“It doesn’t seem as if I have any choice, do I? I can hardly leap out of bed and run away.”
She took a step closer. “Are you angry with me because of what happened earlier today?”
“Why would I be angry? Humiliated beyond measure, perhaps, but hardly in a position to be annoyed.” He finally looked at her. “In truth, I should be thanking you for concealing the real reason why I threw myself to the ground like a coward in the stable yard.”
“I’m still not quite sure why you did it. Was it something to do with the horse?”
He glared at her, his blue eyes glinting in the candlelight. “You know damn well it had to do with the horse! I was terrified of the creature.”
“Well, that is hardly surprising seeing as the last time you were on one it fell on top of you and broke both your legs.”
“Stop being so damned reasonable.” A muscle flicked in his cheek. “I have no reason to be scared of a horse. I’m a major in the Prince of Wales’s Tenth Hussars.”
“Well, you were.” She advanced another step. “I doubt you’ll ever be again.”
Pain flinched across his face as if she had slapped him. “Don’t you think I know that?”
“You cannot allow one facet of your personality to define you. You are far more than a soldier.”
“Yes, I’m an invalid and a coward. Let’s not forget those fine attributes.”
For one moment, she wanted to walk over and hold him in her arms, and tell him that everything would be all right, but she sensed he wasn’t ready to accept her sympathy yet. Perhaps he never would be. Male pride was a peculiar beast. She had to reach him another way.
“You might be an invalid, but you are certainly not a coward. It takes more courage to get out of bed and try to improve your condition than lie around bemoaning it.”
“Stop nagging me.” He rubbed a hand over his unshaven cheek. “Perhaps I’m tired of trying.”
She took three more hasty steps until she was right next to him. “Don’t be so stupid. This is a minor setback. Next time—”
He cut her off. “There won’t be a next time. I’m not leaving this house unless I can damn well ride a horse, or call on my neighbors on foot!”
She stuck out her hand. “Do you want to make a wager on that?”
“What?”
“I’ll wager you five pounds that you will do both of those things.”
“You can’t wager on what I’ll do! That’s ridiculous!”
“Oh yes, I can, because I will do anything to make sure it happens! I refuse to let you slide back into a morass of self-pity and invalidish behavior.”
“You are the devil. All I have to do is have Foley bar you from the house, and you’ll never get near me again.”
“I’m here, aren’t I? Foley didn’t stop me this time.”
She was so close to him now that they were nose to nose and she could stare right into his eyes. It wasn’t a reassuring sight, rather like she imagined looking over the rim of a volcano. It was time to employ her last stratagem.
“If you won’t get better to help yourself, will you please consider helping me?”
His gaze instantly turned to one of concern. “What’s wrong?”
She perched on the side of his bed, which was most improper. “My sewing box was ransacked.”
“So?”
“And I realized something important. Mary sewed the button on Anthony’s coat.”
“What the devil does that have to do with anything, and why are you bothering me with it now?”
“I also think you are right. The thefts aren’t connected to the disappearance of the girls.” She gazed at him expectantly.
“Well, thank you for finally agreeing with me for once. I’m still not sure how you reached that conclusion from the scattered facts you’ve given me so far.”
“Mary sewed the button on so badly that Anthony couldn’t wear the coat. In truth, at first he couldn’t even
find
his coat because she had put it in Edward’s closet.”
“So what?”
“I had to sew the button on again. I found a porcelain snuffbox in the pocket, and asked Anthony where he’d acquired it. He denied all knowledge of the piece, which led to us arguing about his previous troubles with gambling. He got quite angry when I asked him if he was in financial trouble again.”
“Why are you surprised about that? No man enjoys being questioned by a woman, especially about money.”
She cast him an austere look. “The box disappeared again. The next time I saw it was in the graveyard in pieces.”
“And you are sure it was the same one?”
“I believe so. The painting was particularly fine and unique.”
“This is the box you asked me to identify? The one from my mother’s rooms?”
“Yes.”
“Then how did it end up in the graveyard?”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been wondering. At first I was worried that Anthony had indeed been stealing things to cover his gambling debts.”
“Which is why you didn’t mention any of this to me before now.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “I found it hard to believe the thief was my brother.”
“And now?”
“I know that his furtive behavior is because he is carrying on an unsuitable alliance with the barmaid at the Red Lion.” She shrugged as the major’s eyebrows lifted. “He is of the age to have his head turned by the fairer sex, and Dorcas is very pretty and very generous with her favors by all accounts.”
