The Secret of Pembrooke Park(132)

She expelled a ragged breath. “Thank God. I’ve been so worried.”

William explained to Miles, “Thankfully Miss Foster remembered my father mention Snake Ravine, so I knew where to look and found him before he had suffered overlong from exposure.

“Mr. Brown assures us of a complete recovery, provided we keep him from taking a chill. Mother has him under a mountain of bedclothes and in woolens, as you can imagine. He was grumbling about all the fuss before I left, so I know he’ll be well.”

William looked at Abigail again, hoping his expression communicated the deep gratitude he felt but could not adequately express with Miles Pembrooke standing there.

Then he solemnly faced Miles. “In looking for my father, Mr. Pembrooke, I’m afraid I also found yours. . . . That is, his remains.”

“What?” Miles roared.

William winced. Why could he not have thought of a more graceful way to say it? “At the bottom of the ravine. I hate to be indelicate, but it is clear he has been there for many years. Mr. Brown and the constable have removed the . . . uh, bones with the utmost care, I assure you.”

“Then how did you identify him?” Miles asked, face contorted. “You must be mistaken. You cannot know it was him.”

William held his challenging gaze. “He was wearing the Pembrooke signet ring.”

Miles flopped down on the chair, face pale. He swallowed, then sputtered, “Can you tell how . . . how he . . . died?”

“The constable assumes he fell from his horse, much as I did today when looking for my father along that steep ravine.”

“Oh, Mr. Chapman,” Miss Foster exclaimed. “Are you all right?”

“I am. A little sore of body and pride, but otherwise perfectly well.”

Miles protested, “How is it you escaped unhurt, but my father supposedly died from such a fall?”

William said gently, “Brown guesses he either broke his neck or hit his head on a rock when he fell from his horse.”

“But my father was an excellent rider.”

“Perhaps he was pursuing someone at breakneck speed and wasn’t heedful of the danger,” William said. “Especially if he rode after dark, or during a rainstorm, as I did today.”

“How can you know that? It’s only supposition. Perhaps someone stole that ring from my father and fell to his death while fleeing the crime.”

“I suppose it’s possible. But we found something else besides the ring.”

“Oh?” Miles seemed to hold his breath.

William nodded. “A double-barrel flintlock pistol. My father recalls Clive Pembrooke having such a gun. He liked that he could take two shots before reloading, though yes, such guns are common enough.”

Miles shook his head. “I want to see him with my own eyes. Or I shall never believe it.”

“You and my father, sir, had that in common.”

Miles rose. “Where have they taken him?”

“The undertaker’s in Caldwell.”

“I will go there directly.”

William offered, “Shall I go with you, Mr. Pembrooke?”

Miles turned, hesitated, and then surprised them all by saying, “Yes. Please. If you would, Parson.”

“I will stay here,” Miss Foster said awkwardly. “And inform my family.”

“No, of course you must not go,” Miles said. “A lady like yourself. To see such a gruesome thing.” He shuddered.

“Will you tell your sister yourself?” she asked. “Will she wish to see him as well?”

“I don’t know. I doubt it. But then, I doubt she’ll believe it either, otherwise.”

“She is staying at Hunts Hall this week,” Miss Foster said. “If you like, I shall—”

“Is she?” Miles interrupted, eyes narrowing. “I did not realize you two had become acquainted.” He turned to William. “Might we stop there on the way? I’d like her to hear it from me.”

“Of course,” William agreed.

Miles said, “If you will give me a few minutes, I shall go and fetch my hat and gloves.”

William nodded.

Miles bowed to Miss Foster, turned, and left the room.

When they were alone, William said to Abigail, “I am sorry to bring such a report to your door.”

“You were right to do so. It was kind of you to tell Miles yourself and offer to accompany him on such an unpleasant errand.”

He lowered his eyes a moment. “I cannot claim purely selfless motives in coming to tell him. I admit I wanted to see his reaction firsthand. To know whether he was grieved or relieved. And whether the news came as a surprise.”

She cocked her head to one side. “He certainly seemed surprised. How could he have known?”

William shrugged. “If he killed his father or saw it done. Or if he was among those Clive Pembrooke was pursuing with those double barrels.”

Miss Foster shook her head. “He couldn’t have killed him. He was only a boy at the time. Besides, I thought you said the constable and Mr. Brown guess the death was caused by the fall.”

“A guess is all it is. But something tells me Miles knows more about it than he lets on.”





Chapter 29


The next day Molly found Abigail in the library and told her a Mrs. Webb was waiting for her in the hall but refused to be shown into the drawing room.