Percy was very obviously flustered. “Harry and Maria told you that?”
“They did. What do you have to say to those accusations? Is any of this true?” she asked.
“Well… I… I… am stunned by these groundless accusations. Of course, they are not true.” He paused. “There is some truth to my father’s financial difficulties, but he has not, and never would, suggest such an absurd remedy to his troubles. It pains me deeply that they should say such a thing and that you would believe it.”
“I did not say I believed it, Percy. But I wanted to ask you and have you tell me directly that they were false.”
“I can only imagine that Harry would tell you such a thing because I know he has deep feelings for you and would like to thwart me in my deep and profound quest to woo you myself.”
Anna’s heart jumped—much to her surprise—at this information.
“You say Harry has feelings for me?”
“Yes, he has professed his love for you several times.”
“I am certain he only meant the love we share as friends.”
“I think not. I am certain it is romance he has in mind.”
“I see,” Anna said softly.
“But his is a false love.”
“How so?”
“Because he is lonely, but also lazy. He does not want to take the time to properly look for a suitable bride. I believe he prefers to go after an easy target. He knows you already—cares for you—and thinks it is the perfect solution for his need to find a wife.”
“You really believe that?”
“I do, Miss Anna. And let me assure you that the feelings I have for you are true, sincere, and lasting.”
“I appreciate your candor and point of view. Thank you.”
Percy reached over and took her hand. “No, thank you. I am so happy I was able to clear this up for you. And I look forward, when you return from your visit, to renewing our acquaintance and hope that you will consider my suit.”
“I will consider it.”
Percy stood and took both of her hands in his. “Thank you, thank you. You have made me such a happy man.”
And with that he withdrew and returned to his father.
Anna was once again in great turmoil. She did not know what to believe. Percy was persuasive, but so was Harry. And the revelation that Harry had expressed to Percy, not only of his fondness for her, but also his love, set her heart fluttering once again.
But she was rescued from her thoughts by the return of Dorothy to the reception.
“Oh, I feel ever so much better,” Dorothy said, flopping down in the chair Percy had just abandoned. “I washed up a little and it was very refreshing. Would you like to escape for a few moments? I would be happy to relieve you for a while if you like.”
“Yes, I should like that very much.” Anna stood and left the room—agitated more by this latest news than the heat.
After Percy returned to his father, he was apprehensive. He believed he had handled the situation well with Anna, but he was shaken that Harry and Maria had revealed to her what they had.
“Well?” his father asked, taking hold of his arm.
Percy nodded, but he was angry and spoke injudiciously. “My, so-called friend, Harry, told Anna about your insistence I court Anna because of your financial troubles.”
“What!” Arnold exploded. Several nearby guests looked over at them with disapproval.
Percy tried to calm his father. “But I believe I handled it.”
“Tell me exactly what she said,” his father insisted.
Percy related the conversation—perhaps altering a few of the details to put him in a better light.
“Damn the man. I swear… So, you think you still have a chance with her?”
“Oh, yes. Most certainly. She and her sister are to go away for a while but, once she returns, I am ready to reengage.”
“How long will they be gone?”
“I have no idea. She did not say it was for a set amount of time.”
“Damnation. Time lost. But I guess there is nothing to be done.” Then he got another idea. “As soon as she leaves, I want you to go to London. Begin scouting for brides there. We are short on time and you need to pursue every avenue available.”
“Father…” Percy did not like the sound of that one bit.
“You will do as I say.”
Arnold scanned the room and found Harry talking with some of the other guests. He glowered. “I am not going to let the damn Earl of Creassey get away with what he has done to you.”
“Father, let it be. I have handled it.”
“No. I do not let such slights go by unpunished. There will be retribution.”
“What? What are you going to do?”
“I do not know yet, but it will give him a great deal of pain.”
“Father, he is my friend. I know he only told her because he is in love with her too. You cannot blame a fellow for that.”
“I can, and I will.”
Aunt Agatha and Chilton were anticipating their return to London. The rest of the family was off for the afternoon at the memorial service and, as hot as it was, Agatha and Chilton did as little as possible, ringing the bell frequently for another round of refreshing iced teas.
“Are you packed?” Agatha asked.
“I packed this morning while it was still relatively cool,” Chilton responded. “I knew it was going to be scorching today.”
“And how did you know that?” Agatha asked, fanning herself with her handkerchief, being too hot and too lazy to fetch her fan.