“You continue to surprise me, Miss Harrington. Please go on.”
“And then it occurred to me that Mary sewed the button on Anthony’s coat.”
“So you think she took the box to sell it? But you just said the two events were unrelated.”
“Major, you are missing the point!”
“There doesn’t seem to be one.”
“Mary sewed the button on, and mistakenly put the coat in Edward’s cupboard instead of Anthony’s.”
“So she hid it in the wrong place and forgot to go back for it?”
“No! Edward hid the box in there, thinking it was his coat.”
He stared at her for a long moment and then shook his head. “And my staff think I am the one in danger of losing my wits.”
She smacked his hand, which was resting on the quilt. “Just listen. Edward is supporting his entire family on his small salary. He seems to take the responsibility very seriously.”
“Which is admirable, but hardly makes him a thief.”
Lucy ignored him. “Having talked with you, the Potters, and the Hathaways, it occurred to me that the thief had to be either a servant who visited the big houses and had access to all the rooms, which seemed unlikely, or someone from the gentry. That’s why I originally thought the culprit was Anthony. Just when I realized it couldn’t be him, Mr. Jenkins informed me that his grandmother had also had some items stolen. She was positive that only her staff, Mrs. Hathaway, the curate, and I had visited her in that particular room. And that’s when I saw my sewing box and remembered the mix-up with the coat.”
She sat back. “What if Edward is stealing things to finance his family’s survival? He has access to all the big houses, and the Potters’ shop. No one would question him.”
“But how would he sell the items?” Robert asked. “He can hardly send them off to his family and claim they are part of his salary, can he?”
“That’s the other thing.” Lucy clasped her hands together. “One of the reasons why I ended up in the church graveyard looking for traces of blood was because I heard Ben Cobbins arguing with someone in there. What if
he
was selling the goods for Edward? I doubt he’d treat him very well.”
“If I know Cobbins, he was probably threatening to tell your father what Edward was doing and charging him twice.” He paused. “I saw your curate talking to Ben the other night, did Bookman tell you?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“I wonder why not?”
“Poor Edward.”
He gave her a scathing glance. “Poor Edward? It was probably him or Ben Cobbins who hit you on the back of the head. They obviously caught you prying into their business.”
Lucy started to disagree, and then thought better of it. At least he seemed to be in accord with her about the identity of the thief. “So what should I do now?”
“You will do nothing. I will speak to your father, and we will decide how to proceed.”
“No, you will not!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You will not brush me aside when I am the one who has discovered everything!”
“Miss Harrington—”
She scrambled off the bed and pointed her finger at him. “You told me how much you hated being treated like a child. Now, do not do it to me!”
He stared at her for a long moment and then nodded. “All right. Would you prefer it if we confronted him here together, and then made sure he confessed the whole to your father?”
She regarded him suspiciously. “Are you being serious?”
“I am. You made a good point. I am trying to be conciliatory for a change.”
“Thank you.”
“You are welcome. Perhaps you could ask Edward to accompany you here tomorrow, and we can discuss the matter with him then.”
“I will, Major.”
“Now will you go home?”
She smiled at him. “Yes. Thank you for listening to me.”
“As I said, you gave me little choice.”
She picked up the bell that sat beside his bed. “You could’ve rung this at any time and your loyal servants would have come through that door and taken me away in an instant.”
“Would you believe me if I said I’d forgotten it was there?”
“No, I wouldn’t. You’ve already made a choice to keep living whether you choose to admit it or not.” She curtsied. “Good night, Major Kurland.”
“Good night, Miss Harrington.”
She was still smiling when she closed the door and started along the corridor toward the stairs. A figure stepped out from the shadows and barred her way.
She clasped a hand to her throat. “Mr. Bookman, I didn’t see you there. Is something wrong?”
He didn’t smile. “It depends, Miss Harrington. What I want to know is what gives you the right to think you can just barge in and see my master whenever you feel like it.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me, miss. The major is sick and getting worse. The last thing he needs is you setting him off, and getting him all excited over nothing.”
“I’ve merely tried to keep his spirits up and encourage him to believe in himself again.”
“And wrecked his health in the meantime. He’s not doing well at all. He drinks laudanum like water, downs brandy much the same, and can’t remember half of what he’s done or said or seen. He couldn’t even remember who his head gardener was this morning.”
“I know you are concerned about him, Mr. Bookman, but it can’t be good for him to lie in bed and do nothing.”
