Page 82 of The Curious Story of the Missing Lady
“Right,” said Lady Elizabeth. “I’ll take you back to town. In three days hence, Mr Garret will come and meet you at the publick house with your pay. May the Almighty see fit to lend you a bit of mercy if he finds you haven’t done what we’ve asked. And just in case you have any ideas in that pretty little head of yours, know that Mr Garret will find you no matter where you are. And the longer it takes, the more nasty he’ll become.”
Garret took the plate, turned his head, and rolled his eyes.
Chapter 57
Mr Herrick the constable stood rigid, his hat in his hands.
“Am I hearing this correctly?” said Madeline.
“M’Lady,” said Herrick, “it is true. The woman has been set free by the magistrate. There’s naught we can do about that.”
She rose from her spot on the settee. “But surely we can dosomething, can we not?”
“I offered my services to His Lordship, and that offer still stands. However, in light of the fact that the magistrate has seen fit to do what he has, we must appeal the case tohim. I told His Lordship as much. He said he was going to see the man in the morning.”
“His heart prevented that from occurring,” said Mama, who stood in the corner of the room, wringing her hands.
“I don’t understand,” said Emily. “How could the magistrate be so willing to relent?”
“There’s the rub,” said Herrick. “I’m afraid there is more to this story yet. I have been informed that the magistrate came into possession of a certain letter convincing him of Lady Elizabeth’s innocence. That letter bore the signature of Lord Stamford himself.”
Madeline grasped the mantle for support. “What? Surely, Papa did not write that letter!”
At this point, Mama, having taken two steps towards the centre of the room, gave a small cry and fell to the floor in a swoon.
Madeline flew to her side. “Smelling salts! Someone!”
Foster, ever-present, left the room. Madeline took her mother’s hand and gently slapped it. As quickly as he had left, Foster returned with a bottle of salts, which he dutifully placed under Mama’s nose. Mama winced, shook her head to avoid the noxious odour, gave a small moan, and opened her eyes.
“Dear, what ...?”
“Mama,” said Madeline. “You fainted.”
“Get me to the couch.”
Herrick and Foster lifted the woman and placed her on the settee.
“My Lady, rest easy,” said Foster. He looked up at Herrick. “Brandy. On the sideboard.”
Herrick filled a tumbler and handed it to the butler, who lifted it to Mama’s lips and bade her drink.
Colour returned to her cheeks as the restorative caught in her throat, causing her to cough. “I’m fine,” she said between hacks. “It was a mere shock, is all.”
“Mama,” said Emily, “you gave us such a fright.”
“Child, there is more here to shock us all, I fear.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Too much,” Mama said weakly. “Too much to explain at the moment.”
Madeline looked up from Mama’s side. “Mr Herrick, I’m afraid we will have to ask you to take your leave for the moment.”
“Of course, M’Lady,” said Herrick. “Just mind you, I have not finished relaying the curious details of the story.”
“You’ve relayed enough. That letter is an obvious forgery. Not the first one, either. You will recall that I myself was the victim of a similar forgery when I was taken by this dastardly couple.”
“Yes, M’Lady,” said Herrick.
