Charles Todd - A Fearsome Doubt

“That’s true. I don’t know her. But she and your dear friend Richard Mayhew had an affair just before the war. They were very much in love. Mayhew betrayed his wife for her. And would have gone on betraying her, if the war hadn’t sent him to France.”

Rutledge, cold with anger, said, “You’re lying.”

“Am I? Richard Mayhew, alas, is dead. You must ask your sister, if you want the truth. If you dare. Or-perhaps you’d rather spend the rest of your life wondering…” Masters smiled. “Now you know how it feels to see your idol stripped of his honor.”

Rutledge had no real memory of the rest of the drive to Marling. He had stood there watching Raleigh Masters return to his motorcar and climb painfully into the rear seat. It moved off, as if Rutledge no longer existed, as if he were no more than another tree standing rooted at the side of the road.

It isn’t true.

That was his first thought.

And then came niggling doubt. How fond Frances had been of Richard Mayhew, how well she’d known him, long before Elizabeth had stolen his heart. How close they had been over the years. How devastated Frances had been when the news came that Richard had been killed in action, her letters to her brother at the Front full of grief. How willingly she had faced loneliness…

It wasn’t true.

The man was a master manipulator. It had been the signature of Raleigh’s success in the courtroom.

Hamish said, “It doesna’ signify. It had naught to do with you. What they did. Ye’re no’ their keeper.”

And that was true…

It was something that lay between his sister and his best friend. It was not his business. Opening it up would only hurt Elizabeth Mayhew.

But the painful doubt had taken root, all the same. And he tried to find a way to accommodate it, and still love two people who were an infinite part of his life…

He could see why Raleigh Masters had used this final weapon.

To explore it would hurt the wrong people.

“A lesson in the cost of opening up the past?” Hamish asked.

At the hotel, there was a quiet madness.

The dinner hour attracted a large group of diners, eager to glimpse the man who had arrived with such fanfare. The room was crowded.

The woman seating guests said affably, “I’m afraid it will be an hour at best. We’re quite busy tonight. Marling hasn’t seen this much excitement since the war ended.”

“I hear you have a guest from New Zealand.”

She frowned. “New Zealand? I hadn’t heard that he’d gone there.”

“The man with all the luggage-”

“Oh, no, he’s from Leeds! He’s just bought the Hendricks house near the church.”

Rutledge dredged in his memory for the name. “Mr. Aldrich?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I was misinformed, then. Where is he?”

“In his room, I expect. Cook says he’s ordered a tray sent up.” She smiled conspiratorially. “Everyone will have a good dinner and no satisfaction.”

“Shy, is he?”

“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen him myself! But I’m told he’s just sent for Mr. Meade.”

Amused, Rutledge said, “He can’t stay in his room forever.”

“True. If you’ll have a seat in the lounge-”

As Rutledge took her advice, Hamish said, “You willna’ have to travel to Leeds to speak to him.”

“That’s a small consolation.”

Most of the dinner guests had come in pairs or in groups. He felt a wave of loneliness. He was shut off from Elizabeth. Melinda Crawford was at her house…

It was odd to find himself questioning her role in a murder investigation. It made him uncomfortable and uneasy.

Someone spoke behind him. “Good evening.”

He turned to find Inspector Dowling.

“My wife’s gone to stay with her sister for a few days, to look after her. Gallstones.”

“Painful,” Rutledge agreed. Beware what you wish for, he chided himself.

Dowling sat down in the next chair. “I oughtn’t be here. She left a meat pie in the oven. But I fed it to the dog.”

Rutledge laughed. “And how is the dog?”

“The last I saw, he was groaning in the back garden.” Dowling sobered. “I shouldn’t disparage her cooking. A man has to accept what he can’t change. The dining room is full. What’s on the menu tonight?”

“Gossip for the first course. Have you met Marling’s newest resident?”

“As a matter of fact, I haven’t. Sergeant Burke has. In his opinion, this man Aldrich will do. A rough diamond, but he’ll settle in. The gentry won’t care much for him, but the merchants will profit.” Dowling paused. “My prisoner swears he’s not involved in murder. I brought young Webber in this afternoon to have a look at him. The boy recognized him. And I’ve sent word to Inspector Grimes to have Miss Whelkin brought down when she returns to Seelyham. I daresay she’ll have no difficulty identifying him.”

“I won’t argue with that.”

“Is he a murderer? Or simply clouding the water?”

“God knows.” Rutledge turned to look out the window at the dark street.

“My men have been asking questions. It appears this man had lunch one day with Mrs. Mayhew. And that he’s met other important people in and around Marling, on apparently legitimate business-an exploration of his family’s activities after coming to England with William the Third. There will be repercussions if he’s innocent. There’s the Dutch government to consider as well.”

Rutledge said, “I warned you he would complicate the investigation.”

Dowling took a deep breath. “And we’re no closer to finding a killer.”

“I met Raleigh Masters today, on the road. He seemed to think the man who is heir to the Morton estate is here in Marling as well.”

“I expect he misheard. But I’m told John Boyd, the Morton solicitor-and Mr. Masters’s as well, I daresay-has had a letter from the heir. He’s made a fortune in New Zealand and has no interest in the bequest. The house and land are to be sold.”

“A pity-” And it was, Rutledge thought. The house deserved better.

The clerk from the desk came into the lounge, looked around, and then walked quickly toward Rutledge.

“Inspector Rutledge? There’s a telephone message for you.” He held out a folded sheet of paper.

Rutledge opened the sheet and read the brief message.

You must come at once. It’s urgent. And it was signed Margaret Shaw.

“Was there anything else?” Rutledge asked the clerk.

“No, sir. But the young woman was in tears, very upset indeed.”

Dowling said, “Is this another case?”

“In a way.” Rutledge stood up. “I’ll have to see to it-”

Fifteen minutes later, he was on the road to London.

The Shaws were not on the telephone. Short of contacting the Yard and asking that men be sent to the house to find out what the emergency was, Rutledge had no choice but to go himself.

It was a long dark drive, and weather was moving in from the east, a damp wind laden with the promise of heavy rain before dawn. Staying awake was a problem. And he was nearly certain that this was a wild-goose chase, another dramatic reminder from Nell Shaw that her husband’s fate ought be his foremost priority. On the other hand, he couldn’t risk ignoring Margaret’s cry for help.

To fill the time he turned to the past.

What had really passed between Shaw and the women he had been accused of smothering? Why had he been tempted to kill each of them? Need? His wife’s ruthless prodding to provide more and more opportunities for their children?

Hamish said, “You canna’ know the answer to that. But at a guess, he comforted himself with their condition.”

“Yes, I can understand that. Those women weren’t going to recover, and they were probably afraid of dying alone and neglected, of lying there until someone came in and found them. They must have looked forward to his visits.” He’d learned early on that murderers often could convince themselves of the rightness of what they had done.