He moved closer.
“It’s better than him meddling in what doesn’t concern him. I’ve heard you, Miss Harrington, stirring him up with wild tales of disappearing women and stolen goods. He needs peace and quiet to get well again. That’s all he needs. Me and Foley can do that well enough without your help.”
He exhaled and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I apologize if I sound angry, miss, but I don’t want the major to suffer anymore.”
“I understand, Mr. Bookman. I promise I will do my best not to overexcite him in the future.”
“Thank you, miss.” Bookman stepped back to allow her to pass. “Do you need someone to see you safely home?”
“I’ll be fine, thank you.” She sped past him down the stairs and out toward the kitchens, more shaken by his interference than she wanted to be. His concern for Major Kurland seemed a mite excessive.
With a shiver, she left the house and ran to the safety of the rectory.
Chapter 15
“
I
’m not quite sure why Major Kurland wants to see
me,
Miss Harrington. In the past he’s made it abundantly clear that my very presence annoys him.”
Lucy linked her arm more firmly through Edward’s and knocked on the front entrance of Kurland Hall. Foley opened the door and ushered them inside.
“Good morning, Miss Harrington, Mr. Calthrope. Major Kurland awaits you in his study.”
She waited until Edward handed Foley his hat and gloves and then followed the butler down a hallway lined with intricate Elizabethan paneling to the back of the house. The door to the study was open, and Major Kurland sat behind the desk. Despite her fears as to the outcome of the meeting, it was the first time she’d seen him doing something that didn’t immediately draw attention to his condition. It gladdened her heart considerably.
The sight of Bookman standing to attention in front of the desk made her pause. But as soon as he saw them approach, he saluted the major, turned sharply on his heel, and walked out to take up a position in the corridor outside. He winked at her as he passed, but she couldn’t quite forget the cold enmity of his words on the previous night or the hard lines of his face.
Major Kurland nodded at Edward. “Good morning, Mr. Calthrope. I apologize that I am unable to rise to greet you.”
“Good morning, sir. It is a pleasure to see you so recovered.” Edward cast a glowing look at Lucy. “Miss Harrington is an exceptional nurse.”
“She is, indeed. I don’t know how I would’ve survived without her.”
Lucy studied the major carefully but his expression didn’t change. She had to concede from his tone that he actually meant to compliment her. It was a novel sensation. She took a seat in front of the desk and waited for Edward to follow suit. Foley lingered by the door, but Edward seemed unaware of him.
Major Kurland cleared his throat. “I wished to ask your opinion as to a rather delicate matter, Mr. Calthrope.”
“My opinion, sir? Surely you would do better to speak to the rector himself?”
“I intend to do that if it becomes necessary, but my first business is with you.”
Edward fidgeted with the cuff of his frayed shirt. “I would be delighted to be of service to you. How may I assist you?”
“I’m not sure if you are aware of it, but there has been a series of small thefts from local businesses and the big houses in the neighborhood.”
“I was not aware of that, sir.”
“Are you quite sure?” The major nodded at Lucy. “Miss Harrington and I have been racking our brains trying to work out who might have the opportunity to steal such small trifles unobserved.”
“There are many thieves around us, sir.”
“That’s true, but most of them aren’t welcome in the drawing rooms of the local gentry.”
Edward tugged at his stock. “I’m still not quite sure what this has to do with me, Major.”
“Miss Harrington might care to enlighten you.”
Lucy turned to face Edward, who looked rather pale. “I found the snuffbox you put in Anthony’s coat pocket.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Don’t you remember? Mary accidentally put Anthony’s coat in your room and you left a snuffbox that belonged to Major Kurland’s mother in the pocket.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Miss Harrington.” Edward’s mouth opened and then closed like a fish gasping for air. “Where is this ‘box’ I am supposed to have stolen?”
“I found the remnants of it in the graveyard the other day.” Lucy paused. “You must have panicked when you realized you’d left it in the wrong coat. Did Ben Cobbins become annoyed with you when you failed to bring it to him when promised? Did he refuse to take it when you finally retrieved it?”
Edward’s head swiveled toward Major Kurland. “Sir, you cannot believe this nonsense. Miss Harrington is still clearly afflicted by that blow on her head. She is talking in riddles.”
“I don’t believe she is, Mr. Calthrope. Shall I ask Ben Cobbins to come in here and tell me the truth of what’s been going on? Trust me, if I pay him enough, he’d betray his own mother.”
