Page 14 of A Victim, A Viscount, And Miss Mifford
"I must dash," she said, "I promised Thomas that I would meet him at the crossroads at noon."
"Do call into Primrose Cottage, the next time you are in town," Jane replied, to which Sarah agreed, before she left to meet her brother.
Jane remained at the bridge, idly watching the slow moving stream pass beneath her. She might have stayed there for longer, had someone not soon interrupted her.
"Miss Mifford," Mrs Canards puffed, her breath ragged as though she had been running, "Was that Miss Hughes I saw you with?"
Behind Mrs Canards trailed Mrs Wickling, red-faced from exertion. The pair had clearly spotted Jane speaking with Sarah, and had raced down to try to accost her. Irritation flared in Jane's belly, which in turn inspired her to mischief.
"Why, yes, it was," Jane replied, pasting a false smile across her face, "She just left to take a stroll along the riverside—if you hurry, you might catch her."
Mrs Canards and Mrs Wickling both beamed at Jane, and duly took off in search of their prey. Jane felt a moment of triumph, as she watched the pair scurry away, in the opposite direction to that which Sarah had taken. She was half inclined to follow them, so that she might witness their annoyance when they found no sight of Sarah, but that would be too petty.
Though sorely tempting, nonetheless.
With her chosen path now taken by Plumpton's two tabbies, Jane decided that there was little else she could do but head for home. She began her journey up High Street, her mind now mulling over Sarah's revelation about Miss Hughes.
Was it odd that the girl had suddenly decided she wished to marry for money? Or had Sarah been mistaken about her cousin's true character? Jane felt it was important, though perhaps she was only wishing it so. After all, as Mrs Canards had so aptly put it, Miss Prunella Hughes was the one who had lost out most upon Lord Crabb's death.
As Jane passed The Ring'O'Bells, a customer was just leaving, and through the open door she could see a crowd of men merrily drinking.
"To Mr Bonville," she heard Mr Marrowbone shout, as he raised a tankard of ale to the ceiling.
"To Mr Bonville," his companions echoed.
Jane sighed, and continued on her path. It would appear that the whole village believed Mr Bonville the culprit, and only Jane believed in his innocence.
And her belief, Jane thought nervously, was based on nothing more than kind green eyes, and a fine pair of shoulders...
Chapter Four
Having never expected to assume the title of Viscount Plumpton, Ivo had not ever envisioned what his first day as Lord Crabb might look like. Had he thought to imagine it though, his mind certainly would not have conjured a morning as strange as this one.
Having digested the news, and a cup of tea, Ivo then dressed and followed Newman to the late Lord Crabb's bedchamber, where Dr Bates was waiting.
"My lord," the doctor bowed his head as Ivo entered, and for a moment Ivo had been inclined to look over his shoulder to see just who it was that Dr Bates was addressing.
"My valet tells me that you suspect Lord Crabb was poisoned," Ivo replied, after he had gathered himself together.
"I do not suspect, I know," Dr Bates was firm, "Would you care to take a look?"
Viewing a corpse was never a pleasant experience, but especially so in Lord Crabb's case. Ivo had witnessed death before, but Lord Crabb did not look at all restful as he lay in his eternal slumber, he looked positively agitated.
"Witness the rash," Dr Bates said, as he waved a hand at the body. Lord Crabb wore a nightshirt, which was open at the chest, where a red, mottled rash could be seen across his crepe-like skin.
"The scratches on the neck are presumably from Lord Crabb's attempt to ease the swelling in his throat," Dr Bates continued, "The foam at the mouth is also consistent with poisoning by deadly nightshade, as are the bulging eyeballs—see how red they are."
Ivo did not wish to see, but he looked, nonetheless. His stomach churned with bile, and after a moment he was forced to look away.
Dr Bates drew the curtains on the four-poster bed, so that Lord Crabb's body was shielded from view.
"You are most certain it is poisoning?" Ivo questioned once he was done, his words causing the good doctor to bristle with indignation.
"I attended to the corpses of three men murdered the same way, when I first began my practice," Dr Bates explained, in irritated tones, "I would bet my house on it being deadly nightshade, my lord."
"Very well," Ivo nodded, "Tell me, what are the next steps?"
Dr Bates raised his eyebrows in astonishment at having been asked such a question.
