Death at Gallows Green (37 page)

Bradford turned, glasses in hand. “Worthy of your interest! Charlie, my dear fellow! She's a peach, as the Americans say. A good woman. A fine woman. The two of you should be damned happy together. If she'll have you, that is.” He handed one of the glasses to Charles. “But what of the constable? Are you not concerned about their rumoured connexion?”

“The constable is to marry the widow of the murdered sergeant,” Charles said.

“So the way is clear for you.” Bradford lifted his glass. “But she still may not have you. She's a deuced independent woman. Worst I've ever met. And too clever by half. But I'll drink to your success, Charlie, my boy.”

“Thank you,” Charles said, and they drank.

 

The much-beloved illustrator and author of many delightful children's stories, Beatrix Potter lived a suffocating early life, much as she describes it in
Death at Gallows Green
. Twentynine at the time this fiction takes place, she was still a creature of her Victorian parents and increasingly aware of her isolation. “I wonder why I never seem to know people,” she wrote sadly in her journal. “It makes one wonder whether one is presentable.” She spent her time avidly pursuing interests in photography, drawing, and mycology, surrounding herself with the animals she loved.

But by the late 1890s, Beatrix began to pursue the publication of
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
, written for the child of her former nursemaid in 1892. After the little book was rejected by six publishers, she decided to publish it herself, selling copies to friends and relatives at one-and-twopence a copy. In 1902, Frederick Warne & Co. offered to publish it, and any other stories she might write. During the next ten years, Beatrix wrote and drew, became engaged to her publisher (who tragically died), and began to spend more time in the Lake District near Sawrey. She eventually used her writing income to buy a little farm there, and finally, at the age of 47, married William Heelis, a local solicitor. For the thirty years of their marriage, she managed their farm, raised sheep, and lived out the fantasies of her early life. But she didn't write any more stories.

 

DEATH AT BISHOP'S KEEP
DEATH AT GALLOWS GREEN
DEATH AT DAISY'S FOLLY
DEATH AT DEVIL'S BRIDGE
DEATH AT ROTTINGDEAN
DEATH AT WHITECHAPEL
DEATH AT EPSOM DOWNS
DEATH AT DARTMOOR
DEATH AT GLAMIS CASTLE
DEATH IN HYDE PARK
DEATH AT BLENHEIM PALACE
DEATH ON THE LIZARD

 

 

THYME OF DEATH
WITCHES' BANE
HANGMAN'S ROOT
ROSEMARY REMEMBERED
RUEFUL DEATH
LOVE LIES BLEEDING
CHILE DEATH
. LAVENDER LIES

MISTLETOE MAN
BLOODROOT
INDIGO DYING
A DILLY OF A DEATH
DEAD MAN'S BONES
BLEEDING HEARTS
SPANISH DAGGER
NIGHTSHADE

 

AN UNTHYMELY DEATH
CHINA BAYLES' BOOK OF DAYS

 

 

THE TALE OF HILL TOP FARM
THE TALE OF HOLLY HOW
THE TALE OF CUCKOO BROW WOOD
THE TALE OF HAWTHORN HOUSE

 

 

WRITING FROM LIFE
WORK OF HER OWN