Briar Patch (29 page)

‘Where is the cottage?'

‘Right at the edge of the estate. Near where Tom Blake's land and another farmer's land meet.'

‘Would you take me there?'

‘Tonight?'

‘I suppose it's too late,' Julia said. ‘We could go in the morning.'

‘You're upset over all this,' Roz said. ‘We'll go tonight – but we'll take a couple of grooms with us. I would rather not drive about in the dark without protection.'

Seventeen

‘No, she hasn't come home,' Ellen said when the two men entered the farmhouse kitchen. ‘Where on earth could the silly girl be? Staying out until this hour.'

‘Mrs Forrest thinks she might have been meeting someone,' Tom said grimly. ‘If it weren't for what happened to Carrie I'd leave her to it but she might be hurt or in trouble. We're going to search for her.'

‘I'll rouse some help,' Ellen said. ‘We need to get men from the village, Tom. There's a murderer out there somewhere. He got away with killing our Carrie. If he's done for Mary Jane as well, no one is safe.'

‘I'll do that, Mrs Blake,' John Forrest said. ‘You stay here in case Mary Jane comes back. You've got Mr Blake and the babe to watch.'

Ellen agreed and stood staring at the kitchen door as it closed behind them. She'd put Tom's supper into the oven to keep warm but he'd likely be out all night looking for that wretched girl. It was her fault. She'd pushed him into getting married when she'd known he was hankering after the Thornton girl.

A horrible thought crept into Ellen's mind. Tom wouldn't have done anything stupid, would he? Immediately she was ashamed of the thought. Tom had done his best to make Mary Jane happy even though he didn't love her. He was young and strong and a good many in his shoes would go off and find an easier life.

Ellen knew she hadn't been exactly fair to her son of late. If anything had happened to Mary Jane . . .

God forbid! No doubt the selfish girl was just off gallivanting with a young fellow who'd taken her fancy.

There was no moon that night and few stars, which made it difficult to see very far ahead. Roz had ridden this way often when she was a young girl and her father was alive, and she handled the trap easily. Julia's grooms were riding ahead and they shouted out when they saw a horse tied outside the cottage.

Roz tugged on the reins, bringing her horse to a halt. One of the grooms had dismounted and came to help her and Julia down. He looked at her doubtfully.

‘It might be best if me and Jem went in first, Mrs Rushden. The door's wide open. It's a cold night to leave the door open.'

‘Thank you, Rogers,' Roz said. ‘I should be grateful if you will both accompany us. I have a feeling that something is very wrong here.'

Her fingers curled into the palms. Philip had been in a terrible mood when he'd visited her. He needed more money than she could give him. Surely he hadn't done anything desperate?

Holding her lantern firmly in her right hand, Roz offered her left to Julia, who took it. She was shivering and clearly apprehensive.

‘Would you rather wait here?'

‘No, I'm coming with you.' Julia's eyes were wide and fearful. ‘Something bad has happened, Roz. I can feel it.'

‘Yes, I know. I feel it too.'

Holding hands and picking their way carefully through the rough grass, they walked into the cottage behind Rogers. A lamp was burning in a room at the back of the house and there was an unpleasant smell that Roz could not place. The groom entered the room ahead of them and then gave a cry of alarm. He turned towards them urgently.

‘You'd best not see this, either of you.'

‘Please let me pass, Rogers. I would rather know what has . . .' Roz's words drained away as he stepped to one side and she saw that there was not one but two bodies lying on the floor of the small parlour. One was a man with his face beaten to a pulp and the other was a woman. ‘Oh my God,' Roz whispered. ‘Is she dead too?'

Jem had knelt by the woman, turning her over so that he could see her face. He jerked back with a gagging sound. ‘It's Mary Jane Forrest – leastwise, she was a Forrest. She married Tom Blake a few months back.'

‘Was she beaten too?'

‘It looks to me as if she was strangled,' Jem said. ‘She'd been hanging around with Jack Dawson recently. He told me she were fed up being married and . . .' Jem broke off, as if realizing he'd said too much.

