AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought you would be upset.”
Emmeline shook her head. “No, it makes me appreciate that you won’t ever leave me,” she replied.
Oliver shifted his gaze to straight ahead. “What if I have to leave Town for business?” he asked, his voice hesitant.
“Then I shall go with you.”
A barely discernable frown came to his lips. “What if that is an impossibility?”
“I suppose I would stay behind at Hawthorne House and await your return.”
Oliver grew quiet, and they rode the rest of the way in silence. As they entered the village, Emmeline saw the vicar standing on the pavement speaking to an elderly woman with a basket in her hand.
She dismounted and held the reins loosely in her hands as she waited for Mr. Lawson to acknowledge her. His round face was framed with short, thinning grey hair, and he had a small bald spot on the top of his head. He glanced up as the woman resumed walking down the pavement, and a smile spread across his face.
“Lady Oliver,” he greeted. “What a pleasant surprise to see you this fine morning.”
Emmeline gestured towards Oliver, who had come to stand next to her. “Mr. Lawson, allow me to introduce you to my husband, Lord Oliver.”
The vicar tipped his head politely at Oliver. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
“Mr. Lawson is the vicar,” Emmeline explained.
“It is true,” Mr. Lawson replied. “I have been the vicar in Whitstable for nearly twenty years.”
“That is an impressive feat,” Oliver acknowledged.
Mr. Lawson waved his hand in front of him. “It is an honor to serve the patrons of my parish, and to do so in such a serene village.”
Oliver grew solemn as he asked, “Where may we find the constable?”
“If you are looking for Constable Philmont, then you will need to continue down this road to the mercantile to find him,” Mr. Lawson said.
“He owns the mercantile?” Oliver questioned.
Mr. Lawson nodded. “He has for the past five years, and he was just sworn in as the constable last year,” he shared. “We don’t have the crime to justify a full-time constable, especially since we have a night watchman that roams the streets after dark looking for any petty offenders.”
“What happens if a serious crime is committed?” Emmeline asked.
“I’m not sure. The most serious crime committed around here is being inebriated in public,” Mr. Lawson remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“We thank you for your time, Mr. Lawson, but we need to speak to Constable Philmont about an urgent matter,” Oliver said.
Mr. Lawson stepped back and offered them a polite smile. “I wish you luck, my lord, and I hope you will consider spending additional time in Whitstable.”
As they walked their horses down the street, Emmeline saw a worn sign hanging above the door that read “Mercantile”. They were about to secure their horses when a tall, broad-shouldered man walked out of the shop. He had blond, curly hair and a square jaw.
“Welcome to the mercantile, milord,” he greeted with a slight bow. “I am the constable of this village.”
With a questioning look, Oliver remarked, “It would almost seem as if you were expecting us.”
Constable Philmont chuckled. “My apologies, but I saw Mr. Lawson gesturing towards my shop through the window. Since the sign outside makes it easy to find the mercantile, I assumed you required my services as the constable.” He glanced between them. “Am I wrong to assume that you need my assistance?”
“You are not wrong,” Oliver confirmed.
“Did one of your household staff steal from you?” the constable asked. “If so, we take theft very seriously here.”
“As do I, but that is not why we are here,” Oliver replied. “May we speak somewhere privately?”
