Imogen Robertson - Instruments of Darkness

“Strange he should not choose to lose himself in London then.”

Harriet nodded. “I was surprised he did not leave again. I do not know-he seems restless, but has not visited the capital since Wicksteed arrived. Mrs. Mortimer gave me the impression that Wicksteed has the upper hand in the relationship. I suspect that goes against her feelings of the proper order of things. The only people in the village who would speak well of Wicksteed are those young girls with whom he has had nothing to do.”

Crowther looked at her enquiringly.

“No, I mean no scandal. He has never been seen to court any local girl. Only that his looks have won him friends, but his manner of doing business is inclined to be vicious.

He knows the benefits that bargaining for such an estate brings, and squeezes his advantage. I believe he takes pleasure in it.”

Crowther looked thoughtful. “So Wicksteed and Mr. Thornleigh had known each other before, we assume?”

“Yes. He told us, soon after Wicksteed arrived, that they had served together in the early days of the American Rebellion, though I never heard his name mentioned when Hugh spoke to us of his experiences previous to that, and I thought we could name every man in his regiment within a month of his coming home.”

Rachel turned from the window and looked at Crowther.

“I think the Americans are quite right to claim independence, don’t you, Mr. Crowther? Why should they not govern themselves? I think it a great shame my brother James has to serve in such a war.”

Her sister looked annoyed, and drew herself straight.

“My husband does his duty, Rachel.”

The younger woman put a hand out and patted her sister’s knee as a mother might encourage a child.

“Of course, Harry. And I am very proud of him, and he does very well with prize money for the ships he takes. I do not like his orders, though.”

Both women radiated a calm certainty which Crowther found entertaining. They might express it in different ways, but they shared strong will as a characteristic, he noted. He wondered what their father had been like.

“You are a defender of liberty, Miss Trench.”

Crowther was rewarded with a smile.

“Yes. But if you have more unpleasant things to say about the Thornleigh family, say them now, Harry, for we are already in the park.”

Thornleigh Hall was first built by the second earl some two hundred years before, but extensive improvements had been made over the generations to create an elegant and imposing building. Its wide, white-stoned frontage was full of high regular windows which reflected the open green parkland on which it stood. The west and east wings swept back at the same height as the frontage, suggesting a superfluity of apartments. It was designed to impress rather than welcome, and that it did. From the open lawns to the ornamental pools that framed the entrance, from the great doorway that could have swallowed their carriage whole to the innumerable chimney stacks that spoke of a city rather than the home of a single family, from the carved arms above the door to the intricate flourishes of stone below each window, it signaled wealth and power so assured it need never concern itself with anything so small as a single being crossing its threshold.

They sent their compliments to Lady Thornleigh from the carriage, and were invited to step in as quickly as could be hoped. Walking into the entrance hall, the sisters and the maid who was guiding them automatically paused for a moment to let Crowther absorb the grandeur of the place. Huge oils hung up the main stairway that reared in front of them and curled its back over their heads to reach the state rooms on the second floor. The pictures were mostly Biblical scenes of battle and sacrifice, mythical beasts being slain by heroes of almost satirical bodily perfection, accompanied by an array of worthies of the house, all displayed in full-length portraits and surrounded by their own personal signifiers of wealth, civilization and dominion.

From the foot of the stairs Crowther could look up into the vault of the roof where a domed skylight allowed in sufficient light for him to admire the remarkable frescoes that spun out over the ceiling. Heaven, Hell and the family of Thornleigh crowded round the Christ Child as He sat in His mother’s arms delivering judgment over creation from His position in the heart of Thornleigh Hall. No doubt the owners thought it the place He would have chosen from whence to judge.

When Harriet noticed where his attention was directed, she murmured, “The ceiling was painted soon after the current earl succeeded his father. That is the current Lord Thornleigh by the Archangel Michael.”

Crowther looked to where she indicated. A handsome, long-faced man in ermine was shown ignoring the angel and his flaming sword just above him. While piously lifting his hands to the Christ Child, Lord Thornleigh was also glancing backward toward the torments of the damned, if not with pleasure, then at least with complacency. The impression it made on Crowther was unpleasant.

At that moment, the maid obviously felt they had paused long enough.

“This way, madam.” As they followed her up the stairs, Crowther idly counted the liveried footmen standing to attention among the more valuable artworks they passed, but grew bored after reaching five and quickened his pace to keep up with the ladies.

The drawing room into which they were shown was an assault on the eye such that Crowther was afraid it might permanently damage his sight. The room was gold-exclusively, overpoweringly. The wallpaper was of golden fleurs-de-lis embossed in velvet on a paler background; the curtains were looped and spun with heavy golden brocade; each chairback, carved into a profusion of cherubs, clouds and cornucopia, was gold; the portraits on the walls were lapped with heavy golden frames; the mantelpiece over the empty grate was studded with gold trinkets, with, in its center, a clock perhaps two feet high where robust golden shepherds and shepherdesses on golden hills prepared to ring the quarters on golden bells with little golden hammers.

The woman in the room stood among all this splendor like a single lily on a gem-encrusted altar. She was about Harriet’s age and a little taller. When they entered, she was leaning among the curtains by one of the long windows that gave out over the front of the house. She turned as the maid announced them and looked at them for a long moment without speaking. Now this, Crowther thought to himself, is beauty.

Lady Thornleigh was dark haired, with wide eyes and a full mouth, and the outline of her body, showing under the tight formal lacings of her gown, suggested a form to be worshipped. She was the model every artist would want for the Magdalene. A sensuality flowed from her that overpowered even the stench of gold.

Crowther felt his mouth become a little dry, and wondered if Lady Thornleigh always greeted her visitors standing, and began each visit with this moment of silence, so they could admire and adjust to her presence among them.

“What an age you’ve been coming upstairs, Mrs. Westerman. I am sure I saw you step out of your carriage ten minutes ago.”

Harriet moved forward into the room. “We could not help pausing to let Mr. Crowther see the paintings, my lady.”

“Ugh!” Lady Thornleigh gave a shudder. “Horrid things, all that blood one has to see going downstairs every day. I wished for them to be taken down, but my son, Hugh, will have none of it. He calls it our heritage. Some heritage-I would prefer something rather more cheerful. I take my coffee in the upper salon now so I can avoid seeing them before breakfast.” She turned to look at Crowther. Her fine eyes ran him over and he felt as naked and helpless as a punished child.