“Did they,” Edward said vaguely.It wasn’t really a question.
“Did you see who it was?”
“I’m tired,” Edward said.“Really tired.Can I have some more water?”
Though he suspected it was at least part distraction, Piers could hardly deny him.He lifted him again, and this time one of Edward’s hands came up as though by instinct to grasp the cup.
Once he was lowered again, and the cup back on the bedside table, Piers said, “Did you see who hit you?”
Edward’s eyes closed.“No.”
Even the victim, it seemed, was lying.
Piers let him sleep some more.
***
AT DAWN, FOSTERSONappeared, and Piers told him quickly about the brief awakening and the water.
Fosterson nodded.“Excellent.Mrs.Riley stashed a bowl of gruel in the larder.I’ll bring it in before the servants come down.He should eat something if he can, but nothing more threatening for now...”He vanished again and returned with a bowl and a spoon.“Off you go, Withy, if you want to get a couple of hours sleep.”
But their voices seemed to have disturbed the patient, who opened his eyes.
“Good morning, again,” Piers said affably.“You remember Dr.Fosterson?He’s been looking after you and will continue to do so.Have you remembered who attacked you?”
Edward began to shake his head, changed his mind and said, “No,” instead.
Piers sat down at the edge of the bed.“The thing is, it’s important that we know.You nearly died, Edward.For everyone’s safety, you need to tell us.”
“I asked for it,” Edward said in a strange tone of voice.
“No one deserves that.”
“Makes no difference,” Edward said dismissively.“I don’t know.”
“Then it’s vital no one knows you’re awake and able to talk,” Piers said.And even as he said the words, a quite different and highly risky plan began to form.
***
APRIL HALF-WOKE ASPiers climbed into bed beside her.Sleepily, she smiled and threw an arm over him.
“He woke again but either won’t or can’t say who hit him,” Piers murmured, gathering her closer.“Fosterson’s with him, and he’s prepared to keep quiet for now.”
April managed to nod.She wondered if other lovers had such conversations in bed and doubted it in a contented sort of way.
About an hour later, she woke properly and reluctantly disentangled herself from her sleeping husband, who showed an instinctive tendency to hold on without waking.Padding across the room, she pounced ravenously on the last of Mrs.Drake’s biscuits, before it struck her that Stewart might well have brought tea to his master’s bedchamber.
She went warily, in case Stewart was in the room.He wasn’t, but a tray of cups and a tall pot was.Stewart had done better than tea.He had brought coffee from Haybury Court.April crowed aloud as she poured herself a cup and retreated with it to wash and dress.
When she was ready, she kindly brought the coffee tray through and poured herself another cup.Distracted by faint voices in the garden, she pushed between the drawn curtains and peered below.
The constable she had met on Saturday morning stood just below her window.What was his name again?Barley.More of a farmer’s name.He was talking to Bert Godley the under-gardener, who didn’t look best pleased about it.It seemed the magistrate, Mr.Alexander, had kept his promise and sent his constable to investigate.
Unfortunately, with Edward awake, that no longer seemed quite such a good idea.What if Barley insisted on seeing the footman, and barged into the room while Edward was wide awake?Their plan would fall apart before it was properly started.Hoping to prevent that, April took a last mouthful of coffee and hurried downstairs.
***
CONSTABLE ABRAHAM BARLEYsat at the kitchen table by the time April made her entrance.Mrs.Riley, pounding bread dough, was glaring at him.The other house servants were whizzing about obeying her orders, ferrying cloths and crockery to the breakfast parlour, juggling pots and pans.The cook covered her dough, placed it on the hearth to rise, and elbowed Becky out of the way of her pots.
