‘Terence, please ask Mrs Bishop to heat some bricks, would you?’ When he had gone to do that, Edward had left carrying the stretcher and Pitkin had taken away Theo’s coat and hat, Laura sat down and took Will Thwaite’s hand in hers. Under her fingers his pulse beat faintly, but it was regular. ‘Poor man, who would do such a thing? He works so hard and does so much good, no-one could bear him a grudge. And surely he had too little to tempt a robber?’
‘Not a robber. This was an unlucky assassin.’ Theo pulled up a chair to the other side of the bed. ‘I believe this attack was intended to kill. His pockets were turned out, but he still had money on him. It wasn’t much, but enough to be worth taking, yet the coins and a banknote in his wallet were still there.’ He lifted the limp left hand. ‘And he has a decent gold signet ring and a watch – that’s old and worn, but still gold. Both family pieces, I imagine.’
‘This was attempted murder?’
‘Oh yes. The blow to the head might not have been intended to kill, but no-one sticks a knife in an unconscious man’s back simply to rob him. And it is my fault.’ Theo’s expression was grim. ‘The conversation last night at dinner turned to smuggling, which produced a distinct chill amongst the company, and then, in an effort to change the subject, I told them that I had been talking to Thwaite about a tomb in Hempbourne Marish churchyard and that he was going to investigate the old records he had found. This strikes me as rather too much of a coincidence.’
‘You mean that monstrous chest tomb with the fat, cross cherubs? Why should anyone object to some antiquarian research about that?’
‘I have no idea. The atmosphere became very strange, most uncomfortable. There was obviously a difference of opinion about the rights and wrongs of free trading and that might have been what caused the tension. But I definitely felt I had put my foot in it when I mentioned the tomb and that Thwaite and I were investigating it, although no-one actually said anything. You would think that it might provoke a few comments, but other than Mrs Gilpin saying that she recalled the tomb, no-one else said anything.’
‘I suppose the Rector might have objected to his curate being distracted from his duties, but the poor man is entitled to some spare time to pursue his own interests, surely? And a word of reproof to him would be all that was called for, even if he did disapprove.’
‘Yes, it is hardly cause for a clergyman to run amok with a bludgeon and knife.’
Laura shivered. ‘Don’t, Theo. That is a horrible idea. Might it just be coincidence? A passing lunatic, perhaps?’
‘I suspect a homi
cidal stranger might be somewhat visible in a community of this size. It could be someone in the smuggling community, I suppose – he preaches against the free trade, apparently.’ Theo laid the back of his hand against Thwaite’s forehead. ‘He seems warm enough, but not feverish. I wish he would wake, though.’
I do like you, Laura thought, noticing the concern with which he looked at the curate. You really care about a man you hardly know. ‘Is it not better that his body rests?’
‘Perhaps. But if he is conscious we can get some liquid into him – and see if he knows who hit him. I brought all his stuff from the Sexton’s house.’ Theo nodded towards a small collection of valises that the footmen had heaped in a corner. ‘He doesn’t have much, poor devil and I did not want to risk leaving something he needs.’
They sat in silence for a moment, both frowning at the man on the bed, as though willing him to wake and give them answers.
‘How well can you trust the two footmen here?’ Theo said. ‘I think I recall them from last time I was here staying with Perry, so they have been with him some long time. I do not like the thought of leaving Thwaite unguarded.’
‘I agree. If someone was desperate enough to try and kill him once, they are desperate enough to keep trying. And yes, Edward and Terence have been with the family for an age. I think they are cousins and Terence was a boot boy here. They would not betray Perry’s trust, I’m certain. They have kept my secret and they must know my uncle would pay well for news of my whereabouts.’
‘Excellent. Then we have Jed Tucker and Tom Waggett, my groom and coachman. And Pitkin of course. We’ll set guards and I’ll get them to spell me at the bedside throughout the night – we need to stay fresh and alert.’
‘I can sit with him too,’ she suggested. ‘If you and I alternate in this chamber and the men take shifts as guards patrolling inside and out, he will be well protected.’
Theo stood up and moved restlessly away from the bedside. ‘I should not have brought him here, Miss Darke. I should have realised it would put you at risk also.’
So, I am no longer Laura, am I? I had best take the hint. ‘And where else would you have taken poor Mr Thwaite? By your own admission, we cannot trust any of the gentry houses hereabouts – everyone of any note was at that dinner party. Besides, I am not some poor little female to be sheltered and protected, my lord.’
‘You are certainly not that.’ Her tone seemed to nettle him. ‘And I have sunk so low in your estimation that I am back to being my lord, am I?’
‘You called me Miss Darke. I thought I was being reproved for my forwardness.’ We are squabbling like children, she thought, biting her lip to repress a smile.
‘Are you laughing at me, Miss Darke?’ he enquired. The answering smile was back in his eyes, she saw, with a little flip of the heart.
‘I am laughing at both of us, all stiff-backed over what we call each other. I am Laura, you are Theo and we have more important things to be worrying about than social niceties.’
‘Very true.’ Theo came back and sat down. ‘Such as why they turned out his pockets but took no valuables.’
‘They were disturbed? But even so, they seem to be very disorganised.’ She got up, mimed lifting a weapon and bringing it down on a head. ‘I hit him, I stab him for good measure.’ She knelt down, pretended to examine a body. ‘If I want to rob him I look first at his wallet, because that is where the bank notes will be. I take those, then I turn out his pockets, take the coin and pull off his ring and remove his watch. But the banknotes and coin had not been taken, yet his pockets had been searched, you say. So, they were definitely after something other than money or they would have taken the notes, at least.’
‘They were looking for the results of his researches into the tomb,’ Theo suggested. ‘And when they found nothing, they decided to prevent him from carrying any out.’
‘That is foolish – what is to stop you from investigating the same sources? You are an educated man and a landowner – you must be used to estate papers and old maps and documents.’
‘Delaying tactics,’ Theo said, speculatively. ‘And I don’t have the papers.’
‘Delaying – until they can get their hands on you,’ she said with a little shiver.