“Well, his wife just gave birth, so yes, he is here,” said Jane. Many of the landed gentry followed a similar schedule to the higher echelon of the peerage, going to London for the Season in the late winter through the spring and then coming back to the country in the summer and autumn. She herself did not keep any kind of schedule like that, of course, but then, keeping such a schedule rather required one to have a town houseanda country house.
“Let’s go and see him,” said Byron. “But you’d best let me handle asking the questions. I know we are both thinking he killed that poor woman, but let’s not say that to him.”
“Is that what we’re thinking?” said Jane.
“Obviously,” said Byron. “Aren’t we? Or possibly that Hardy man. Something seems off about him, does it not?”
“Well, I have to say that I did find Mr. Hardy rather suspicious in numerous ways, but I hardly wish to accuse him of murder. And anyway, he does say that he wasn’t here when it all happened, though I suppose I found the fact that he could not stop saying that to be rather suspicious also.”
“Just so,” agreed Byron. He looked up and down the street. “Where does Beaumont live?”
“Outside of town,” said Jane. “Three or four miles to the west, I should say.”
“We should go on horseback,” said Byron.
“I haven’t brought a horse,” said Jane.
“No, you wouldn’t have,” said Byron. “Do you have use of a horse? I didn’t see a stable near your house.”
“My brother has stables,” said Jane. “I suppose I could make use of one of those horses, but I ought to ask first, and anyway, I did tell Cassandra that I was only taking a turn about the grounds and that I would be back in but twenty minutes.”
“I see,” said Byron. “Do you not wish to come along, then?”
“Well…” Jane stood up rather straight. “I find my curiosity is a bit piqued by all of this, I have to say.”
“Mine as well,” said Byron. “What are all the dirty little secrets of your little town here? Shall we uncover each and every one of them?”
“I’m sure there aren’t any dirty little secrets,” said Jane.
Byron snorted. “As it happens, I have another horse. Caro and I came by carriage, and I sent her back in it, but I changed the horses out and I kept the original horses here, and you can ride the other one.”
“Were you just going to leave it here?”
“No, it’s got all my luggage on it,” said Byron. “We may have some issues getting a side saddle around it. Let’s go and see.”
JANE WOULD HAVEthought the most prudent solution would have been to remove Lord Byron’s luggage from the horse, but Byron was insistent that all the saddle bags he had filled must remain where they were. It did take a bit of time, but they managed it, and they rode off for Beaumont’s house together.
Upon arrival, Jane saw why Byron had insisted on keeping his luggage and why he said they must not accuse Beaumont of murder. He was angling to stay with Beaumont.
Byron instructed the servants at Beaumont’s house to take everything off of the horses and to bring it inside, and so, as theywere standing in the entryway, the servants were taking Byron’s luggage up the stairs as Beaumont was coming down them.
“George!” cried Beaumont.
“Thomas!” cried Byron, practically running for the other man.
They embraced in the middle of the entryway there, pounding each other on the backs and laughing rather loudly, and Jane didn’t know where to look or what to do, because, well, that wasn’tdone.
One did not embrace someone, not likethat, not in front of people. Maybe if the someone was a small child and you were its mother, maybe then, but only a very small child, really, and the child must be taught not to have such outbursts and—
Jane cleared her throat, folded her hands in front of herself and studied the floor.
Byron broke the embrace first, brushing at the lapels on his jacket, uttering a string of apologies—for appearing out of nowhere, for appearing unannounced, for not having known about Beaumont’s wife and the new babe, for not having been in touch for too long. And then, breaking off, grinning at Beaumont with that infectious smile of his, so sunny, so untouched, so full of some kind of undimmed joy, he said, “It’s just ever so good to see you again, though, I must say.”
“You as well,” said Beaumont. “You must stay, of course. We have ever so much to catch up on.”
“Yes,” said Byron. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Oh, this is Miss Austen—”
“Yes, we’ve met, of course,” said Beaumont to Jane.
