Chapter Twenty-Four
So it was that by around ten o’clock that morning, a motley assemblage of people found themselves around the table in the parlour of Ridlington Chase. Paul sported a bandage and sling, along with an elderly robe that Rosaline had unearthed from somewhere. She insisted he wear it because, she said, his shirt was a complete loss, and she refused to have every woman in the house distracted by the sight of his naked chest.
He’d grinned and donned the robe, merely commenting that he had known all along that she’d received the brains in the family. He’d gotten the good looks.
Harriet hovered nearby, her attitude toward Paul somewhat proprietary, if James read it right. There was certainly warmth there when she exchanged glances with him. One had to wonder how they’d passed the time when they were alone at FitzArden Hall.
Rosaline sat at the head of the table in her husband’s absence, and other than making sure Nurse knew to summon her if Hugh awoke and was crotchety, she sipped her tea with pleasure and tucked into toast and jam.
Hodgkins sat awkwardly on the edge of a chair and stared at his teacup as if it was about to bite him.
James felt for the man, since this was probably the first time he’d sat downen famillewith a family quite like this.
Letitia was at James’s side, also enjoying tea and toast. It felt right, having her there, just where she belonged. He had business to finish there, he knew, but the shooting had to take precedence.
So he cleared his throat. “Right, everyone. We all want to know what is happening, so I propose we let Hodgkins speak first. It goes without saying that Paul and Harry were returning to the Chase when this shocking event occurred?”
Harriet nodded in agreement. “Yes, please, Hodgkins. Do tell us how you came to be there?”
Hodgkins blushed. “Well, Ma’am, my Lady…sirs…” He nodded at the table in general. “It were a lucky coincidence, yer might say. Customer ‘ad a wee bit over ‘is limit of ale an’ so it was decided I’d drive ‘is carriage, and ‘im, ‘ome.”
“From the inn?” asked Harriet.
“Yes’m. He were jes’ over t’other side of yer place, Sir James. Not too far, really.”
“So you left the carriage and decided to walk back to Ridlington?” Rosaline blinked. “That’s quite a walk, Mr. Hodgkins. Even for a country lad like yourself.”
He lowered his gaze and blushed a little at Rosaline’s approving tone. “’T’weren’t nuthin’ fer me, Ma’am. Used to puttin’ a few miles under me boots, like. But I decided to cut over to the shorter lane, an’ that took me down the path where the lady an’ gennelmun was walkin’.”
“You heard the shot then,” commented James.
“I ‘eard a person, sir. There was noises in the woods. Cracking and the like. Too loud fer a badger or summat. ‘Ad to be a person.”
“I never heard a thing,” said Harriet. “And it was very quiet…”
“I expect your thoughts were elsewhere,” smiled Rosaline. “That path is a little tricky underfoot, and with the snow…”
Paul immediately nodded. “That’s correct. Several times we had to pause and make sure we were walking on firm ground. In fact, if I remember correctly, I stumbled a bit. Nearly took Harry down with me. Right before…the…shot…” His voice tapered off as he turned and stared at Harriet.
“Oh my God.” She paled even more. “If you hadn’t…”
There was a moment’s silence at the table as everyone realized the implications of what their recollections had just inadvertently revealed.
Rosaline sucked in a breath. “All right. So it’s fair to say that the shot would have done a great deal more damage had Paul not fallen. That still doesn’t answer the question of who and why. And even if it was deliberate or accidental.”
“Can’t think of a reason to be shootin’ on a night like that, m’Lady,” said Hodgkins respectfully. “No game about in the snow. And not enough light to see it if there were.”
“True,” acknowledged James, watching Hodgkins closely. The man was uncomfortable, of course, but James got the distinct impression there was more going on beneath that simple country folk exterior. He had no idea why, it was just a niggling sense that something wasn’t quite right.
“So you saw us on the path?” asked Harriet. “Is that when you came running?”
“I ‘eard the shot first, Ma’am. Then I figured I should git away pretty quick like, an’ it wasn’t much later, there yer were. Yer an’ the gennelmun, toppled in the snow.”
“I’ll take over, if you’d like, Mr. Hodgkins…” Harriet smiled at him. “Thank you. It’s good to hear what your memories are. Putting them all together will help enormously, I know. And if it hadn’t been for you…”
“‘Appy I was there to lend a ‘and, Ma’am.”
She nodded. “We were in the snow, just as Mr. Hodgkins said. Paul and I had been walking fairly slowly along the path, watching our steps because of the snow. It was still falling at the time.” She took a breath. “As soon as the shot sounded, just as Paul stumbled, he grabbed me and we both fell down. He wanted us to keep low, right Paul?” She looked to him for affirmation.
