Jasper shook his head, anger and revulsion etched on his face. “I wish I couldn’t believe it of him, but I can.” He looked at Anne, expression softening. “I am sorry I doubted you even for a moment.”
“So am I,” Katherine said. “Mamma was right to trust you.”
Dr. Finch nodded his agreement. He held Anne’s gaze, brown eyes alight. “Lady Celia lived longer than she would have thanks to your quick actions after his earlier attempts on her life. Never doubt it.”
Over a lump in her throat, Anne whispered, “Thank you.”
Later that cool and dreary day, the coroner and a jury of twelve men—Mr. Palling among them—convened at Painswick Court to view Mr. Dalby’s body.
Anne and Katherine stood some distance from the gathering, nearer the house, arm in arm. On his way to join the men, Colonel Paine laid one of Lady Celia’s wool shawls over Katherine’s shoulders and the library blanket over Anne’s. Only then did Anne realize she was shivering.
The coroner asked Dr. Finch for his medical opinion. From where they stood, Anne heard Dr. Finch point out evidence of poisoning, based on the state of Mr. Dalby’s eyes, the regurgitated stomach contents, and the relatively small amountof blood present, concluding that Mr. Dalby had likely been dead or nearly so before the arrow entered his body.
Colonel Paine concurred and pointed out that the angle at which the arrow had entered Mr. Dalby’s neck was all wrong. With the woodshed where it was, and the trees where they were, there was no place to stand to make that shot. And if Mr. Dalby had been shot with a bow, the arrow would have gone in farther. He concluded by saying, “I believe the assailant used the arrow rather like a spear or knife and stabbed him with it by hand.”
The coroner seemed to agree with their assessments, although an inquest would follow and likely an autopsy as well.
When the initial viewing had concluded, several men lifted the body onto a litter and carried it away to the office of local surgeon Mr. Humpage, who would conduct a postmortem if requested.
When Mr. Dalby had been taken away, Albert Palling walked tentatively over to Miss Fitzjohn, hat in hand. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
The tears, which Katherine had kept at bay, now filled her large brown eyes and flowed down her cheeks. In a hoarse whisper, she replied, “Thank you, Mr. Palling.”
She took a half step forward, as if she would go to him, but Mr. Palling just stood there, compassionate gaze on her, rooted to the spot. Then Katherine glanced to the others gathered and stepped back.
Mr. Palling swallowed and said, “If there is anything I can do—anything at all—please let me know.” With a final poignant glance at Katherine, he turned and walked away.
An inquest was quickly organized at the Falcon Inn. Jasper and Dr. Finch attended at the coroner’s request. Anne stayed with Miss Fitzjohn to await the outcome.
Less than an hour later, Jasper and Dr. Finch returned and let them know a verdict of willful murder had been brought.
Anne retrieved her valise and case, which were still in the hall, and bid farewell to Miss Fitzjohn, gently refusing her request to stay on longer. Now that the danger was past, and Jasper had returned, Anne felt released to leave. The new mistress of Painswick Court had Jasper’s support, and Mr. Palling’s as well. She had her staff, and she had Louie.
Anne was more than ready to leave Painswick Court. She’d had enough fear and accusations and craved the comfort and companionship awaiting her at Yew Cottage.
Dr. Finch walked with her across the churchyard, the silence between them heavy. Passing under one of the yew arches over the path, he stopped and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, Anne. I thank God you are safe. When Marsland pulled that pistol...”
“I know. I know.”
He pressed a hard kiss to her lips—a firm, fervent kiss of relief and endearment. Then he held her close, arms around her back, while Anne let her hands rest on his shoulders.
After a few moments, he released her but held her hand for the remainder of the way.
At the cottage, Miss Lotty welcomed her with open arms and a long embrace.
She invited Dr. Finch to stay and take tea with them, but he excused himself, wanting to make sure all was well with Rosa and Robbie at home.
Ursula joined them from next door again, and the three women sat together for hours, Anne telling them all that had transpired. When Miss Lotty learned all that her physician-friend had done, tears brightened her eyes, but she resolutely blinked them away. “Foolish, foolish Richard. How could you?”
25
Anne decided to write to her father and apprise him of the situation, knowing he would likely read about the deaths and inquests in the newspaper and worry about her. Anne planned to attend the magistrate’s hearing, in case she might be asked any questions but hoped that would end her involvement.
But first she wrote to her sister.
My dear Fanny,
I have much news to share with you, and none of it pleasant. I hope you have not already seen it in the newspaper and received a nasty shock. I’d rather you heard it from me.
