Chapter Twenty-Four

 

 

So it was that by around ten o’clock that morning, a motley assemblage of people found themselves around the table in the parlour of Ridlington Chase. Paul sported a bandage and sling, along with an elderly robe that Rosaline had unearthed from somewhere. She insisted he wear it because, she said, his shirt was a complete loss, and she refused to have every woman in the house distracted by the sight of his naked chest.

He’d grinned and donned the robe, merely commenting that he had known all along that she’d received the brains in the family. He’d gotten the good looks.

Harriet hovered nearby, her attitude toward Paul somewhat proprietary, if James read it right. There was certainly warmth there when she exchanged glances with him. One had to wonder how they’d passed the time when they were alone at FitzArden Hall.

Rosaline sat at the head of the table in her husband’s absence, and other than making sure Nurse knew to summon her if Hugh awoke and was crotchety, she sipped her tea with pleasure and tucked into toast and jam.

Hodgkins sat awkwardly on the edge of a chair and stared at his teacup as if it was about to bite him.

James felt for the man, since this was probably the first time he’d sat down en famille with a family quite like this.

Letitia was at James’s side, also enjoying tea and toast. It felt right, having her there, just where she belonged. He had business to finish there, he knew, but the shooting had to take precedence.

So he cleared his throat. “Right, everyone. We all want to know what is happening, so I propose we let Hodgkins speak first. It goes without saying that Paul and Harry were returning to the Chase when this shocking event occurred?”

Harriet nodded in agreement. “Yes, please, Hodgkins. Do tell us how you came to be there?”

Hodgkins blushed. “Well, Ma’am, my Lady…sirs…” He nodded at the table in general. “It were a lucky coincidence, yer might say. Customer ‘ad a wee bit over ‘is limit of ale an’ so it was decided I’d drive ‘is carriage, and ‘im, ‘ome.”

“From the inn?” asked Harriet.

“Yes’m. He were jes’ over t’other side of yer place, Sir James. Not too far, really.”

“So you left the carriage and decided to walk back to Ridlington?” Rosaline blinked. “That’s quite a walk, Mr. Hodgkins. Even for a country lad like yourself.”

He lowered his gaze and blushed a little at Rosaline’s approving tone. “’T’weren’t nuthin’ fer me, Ma’am. Used to puttin’ a few miles under me boots, like. But I decided to cut over to the shorter lane, an’ that took me down the path where the lady an’ gennelmun was walkin’.”

“You heard the shot then,” commented James.

“I ‘eard a person, sir. There was noises in the woods. Cracking and the like. Too loud fer a badger or summat. ‘Ad to be a person.”

“I never heard a thing,” said Harriet. “And it was very quiet…”

“I expect your thoughts were elsewhere,” smiled Rosaline. “That path is a little tricky underfoot, and with the snow…”

Paul immediately nodded. “That’s correct. Several times we had to pause and make sure we were walking on firm ground. In fact, if I remember correctly, I stumbled a bit. Nearly took Harry down with me. Right before…the…shot…” His voice tapered off as he turned and stared at Harriet.

“Oh my God.” She paled even more. “If you hadn’t…”

There was a moment’s silence at the table as everyone realized the implications of what their recollections had just inadvertently revealed.

Rosaline sucked in a breath. “All right. So it’s fair to say that the shot would have done a great deal more damage had Paul not fallen. That still doesn’t answer the question of who and why. And even if it was deliberate or accidental.”

“Can’t think of a reason to be shootin’ on a night like that, m’Lady,” said Hodgkins respectfully. “No game about in the snow. And not enough light to see it if there were.”

“True,” acknowledged James, watching Hodgkins closely. The man was uncomfortable, of course, but James got the distinct impression there was more going on beneath that simple country folk exterior. He had no idea why, it was just a niggling sense that something wasn’t quite right.

“So you saw us on the path?” asked Harriet. “Is that when you came running?”

“I ‘eard the shot first, Ma’am. Then I figured I should git away pretty quick like, an’ it wasn’t much later, there yer were. Yer an’ the gennelmun, toppled in the snow.”

