Part 14 (1/2)
Too true. James bit back a sigh before turning to new business. ”How much of the neglect here can be repaired, and how much will require tearing down and building new?”
Jem laughed. ”I am in better shape than it would appear. The insides are fine.” He led James into the barn, which showed care, ”I learned real quick to make the place look as bad as possible. That kept my rents lower than they might have been. John wasn't here much, and he never did more than ride past, Walden investigated only when John told him to.”
”You always were a wily one. So your problems can be readily repaired?”
”Most. Thompson's same as me, but Lane is in bad shape - worse than anyone, I expect. He often complained, so he drew a lot of attention before he learned to keep his mouth shut.”
Which would have taken time. James doubted the other tenants had taught him the lesson. Lane was too loose-lipped to have chanced him mentioning their ploys to Walden.
He let out a deep sigh, hoping his next question would not resurrect Jem's distrust. ”I have to find out who killed John. Any idea where he was going that last day?”
”You'd best let it go,” advised Jem. ”If ever a man deserved death, it was you brother. If I knew who did it, I'd pin a medal on the lad.”
”That may well be, but killing is wrong. You know that, Jem. And once a man kills, he is likely to do so again. The second time is easier. I have to know who, and I have to know why. Only then can we let it rest. Who had he harmed the most in the last year?”
”I won't name anyone,” insisted Jem. ”There is not a man in the parish that didn't have a grievance with him. Who's to say which one acted? Who's to say what broke the fellow's control? Mayhap it wasn't the worst offense.”
”Mayhap. But someone attacked me last week, staging an accident that might have proved fatal. Perhaps it was related. Perhaps not. But don't expect me to ignore it.”
Jem's face grew troubled. ”I hadn't heard.”
”It is not something I want pa.s.sed on. But knowing that John impersonated me suggests that it was the same person who killed him. So who has a grievance?”
”Everyone.”
”What's yours?”
”Besides the farm?”
James nodded.
”He raped my wife.”
”Oh, G.o.d.”
”It happened not long after you left. She was a servant up at the house-Molly.”
”I remember her, I think. Brown curly hair, always laughing?”
”That's Molly. She was barely fifteen and hadn't had the position long. John first noticed her about the time the old earl died. He already had a bad reputation with the servants, so she tried to avoid him. But he cornered her in the linen room. I found her trying to drown herself in the lake.”
”How badly was she hurt?”
”Bad enough. She refused to go back to the house-I would have fought her if she'd tried-but her parents would not allow her home. So I married her.”
”Was there a child?” He had to ask, though the idea choked him.
”No.” Jem let out a long breath. ”I thanked G.o.d for sparing me that. I doubt I could have raised his child.”
”Nor I. You are a good man, Jem. And a lucky one. I'm surprised he didn't penalize you for helping her.”
”He may not have known. He left for town before we wed. I doubt he remembered her by the time he returned.”
”Try to recall anything that happened either during his last visit or the one before. Even the small things. As you proved just now, a minor event can push a man over the edge if he has enough previous provocation.” He nodded toward the barn door. ”It's no longer simply a matter of justice. I will not live in fear of my life.”
Jem looked uncertain, but he nodded.
James's heart was heavy as he rode back to the estate. Every new fact about John made his evil more apparent. How could he have turned out so different from his twin?
That's what scared him the most. He and John were identical, so the seeds of John's evil must also exist in him. Would they someday sprout?
A word with Mrs. Washburn confirmed that John had stalked the maids, especially the young, pretty ones. She had hired only older women, but that had not prevented all abuse. John had a.s.saulted one of the women two years earlier, in partners.h.i.+p with Lord Northrup.
He shook his head, diverted from his own problems. John and Frederick had shared conquests. What must Mary have suffered married to such a man? Had Frederick forced her to entertain his friend?
Nausea rolled through his stomach. But a moment's reflection dismissed the possibility. Mary had not produced an heir. No matter hoy debauched Frederick had been, he would never have risked her bearing another man's son.
But this added evidence that Frederick's death had been deliberate. Isaac had dismissed the idea that John's murder was the result of an affair gone sour. But it might still be connected with a girl. And Frederick might have been involved.
He had to interview Turnby. The old groom must know something.
Chapter Ten.
”Lord Ridgeway is asking questions about the murder,” reported Miss Hardaway as she poured a second cup of tea.
”Hardly a surprise,” replied Mary. ”John was evil, but he was Ridgeway's brother. He wants to know what happened.”
”He should leave well enough alone. If ever a man deserved death, it was the ninth earl.”
”Agreed.” Mary nibbled a biscuit, wondering if her hostess knew anything that would help James in his quest. But asking would tie her name to his and shut off any confidences. So she would change the subject. Disinterest usually drew more information from the gossip. And even if it didn't, every conversation in months had eventually returned to the murder. ”I hear the Thompson girl is working at the Court now.”
”Dangerous. How does she know this earl is not like the last one?” said Miss Hardaway with a snort. ”She should have waited until we knew more about his lords.h.i.+p.”
”James was always different from John.”
”He tried to give that impression to establish his own ident.i.ty, but blood always tells in the end-as Becky Thompson will learn all too soon, if she hasn't already. She is no better than she should be.” Her glare implied that Mary knew exactly how that felt.
”A little flirting after Sunday services does not make her unchaste.” Yet she was worried about the girl-and not because of James. She could not imagine him misusing servants as John had done. But what would a rake like Crenshaw do with a comely maid?
”Hmph! I don't trust any of those gentlemen. No sensible girl would seek employment in a bachelor household. And what has Ridgeway been doing these last years? Nothing good, I'll warrant.”
”Traveling. Northrup says he spent some time in India.”
”Traveling!” A crumb landed on the floor that her pug promptly licked up. ”Why would anyone want to visit such heathenish places?”
Mary sipped her tea, offering no answer.