part0016

E vie strolled toward the folly and found Tom by a large elm tree. “There you are.”

“Good morning… Evie.”

Tom wore a different suit to the one he’d worn the day before and still looked magnificent in it. “Have you made any new discoveries?”

He shook his head. “I’ve had a close inspection of the surrounding trees. None of the branches appear to have been disturbed.” He turned and looked toward the house. “The gunman might have been in plain sight. It’s amazing that in a house such as this one no one noticed him.”

“That’s because everyone is busy with their duties,” Evie observed. “You’d be hard pressed to find any of the servants lingering with nothing to do.”

“They do take breaks,” Tom remarked. “Unfortunately, the yard is on the other side of the house.”

As Tom gazed into the distance, Evie said, “This should cheer you up. I had a fruitful morning. The information should have come to me before, but I’m guessing it must have been waiting for the dust to settle and my mind to clear enough for me to perceive the fact.”

“Which is?” Tom prompted.

“No one knew of my early arrival. I’ve been thinking it all along, but not really paying too much attention. How does one go about planning to shoot someone if they don’t know when their intended target will be arriving?”

Tom held her gaze for a moment and finally said, “They wait.”

Oh, that hadn’t occurred to her. Now she would have to start from scratch again and try to find out how the news about her journey to Yarborough had spread. Evie wondered if she needed to turn her focus to her own household.

Caro and Tom were in the clear, but what of the others? She knew news could be transmitted from upstairs to the downstairs staff quicker than on a telegraph wire.

“Have you spoken with the estate workers?” she asked.

“I was just on my way over to the stables.”

“Would you mind if I accompany you? ”

He drew in a breath. “If you wish.”

There had been a hint of hesitation, so she felt the need to ask, “I get the feeling you think my presence will hinder your investigation.”

He gave her a brisk smile. “Not at all. In fact, I think most of the estate workers will welcome the chance to see the Countess of Woodridge up close.”

Evie grinned. “I think you meant to say, the notorious Evangeline Parker.”

They found the path leading to the stables and strolled side by side.

Smiling at her, Tom asked, “How did you earn your notoriety?”

Evie laughed. “Without even trying. I simply married one of their own. Apparently, that cast a shadow of doubt over me because, surely, I must have employed some sort of cunningness to land him.”

Evie should have taken offense. After all, debutantes were encouraged to attract the attention of the most desirable and eligible partners by whatever means possible. “During my first and, as it turned out, my only season in London, I failed to show any interest in the gentlemen introduced to me. Then, I attended my first house party at Bicky’s. The rest, as they say, is history. I simply fell in love.”

“So, it was a love match,” he mused.

“Yes, as unusual as it sounds, we did fall in love and we stayed in love. Before you ask, I should tell you I have no intention of marrying again. Rumor has it, I pose a threat to the latest batch of debutantes.” She tilted her head in thought. “I wish they would stop using me as an excuse…”

Tom laughed. “You make them sound like biscuits just out of the oven.”

Light and fluffy, Evie mused. “They are well-trained and taught to meet everyone’s expectations. It’s rare to find one with individual character traits. I suspect it’s all beaten out of them. I don’t really mean to criticize but I seem to be paying a high prize for being myself.”

They reached the stables and were greeted by Mr. Beecham, the agent, who informed them he’d already had a word with the estate workers.

“Are you able to account for everyone’s whereabouts yesterday?” Tom asked. “They might need to provide proof to the Sergeant.”

Mr. Beecham bobbed his head in thought. “Everyone has their tasks to perform throughout the day. If the job is not done, then someone is bound to notice. His Grace employs hard, dedicated workers and, needless to say, they are all loyal to him.”

Evie’s brows narrowed slightly. “How do they feel about the Duchess?”

Mr. Beecham took a deep swallow. “I know these men. They are here to work and not to meddle in other people’s affairs.”

Strange choice of words, Evie thought.

Mr. Beecham looked away and then down at the ground. Thinking she’d made him uncomfortable, Evie turned to gaze around her. Noticing a stable boy grooming a horse, she excused herself and strode away. As she approached, the young boy tipped his hat and promptly continued with his task.

“She is a beauty,” Evie remarked.

“His Grace keeps a fine stable, milady.”

“Do you enjoy working here?” she asked.

The young lad’s cheeks turned bright red. “I do, milady. Very much.”

“Does the Duchess ride?”

The boy bent down to run the brush along the horse’s leg and mumbled, “Not any more, milady.”

“Oh, did something happen?”

“She came off… at the last hunt.”

“I see. I suppose she doesn’t care much for getting back on a horse.”

“Not likely, milady. She then took her whip to the horse…” The boy broke off almost as if he felt he’d said too much.

Bending down slightly, Evie said, “How dreadful. I’m sure His Grace can’t have been pleased about that.”

“No, indeed, milady.” The boy looked about and lowered his voice. “He banned her… I me an, Her Grace, from the stables. Said if he ever caught her here, he would take a whip to her and see how she liked it.”

Evie couldn’t help shuddering. Cruelty to people who could defend themselves could be forgiven, to a point, but cruelty to defenseless animals was beyond the pale.

As she stroked the horse, she looked over at Tom and Mr. Beecham. The steward’s remark about loyalty had struck her as odd. She tried to remember his exact words.

They are loyal to him.

Not to the family, Evie thought, but rather, to him.

If any of the estate workers disliked the Duchess, they might express their opinions within their peer group, but certainly not in the presence of the family. And now… such an attitude would make perfect sense.

Had she read too much into the agent’s remark?

The estate workers would have heard about the Duchess using her whip on a horse. That would be enough to withdraw their loyalty.

That made Evie wonder if they had any thoughts about her. And, if they did, would they act on it? She’d never dream of harming an animal, but she remained an outsider. With some people holding a low opinion of her, locals working at the estate might take it upon themselves to choose sides.

Smiling at the boy, she turned to leave only to stop. What did it matter if the estate workers didn’t care for Clara? She hadn’t been targeted. In fact, she remained safe and sound and probably having the time of her life in London…

“The point is…” Evie murmured. “Clara committed a hideous crime. Yet the estate workers haven’t taken action against her.”