Page 30 of Dead Beside the Thames
Claudia frowned, clearly recalling the moment. “I have to admit, I could not say—not of my own knowledge—that he was. I assume he was, but that’s not sufficient evidence.”
“Perhaps Johns can shed some light on the matter,” Trestlewaite suggested.
Claudia glanced at Charlie. “Johns is my aunt’s coachman.” She looked at Trestlewaite. “Perhaps we might have Johns in next.”
Trestlewaite bowed. “I will summon him, my lady.”
Her expression perplexed, Claudia stared at the door as it closed behind Trestlewaite. “You know, try as I might, I can’t recall if Fosdyke was on the carriage when we returned to the house on Saturday night.”
Charlie thought, then offered, “Good staff are like that. They know how to pass unremarked.”
She tipped her head his way. “Good point. And Fosdyke is nothing if not ‘good staff.’”
The door opened, and a large man with large hands and a faintly worried expression came in. “You wanted to see me, my lady?”
She smiled and waved him nearer. “Yes, Johns. I don’t know if Trestlewaite mentioned it, but we’re trying to establish where certain staff members were during the hours of last Saturday night. Now,” she went on in bracing fashion, “when you ferried my aunt and me home after that dinner on Saturday, was Fosdyke still with you on the coach?”
“He was, my lady. The rain had started by then, and a right drenching it was for both of us. Luckily, James, the footman, came rushing down with the umbrella to shield you and the mistress up the steps and into the house. Fosdyke was beside me, and we saw the front door open before the carriage had even stopped—James must have been keeping an eye out, knowing he’d be needed—so Fosdyke didn’t get down. No need, with James already on his way to open the carriage door.”
“I see.” Claudia was clearly reliving the moment in her mind.
“So,” Charlie put in, “once their ladyships were inside, what did you and Fosdyke do next?”
“Well, we drove around into the mews and into the stable,” Johns replied. “Tom, the groom, came hurrying down from our quarters above, and the three of us unhitched the team and saw to them. Then we went upstairs. We all share a room above the stable, see?”
“About what time was that?” Claudia asked.
Johns frowned, then ventured, “It was after midnight when we reached the house. I’d heard the bells as we drove through the streets. It’d’ve taken us a good half hour, likely more, to see to the horses, so we went up about one o’clock Sunday morn.”
“And neither you, Fosdyke, or Tom left your room again that night?” Charlie asked.
“No, sir. We wanted our sleep. We rolled out of bed at five-thirty sharp to start on our chores and have his lordship’s gelding ready when he called for it for his morning ride.”
Claudia smiled at Johns. “Thank you. That’s very clear.”
“One last thing,” Charlie said. “Fosdyke has a nasty gash above his left eye. Do you know how he got that?”
“Was it in a fight?” Claudia asked.
Johns grinned. “You could say it was a fight, but not with any man. It was that fractious gelding of your uncle’s, my lady. Got a stone wedged deep in his hoof and wasn’t of a mind to let any of us near. It took all three of us—me, Fosdyke, and Tom—to hold the beggar, and when Fosdyke got that stone out, well, the ungrateful beast lashed out and caught Fosdyke with his hoof. Opened up that gash, and you’re right. Nasty, it was, but truth be told, Fosdyke was lucky it wasn’t worse.”
Charlie winced, then asked, “And that was when?”
“Sunday midmorning. After the master came back from his ride.”
Looking pleased, Claudia nodded to the coachman. “Thank you, Johns.” She glanced inquiringly at Charlie. “I believe that will be all?”
Charlie nodded. “Yes. Thank you. You’ve been most helpful.”
“Happy to help.” Johns bowed and retreated.
Once the door had closed behind the coachman, Charlie met Claudia’s eyes. “Well, that was straightforward enough. So wecan strike Fosdyke off our list, and that also eliminates all those who might have used him as their agent.”
“Me, for instance,” Claudia said.
“And your aunt and uncle, too.” Charlie smiled confidently. “I doubt there’s anyone else on the staff here who might have been a match for Sedbury.”
“No,” Claudia agreed. “Speaking more generally, not many could have bested him. He truly was a massive brute.”
