Chapter Two #2
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. When the door opened, there stood Wilson, his butler. In the man’s hands was a pineapple.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Your Grace, but this just arrived from Baron Heathcliff.”
“Is there a note attached?”
Wilson shook his head. “Just his calling card.” He approached and handed Arthur the pineapple.
“That was very kind of him. He obviously has a working greenhouse and a pineapple stove.”
“He does, Your Grace. He produces pineapples along with oranges, limes, and lemons among other fruits and vegetables in his greenhouse. Helps during the winter.”
“My sister has been wanting a pineapple stove for some time,” he said. He took the baron’s calling card and handed the fruit back to Wilson.
“I imagine it’s ripe and edible. See if it is, and if so, I’ll have some with dinner.”
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Wilson said before turning to leave. The man had never been one to carry on conversations. He knew his place and unless his opinion was asked, kept to himself.
“Have Cook serve some to staff. It isn’t often any of us get to delight in a fruit such as this. I’m sure she can cube part of it to share.”
Wilson nodded and retreated from the room.
It was a nice gesture on the baron’s part.
He would make a point of writing to Heathcliff, thanking him for the delicious fruit.
Perhaps he should have the man for dinner one evening.
They were neighbors and even with that, they hardly knew each other.
It had been this way since his parents died.
It was such an unexpected event that Arthur never truly knew the family’s relationships within the community.
With no funerals, but the house still in mourning, there was little contact with anyone.
The vicar came weekly, but that was about all.
It had been suggested by the vicar that they might think of having a remembrance service, but Arthur had rejected the idea.
At least for the time being, as he wanted to be sure of his parents’ deaths before doing anything.
Now the truth was known. His and Roxanne’s parents had been murdered. By whom? Arthur had his suspicions and wouldn’t stop until the killer or killers had been brought to justice.
*
The next morning, Arthur mounted his stallion and he and Roddy began their ride.
The setter stayed to one side of his horse unless a rabbit or other small creature caught his attention for a short period of time.
It was a perfect morning to go for a ride.
The sky was a perfect shade of blue with white puffy clouds floating by.
He rode along the road, checking to see if there was anything unusual.
A break through the trees or the wall which ran alongside most of the perimeter was his main focus.
About a mile down the road, the wall became more visible, and from his view, he found no openings.
He kept on until he came across an area where the wall had partially come down.
A neat pile of stones sat to one side of the break.
He whistled for Roddy while he jumped Midnight over the low wall.
Arthur noticed a narrow path between the trees and urged Midnight to the area.
The setter ran past him down the path. He followed, determined to find out if it was feasible for the gray to navigate himself through the narrow path to the meadow on the other side.
A smaller horse would have no problem going through the trees.
For Midnight, his size alone made it uncomfortable to ride it, so he slid off the saddle and led the stallion until they made it to the meadow.
As he peered back at the path, Arthur concluded a smaller horse could easily navigate through the woods with or without a rider. This was it. The spot where the gray snuck onto the estate without being seen. He remounted and began to scan the meadow for anything not intended to be there.
To his amazement, he saw a horse not too far away.
The gray raised his head, looking around for any potential threats.
Satisfied, he lowered his head again and began grazing the lush green grass.
He was very much aware of his surroundings, his ears moving about as he listened intently for anything unusual.
Arthur walked one step and halted the stallion.
If the gray heard them, he was still acting as though he was oblivious to their presence.
He walked a couple of steps toward the animal.
Again, the horse made no sign he knew they were there.
Again, Arthur walked closer until the gray lifted its head in order to watch them and decide how he should act.
As soon as the horse began grazing again, Roddy ran toward him, barking, letting the beast know he was an intruder.
The red setter circled the gray, barking all the time.
This time, the horse reacted to the intruder.
He bared his teeth, ears back and threatening to kick the setter if he had the chance.
Arthur urged the stallion towards the two, hoping his intrusion would be overlooked.
As he came within walking distance to the gray horse, he slowly grabbed a good length of rope he’d attached to his saddle.
He slowly widened the loop at the end and continued towards the gray.
Stopping his mount, Arthur slid slowly off him.
He approached slowly and carefully, not wanting to spook the animal.
He was able to pet the horse and slowly ease the noose over the horse’s neck.
The gray snorted as he realized he was now caught but never tried to run off.
Arthur patted him on the neck and talked lowly to him, assuring him he wasn’t in danger and that he wasn’t going to hurt him.
He began to walk him towards Midnight, still rubbing the horse’s neck with his free hand.
The animal snorted and looked wild-eyed as though he were going to run, but Arthur continued walking, not looking the gray in the eyes.
The last thing he needed was the horse to bolt on him.
Arthur quickly realized they weren’t going to be able to leave the way they’d all come, so he mounted the black stallion and began to walk through the meadow.
There was a clearing leading to the other half of the meadow.
Not knowing exactly what to do with the gray, he determined the best thing would be to ride to the stables and sort it out there.
From his ride yesterday, Arthur had his own thoughts as to where the gray came from.
Viscount Andover’s estate came to mind. It appeared to be well fortified, and no one could ride onto the property unless the gate was open.
Yesterday it wasn’t. He understood the viscount had more than one estate and the viscountess preferred their estate near the sea during the summer.
The couple had children, but how many and how old they were, Arthur did not know.
He doubted he’d ever seen any of them. Even if no one was at home right now, he didn’t think anyone from a skeleton staff would have the nerve to ride the gray.
It was an offense leading to termination of their employment.
The most likely way to end this would be to keep the gray at his stables.
Sooner or later, someone from the Andover estate would come calling, looking for the horse.
If he was wrong about ownership, the correct owner would come looking for their horse.
