Anne Ashley - Lord Hawkridge's Secret

‘Oh, because of something he said to me before he died,’ she answered, having little difficulty in picking up the threads of their former conversation. ‘It didn’t make much sense at the time, but I’m beginning to think that it was some sort of code.’

‘Sounds mysterious,’ he declared, as they reached the outskirts of the thriving market town.

‘Yes, it is rather. He uttered three things before he died—kestrel, raven, 16th at midnight. Ravens Wood just happens to be the old name for Kempton Wood. It’s my belief he wanted “The Kestrel” to be in the wood tonight at midnight. But as I’ve no idea who this “Kestrel” might be, he’s destined, I fear, to miss the assignation.’

‘Yes, so it would seem,’ he agreed, sounding faintly bored with the subject now. ‘Ahh! It would appear that Charles has decided to stop for refreshments at the inn. Shall we be hospitable and join them? Then perhaps you’d allow me to take the ribbons on the return journey?’

‘Nervous, Hawk?’ she teased, easily relapsing into that wonderful camaraderie which had existed between them.

‘I have never been less so,’ he assured her, smiling in a way which made her foolish heart lurch painfully. ‘Finn has taught you well. However, at the risk of sounding pompous, I believe there are one or two small pointers I can teach you that you might find of value.’

It was some time later, after she had arrived back at her grandfather’s house, and Charles and Sebastian had taken their leave, that Emily began to dwell upon what had been a surprisingly enjoyable impromptu visit to Kempton, and once again began to feel a little suspicious about Sebastian’s interest in what had taken place by the wood two weeks before. It might, of course, have been nothing more than idle curiosity, and she didn’t doubt that he had been genuinely sincere when he had voiced concerns for her safety, but even so she couldn’t rid herself of the niggling suspicion that there had been more to his interrogation than mere inquisitiveness.

Leaving Sarah to pore over the latest fashion journals in the front parlour, Emily invaded the privacy of her grandfather’s sanctum. She had never made a habit of doing so during the years she had resided in his house, but it was not totally unknown for her to sit with him from time to time, quietly reading a book. When she made no attempt to select something of interest, and merely seated herself in the chair beside his desk, her somewhat taciturn grandsire did elect to abandon the paper he was perusing long enough to enquire what she wanted.

‘You haven’t come here to ask me more questions about rooks and ravens, kestrels and hawks, have you, by any chance?’

‘No, Grandpapa, I just…What did you say?’ An amazing possibility having suddenly occurred to her, Emily raised her eyes to the feathered specimens in their glass cases. ‘Kestrels and hawks…hawks and kestrels,’ she repeated, rising so abruptly to her feet that the chair she had been sitting on almost toppled over. ‘Oh, what a fool I’ve been! I should have realised at once. Of course, that’s it!’

Leaving her grandfather to stare after her in some astonishment, Emily whisked herself out of the room and returned to the parlour, where Sarah betrayed no less surprise when informed that her help was urgently required.

‘Heavens, Emily! Whatever is the matter?’

‘I’ve been a fool, that’s what the matter is! I should have guessed…I should have realised at once!’ She began to pace up and down, cursing herself under her breath for being such a simpleton. ‘I should have known that he didn’t come down here just to attend Drusilla’s birthday party. She isn’t his type, unless his tastes have changed drastically. And I do not believe now that they have! No, he came here for an entirely different reason. And I’m determined to prove that I’m right!’

Sarah placed the fashion journal to one side. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

‘I haven’t time to explain now. I’ve too much to think about, and it will take careful planning. Finn mustn’t discover what I’m up to.’ Blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘Yes, and that’s another thing I’m determined to sort out, because unless I much mistake the matter, there’s more to his being here too!’

Sarah was all at sea and it plainly showed, but Emily refused to satisfy her curiosity for the present. ‘Listen, Sarah,’ she interrupted, ‘there’s something I must do, and I need your help. I seem to remember your saying not so long ago that you came upon a trunk or two of old clothes belonging to Charles in one of the attic rooms. I want you to go over to the Hall and search among them to see if you can discover anything that will fit me—trousers, shirt, jacket…Oh, and a hat, if there is one.’

If possible Sarah looked more bewildered than before. ‘Why, whatever are you planning to do?’

‘I’m planning to sneak out of the house tonight for a couple of hours or so,’ Emily willingly divulged, much to her companion’s further astonishment. ‘I need you to lock the door after I’ve gone and let me back in when you hear my signal. I’ll throw some gravel up at your window, something like that. We can plan all that later. The important thing now is to get you over to the Hall, so I’ll go round to the stables and order the carriage made ready.’

‘Are you not coming too?’

Emily shook her head vigorously. ‘It doesn’t require two of us to search through a couple of trunks. Besides, I dare not risk coming face to face with Hawk. He’d know I was up to something. He always knew when I was planning anything when I was a child, confound him! Don’t be fooled by that lazy manner of his, as I’m ashamed to admit I was briefly,’ she warned. ‘He’s as astute as ever he was. Believe me, little escapes his notice. So be on your guard, and avoid him if you can.’

‘I’ll be careful,’ Sarah assured her. ‘But what are you planning to do in the meantime?’

‘I intend to bask in the sunshine of my grandfather’s approval by offering to clean his silver-handled duelling pistols. He won’t be suspicious. I’ve done it before. Then I’ll load one of them and take it with me tonight. Only as a precaution, you understand?’

Sarah was secretly impressed. ‘Good gracious! Who taught you to do that?’

‘Hawk did. He taught me many things, including never to accept people at face value.’ Her smile was distinctly tender. ‘That is a lesson I shall try never to forget again.’

‘Why the house seems positively deserted!’ Charles announced, entering his library to discover just Lord Hawkridge, comfortably established in a chair by the hearth and perusing the most recent edition of the Morning Post. ‘Most guests have already left, and the few remaining intend to leave tomorrow. I’m glad you’ve decided to stay on for a few days.’

‘I’m enjoying the country air,’ Sebastian assured him, without bothering to raise his head from between the printed sheets.

After settling himself in the chair opposite, Charles regarded his friend in silence for a moment. ‘As I mentioned before, I’m rather surprised you spend so much time in the capital. Since you came into the title, you’ve rarely left the place.’

‘One must be seen, m’dear,’ was the languid response.

‘Cut line, old chap!’ Charles ordered, as unimpressed by the affected drawl as Emily had been. ‘You don’t fool me. You care as much for grand social occasions as I do myself. Although I must admit I did enjoy our party.’

‘Yes, I could see that you did,’ Sebastian responded, the folds of the newspaper hiding his amused grin. ‘Your cousin Sarah is a charming young woman.’

‘She’s an absolute treasure! Don’t know how we ever managed before she came to live with us. Mama has never been what one might call efficient at running a household. I’ve known for quite some time that Sarah has dealt with most aspects of the day-to-day running of this place. And damnably competent she is too!’