With a groan, Edward buried his face in his hands and his shoulders started to shake.
Lucy met the major’s gaze and he shrugged. “Let the man compose himself, Miss Harrington, and then, perhaps, he’ll tell us the truth.”
Eventually Edward looked up, his expression ravaged. “Are you going to tell the rector what I’ve done?”
“You admit it, then?”
“That I am the thief?” He swallowed. “Yes. But I wasn’t stealing for myself.”
“So, I understand. Miss Harrington told me that you support your whole family.”
“That is true. My brother’s school fees alone are crippling, and my sister has no chance of making a good marriage. In fact, she is considering going into service simply to relieve my mother of her care.”
Lucy waited quietly as the major studied Edward, his gaze keen. “I can’t see how a man in your profession can avoid confessing such a sin to his superior, but I am more than willing to speak in your defense.” Edward lifted his head. “If you stay here, I am also willing to aid the rector in increasing your salary to avoid you having to resort to stealing again.”
“You would do that for a thief?”
Major Kurland’s smile was crooked. “No man can be faulted for trying to feed his family, Mr. Calthrope. I suspect you will have to change parishes. My aunt is acquainted with several bishops in the north who might be more than willing to find you a vacant position with a house and security for your family. I’ll consult with her before she leaves for London.”
“Thank you, Major Kurland.” Edward shook his head. “I don’t deserve such consideration. I felt like a rat caught in a trap. The more I struggled, the harder Ben Cobbins made it for me to break free. He threatened to blackmail me and started buying the goods at such low prices that I had to steal twice as much.”
He turned to Lucy. “In truth, after he destroyed the snuffbox, and threatened me with discovery, I decided it had to end. I intended to tell Ben this week that I could no longer steal for him.” He shuddered. “If I were dead, at least someone might take pity on my family and help them better than I could.”
Lucy reached out to pat his shaking hand. “I’m sorry, Edward. I wish you’d told us what your situation was. We could’ve helped you so much more quickly.”
He covered her hand with his own. “I didn’t want your father to know my true situation when he seemed inclined to favor a match between us. I reckoned if we married, I could bring my family to live with us.”
Too aware of the major’s sardonic gaze, Lucy removed her hand from under his. “I don’t want to marry you, Edward. I thought I’d made that quite clear.”
“I hoped your father would persuade you, but it was not to be.” Edward heaved a gusty sigh. “I suppose I should go and confess to the rector now.”
Major Kurland held up a letter. “I’ve written to the rector. Perhaps you would give him this.”
“I will, sir.” Edward took the letter and stowed it in his coat pocket. “Thank you.” He glanced at Lucy. “Are you coming, Miss Harrington?”
“I think you’d do better without me being there, don’t you?”
“I agree.” Major Kurland nodded. “I’ve asked Bookman to accompany you back to the rectory, Mr. Calthrope, just in case Ben Cobbins is lurking anywhere.”
Edward opened the door and Bookman nodded in greeting. “Good morning, sir.”
Lucy watched as the two men set off down the hall and let out her breath. “Thank goodness that’s over.”
“It went remarkably well,” Major Kurland commented. “I think he was ready to confess, don’t you? He isn’t the sort of man who steals because he enjoys it. He stole because he had to.” He paused. “Why are you looking so glum, Miss Harrington?”
“Because now everything will be back to normal.”
“You’ve enjoyed investigating this matter, haven’t you?”
“If your life was as predictable as mine, you would enjoy such moments, too.”
“But my life has been predictable. I’ve spent the last nine months in bed and in pain.” He straightened the papers on his desk. “Have you decided the girls are safely in London now?”
“I suppose they must be.”
“And you believe I saw nothing that night to convince you otherwise?”
Lucy sat bolt upright. “Major, now you are being contrary. Both you and your staff have tried to convince me that you are not in your right mind and that you have taken enough laudanum to pickle your brain. What would you like me to believe?”
He frowned. “Who told you about the laudanum?”
“Bookman, but don’t tell him I told you so. I’m already in disgrace for disturbing your peace.”
“I apologize for that. Bookman is not happy with the fairer sex at the moment. He has been unlucky in love. If it helps, he was most uncomplimentary about Miss Chingford, as well.”
“That I can understand.”
He raised his eyebrows, but she refused to say any more. He’d already told her Miss Chingford was none of her concern.
