Surrender the Wind (30 page)

Seth frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “If I had not, would you have clapped me in irons by now?”

“Is that what you think?”

“You have given me that impression.”

“Have you something to hide, Mr. Braxton?”

“No, Constable.” Seth paced the room.

Latterbuck scraped his fork over the plate, put it in his mouth, and licked it. “Bray said you received a message requesting
you come to London, and you found it to be false. Is that so?”

“It was a forgery.”

“Who sent it?”

“I do not know. A forger does not reveal his true self.”

“Indeed that is so. And Miss Juleah, she was called away as well?”

“Yes. The letter said her mother was ill.”

“I spoke to Yates, too. He claims Lady Anna was indeed having difficulties, of which details he would not divulge. He did not recall sending your lady word of it. So, we can assume it may have been Sir Henry that sent the message. He denies it, but he is forgetful of what he may or may not have done. Whoever it was must have been concerned for her ladyship.”

“Juleah would have recognized her father's handwriting. He would have signed it.” Seth kept his eyes fixed on Latterbuck, annoyed at the shoddy deductions of a man who claimed to be a professional.

Latterbuck appeared unmoved. “I’m curious about one thing. Why did you not go with your wife, with the hope of finding all was well enough for you both to travel on to London together?”

“The message was urgent. We agreed I’d go to London and she would join me later.”

Latterbuck paused to rub his chin. “I see. I spoke with Mr. Banes. He claims you asked to view your grandfather's will a week or so ago. Have you had some concerns about your inheritance?”

“Indeed not.”

“A formality, I suppose. Banes gave it to you then?”

“It is locked away at Ten Width.”

“May I have the key?”

“What for?” Seth stared at him incredulously.

“It would be best if you allowed me to remove it from the house for examination.”

“You question its authenticity?”

“It is standard procedure in this case.”

Against his better instincts, Seth handed him the brass key he kept in his pocket. “You’ll find it in the right-hand drawer of the desk in the study.”

Latterbuck gave him a smug smile and took the key from Seth's hand. “I’ll return it once I’m through with my investigation.”

Seth gave him a wry smile. “It is not the only copy, I’m sure.”

“Nevertheless I wish to view the one in your possession. You’ve been to Ten Width. Why did you go there so soon after burying your wife?”

“To see the damage … and to grieve.” Seth filled a mug of ale and ignored Latterbuck when he pushed his empty flagon across the table.

“On my way here, I passed some workmen,” Latterbuck said. “They informed me they were hired to clear the debris and start rebuilding the damaged wing.”

“Why waste time?” Seth told him. “I’ll not be staying at Henry Chase, but going back home. Looters stole my wife's jewelry and clothes.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.”

“I believe there was a struggle between my wife and an intruder. Look at this.” He pulled the gown out of the carpetbag and showed it to Latterbuck. “It is torn, here and here.”

“So, looters fought over the gown and damaged it. What of it?”

“I believe that fire was no accident. Juleah would have had time to get out. I’m not sure things are as they appear.”

Frustration built within him, tightened his muscles, and prickled over his skin. One corner of his mouth twitched. Sweat beaded over his forehead. What he was about to say was risky, but he had to speak his mind, even if the constable would think he was crazy.

He put his hands on the table, leaned forward, and looked Latterbuck straight in the eye. “I believe Juleah is alive.”

Latterbuck pinched his brows together. “Did you not identify the body?”

Seth stared at the garment. “I could not look at it. You should understand the reasons why.”

“But upon the finger of the corpse was her wedding ring.”

“An intruder stole it, placed it upon her own finger, and perished in the fire.”

Latterbuck stared back at Seth with a skeptical gleam in his eyes. “Then who is the person you buried, Mr. Braxton? Where is your wife now?”

By Latterbuck's expression, he did not believe a word of what Seth said. That slight curve of his lips and the way his eyes narrowed said everything. “You think I’m mad?” Seth said.

“Grief makes a man do and say what makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense.”

“Your wife is gone, sir. You must accept it.”

Seth slammed his fist onto the table. How could Latterbuck be such an idiot? “I am right about this, and as the squire of Ten Width, I demand you investigate my claims. Otherwise, Constable, I’ll go over your head, report your incompetence, and take it upon myself to find my wife.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind, sir!” Latterbuck shouted back. “Leave it to a professional to sort things out. I’ve ways of discovering the truth you have not even thought of.”

Seth could have taken Latterbuck by the neckcloth and shook him. But he held back, for it would do no good to use force. He took in a long breath to calm his anger.

“Then do your job,” Seth demanded. “I’ll take care of what I, as a husband, know I must do.”

James Bonnecker lumbered up the steep limestone slopes that led from the beach. He paused to catch his breath and glanced back at the waves that brushed over the shore. For once in his life, or perhaps twice, Bonnecker decided to do something meritorious. What he had seen with his own eyes, heard with his own ears, had set his teeth on edge. Leading the pirate's life, he had seen much in his day. But this beat all. He tried, but he could not sit idle and do nothing. Was there not a code of chivalry left in England? Shouldn’t a man, no matter how high or low he may be, defend the helpless? And wasn’t it wicked to take blood money?

When he reached the top of the precipice, he glanced back to the inlets along the coast. The sea mirrored a dark blue sky. A balmy wind blew heavy with the scent of salt.

In order to keep the stiff breeze from blowing it off his head, Bonnecker squashed down his ragged tricorn hat and crossed the road. He went up a grassy hill pocked with young trees. A footpath through the woods led to the other side and was a shortcut to Henry Chase.