“I could tell by the clouds and the birds.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“But I was right was I not?”
“Well, you can say that after the fact, but there is no way to verify that unless you told me of your prediction before.”
“Humph. Well, I did, but you were not listening to me. We were on the balcony and a flock of birds dipped and swooped and that, coupled with the color of clouds, I just knew… I said, ‘It is going to be a hot one tomorrow.’”
“Such nonsense. You never told me that.”
“I most certainly did. But you mostly ignore anything I say because you always know it all.”
She sighed and took another swig of tea and held the cold glass to her forehead. “Well, I still need to pack. But I have no energy.” She closed her eyes then said, “I expect the London house will be all closed up and hot as an empty biscuit tin.”
“Well, I am not helping.”
“With what?”
“Your packing. If you pay no attention to me when I give you valuable information, then I cannot help it.”
“Let it go, Chilton. You are just being foolish now.”
Chapter 26
Dinner at Creassey that evening was light—cold chicken and salad. No one had that much of an appetite. Mother, Harry, and Maria had had plenty to eat at the reception, so it was only Agatha and Chilton who consumed all the food on their plates.
“I am going up to pack,” Aunt said, standing after dinner was over. “No coffee for me this evening. It is still way too hot.”
“Good night then, Aunt, I am going to retire to my rooms early too,” Harry said, also standing.
“And me as well,” Maria said. “It has been an exhausting day.”
“Was the ceremony nice?” Aunt asked.
Leah responded. “It was dreadful. Insipid music, the vicar was raspy-voiced and there was not a breath of fresh air in the church, even with the windows wide open. I hope our journey tomorrow will not be as hot.”
“Well, you should ask Chilton. He seems to know all about predicting the weather,” she said snidely.
He stood and ignored her. “I am going for a walk. It is far too close inside. If there is any fresh air to be had, I am determined to find it.”
There was still a little glow in the night sky as Chilton went outside for his walk. The stars were mostly out, and he stood on the entryway stairs getting a
sense if there was a breeze stirring. He could not feel anything close to the house so he ventured into the garden. But still, he could not find a breeze. So he headed out of the garden and into one of the open fields. As he started to walk, he looked up at the house and saw Agatha standing on the balcony of her chambers.
“Hello,” he said waving to her. She waved back. “Are you out for a breath of fresh air?” he called up to her.
“It is not much better out here,” she replied.
He waved again and continued into the field. Up ahead, he saw a few of Harry’s cattle grazing. A few more were on the grass with their legs tucked under chewing their cud.
Chilton was suddenly surprised when he saw a dark figure moving amongst the cattle. But it was probably one of the staff doing whatever the staff does at night and did not give it another thought. He carried on with his walk, and rising up the side of a small hill, found a faint breeze at the top. It felt so delightfully cooling. He knelt down and sat at the base of a tree, leaning back against it and closing his eyes.
But his reverie was interrupted by strange groans coming from some of the cattle he had passed previously. He opened his eyes and stood up. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness by now and he could see the figure was still amongst the cattle. But something did not look right. Several of the cattle which had been standing before were now on their sides emitting those strange groans.
Chilton started running back toward the house, and as he approached, he could see Agatha was still on her balcony and he called up to her, “Something is wrong with the cattle. Can you find Harry and tell him he must come down here immediately?”
Agatha, who had been leaning the balustrade, stood up straight. “What did you say? There is a battle?”
“No… CATTLE…CATTLE… just get Harry and have him come out.”
Agatha disappeared, and it seemed like forever before Harry appeared with his nightshirt tucked into a hastily put on a pair of breeches, carrying a lantern.
“What is it?” he asked, “Aunt Agatha was mumbling something about the cattle and said you were agitated. What is the problem?”
“I think someone is harming your cattle in that field,” Chilton said, pointing to where he had just come from.
“Show me,” Harry said with concern.
Chilton ran ahead toward the field and Harry followed. As they arrived, Harry stopped and looked toward the cattle. “You are right. Something is not right.”
Harry began running, and as they approached where the cattle had fallen, they saw a man look up, and seeing them, begin to run away.
“Stay here,” Harry shouted. He handed Chilton the lantern and lit out at a fast run after the man.
