18. Suspects and Suspicions
CHAPTER 18
Suspects and Suspicions
R uth came back late one afternoon with a pale, worried face and one of the apprentice printers by her side.
“Whatever’s the matter?” Louise’s stomach roiled at how distressed the girl was.
The apprentice said, “Miss Louise, Mr Black asked me to make sure she got back safe and sound. Master Baxter was making a bother of himself.”
Louise called out to Mrs Poole to make tea, and she locked the shop door and accompanied Ruth upstairs.
“That Benjamin is a menace,” Louise said as they sat down at the table. “I should have gone instead. Benjamin knows I won’t tolerate poor behaviour.”
The delicate child buried her head into Louise’s shoulder and said, “I tried to ignore him, but he would not leave me alone.”
“He’s a little pig,” Mrs Poole said, handing over some shortbread.
“Well, my understanding is he’s heading off to school tomorrow,” Louise said. “So he won’t be around to bother you any more.
Louise and Mrs Poole both nodded their heads in agreement.
Louise made sure to walk Ruth home later, and they greeted many friendly townspeople along the way. Benjamin didn’t show his face, which Louise thought was rather a shame. She was carrying her crowbar inside her cloak.
The next morning, Shaun informed her the reason he was later than usual was because there had been yet another fire overnight, and he’d had to inform Lord Ferndale. “I also tried to tell your cousin but he was busy seeing his son off to school on the coach and wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
Louise’s heart leapt into her throat. “Is anyone hurt?”
“Nobody. In fact, the new fire pumper did its job magnificently and they got the fire out quickly.”
“What a relief,” she said, reaching for an embrace.
He held her tightly and said, “You haven’t asked me where it was, yet.”
Feeling guilty for only thinking of his embrace and not the property damage, she asked tentatively, “Not the Ferndales?”
“No, not them. This time he targeted the printer.”
Louise’s mouth dropped open in shock. “All that paper!” she gasped.
“Indeed. If it had been operating, the paper would have caught easily. As chance would have it, they’d finished with the press and there was no paper in it. The fresh stacks were still in storage.”
“Thank heavens for small mercies,” Louise said.
Shaun reached for her hand and she softened at his touch. “I’m sure you haven’t slept.”
“I can sleep some other time. Do you have a ledger that needs checking?”
Thrilled that he wanted to spend more time with her, Louise almost danced to the spot behind the counter. She came to a sudden stop when she stepped on mouse entrails. Cleaning that up had the effect of restoring mundane normality.
“It makes sense that an arsonist would target anywhere with paper,” she said thoughtfully. “A bookshop and a printer. And of course barns made of old wood or filled with hay.”
“Aye,” Shaun agreed.
“But why target people? Especially an old teacher and his wife and the town doctor? Why would you hurt people who devoted their lives to serving the community?” The moment the words were out of Louise’s mouth, roiling sickness burned the back of her throat. “I think I know who it might be.”
Shaun’s head whipped around, his eyes going wide. “What did you say?”
She had his complete attention, and she whispered it low so they would not be overheard. “I think it could be Benjamin.”
“Your cousin?” Shaun’s voice filled with concern. “The older boy who teases Brutus?”
Louise nodded. “You’ve seen him in action, then?”
“Well yes, but it’s one thing to tease your little brother, another to burn down houses with people sleeping in them.”
“I know, but… just yesterday, one of Mr Black’s apprentices had to walk Ruth back to us because Benjamin was bothering her dreadfully. And then there’s a fire in that same place, that very night.”
Shaun’s jaw clenched and he breathed hard. “Doctor Rasley sent him off with a flea in his ear, and then soon after…”
Louise slapped her hands over her mouth.
Shaun shook his head. “He seems too young. I would have thought school boys would have a curfew. I could kick myself for not paying attention. He does have the right build for the man I chased, but I thought because of his youth… In the dark I didn’t get a look at his face.”
Louise said, “I’ve known him for a lot longer, and I didn’t suspect him either.”
“Little consolation,” Shaun made a heavy sigh. “The lad’s gone now at any rate, his family waved him off just now outside the Red Lion.”
“If it was him, that means we won’t have any more fires.”
“Can’t fault your logic,” he said. “All right, what about the old teacher, is there a connection to Benjamin?”
“Yes, Brutus said he thought Benjamin might have had a year or two of instruction from him before he retired. Probably told him he was wrong in front of the class or something.”
Shaun buried his face in his hands. “Doesn’t feel like enough motive, really. But perhaps the lad held strong grudges. You had his measure, that’s for sure.”
“And he targeted us three times,” Louise said.
