“Of course not.”I took the reminder as it was intended: a prod to get me going.“Come find me when the constables arrive, Christopher.”
My cousin promised that he would do, and then I sloshed my slow way down the stairs and across the carriage house floor in my too-big Wellington boots and shut the door behind me.
I had been prepared to spend the time by myself, slowly soaking up mizzle until I was wet all the way through.It would take the constables at least fifteen minutes, I imagined, to gather themselves and their paraphernalia and make it here from the village.Even so, I won’t claim that I was surprised when, a few minutes later, I saw Crispin come around the corner of the conservatory towards me.
“Darling.”He was breathless when he stopped in front of me.He even went so far as to grab me by both arms as he peered into my face, something he rarely does.“What happened?I heard that Kit came running into the drawing room to fetch Gardiner.Are you all right?”
“Fine,” I said.“I’m not the problem.”
He glanced over my shoulder to the carriage house door behind me.“What is the problem?”
“Someone killed Alfie,” I said.
Crispin reared back, dropping both hands from my arms as if I had pushed him.“Pardon me?”
“Alfred the footman.The one who chauffeured your father around now that Wilkins is gone.”
“I know who Alfred is, Darling.”He shot another look at the carriage house.“He’s dead?What happened?”
“Blunt instrument to the head,” I said, and watched him wince.“I don’t know what kind.It wasn’t left at the scene.”
“The scene?”
“He’s on the floor just inside the door upstairs.It looked like he opened the door to someone, and that someone hit him in the temple with something.And then hit him again for good measure once he was down.”
“Ouch.”
“You can say that again.”
He opened his mouth, and I added, “Don’t.This isn’t the time for humor, St George.”
“Of course not.”He gave my face another look.“Are you certain you’re all right?”
“As right as I’m likely to be,” I said, “after finding the footman dead.”
He looked concerned, and I added, “I’m fine.It just brings back memories.”
“Of course it does.Do you need to sit?”He looked around.“Why don’t we go inside, and?—”
I shook my head.“Can’t.Tom sent me out here so I could tell the constables where to go when they arrive from the village.”
“I’ll do that.You go back inside and get warm.You’re shivering.Here.”
He pulled a flask from somewhere and handed it to me, after twisting off the top.“Only a sip or two.It’s strong stuff.But it’ll help.”
It did.I handed the flask back with a delicate cough as the heat from the alcohol curled through my stomach.“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”He capped the flask and tucked it away whence it had appeared.“Go on, Darling.I’ll stay here until the constables arrive, and then I’ll fetch Kit and bring him to you.”
I hesitated.It was tempting, I’ll admit.I was cold and wet, and I couldn’t stop seeing Alfie’s head in my mind.“Are you certain you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind at all.Off you go.”He waved me off, and then watched me slosh away.“Are those my Wellies you’ve got on?”
“I imagine they must be,” I said over my shoulder.“I found them in the boot room.I left my own shoes there, so I’ll put them back when I get inside.”
“No worries, Darling.You’re welcome to anything of mine that you want or need.”
It wasn’t the first time he had said something like that, although it was the first time he had sounded sincere about it.And of course I had to ruin it.“Don’t let Laetitia hear you say that.”
