Chapter Fourteen
April whisked intoPiers’s room like a gust of wind.“Something happened to him while he was unconscious,” she blurted.“Perhaps he dreamed, or maybe just had time to think about his life.Whatever, he’s decided he deserved what happened to him.Certainly, he seems to understand it, and he’s not prepared to land anyone in trouble for it.How maddening is that?”
“Very maddening, since he’s the only witness we have.”Piers was standing before the glass, tying the simple knot of his cravat.“And he gave me much the same impression last night.Nor did he appear to care that his attacker could try again, though he’s prepared to go along with keeping his recovery quiet.For now.”
“He tried to put the blame on nameless poachers,” April fumed.“Wouldn’t say who he was meeting at the summer house.Because his lover was his attacker?Or because the lover’s name would lead us to the attacker?”
“Either,” said Piers, dropping the quizzing glasses around his neck.“Have you breakfasted?”
She sighed.“No.Barley, the constable, was here, but I think he’s just going through the motions to please Mr.Alexander.And to be seen by us.”
“He could be useful,” Piers said thoughtfully, “with his local knowledge.”
“Not if Edward just denies everything.Unless something drastic changes, Edward won’t charge anyone with the crime.”
Piers met her gaze in the glass, then turned to face her.“We have turned a blind eye to certain crimes in the past.Would it be so bad in this case?If Edward recovers and mends his ways, and the attack really was a once-in-a-lifetime moment?”
“Canan attack that violent be once-in-a-lifetime?”April demanded.“Particularly if he gets away with it.It’s lawless.”
Her turbulent eyes met Piers’s and cleared into rueful laughter.“I know.I know.I should be transported twelve times over.I’ve grown smug and soft and self-righteous.But I don’t like violence.”
She had reason.He put his arm loosely around her, rested his forehead against hers.
“We haven’t given up,” he said.
“I don’t want this to be our first failure,” she admitted.
Because they were with his friends who already found his interest in such puzzles amusing?“We’re bound to fail sometimes.Neither of us should mind that.We still do some good.”
She frowned.“Meaning that in this case it might be worse to succeed?”
Something struck a chord.“Hardly,” he said, and yet he wondered.
***
THE RAIN CAME ON DURINGbreakfast, making outdoor activities less appealing.Piers spent the morning mostly in the library, thinking, mulling, adopting and discarding plans.Including the abandoning of the investigation and simply protecting Edward by announcing that he had not seen any attacker and had no idea how he came to be hurt.That could work, and he was beginning to think it would be the best option.
In between, or even during these cogitations, he conversed desultorily with his friends and got intrigued again by Mal’s new thesis on Pliny.
Around midday, Hubb wandered into the library.“Lady Petteril has invited the terrifying old dragon to luncheon.”
Hale grinned.“I like her.She’s sharp as a tack.”
“As long as she’s on her best behaviour,” Piers said vaguely.