“I’ll take over, if you’d like, Mr. Hodgkins…” Harriet smiled at him. “Thank you. It’s good to hear what your memories are. Putting them all together will help enormously, I know. And if it hadn’t been for you…”

“‘Appy I was there to lend a ‘and, Ma’am.”

She nodded. “We were in the snow, just as Mr. Hodgkins said. Paul and I had been walking fairly slowly along the path, watching our steps because of the snow. It was still falling at the time.” She took a breath. “As soon as the shot sounded, just as Paul stumbled, he grabbed me and we both fell down. He wanted us to keep low, right Paul?” She looked to him for affirmation.

“Yes, definitely. Always go low when there’s gunfire.” His face set into harsh lines. “I learned that many years ago in Europe.” He shook off the memory. “So anyway, we tumbled down and pulled our cloaks over us. It was all I could think of to do. The snow helped hide us, I think, and we were almost beneath the hedge. After a few minutes, Harry asked if we should move, and a few seconds later Hodgkins appeared.”

“And it was then that we realized Paul had sustained a wound,” finished Harriet. “Between myself and Hodgkins we managed to get him to the conservatory…”

“And the rest is as we know.” Rosaline finished her second cup of tea. “Blood, bandages, ointment and more bandages.” She shrugged. “Just another morning at Ridlington Chase.”

At that moment, Nurse peeped around the door to the salon, and Rosaline immediately acknowledged the silent summons with a brief nod. “Well, it’s time for me to attend to motherly matters.” She stood, and everyone followed suit. “Ladies. Letitia, please see to getting a room ready for Paul. He’ll be here for a while. Without question.” She gave her brother a fierce stare, daring him to argue with her.

“Yes, Rosaline.” He acquiesced without demur.

“Harriet. Go to bed and sleep. You look exhausted, as well you should.”

“Yes, Lady Rosaline.” Harriet managed a curtsey and followed it up with a huge yawn.

“Gentlemen, you may dispose yourselves as you wish. Paul, Letitia will send a servant to you when your room is ready.”

With that final pronouncement, Rosaline left the room, knowing her edicts would be carried out to the letter.

James grinned. “Hop to it, then. You heard her Ladyship.” The three men watched as the women departed to attend to their duties.

Then James walked over and shut the door. “Right. Hodgkins, you know more than you’re letting on. What is it, man? We need to understand this situation if it’s going to be dangerous to any or all of those women.”

Hodgkins’ eyes widened and he gave both James and Paul an assessing glance. Then he sighed. “Damn smart arses.”

James grinned. “Quite.”

 

*~~*~~*

 

Paul was glad to stand and stretch his spine a little. Being fussed over was all well and good, but could get on a man’s nerves after a while. The injury burned a little, but he was very lucky. Too lucky for his own comfort.

So he was also glad of the chance to be private with Hodgkins, and couldn’t think of a better friend to have by his side than James.

“We’re alone. Hodgkins, we need to know the truth of the matter. Anything you can tell us. Please.”

The older man nodded. “I don’t know a lot, sirs, and that’s the truth.”

Paul and James shared a look as they both noted that the country accent had all but disappeared. “From the beginning, if you would,” encouraged James.

“I have worked on occasion for a member of the Bow Street Runners. I am not a Redbreast myself, but I have friends who serve in that capacity and they’re kind enough to use me now and again when the matter suits.”

“Really,” said Paul, leaning forward. “Fascinating.”

James, knowing Paul might well lead the conversation into more interesting but less useful areas, kept matters on track. “So you were hired recently?”

“Yes, sir. And I tell you up front, I don’t know by who. Not even sure my Runner contact knows. Just someone with a lot of influence, who needed to find out…”

“Find out what, Hodgkins?”

The man gulped. “Find out about the lady, sir.”

“Which one?” James and Paul chorused the response simultaneously, then looked at each other and laughed.

Hodgkins shook his head at them. “Miss Selkirk, gentlemen. The one you call Miss Harry. The maid.”

Paul froze. “Why?” His question was sharp and rapid.

“Again, sir, I dunno. My job was to keep an eye on her, make sure she was all right and if she seemed like she was in trouble, I was to send a message back to the Runner.”

