“In September, we think,” Lady Petteril replied, making use of her husband’s hand to rise.“Thank you both for your kindness and help.Good day, Mr.Troy.Mrs.Troy.”
Hetty was not fooled.Her ladyship knew and was trying to turn her husband’s anger into satisfaction.It might work, though it would have been better if they hadn’t come at all.As it was, humiliation and shame were like old friends.
She kept smiling as she showed them out and made the children thank them for the shiny coins they distributed.She even waved as they set off again, though she could not meet Lady Petteril’s gaze.
Then, her smile fading, she turned into the house to fetch her husband the food he didn’t really want.He must have seen them coming and bolted down to see what was going on.To be sure that she didn’t tell the truth.
Chapter Eleven
“He is by far our likeliestsuspect,” April muttered darkly as they left Edgwick Farm.John Troy was not a big man, but he was strong from his own labours, and a bully by nature.“The world would be a better place—particularly for his poor wife—if he was locked up for a few years.”
“He’d still come out again,” Piers pointed out, “angrier than ever.His wife is in an impossible situation.Dependent and trapped.”
“She ain’t the only one,” April said with a rare return to her natural speech.
Piers flung an arm around her, causing their horses to bump together on the path.They laughed at that.
Then Piers said, “I’d happily throw away the key on the man, if it weren’t for the likely destitution of his wife and children which would result.But being vile to his wife doesn’t make him guilty of the attack on Edward, and I don’t think he is.Why would he wait until last night to knock Edward down?He’s had months to get his revenge if the affair was discovered this winter.Plus, though Edward might not be violent by nature, he looked pretty fit and up to snuff to me.Troy seems more like a man who prefers to hit those who won’t hit back.”
Piers had a point or two, she knew.“The same goes for the Jensons.Why wait until now when Edward abandoned Anne some weeks ago?She is not with child, and nothing seems to have changed for her in that time.”
“Let’s go and talk to the magistrate,” Piers suggested.“At least he will know who has been in trouble for violent behaviour in the past.”
***
THE MAGISTRATE PROVEDto be another surprise.To begin with he was younger than expected, probably only a couple of years older than Piers, and unmarried.
A bluff young gentleman with a raw-boned, weather-beaten face, he strode into the clearly little-used drawing room with an air of friendly astonishment.
“My lady.”He bowed with more enthusiasm than grace.“My lord, what an unexpected honour.I’m Humphrey Alexander.May I send for tea?”
“Oh, not for me, thank you,” April said.
“Nor me,” Piers added, shaking hands.“We won’t take up too much of your time, since you must be a very busy man.It is in your capacity of magistrate that we have called...”
Mr.Alexander looked slightly alarmed, an expression that only increased as Piers told the tale of the attack on Edward and the footman’s subsequent condition.
