Nate and the magistrate turned to the publican, who glanced at the table of men before giving a slight nod.
“There you are,” Trent said, turning back to his ale. The other two men at the table grinned.
“Very well,” Magistrate Hunt said. “Mind you keep out of trouble now.” Then, much to Nate’s astonishment, he turned and strode out of the tavern.
“We cannot leave Mrs. Groby and her children in the house with Collins while those men are on the loose,” Nate said as he followed the magistrate outside. “They are dangerous.”
“I don’t think so,” Magistrate Hunt said. “They have made their point. But I will ask Dr. Elias to take Collins home and care for him. His injuries are severe, and Mrs. Groby has her hands full with her children.”
“Perhaps, I should ask her to come and stay at Villa De Lacey. I hate to think of her alone with her children in that cottage. Those men might—”
“You needn’t worry. They won’t do any more damage. A woman is no threat to them. They owe Groby the money, not his wife. And Groby is…well.”
“As good as dead,” Nate said.
The magistrate shifted his stance but said nothing.
“You have to consider the notion that those three men could have framed Groby. When I went to see him in jail, Groby told me that he’d hired Trent to follow his wife because he was suspicious of Collins. Trent may have convinced Groby that she was cuckolding him, either with Otis, Collins, or both men. That would have enraged Groby and led him to make the ‘threat’ he made at The Black Horse, which was likely more of a way to save face than an actual threat. But once he made that threat, he opened the door to being blamed for Otis’s death, no matter who murdered the man.”
“So you think they could have murdered Otis, knowing Groby would be blamed, to alleviate themselves of their debt?”
Nate shrugged. “It’s a strong possibility. Money is always a powerfulmotive—not to mention jealousy.”
“Jealousy?”
“Yes. Groby is successful. He has a decent business and a beautiful wife. He loans them money, and they are indebted to him. When they can’t pay with coins, they are forced to give him their chickens or cattle, and sometimes, they must do his bidding. I’m certain that injured their pride.”
Magistrate Hunt furrowed his bushy gray brows. “Earlier, you said Collins was the killer, now it’s Trent, Morris, and Hornby. Why can’t you accept that the killer could just as well be Groby?”
“I can and do accept that. All I am trying to express is that there are many other suspects, and that you should not be so quick to try and execute a man who might be innocent.”
“But they are not killers. They proved that today when they spared Collins’s life. Furthermore, it doesn’t fit.”
“What doesn’t fit?” Nate asked.
“If those three were responsible for murdering Otis, they would likely have picked Trent to do the deed. After all, he is the strongest of the three. And he would most certainly not have bashed Otis over the head several times with a rock and then cut his heart out. Trent is a pugilist. He would have beaten the man to death with his fists. Furthermore, why would he or any of the others want Otis’s heart? I’m afraid you are grasping at straws, Mr. Squires, and I am not sure why. Groby is the only one who made a threat against Otis’s life, so he is the guilty party in my mind and the minds of the good people of Westmorland.” Magistrate Hunt mounted his horse. Then, looking down at Nate, he said, “I must ask that you not disturb me with this business again. If anything, tonight’s events have convinced me that what this town needs is to put this murder behind them. And the only way to do that is to try the culprit in court, and if he is found guilty, hang him as soon as possible. And now, sir, I must bid you goodnight.” He tipped his hat at Nate and spurred his horse forward.
Nate sighed as he watched Magistrate Hunt ride away. He had tried his best to convince the magistrate to see reason and consider that many other suspects could have committed this murder. But perhaps he’d gone too far today by trying to put suspicion on Trent, Morris, and Hornby. They didn’t strike him as clever enough to frame Groby, and today’s event likely had nothing to do with the murder. Collins had stepped out of bounds, and he’d been put back in his place by the locals.
Moreover, Nate still believed Collins to be the most plausible suspect for the murder. All this trouble had started when Collins had come to town in a bid to reclaim Alice. Now Otis was dead, and Groby was in prison facing hanging. That certainly took care of both his rivals. Although battered and bruised, Collins was still looking victorious.
*
When Nate arrivedat the Villa, dinner had already been served.
“Shall I bring you a plate to your room, sir?” Bennett asked.
“That would be nice, Bennett. But I require a bath first.” Nate could still smell the stench of blood and death on his body, not to mention the sweat and ale smells that clung to him after his visit to The Black Horse.
“Very good, sir. I will tell the scullery maid to start boiling the water for you immediately.”
“Thank you, Bennett. I’ll be upstairs shortly.”
He mounted the stairs and went to the library, where he knew Bridget would likely be sitting by the fire, reading one of those Austen novels of which she was so fond. Just the thought of seeing her put a smile on his lips, but that was nothing in comparison to what he felt when he walked into the library and saw her sitting with her nose in a book, just as he’d expected. His heart lifted, and the day’s troublesfloated away as he was transported to another time and place in his mind—a time and place where Villa De Lacey was no longer an inn but his home, and Bridget was no longer the hostess but his wife.
In this place, she put down her book and stood up to greet him, holding out both hands to him. Nate walked to her and clasped her hands in his. Then he pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers. He felt giddy with happiness. When they parted, she said, “My darling, we’ve been waiting for you all evening.”
We?He glanced down and saw Henry smiling up at him, his small hand clasped in Bridget’s. And his heart almost burst with happiness.