‘Is it Philip? His face . . . I don't know if it's him . . .' A sob left Julia's lips. ‘I think . . . they look like Philip's clothes.'

‘Yes, they are. He is wearing a ring Father gave him on the little finger of his right hand. I'm so very sorry . . .' Roz broke off as Julia gave a little scream and fainted.

Jem moved to support her and lowered her into an armchair. Roz went to her, taking her hand as her eyelids flickered.

‘I'm so very sorry, Julia. I don't know what happened here. We must summon help.' She looked up at the grooms, who were staring at the body of their late master in evident dismay. ‘Jem, please drive your mistress home at once. You must send someone to fetch Sir George Ickleton. He is a magistrate and will know what is to be done here. Also, someone must go to the Blakes' house and tell them that Tom is needed here – and then bring the trap back for me, please.'

‘Come with me, Roz,' Julia begged. ‘I can't stay here and I don't want to be alone.'

‘I have to stay here for the moment,' Roz said and squeezed her hand. ‘Rogers can't stay here alone until the magistrate comes. Mrs Monks will look after you, dearest, and as soon as I can I shall come to you. I shall stay with you tonight. Philip was my brother and I owe him this much.'

‘Yes, of course.' Julia brushed a hand over her eyes. ‘You're always so sensible and so good to me, Roz. I'll do as you ask.'

Roz embraced her. ‘You are brave and generous, Julia. The best thing that ever happened to Philip if he'd had the sense to see it.'

‘And you are the best thing that happened to me.' Julia kissed her cheek.

Roz went to the door of the cottage and watched as Jem drove her away in the trap, then returned to where Rogers was waiting.

‘What do you think happened here?'

He hesitated. ‘It looks as if Sir Philip attacked the girl and killed her and then someone found them and went wild. Jack Dawson has a fearful temper when roused, Mrs Rushden. He was always sweet on Mary Jane and got drunk three nights in a row when she wed. If he knew the master had killed her . . .'

‘I think my brother killed another girl – Carrie Blake,' Roz said, sensing that the groom she'd chosen to stay was loyal to her. ‘If by chance Mary Jane knew something . . . she might have asked him for money and provoked the attack.'

‘Maybe he wanted to lie with her and she refused him. He was a bit rough with the women at times – begging your pardon, miss, but that's what I've heard.'

‘She must have known that Philip came here – and she came because she wanted something from him.' She knelt by Philip's body and put her hand in his coat pocket. Glancing up, she saw the groom's shocked look. ‘I gave Philip some money earlier this evening. He doesn't have it. I think someone knew Mary Jane was going to ask for money and after she was killed he went wild, beat Philip to death, took his money and ran.'

‘He didn't take the horse or the ring.'

‘Both of which could be traced back to Philip. Whoever did it was scared but he wanted money to get away. I suggest that if Jack Dawson doesn't show up for work we know who the culprit is here.'

‘Will you tell the magistrate that, Mrs Rushden?'

‘It isn't for me to do his job,' Roz said as she stood up. ‘I just wanted to be sure in my own mind.'

‘Yes,' Rogers agreed. ‘That sounds about right to me, ma'am – but I wouldn't want to get Jack into trouble unless I was certain.'

‘We'll simply tell the magistrate what we found and leave it to . . .' She broke off as she heard something in the hall and turned to face the man who had just entered. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him. ‘Tom . . . I'm so very sorry. I sent someone to tell you but they can't have . . .' His face told her that he didn't know.

‘I saw the door open and horses,' Tom said, advancing into the room. ‘I was looking for . . . Mary Jane!' He shot an angry glance at Roz. ‘My wife – what happened here?'

‘We aren't sure,' Roz said as he knelt by his wife's side, touching her face gently as he saw the signs of violent assault. Her blue lips, popping eyes and protruding tongue combined with dark marks about her throat pointed to the manner of her death. ‘Tom, I'm so sorry. Julia and I came to look for Philip. He has been missing since Christmas Day but he visited me earlier today and we thought he might be here.'

Tom rose to his feet. ‘Mary Jane has been meeting someone recently. I thought it was . . .' His eyes held an angry glitter. ‘If she's been with
him
. . . Damn his cheating soul to hell! He wasn't satisfied with ruining Carrie – he had to have Mary Jane too.'