He would instruct his stablemaster to make everyone who worked there know not to let the horse be given over to anyone unless he was present.
By the time the stables came into view, the gray had settled and walked quietly beside him. As soon as he stopped Midnight in front of the barn, everyone had congregated in front of them.
“See both of these animals get a good rub down and water. Put the gray in the stall next to Midnight and give him some hay until feeding time,” Arthur said.
“Where did you find him?” someone asked.
“In the far side of the meadow. There is a hole in the wall there that will need to be repaired.”
“What are you going to do with him?” his stablemaster inquired.
“Keep him. Someone will come looking for him. When that happens, I don’t want the gray given to anyone unless I’m present and approve the transfer.”
“Wonder if they are insistent on taking the horse?”
“You tell them the duke wishes to meet the owner of such a lovely animal.”
Arthur hadn’t even left the stable and a young boy appeared in the stable yard. By looking at the young boy, he figured he couldn’t be more than twelve or so. Gangly like a young colt and obviously nervous about being there. Arthur noticed the boy inhaled deeply before coming closer.
“What can we do for you?” Arthur asked.
“I’m looking for my horse, a gray? He keeps breaking through the fence and usually comes here.”
“So you’re the one who has been racing the gray across my meadow?” Arthur asked. “I don’t believe you.”
The boy stood stiffly and looked Arthur right in the eyes. “I don’t care if you do or not. He’s my horse and I want him back.”
Smythe, his stablemaster, grabbed the youngster by the arm. “Watch how you speak, boy. Do you know who you’re talking to? The Duke of Hightower. Show some respect.”
He swung his attention to Arthur, still looking defiant. “May I have my horse back, Your Grace?”
“Not just yet,” Arthur replied. He kept his eyes on the boy, curious how he would respond to the news.
“You can’t do that!”
Arthur arched a brow. “I can and I am.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t believe you own such a fine animal, and I want to know who does.”
“The gray belongs to me,” he said defiantly.
“Until I get the answers to my questions, the gray remains here.”
The boy stomped off towards the direction he came, talking under his breath all the way.
He finally stopped and stared at Arthur and Smythe.
He was backed into a corner and had no idea how to act or react to the situation.
He finally began walking towards them. The look on his face showed he felt defeated.
He probably never had to take on such a responsibility, and he shouldn’t have.
The true owner of the horse should have been the one to deal with the situation.
“Very well, I’ll tell you what you want to know. The beast belongs to the daughter of Viscount Andover, Lady Daphne Waterton.”
“Why didn’t she come herself?”
“I don’t know, Your Grace.”
Arthur studied the boy for a moment. The viscount’s daughter was most likely spoiled and never did anything that got her hands dirty. She’d find out the world didn’t revolve around her once he met her.
“Very well. I will give the gray to you, but only under this condition. That I come with you so I may speak with the lady about how we can best resolve this situation in the future.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Smythe, see Midnight is saddled and ready the gray.” He turned to the boy. “What’s your name?”
“Rolo, Your Grace.”
“Very well, Rolo. We’ll leave in just a few minutes.”
Rolo nodded.
“Is the viscount in residence?” Arthur inquired.
“No, he’s at one of his other estates. Lady Daphne prefers to stay here without her parents or brothers and sisters.”
Arthur thought it curious that the viscount would allow his daughter such unsupervised freedom, but who was he to judge? He wasn’t a parent and hadn’t a clue why people did what they did when it came to their children.
In a matter of moments, Midnight walked out of the barn, followed by the gray. Arthur effortlessly mounted and waited on Rolo to do the same. They began walking toward the main drive as Arthur didn’t want the young man to know he was aware of the break in the wall.
“Does the gray have a name?” he asked.
“Vicki.”
Arthur nodded and urged Midnight forward in a slow gallop.
It wasn’t too long before they were turning down the drive leading to the viscount’s estate.
He thought it odd how little people knew their neighbors.
He would have never imagined the viscount’s daughter was the only family member in residence.
She must be one of the viscount’s older children to be given such a privilege of being allowed on her own.
But he wasn’t a parent, and it was none of his business how others raised their children.
Rolo dismounted the gray as they stood in front of the closed gate. He opened it and pushed the massive iron gate to one side before coming back for his mount.
“I’ll take you to the front door and have the butler show you in and let him know you wish to speak with her ladyship.”
“Thank you, Rolo. If you could see to Midnight. I doubt I’ll be very long.”
The pair continued until the house came into sight. An elaborate fountain sat in the front of the house, water splashing down to the main bowl. As they walked around it to the front, Arthur noted an older gentleman appeared at the top of the stairs. The viscount’s butler, Arthur concluded.
Rolo swung off the gray and ran up to the man.
Arthur concluded the boy was telling him who he was and who he wanted to see.
Arthur dismounted and handed the stallion’s reins to the boy as he finished his descent.
Walking to the top of the stairs, he nodded at the butler, who turned and led the way into the house.
If the entrance hall was this elegant, he had no doubt the rest of the house was the same.
“I’ll see if Lady Daphne is taking visitors.”
“Thank you. Tell her it won’t take but a moment of her time,” Arthur said.
“If you’ll follow me, Your Grace, I believe you’ll be more comfortable in the drawing room.”
“Thank you.”
The man swung the door open. “Here you are, Your Grace.”
Arthur walked into the room. He heard the door shut behind him as he walked a little farther into the room.
To one side of the hearth was a bird perch with the most beautiful red parrot he’d ever seen.
The bird’s wings had shocks of yellow-gold and blue and stood on his perch as he stared at this intruder.
Arthur kept his eye on his feathered companion.
He’d seen parrots similar to this one before, but always from afar.
He’d never seen one kept as a pet before and didn’t know what to expect.