“Did you view the shooter, Aaran?” Duncan asked solemnly.
“No, sir. I instinctively took Lady Freya to the ground to protect her, but Boyde said the man was dressed all in black and the brim of his hat covered his face.”
“Not someone out shooting at game then?” Thompson asked. “Though the shooting season should be over in March.”
Aaran added, “I followed the bent over grass and I attempted to mark the first footprint. Benjamin, I had hoped you could use some of that plaster you said others are using in their surgery sowe might make a form of the man’s boot print in the grass. You said something about resin, wax, and gypsum.”
“You were listening,” Thompson said with a grin.
“Duncan is always speaking of how you know things the rest of us do not,” Aaran admitted. “Therefore, I consciously listen.”
“Whatever I do likely will not be perfect,” Thompson fretted, but he seemed pleased with Aaran’s compliment.
“I was simply hoping we might verify your previous supposition regarding the man being smaller than we first thought,” Aaran explained.
“I understand,” Thompson said with a nod of acceptance. “Permit me to send for the necessary supplies.” Aaran’s brother rose to speak privately to his servant.
“Who else should go with you?” Orson asked.
“Nothing personal towards any of you,” Aaran said without looking to any other than Duncan, “I believe it is best if only Duncan, Benjamin, and I call upon Rayland. At least this first time. Thompson is Rayland’s neighbor and Duncan is both my father and the original target for the attack.”
“Are you confident the shooter returned to Rayland’s manor?” Beaufort asked in concern.
“I followed the markings to the back of Rayland’s barn. There are multiple footprints there and the tracks were blurred in with the others.”
Beaufort frowned. “I will go also. While Thompson plays good neighbor with Rayland, I will make plasters of the other footprints so we might compare them. I shan’t call in at the house.”
“What will your brother Boyde have shared about today’s events with his parents?” Orson asked in cautious tones.
“I cannot say with assurance,” Aaran admitted, “but we must learn if the first attack on Duncan originated with the marriage of Rayland to my stepmother and if Her Ladyship is involved.Also, Rayland? As well as Boyde? I could see Lady Rayland’s anger against Duncan for my replacing Boyde in the line of succession as a reason, but…” Aaran admitted. “Could there be another cause?”
In a littleless than two hours, Aaran, Thompson, and Duncan were being shown into Lord Rayland’s study. Thompson had explained to Beaufort how to mix a little of the resin with the liquid and the other materials. “Smart of you to use the rocks to outline the print,” Thompson had observed when they all had had a good look at the print. “We will leave them stuck in the plaster because the liquid will likely spread out on the ground. The rocks you used will serve as a box or form.”
“If you do not object,” Beaufort said, “I mean to follow the line you say the man took. It is not that I doubt you, but another set of eyes are always useful in such matters. Then I will retrieve the form, that is, if it is dry enough to lift. If not, I will return for it later in the day, closer to dusk. The sun is not as strong as in summer, but it is a bit warmer today.”
“I hold no objections,” Aaran assured. “I initially feared the shooter meant to follow Boyde and Lady Freya, but he surprised me with where the trail led.”
“What brings youto my home today, my lords?” Rayland asked without offering them a drink or indicating they should sit. Typical for Duncan, His Lordship sat anyway and motioned Aaran and Thompson to do likewise. Rayland had no choice but to join them.
Duncan spoke for them. “As you are Thompson’s nearest neighbor and now husband to Lord Graham’s stepmother, we felt it only appropriate to call. We are all in Kent to celebrate Thompson’s upcoming nuptials.”
“I had heard of your marriage plans, my lord,” Rayland said simply. “I offer my best wishes.”
Thompson said, “As I was longer removed from Kent than I expected, I was not initially aware of your marriage to the former Lady Graham. I apologize for my late words of congratulations.”
“Lady Rayland and I chose a quiet marriage ceremony when Parliament broke last July. Her Ladyship wished to be in her new home before I had to return to London for the new session,” Rayland explained.
Aaran wondered how rehearsed were Rayland’s explanations and why his stepmother rushed the exchange of vows. Rayland still required an heir for the barony, and Lady Eímear was a bit long in the tooth, though likely still able to produce a son or a daughter, for she had been but little more than a girl when his father had married her.
Aaran finally spoke. “I saw Boyde briefly in London; therefore, I chose to call upon him earlier today. In fact, we met along the lane leading to your manor house.”
“I was not aware,” Rayland said with a frown, “but my stepson customarily seeks his mother’s advice and company, rather than mine. Did you also take the acquaintance of the vicar’s niece? When Her Ladyship learned of her son’s calling on the young lady, Lady Rayland also rushed off to greet Mrs. Turner’s niece. I understand the lady is also Scottish.”
“Yes, Lord Cunningham’s daughter,” Thompson explained. “The young lady is well known to our family.”
“I see,” Rayland began, but Duncan cut him off.
“Though it was good that young Lord Pitcairn spoke of what occurred today, it might have been a better idea if your stepsonspoke to you. It seems after assisting with Lady Freya’s escape from one of your prize bulls, my son, your stepson, and the lady were shot at by a man whose trail leads us back to your manor house. Naturally, we are concerned if someone mistook what he might have thought were strangers on your land,” Duncan said with such calm, Aaran knew amazement. “Assuredly, you, too, wish to know of someone accidentally or purposely attacking people of rank upon your land.”