‘I'm sorry, Tom. I don't know what happened here – but it looks as if my brother may have killed your wife.'

‘If he did that means someone else killed him.' Tom nodded grimly. ‘The silly girl had been meeting Jack Dawson. I had no idea until her mother told me that's where she might be when she didn't come home this evening.'

‘So it's true. I didn't want you to suffer more than you must be already.'

Tom's gaze was fierce as he met hers. ‘I should never have married her. She knew I wasn't in love with her. If I'd been a better husband she wouldn't have strayed.'

‘You can't blame yourself for this, Tom.'

‘What have you done about reporting this?'

‘I've sent someone to fetch Sir George Ickleton. He will know what we must do now.'

‘You shouldn't be here. I saw no sign of your horse?'

‘I drove Julia over in the trap. My groom will bring it back and then collect his horse.' Roz met his furious gaze. ‘I shall stay here until the magistrate comes. Whatever Philip is, whatever he may have done, he is still my brother.'

‘I suppose I can't force you to leave.'

‘No, you can't.'

‘Stay then, if you must.'

Tom took the chenille cloth from the table and covered Mary Jane's body, then went into a back room and came back with a patchwork quilt which he placed over Philip.

‘There's a table and chairs in the kitchen – and I saw a bottle of wine. Why don't we wait there?' He glanced at Rogers, who had been silent since he arrived. ‘I don't know about you, but I could do with a drop of something. I don't know how I'm going to tell Mary Jane's parents. I'm just glad it was me that came this way instead of John Forrest.'

‘Thank you,' Roz said as the groom helped her down from the trap. She looked up at the house and saw candles were burning in all the front windows. ‘I'm not certain I could've managed this evening without your help.'

‘I was glad to be there, Miss Roz.' He paused, then: ‘They will be out looking for Jack Dawson in the morning. I wouldn't have said what I know if Tom Blake hadn't said it first – but it seems the magistrate agreed there had to be a third person.'

‘Yes, that much is obvious. Mr Blake was very angry over his wife's murder, which is perfectly natural.'

She nodded to him and walked up to the house. Mrs Monks was waiting for her in the hall.

‘How is my sister-in-law?'

‘In terrible distress, Mrs Rushden. She was hysterical when she came home and I had to give her a little slap. I put her to bed and sent for the doctor. He gave her a sleeping draught and she's settled down now.'

‘Poor Julia. She's had so much to bear recently. It was all distressing and I ought to have come with her – but I couldn't leave Rogers there alone. It was important to speak to the magistrate.'

‘It's been just as bad for you, ma'am,' Mrs Monks said and pursed her mouth. ‘Losing your husband like that – you're both widows now.' She shook her head in distress. ‘Everyone is saying that the master did for Mr Rushden.'

‘Yes, perhaps. We may never know,' Roz said. She couldn't help thinking that he'd got what he deserved in the end – and feeling guilty because if she'd told someone about Philip long ago Tom's wife might still be alive. ‘I should like some tea, Mrs Monks. Do you think you could bring it up to my room, please?' She took a few steps towards the stairs, stopped and looked back. ‘Mama! It is too late to send a message tonight. Please have Rogers fetch her in the trap before breakfast. I must stay here for Julia and I would rather Mama heard the news from me.'

‘Yes, ma'am. It isn't right you should have to bear this alone.'

‘I have no choice.' Roz pressed her fingers to her temples. ‘I'm a little tired. If you would bring the tea up yourself, please.'

‘Yes, of course, ma'am.' The housekeeper stalled. ‘What will happen to the estate now, Mrs Rushden?'

‘I imagine it will have to be sold. My brother was in debt, I believe. I shall do what I can for the servants but . . .' She sighed and shook her head before going upstairs.

Alone in her room, Roz undressed and pulled on a satin robe, then sat at the dressing table and took the pins from her hair. Her hair shone; thick and luxuriant it cascaded on to her shoulders. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

How angry Tom had been when he looked at her – almost as if he hated Roz and blamed her for what had happened to his wife.