Have a seat as we’ve things which need talking about.”
“Yes, m’ lady.”
Once Amanda was seated, Kristina poured two cups and passed one to her maid. Next, she handed over a small plate of freshly baked fruit-filled tarts.
After taking a sip followed by a lady-like nibble of the pastry Kristina focused her attention on Amanda.
“Currently Rose doesn’t have a position in the castle. As you know of her, at least a bit, do you have
any suggestions preferably one which will keep her and the baby safe?”
“As a matter of fact I do and was going to make you aware of the fact. Actually, you’re eating one now. It seems Rose has a natural talent for baking and Cook has taken the girl under her wing, so to speak.”
Freshly baked pastries meant Rose was still in the kitchen at this late hour. Even though it might not necessarily be her duty, but the girl did work for her, she decided to give Rose the good news herself.
“Amanda, let’s finish up our tea then adjourn to the kitchen so I can let Rose know she now has a permanent position if she wishes,” Kristina said.
Taking the servant stairs as it emptied out into the kitchen Kristina led her maid down. As they got to the door leading in she could smell more baking, this time bread, which started to make her mouth water.
With a nod to the cook, Kristina wound her way through the room until she was in the alcove where Rose worked. Kristina couldn’t believe the transformation in the space since her first visit. Over everything had been a fine dusting of flour, whereas now there wasn’t any flour except on the table where Rose was working away.
Kristina cleared her throat delicately so not to surprise the poor girl.
“M’ lady, was there something amiss with the tarts I sent up?”
“Just the opposite, Rose. They are the most delicious I’ve ever tasted. I personally wanted to make you aware your position as castle baker is assured.”
“What did I tell you, Rose? I knew she’d want you working here.” Cook declared.
“With a codicil however. If she feels the need to rest, considering her condition she is to. Rose will also need time during the day to be courted by Keith, as you must know by now,” Kristina ordered.
“M’ lady, we’ve already discussed exactly that and once the loaves come out of the oven she’ll be retiring for the night,” Cook explained.
Kristina gave both women nods then with Amanda departed for her suite to relax and read until Robert returned. Then, once they were comfortably reclining in their bed, she’d tell him the news.
The chiming of the hall clock striking eleven times awoke a dozing Kristina. Rubbing her hands over her face, she heard horses enter the courtyard. A flick of her wrist removed the light blanket Amanda had covered her with before being dismissed for the night.
Jumping up, she wriggled her feet into slippers and rushed from the suite. She arrived at the front door just as Hamish opened it. She stepped into the night air and saw her husband as he climbed down from his horse. Behind him were three of the prisoners—the two brothers and matron from the bakery. Grooms were one either side of them.
“Take them to the dungeon, in separate cells and post guards. I’ll deal with them in the morning,” Robert ordered.
“No, we’ll deal with questioning them now. And why wasn’t I informed of you going to capture them,” Ethan demanded.
“Because you were nowhere to be found. I had no idea if they were the ones giving the French the gold so it didn’t concern you. All we knew, a schooner had dropped anchor and men were trudging inland to meet with someone. Now, out of my way as I’m filthy and need a bath.”
“Yes, you most certainly do,” Kristina teased before glancing over to Hamish. “Have water heated and delivered immediately.”
With Robert home safely, Kristina changed into her nightrail and crawled into bed. Before she had a chance to tell him her news she drifted off.
Epilogue
Four days later
Even with threats of dancing the hangman’s gig, the two brothers nor the matron of the bakery, Mrs. Granger, admitted to killing the five people. At one point Robert wondered if the murders might not have had anything to do with the mining but separate incidents. The wrong people being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He did know that someday the killer or killers would be brought to justice.
His next problem was what to do with them as no matter how things ended for them Reverend Wallace would be disgraced. His lovely wife came up with the solution that would dispose of all three with no harm to the minister’s reputation. Of course, as it was she who devised the plan her brother was totally against it.
“With the war raging both on land and sea with the French why not send the two men to the fleet. There they’ll learn quickly enough to not say anything or will pay a heavy price. As for Mrs. Granger have her transported to Australia. If her husband wishes to accompany her, so be it. I already have someone in mind who might wish to take over the bakery.”
“I do like your recommendation but how will that affect Reverend Wallace?” Robert asked. He pointedly ignored the blustering and sputterings from Ethan, a man he could easily hate.
“He can retire claiming age and, with your permission Robert, we can arrange for him to take an extended voyage to some far off land or two.”
“Yes, I do like that. This way when he returns all will be forgotten and he’ll be more than welcome to come back here,” Robert added.
“What about the Crown? They’ll want to make sure heads will roll,” Ethan demanded.
“Then give them yours for all I care. The parties will be dealt with in an appropriate manner and no word will ever leak out as to what they were involved in. Also, as the sitting peer for the district, and they were captured on my land, I have the power to levee any punishment I find suitable. Therefore, I agree with my wife and that’s the end of discussions.”
Early the next morning Robert saw Ethan off to London. He was carrying a letter signed by the Viscount of Hampshire informing the Crown what had occurred and the disposition of the prisoners.
Robert then saw off another rider who was headed to Glasgow. In this man’s possession a letter from Reverend Wallace siting age as his reason for retiring.
Later, the two brothers were turned over to the fleet with a strong recommendation that they be stationed on different ships. Mrs. Granger with her husband, who refused to leave her side, boarded a sailing vessel bound for Australia.
Much to everyone’s amazement, especially Kristina, Rose turned down the offer to own, free of encumbrance, the bakery.
“M’ lord and lady, as much as I appreciate the kind offer I’m perfectly happy here.” Had been her excuse but Robert and Kristina suspected it was because Keith was so close at hand.
With everything taken care of Robert waited until Ethan had disappeared down the road then reentered the castle. Climbing the stairs to their suite, he saw Amanda walking toward him, a tray in her hands.
“Ah, Lady Markson has finally wakened I see.”
“Yes, m’ lord.”
Robert stepped up to the maid, lifted the silver covering over the plate and smiled.
“I’m pleased to see she has a hearty appetite. I’ll take it to her.”
“Thank you, m’ lord,” Amanda said.
Robert stepped into their suite, a smile on his lips.
“Good morning, my love,” he announced.
“And such a beautiful day it is what with my brother gone. I swear that last night I was close to informing him never to darken our doorsteps again. Unfortunately, we won’t be that lucky when he hears from Mother that I’m increasing.”
The sound of dishes crashing to the floor echoed throughout the castle.
The End
To Catch a Killer: Markson Regency Mystery Series Collection Page 27
