There was no doubt in his mind Ernfield had killed them all, and those little mementos found hidden in Ernfield’s floorboards was the proof to link him to those intentional deaths.
Not that it mattered now.
The villain was dead and the danger had passed.
Carver’s hands were trembling, so Alex ordered him to sit down.“I’ll have one of the footmen bring in some tea for you.”
“Not necessary, Your Grace.With your permission, I would like to visit my daughter’s grave.I want her to know the truth and finally be at peace.”
“We’ll hold a memorial service for all of them who died at his hand,” the magistrate said.“Do you have any idea where he might have buried Elspeth?”
Alex shook his head.“It is possible he let her body float out with the tide.”
“No,” Tulip said with a gasp, her eyes wide as she stared at him.“Your grandfather would not have allowed it.I think I know where she is buried.”
All eyes now turned toward Tulip.
She took a deep breath.“I always thought it odd that there was no bench placed beside the willow tree when it was such a logical place for one to be.There is good shade, and it is near those splendid, fragrant roses.It is also a perfect spot to sit and read.Why do you think your grandfather never allowed anyone to place a bench there?Nor was one ever put there after he died.If we question the gardeners, I expect we’ll learn that Ernfield insisted on continuing to uphold your grandfather’s wishes.”
“No bench,” Alex muttered.“Dear heaven, of course.That is a brilliant deduction, Tulip.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Alex now turned to his estate manager.“Mr.Carver, you and I will look into the matter tomorrow morning.Nothing more is to be done today.There’s been enough upheaval to last us a lifetime.I also think we ought to take Mrs.Granger’s wishes into consideration.She may have strong feelings about what is to be done for Elspeth.”
“Oh, you are right,” Tulip said, looking up at him in dismay.“She’ll need to be told.”
Alex raked a hand through his hair.“Yes, but it is such a difficult talk to have with her just now.Perhaps we ought to wait until tomorrow.”
Tulip nodded.“I expect she will want her aunt to be properly buried with her family.”
Or next to his own grandfather, Alex thought.
But he needed to consider this further before proposing any such thing.
Elspeth and his grandfather weren’t married, although he was now fairly certain the old man had sincerely loved her and intended to make her his wife.
The magistrate took each of their statements, and then did the same with Mrs.Granger who had been more seriously injured than Tulip and was not strong enough to get out of bed.
It was almost eight o’clock in the evening by the time all the questioning and official duties were completed.
“Do you wish for the constables to remain on guard at Thornwycke this evening, Your Grace?”the magistrate asked Alex.
“No, Lord Farnhum.We’ll be fine now.”He wasn’t merely saying it to be polite, butfeltthat aura of malevolence lifting from his home.It was like the sun bursting through a thick, gray mist and spreading light all around them.
He never imagined being happy here, but perhaps he could shed the ghosts of the past now.
In truth, he would be happy anywhere, so long as Tulip was by his side.
They could make a fresh start here.
Perhaps even turn Thornwycke Hall and the Davenport farms into a proud legacy for their offspring.
William, the doctor, and the magistrate and his constables agreed to return tomorrow to discover what lay beneath the willow tree.
Carver decided to remain here overnight, for he had a spare room in the servants quarters that he often used whenever he was too tired to return home or when foul weather made travel too difficult.
“Your Grace,” Carver said once the others had gone, “may I look in on Mrs.Granger?”