“I suppose I should be getting home.” Her shoulders slumped. “I’ll go and see your aunt and Miss Chingford and then I’ll be on my way. Hopefully my father will have dealt with Edward by then. Did you say they were leaving soon?”
“Yes, but my aunt intends to return quite regularly. She has decided that she would rather stay here and visit her daughter in London than deal with the snobbery of that household.”
“Her daughter should be ashamed of herself. If it wasn’t for your aunt Rose, she wouldn’t have such a lifestyle.”
“I agree.”
She stood and Major Kurland looked up at her. To her surprise, he very slowly rose to his feet. Propped up against the desk was a stout walking stick.
“Thank you for your help, Miss Harrington.”
She curtsied. “You are welcome, sir.”
“I apologize for not escorting you to the door, but that is still beyond me at present.” He glanced down at the cane and shrugged. “I decided that if I couldn’t yet ride a horse, I should concentrate on learning how to stand on my own two feet.”
“An admirable decision.” Lucy tried not to smile, but he saw it anyway and scowled in return.
“My head gardener is coming to see me at eleven, so I shall await him here. I’m sure Foley will see you out.”
“Be careful, Major, or I will soon be owing you five pounds.”
His answering smile was slow, but worth waiting for. “I’m counting on it, Miss Harrington. How else am I going to afford that increase in Mr. Calthrope’s wages?”
Lucy took the long way back to the rectory, and despite the wind, dawdled along the elm-lined driveway. Sharp green buds covered the surfaces of the silver branches bringing the promise of leafy shade and color on a summer’s day, but she couldn’t even embrace the thought. She should feel proud of having unmasked a thief, but she dreaded the return to normality. The complex matters of getting the twins outfitted for school and Anna’s potential season in London would soon engulf her, leaving her needs to be put aside yet again.
In her own way, she supposed she was just as selfish as Major Kurland and her father. The difference being that they all had the ability to determine their own fate whilst she did not. She eyed the approaching front of the rectory with some trepidation. Between Anthony’s revelations as to his future plans, and Edward’s confession of theft, her father’s composure would be severely disturbed.
She decided to go around the back of the house and saw Anthony emerging from the stables, his dark hair windblown and his cheeks reddened from the cold.
“Lucy! I was looking for you earlier.” He grinned. “As you can see, Papa didn’t shoot me on sight. He certainly wasn’t pleased, but I think he’ll come around.” His expression sobered. “I tried to reassure him that with Napoleon’s defeat my chances of being killed were significantly lower. But I don’t think he can quite forget about Tom.”
Neither could Lucy, but she didn’t want to spoil Anthony’s good humor. He linked arms with her and walked toward the house. “Do you think Major Kurland would put in a good word for me with his old regiment?”
“I’m sure he would. Why don’t you go and ask him?”
“I thought he wasn’t receiving visitors.”
“If you tell him your plans, I’m sure he’d make an exception for you.”
“I’ll write him a note now and ride up and see him tomorrow.” He heaved a sigh. “After I’ve taken leave of Dorcas.”
She squeezed his arm. “If you’re going to London to seek a commission, that’s probably for the best.”
“She’s going to be very sad. She says I’m irreplaceable.”
Wisely, Lucy said nothing and walked through from the hallway into the kitchen. Mrs. Fielding was stirring something on the stove.
“Mrs. Weeks was looking for you, Miss Harrington.”
There was an ominous note in the cook’s voice that had Lucy searching her memory. “What did she want?”
“I can’t say. She refused to tell me.” She sniffed. “Although the rector’s birthday is fast approaching. The sly minx probably thinks to beg you to make his cake.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Fielding. I’ll speak to Mrs. Weeks when I go into the village tomorrow,” Lucy promised. “Is the rector still in his study?”
“I believe he is, miss.”
“Perhaps Betty could bring me some tea.”
There was no answer to that. Lucy made her escape into the hallway and knocked on the door of her father’s study. He was sitting at his desk, staring down at a letter written in a distinctive slashing hand, his expression careworn.
“Papa?”
He looked up. “Ah, Lucy. Do come in. I’ve just had an extraordinary interview with Edward.”
“I know.” She took a seat. “Did you read Major Kurland’s letter?”
“I just finished it.” He shook his head. “The major is being exceptionally generous considering the circumstances. My first thought was to turn Edward off without a character, but luckily for him, my Christian charity reasserted itself. It will also help tremendously if Major Kurland can find a new living for Edward. If word gets out as to his activities in this neighborhood, I doubt anyone would welcome him into their houses again.”