“That was all?” James frowned.

“Yes, sir. Apparently her well-being is very important to someone in London.”

“So you didn’t shoot at her?”

“Good God, no sir.” He looked most affronted at Paul’s question. “I don’t shoot people, sir. Ever.”

“Then who the hell did?” James was baffled.

“I have a theory about that, Sir James,” said Hodgkins. “There’s a lad taken on by Fisher down at the Inn. Pewsey is his name.”

“Yes. He’s at the FitzArden Hall stables now, for a few days, I think he said.” James stared. “You believe he shot Paul?”

“Can’t say for sure. But I heard him making inquiries about Miss Harry. He’s a bit of a lad with the girls, if you know what I mean, so he was able to do so without attracting a lot of attention. But I heard it. Doesn’t take a lot to attract my attention.” He squared his shoulders with pride. “So when I learned he’d got himself a spot up at your stables, Sir James, I got itchy to see if I could find out why.”

“And did you?” James asked the question, ready to believe that Hodgkins could do just about anything at this point. He was stunned at the revelations, but they all made sense. How could he have not seen any of this? It had been right under his damned nose.

“Didn’t have time, sir. The chance to take that carriage over past FitzArden Hall was too good to be true, and I’d hoped to nose around a bit in your stables on the way back. Maybe overhear a conversation or two. Types like Pewsey tend to brag. Can’t always keep their mouths shut.” He sighed.

“And…?” encouraged Paul.

“He wasn’t there.” Hodgkins shifted on his chair. “There were only two lads in the stables last night, Sir James. I heard them. So I left and made that snap decision to cut through past Ridlington. The rest you know.” He spread his hands wide. “Was it Pewsey in the wood? Could have been. I don’t know with any certainty at all. But logic would tell me that yes, he was known to be looking for Miss Selkirk, yes, he had asked about her and yes, he’d found himself a position near to her vicinity. If she was his target, he’d achieved the perfect placement.”

Hodgkins precise summation chilled James to his marrow. “You’ve been in the military, haven’t you?”

“I have had that honour, sir. Yes.” Hodgkins said that with an obvious degree of finality. His audience couldn’t fail to miss the full stop at the end of that sentence.

“Right then,” said Paul, a worried look on his face. “We should see if we can locate Pewsey, for questioning at least. And then we must take steps to ensure Harry’s safety.”

James nodded. “Yes to both. But you, my friend, can do nothing right now, but rest.” He turned to Hodgkins. “Will you need to report this incident to London?”

Hodgkins nodded. “I rather think I will, sir. Yes. And maybe put a word out that we’re looking for Pewsey. A few extra pairs of eyes here and there wouldn’t go amiss.”

“You’ll be staying around here?” asked Paul.

“Yes. Working at the inn is a perfect chance for me to get a good luck at any and all newcomers. I couldn’t find a better place if I tried. As long as you ensure Miss Harry’s safety?” He glanced at the two men. “And let me know if there are any changes, or if she gets one of those women’s bees in her bonnet and takes off on you.”

Paul snorted. “She won’t be allowed to do anything so silly.”

James grinned. “We’ll do our best to keep the bees away.” Then his face dropped into more serious lines. “Must we keep her indoors? That will be difficult.”

“I doubt that’ll be necessary.” Hodgkins rubbed a weary hand over his face. “For the next few days yes, I think it would be a good idea. But after that, just try not to let her wander alone? Just until we’ve done what we can to take Pewsey off the map.”

“Makes sense.” Paul nodded. “I’ll do my best to keep her here for a bit. Injured hero needing nursing and all that.”

“Whatever will work,” said Hodgkins, rising from his seat. “I will leave you to it, gentlemen. Remember please. Not a word of this, or my matters, to anyone else. I am trusting you with some secrets that might prove dangerous to me, should they become known.”

Both James and Paul gave their solemn oaths and hands were shaken before Hodgkins left, assured that his unexpected line of work would remain a secret.

The two men stared at each other.

“This is where it gets complicated, isn’t it?” sighed James.

“Bollocks,” swore Paul.