Chilton did not want to stay put and he followed after Harry, but further behind. Harry was a fast runner and he soon caught up with the man and launched forward, grabbing the man, and forcing him to the ground. Chilton ran up behind and cast the light from the lantern upon the two of them.
“Who are you?” Harry asked, “And what are you doing here?”
“He is not one of your men?” Chilton asked?
“No.”
“Let me go. I ain’t done nothin’” the man cried out as he struggled.
“Not certain about that, my man,” Harry said as he stood up, grabbed hold of the man, and pulled him up. “Then why are some of my cattle flat out on the ground?”
“Just taking a short-cut through the field. Know nothin’ ‘bout your cattle.”
“Come on, then. Let us take a look. And if nothing is wrong, then off you go.”
Chilton, held the lantern and led the way back toward the cattle; the man resisted as Harry dragged him along.
When they reached the prone animals, Harry said, “Good Lord! Two of these are dead and one almost is.” He grabbed the man by the shoulders and shook him. “What have you done? Have you poisoned them?”
“It weren’t me. I was paid to do it,” the man said, pleading.
“Who would want to do such a thing?” Harry asked, shaking the man again.
The poor man was obviously scared. He was an older man, frail, thin and shuddering with fear now. “I cannot say. He will harm my family if I tell you.”
“You had better tell me or I swear I shall call the constable and your family will be in even worse shape with you in a cell for a long time—or hanged.”
Harry turned to Chilton and said, “Go to the barn and fetch my manager. Tell him what has happened and have him come here immediately with his medicine bag.”
“Where is he?” Chilton had never been to the barn and had no idea where to go.
“He has a flat above the stables. It is easy to find.”
“Very well,” he said, placed the lantern on the ground, and ran toward the barn at the back of the house. Harry still had a firm hold of the man.
Immediately after Chilton left, Harry could see Maria running down the hill towards him. She was also carrying a lantern.
“Harry, what is it? Aunt Agatha said there was trouble.”
“I think this man was poisoning the cattle. Look around and see if you can find anything this man might have been using.”
Maria searched amongst the carcasses. She saw something and picked it up. It was a can of something that looked like salve. “Here. What do you think this might be?” she asked.
She walked over to Harry and showed it to him. He turned back to the man. “What is this?”
“The Duke give it me. Said I was to rub this on the muzzles of these here cattle. Gave me a gold piece and promised me another when I was done,” the man said still shaking.
“The Duke of Crauford?”
“Yes, sir. Him. But he did not tell me it would harm these beasts, sir.”
“Do you think he is telling the truth?” Maria asked.
“Could be.”
At that point Evans, Harry’s manager, and Chilton came running toward them.
“What is it, Your Lordship,” Evans asked as he ran up and knelt beside the fallen animals and began examining them.
“We think it is poison. Several are dead but there are a couple which are still alive. Can you do anything for them?” Harry asked.
“Unlikely. How was it administered?”
“On their noses and perhaps tongues.”
“Just on the noses,” the man offered, trying to help. “I did not know. Truly sir, I did not.”
“Do what you can Evans.” Harry turned to the man. “How many did you do this to?”
Just those on the ground, sir.”
Harry said to Chilton, “You saved a lot of our cattle, Mr. Oakley. And I thank you for that.”
“Happy I could help.”
Harry turned back to his captive. “I believe what you tell me… what is your name?”
“Simon Polder.”
“Mr. Polder, I tell you what I am going to do. I want you to go with me to the constable and tell him what you told me. I will vouch for you and I plan to bring charges against the Duke. I want you to be the witness. If you do that, I will not press charges against you. Will you help me with this?”
“I will, for I did mean no harm. I thought it be just a prank of some sort.”
“Then wait here. Do not run. Do you promise?”
“I do.”
Harry went over to where Evans was examining the cattle still alive. “What do you think?”
“Not likely they will survive. Whatever it was is fast acting and I have no way to counter what was done, and by the time we fetch the vet, it will be too late.”
“Then it will be what it will be.”
“Well, Mr. Chilton, it looks like you have another adventure story to tell to your London friends,” Maria said with a chuckle.
The next morning, Harry thought a great deal about the events of last night. His first impulse had been to involve the police. But he was having second thoughts. What would it look like for him, the Earl of Creassey, to take action against the Duke of Crauford? This area of Wiltshire
was close-knit and interdependent. A major squabble between the two main peers of the area would cause a great deal of consternation. Did Harry want to risk that?
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