The Witching Pool: A Justice Belstrang Mystery (Justice Belstrang Mysteries Book 2) John Pilkington (top 10 ebook reader TXT) 📖

‘When will Mason be released?’ I broke in. ‘And what arrangements will be made to convey her out of the city?’

The clerk frowned. ‘I have no knowledge of that, sir. My understanding is that she is yet confined at the Guildhall.’ Having said what he came to say, he proffered a sealed letter, which I accepted. But as he remounted his horse, I stayed him.

‘Pray tell the Justice that I’m grateful for his courtesy,’ I said. ‘I’ll write to him soon, with a small request that I’m certain he will be willing to grant.’

 If he was surprised by my apparent confidence, the man gave no sign. He signalled assent, whereupon I watched him ride out of the gates just as Childers emerged from the house.

‘Mistress Jane and Mistress Alison wish to speak with you,’ he said. I turned to him, wondering why he appeared so cheerful this morning.

‘It seems their preparations are almost complete,’ he added. ‘Their mother’s sister awaits them at Gloucester, where they will be made welcome.’

‘I know that already,’ I said, eying him suspiciously.

It was common knowledge at Thirldon that the sisters had been in correspondence with their aunt. While grateful for the shelter they had enjoyed under my protection, they were ready to depart. The tragic events at Ebbfield had affected them deeply, but in the end their emotions were tempered with relief. A nightmare was ended, Jane had said; her hopes were for a new beginning.

I went indoors and sent word to both girls to come to my parlour. They arrived soon after with Hester, and after a few pleasantries I broached the matter of their leaving.

‘With your approval, it will be tomorrow, Master Justice,’ Jane said.

‘Have you informed your aunt?’ I enquired, taken aback.

‘I have,’ she replied, somewhat quickly.

‘I told them it would be acceptable,’ Hester said, her eyes upon mine. ‘It’s but a matter of someone driving the coach.’

‘The coach?’ I echoed. ‘It hasn’t been used in years… it would have to be repaired.’

‘I’ve asked the men to look it over,’ Hester said. And when I began to look displeased: ‘You’ve had so much to do of late, we thought it best not to trouble you. Elkins will drive the coach to Gloucester, if you can spare him from his duties. Surely you would not expect daughters of good breeding to travel by the same manner in which they arrived here – I mean in a plain farm-cart?’

In some consternation I looked to Jane and Alison, who sat silent and erect. Their meekness, however, appeared a show: I even suspected here was a hint of a smile beneath Jane’s expression. In truth, I thought, my authority nowadays was become a shadow of what it had been. I was about to form some reply, when Alison spoke.

‘We have a request to make of you, sir,’ she said. ‘That our servant Matthew be permitted to come with us.’

So that was it. ‘Is he not content here?’ I asked. ‘I understood he…’

I stopped myself: now I saw why Childers was in such good humour. It was no secret that he disliked having Matthew about the house: a forlorn figure who had aged even further since the violent demise of his old life, and who forgot an order within minutes of it being given.

‘Very well…’ I let out a sigh, which seemed to bring general relief. ‘Indeed, I would never prevent him… he is of your household, after all.’

‘He was, sir,’ Jane said. ‘There is no household now. But Matthew has been faithful all our lives… it is only fitting that he be allowed to spend what time he has left with us.’

I gave a nod; on a sudden, there seemed little more to be said. The burials, which I had helped arrange, were over, the sisters’ wish to be spared attendance being honoured. As for Cobbett’s property, that was another matter; I envisaged suits, claims and counter-claims from relatives and creditors which would keep the lawyers busy for years. Thankfully that was not the concern of a former magistrate, who was anticipating a quiet summer of cards and fishing.

And so we parted, the sisters expressing thanks before returning to their arrangements. A maid had been ordered to help them with the packing. Shortly after Cobbett’s death, I had sent men to Ebbfield to recover the sisters’ possessions from their chambers, though it seemed there was little left to be retrieved. But no matter, Jane said: their old life was gone, and should be put behind them.

On the morrow, Hester and I bade them farewell.

It was a sad occasion, because we had come to see them not merely as guests of Thirldon, but as friends. They were close to tears as they got into the old coach, barely used since my father’s time but seemingly serviceable. Matthew held the door open, before closing it and climbing up onto the driver’s seat with difficulty, to seat himself beside Elkins. My groom was content, being in possession of a sum for expenses: the journey would take a whole day, which would entail his spending the night at Gloucester. As he shook the reins and urged the horses forward, Jane and Alison waved from the open windows. Then they were gone: the last of their family to dwell in this shire, perhaps for ever.

But there was a matter of importance yet remaining, which I approached with a mixture of feelings. The opportunity came two days later, when I received the letter I had hoped for from Standish. By the evening I was in Worcester, making my way up the steps of the Guildhall, where to my surprise I was soon facing Sergeant Lisle once again. I had not seen him since the debacle at Ebbfield, but was pleased to find him restored to his stolid self.

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