‘Your Grace,’ she corrected him, before taking the liberty of flashing a look of derision at Fletcher. The constable took out his notebook and flicked through a couple of pages.
There was a pause, which Martha filled. ‘You will be looking for a doctor then, constable?’
‘Oh, yes,’ he said, apparently pleased that someone had suggested a course of action. He looked towards Doctor Herbert.
‘Doctor Herbert has freely admitted that he is not impartial in this case,’ said Thea, causing the constable to look back to her. ‘Equally, Doctor Cope is implicated himself – even though we will send for him as I am sure you will wish to interview him?’
‘Most definitely,’ said the constable, evidently pleased to have made another decision.
‘Doctor Cope may provide you with evidence of the progression of the duke’s symptoms for your investigations,’ went on Thea. ‘For an objective professional assessment, thereof, I would suggest that you speak to the other physician we have in the house who goes by the name of Doctor Speckle. He was absent from the duke’s care apart from one instance four days ago. I am sure he will be delighted to provide you with a statement.’
‘Thank you,’ said the constable. There was another pause.
‘Sanders can take you to him now, if you wish?’ Thea suggested.
‘Yes,’ he said, trying to look like this was his idea. ‘I will see him now.’ Thea nodded to Sanders, who indicated that the constable should follow him.
‘What an unfortunate turn of events for you,’ said Martha to both Fletcher and Doctor Herbert after the door thudded shut. ‘It seems that there has been no malicious intent, only a hope from many that the duke might have a slightly more peaceful sleep and that the ladies involved might be a little safer, temporarily at least. An overabundance of kindness in the house, perhaps.’ She gave them a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Doctor Herbert stepped towards her. ‘There has been collusion here. We will ensure that it is found through a thorough investigation and that the abhorrent behaviour is made public for–’
He stopped as Thea stepped between him and Martha. ‘I wonder if your customers would be interested to know about your relations with Miss Bellegarde, Doctor?’ she said, and watched as his eyes widened. ‘You say a man has needs, but it seems some are a little more specialist than others?’ He ground his teeth so tightly that she was afraid he might break one, but to his credit, he didn’t look away.
‘I am sure the Doctor will not let that get in the way of–’ said Fletcher, but Thea rounded on him too.
‘Before you go on, Fletcher,’ she said with all the menace that the last hour had roused in her. ‘I would advise you to consider your next course of action carefully in the full knowledge that I know that it was you who killed my footman.’ It made sense, that that would have been the case if it was him that sent the letters. She couldn’t prove it, but he didn’t know that.
His panicked look confirmed that yet again, he was another man who had underestimated her. And he was one who should certainly know better.
‘James was professional and showed promise,’ she said. ‘And you curtailed all of that because he was, I assume, becoming uncomfortable with your shenanigans and would have told me, before long. Thankfully for you he was easy to pin it on because of the handwriting?’
Fletcher only stared at her, but she saw his jaw was clenched.
‘I thought so,’ she said. ‘While Knatchbull and George were engaged in their petty games, and George clearly wished to limit me, you were behind the whole thing. I suspect you were in his ear telling him I was getting above my station, that I would be an embarrassment? Fuelling his rage and playing on his insecurities while you undermined me at every opportunity and ensured my success never exceeded that of the men?’
‘It could not be borne,’ said Fletcher quietly, but his tone told her that he was defeated.
‘We will have to agree to disagree on that point, Mr Fletcher,’ said Thea. ‘Perhaps we could all agree that this has simply been an unfortunate misunderstanding?’ She stepped back and flashed a broad smile at them all. He glowered, but she could see that he knew he was beaten.
‘It only proves that women are dangerous when left unchecked’. She took a breath, and then stepped closer to him.
‘And I would advise you never to forget it,’ she said with a smile.
‘Can I play with father’s guns now?’ asked Edward as the group trouped down the long Hawkdean driveway back into the house. Thea looked horrified.
‘Edward! We are only just on the way from your father’s funeral. And anyway no, they’re dangerous.’
‘What about me?’ asked Samantha. ‘I’m older.’
Thea tutted at them both. ‘And neither of you are grown up enough. Guns are dangerous.’
‘Aw,’ they said in unison.
Abigail was still in Frankie’s arms, the occasion being a little overwhelming for a three-year-old. She had insisted that Frankie accompany her to the chapel and Thea was not about to deny her children anything at this time. From now on, they wouldn’t have a father, but Thea was determined that they should not want for any love or care.
Now Edward and Samantha looked woeful, gazing up at her from their little black outfits. They had just interred their father in the family chapel on the estate, Thea thought. Even though they seemed relatively unmoved by the event, she felt she should offer them something.
‘I was thinking,’ she said, tapping her finger on her bottom lip, ‘that we might start to build a menagerie in the garden. What do you think?’