It’ll be safer going this way, instead of walking in the wide open.

Yet with all his gathered bravery, Bonnecker could not keep his eyes from widening at the slightest sound. A covey of quail flew up before him. His heart skipped a beat and he leaned
his back against the trunk of a tree to gather his tremulous nerves.

Steady there, mate. You’ve faced foes at sea, and you let a dumb batch of birds scare the living daylights out of ye? Gather your courage, man. Don’t be squeamish.

He took a deep breath and moved on. His eyes darted here and there, hoping no one had followed him. He passed the place where they had found Hetty Shanks. A cold chill ran straight up his spine. Aye, it was the place, for someone had painted a cross on the tree to ward off evil and make Hetty rest quiet. Bonnecker made the sign of the cross over his chest and strode on.

A few miles more and he turned at a bend in the path where Henry Chase would be on the other side of the hill through the trees. The land opened up before him, misty, and forlorn. He left the brooding woods and hurried into an open plain of grazing land.

Plowing his way through a herd of sheep, he crossed the field and headed toward the house. Ewes and tups crisscrossed in front of him, bleating and leaping as he shooed them away. Once he reached the door, Bonnecker pounded on it and waited for someone to open up.

The family sat together in the sitting room. A fire simmered in the hearth and set the room aglow. Lady Anna, on the settee with Jane wrapped in her arms, stared at it in silence. Sir Henry smoked his clay pipe. Thomas sat Indian-style upon the floor and read aloud from a book of poems his sister had given him on his birthday. They spoke of pirates and treasure, adventure and heroism. The words reinforced in Seth his desire to
search for Juleah. He would have left hours ago if it had not been for Lady Anna's plea that he linger with them.

Michael Bray, in an armchair near his wife, propped his boots up on the fireplace grill. Caroline sat in the chair to the right of him with Nathaniel asleep in her arms.

Growing impatient, Seth took a turn about the room, and paused to look out the window at the misty land outside. In his hand, he held a list—events in sequence, names, places, conclusions, and his plans to find Juleah.

Then, as his heart tore in his chest, he crumbled the paper in his hand. Was he mad for concluding she lived? If she were alive, Juleah would have come to him. She would not have left him to grieve and to bury a nameless person in her place. She would not hurt him in that way or hurt her family. He had to accept she was gone. But how?

He ran his hand over his face. A part of him fought against doubt once more, and he opened the paper and stared down at it. Footsteps out in the hall echoed. Sarah entered and approached Seth.

“There's a man says he wants to talk to you, sir.”

He entered the kitchen. James Bonnecker sat at the table. It was a surprise indeed. Bonnecker shot up from his chair. His face was pale and his eyes wide.

“Are you hungry, Bonnecker?” Seth had no doubt food would loosen a famished tongue. “If you are, help yourself to what is left in that pot on the table and the bread as well.”

“Aye, thank ye, sir. I’d welcome a home-cooked meal any day.” Bonnecker grabbed a plate and spoon and scooped up what remained of the stew. His hand shook. “I guess you’re wondering why I’ve come.”

“I am.”

“I heard about the fire at Ten Width. A shame that.” Bonnecker loaded his mouth with food. “Then I heard someone at the tavern say you’d come here to Henry Chase.”

Eager to know the purpose of Bonnecker's visit Seth drew up a chair. “I imagine people will be talking. But what of it?”

“Aye, people are dunces.” Bonnecker tapped his foot on the floor.

“You’re nervous,” said Seth. “Is something the matter?”

“Food will ease it. Now, I need to go slow with what I got to tell ye. It’d be of a shock for me to blurt it out all at once.”

Bonnecker swallowed and waved his spoon close to his face. “I may hang from the longest yardarm for what I’m about to tell ye, but I hope you’ll find it in your heart to be kind to an old seadog like me. I’ve not many years left, and I’d like it if I could live ’em out to my appointed day. So, if they come after me, I expect ye to give me aid. But, I’ll take whatever the will of God is.”

Seth dropped his hand from his chin. “Get on with it, Bonnecker. I’m listening.”

“I took money for the letter I brought to your lady. People pay other people lower than their class to deliver letters to folks, and I’ve no problem with that, as I’m sure you don’t either, sir. But what haunts my brain is that the letter parted you and your lady.”

“Why should you feel bad? It wasn’t your fault.”

“ ’Cause I just does.” Bonnecker wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his coat. “The man who gave me the letter said it was from a doctor, but I never did ask him who. I kind of assumed he were the doctor's servant, you see. He was dressed in that form of clothing, sir. Late last night some of my lads and I went to the tavern. We sat near the door, when who’d enter but some fellow named Captain Darden.”

“How do you know it was him?” Seth was curious as to where this was leading. He had a gut feeling he was about to find out if his suspicions about Darden were correct.

“I heard the serving girl call him by name. ‘Evening, Captain Darden,’ said she. ‘What ye be havin’?”

It was a crude imitation of a female's voice Bonnecker made, but effective.

“When she came back with his ale, I heard her say how sorry she was that Ten Width caught fire and that the mistress died. His face turned fierce. Aye, he drank and drank with his head bowed. At times, he’d run his hand over his face and tremble like he’d been frightened by something. I thought maybe he were sick or grieving for Miss Juleah, since he loved her once, and I know that ’cause folks talk. Next three men came—rough-looking fellows. They sat with Captain Darden and he paid each of them money.”