away. “The beast does have a way of making me uncomfortable.” Turning to Alexandra, he said, “Now, about your request…”
Before Alexandra had finished telling Nicholas about Judith’s suspicion about her father and her fear of him, she saw Nancy had moved with Zack within hearing range of their conversation. Alexandra continued nonetheless, explaining her strategy.
“My dear Alexandra, that is a rather convoluted scheme you’ve come up with,” Nicholas said when she’d told him her plan to ferry Judith away in his carriage and take her to Montmarsh for a meeting with the constable or deputy.
“I’m afraid Nancy agrees with you that it’s somewhat contrived,” Alexandra said with a glance toward her maid, who was back in the hallway, trying to appear not to be listening. “I am, of course, open to a better idea,” she added, a tinge of hope in her voice.
“Well, I certainly agree with you that Miss Payne must share her suspicion with the authorities,” Nicholas said, “and I shall give it some thought as to how we can accommodate her. Shall I contact you first thing in the morning? I’m sure I’ll have it all worked out by then.”
“You’re very kind, Nicholas. I knew I could count on you,” Alexandra said, “and yes, please do let me know as early as possible. Poor Judith is simply tormented by all of this. If you could come by here before eight in the morning when I start my rounds, I would be able to stop by her house. It will give her a great deal of reassurance, I’m quite certain.”
“Before eight, you say?”
Alexandra noted the look on Nicholas’s face. It was nothing less than consternation. “Is that too early, my lord?”
“Too early? Of course not,” Nicholas said, sounding flustered in spite of himself. “I’m quite used to rising early.”
“Of course, my lord. Forgive me if I offended you.”
Nicholas laughed. “When you start addressing me as
my lord,
there is almost always trouble ahead.”
“I certainly hope not,” Alexandra said.
“Nevertheless, I think it best we both get a good night’s sleep so we can be effective with the plan I devise,” Nicholas said, standing.
“You’re right, of course,” Alexandra said. “Nancy, fetch Lord Dunsford’s coat, please.”
Nancy appeared almost instantly, holding the coat. “Thank you, Nancy,” Nicholas said. “Always good to be back in Newton-upon-Sea, where everything runs so smoothly.” He slipped an arm into a sleeve. “Oh, and by the way,” he said as Nancy helped him into the other sleeve, “I saw the most extraordinary thing as I was driving through the village.”
“Oh?” Alexandra said. “And what was that?”
“A horseman. Not that it’s odd to see a horseman in the village, but this one appeared to be in costume, dressed as a knight. I might even say as a Templar. He had that red cross on his breast front.”
Chapter 7
“At least I can take some measure of comfort in thinking I’m not hallucinating,” Nicholas said when Alexandra told him Hannibal Talbot had recently seen a horseman dressed as a Templar Knight. They were still standing near the doorway as Nicholas prepared to leave.
“Another of my patients, Mrs. Fontaine, also mentioned something about a horseman. I’m not sure what it is all about, but it’s more than a little odd,” Alexandra said.
Nicholas nodded. “Indeed. But no more so than Constable Snow disappearing in the middle of a murder investigation.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Alexandra said. “Some believe he’s in London. I’d hoped you could use your influence and contacts to locate him.”
“I’ll do all I can. I shall send a telegram to a captain I know at Scotland Yard.”
“Thank you, Nicholas,” Alexandra said. “In the meantime, we can only hope that the deputy he left in charge is competent to handle all that’s going on here at the moment.”
“Do you know the chap?” Nicholas asked.
“The constable usually calls
Before Alexandra had finished telling Nicholas about Judith’s suspicion about her father and her fear of him, she saw Nancy had moved with Zack within hearing range of their conversation. Alexandra continued nonetheless, explaining her strategy.
“My dear Alexandra, that is a rather convoluted scheme you’ve come up with,” Nicholas said when she’d told him her plan to ferry Judith away in his carriage and take her to Montmarsh for a meeting with the constable or deputy.
“I’m afraid Nancy agrees with you that it’s somewhat contrived,” Alexandra said with a glance toward her maid, who was back in the hallway, trying to appear not to be listening. “I am, of course, open to a better idea,” she added, a tinge of hope in her voice.
“Well, I certainly agree with you that Miss Payne must share her suspicion with the authorities,” Nicholas said, “and I shall give it some thought as to how we can accommodate her. Shall I contact you first thing in the morning? I’m sure I’ll have it all worked out by then.”
“You’re very kind, Nicholas. I knew I could count on you,” Alexandra said, “and yes, please do let me know as early as possible. Poor Judith is simply tormented by all of this. If you could come by here before eight in the morning when I start my rounds, I would be able to stop by her house. It will give her a great deal of reassurance, I’m quite certain.”
“Before eight, you say?”
Alexandra noted the look on Nicholas’s face. It was nothing less than consternation. “Is that too early, my lord?”
“Too early? Of course not,” Nicholas said, sounding flustered in spite of himself. “I’m quite used to rising early.”
“Of course, my lord. Forgive me if I offended you.”
Nicholas laughed. “When you start addressing me as
my lord,
there is almost always trouble ahead.”
“I certainly hope not,” Alexandra said.
“Nevertheless, I think it best we both get a good night’s sleep so we can be effective with the plan I devise,” Nicholas said, standing.
“You’re right, of course,” Alexandra said. “Nancy, fetch Lord Dunsford’s coat, please.”
Nancy appeared almost instantly, holding the coat. “Thank you, Nancy,” Nicholas said. “Always good to be back in Newton-upon-Sea, where everything runs so smoothly.” He slipped an arm into a sleeve. “Oh, and by the way,” he said as Nancy helped him into the other sleeve, “I saw the most extraordinary thing as I was driving through the village.”
“Oh?” Alexandra said. “And what was that?”
“A horseman. Not that it’s odd to see a horseman in the village, but this one appeared to be in costume, dressed as a knight. I might even say as a Templar. He had that red cross on his breast front.”
Chapter 7
“At least I can take some measure of comfort in thinking I’m not hallucinating,” Nicholas said when Alexandra told him Hannibal Talbot had recently seen a horseman dressed as a Templar Knight. They were still standing near the doorway as Nicholas prepared to leave.
“Another of my patients, Mrs. Fontaine, also mentioned something about a horseman. I’m not sure what it is all about, but it’s more than a little odd,” Alexandra said.
Nicholas nodded. “Indeed. But no more so than Constable Snow disappearing in the middle of a murder investigation.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Alexandra said. “Some believe he’s in London. I’d hoped you could use your influence and contacts to locate him.”
“I’ll do all I can. I shall send a telegram to a captain I know at Scotland Yard.”
“Thank you, Nicholas,” Alexandra said. “In the meantime, we can only hope that the deputy he left in charge is competent to handle all that’s going on here at the moment.”
“Do you know the chap?” Nicholas asked.
“The constable usually calls
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