“That he did.” Shaun shook his head and sighed heavily. “And for certain Joshua has no love for Lord Ferndale, which is why Benjamin might have targeted the Ferndale properties. I think you’re on to something. For now, we’ll keep this just between ourselves and wait and see what happens. I watched him leave town, so if it’s him, we’ll be free from fires for a good while yet.”
For the next week, Louise’s suspicions about Benjamin and the fires were validated. Each morning when Shaun visited the bookshop, he reported no activity the night before. It was a relief, and confirmation they were right to suspect Benjamin.
Proving they were right would be another matter, but it was at least an alarming coincidence.
The fires, or lack of them, were on everyone’s minds as they gathered at church the next Sunday. An internal struggle consumed Louise. She was having such a hard time keeping this secret, but she knew she had to keep her suspicions to herself until they could catch Benjamin in the act. That could be a long time coming as he wouldn’t be back from school until Easter at the earliest.
Mrs Poole departed to catch up with her friends, while Louise, Bernadette and Shaun chatted with Lord Ferndale and Miss Yates. A little way off, she recognised Riot Jones as he doffed his hat to Rosie.
The clouds parted and the sun briefly poked out, warming the gathering. It turned cold very quickly as Mrs Poole scurried back to them. “Louise, may I bend your ear?”
Their housekeeper appeared pale.
“It’s about your Shaun, and I thought you’d want to know. Phoebe has been sharing a theory that the fires started when Mr Jackson came into town.”
Ice filled Louise’s veins. “No!” Her hands flew to her throat.
“Obviously, I don’t believe her, but some might, and… well… we know what she’s like.”
It was on the tip of Louise’s tongue to retaliate that Phoebe was only accusing Shaun to keep attention away from her eldest son. Alas, she’d promised Shaun they’d keep this a secret. For now. And did Phoebe even know what Benjamin had been up to? Surely not.
“Oh dear,” Mrs Poole said, “Joshua and Phoebe are on the warpath.”
Turning back to Shaun, Louise’s heart constricted at the sight of Phoebe marching his way.
She rushed back to be by his side.
“You should be ashamed to show your face here after all the damage you’ve caused!” Phoebe accused.
His face immobile, Shaun nevertheless bowed to Joshua and Phoebe. “Lovely to see you both. Is there something that’s concerning you?”
“Now see here, Jackson,” Joshua said, “You can turn yourself in, or I’ll drag you in myself.”
Louise interjected. “What are you talking about?”
“Your man here might have fooled some, but he does not fool me!” Joshua said. “He’s only stopped this week because he knows we’re on to him. Did you ever wonder why this man, who is such a clever investigator, can’t work out who’s lighting fires in a small town? It’s been him all along!”
“That’s not true,” Louise declared. “He was in London getting better fire equipment, and there were fires while he was away.”
Phoebe snorted contempt. “Probably got one of the lazy old soldiers to do that, to ward off suspicion. He’s playing you for a fool, Louise. And you too, Lord Ferndale, you’re the one funding his operation. Paying him to set up his own army when all along he’s been the one to blame!”
“And what proof do you have of this, Mrs Baxter?” Lord Ferndale asked in his usual genial tone.
Phoebe hesitated at that, and Louise pounced. “Shame on you, Phoebe. If everyone took every unfounded suspicion as gospel truth, where would we all be?”
“I saw ‘im,” another voice butted in, and Louise turned in surprise to find the farmer Mr Stratforth behind her. He was frowning at Phoebe too.
“You saw Mr Jackson?” Phoebe said eagerly.
Louise thought she might pass out. Was Mr Stratforth siding with her cousins?
The farmer stepped up and said, “No, ma’am. I saw the arsonist, the night he tried to set fire to my house. Tall, he were, but a thin fellow, nothing like the size of Mr Jackson. He hit me on the head, the arsonist.” Mr Stratforth gave a little half-smile. “If Mr Jackson had hit me, I dare say I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you.”
“There you go, Mrs Baxter,” Lord Ferndale said firmly. “An actual witness, a man in good standing in this community, who I dare say has no particular reason to be fond of Mr Jackson.” Unaccountably, he looked at Louise here. “And Mr Stratforth is very clear that the arsonist isn’t Mr Jackson.”
“Nor any of his men,” Mr Stratforth put in helpfully. “None of them are as tall as the blackguard who hit me.”
Louise wanted to cheer.
Phoebe huffed, looking thoroughly disappointed, but she and Joshua withdrew. They still whispered to each other, looking at Shaun, and Louise had the sinking feeling they would continue to spread the malicious lie no matter what.
Mr Stratforth doffed his hat and walked away, and Louise reached out to touch Lord Ferndale’s sleeve. “Lord Ferndale…”
“How many times must I tell you to call me Grandfather?” he said with a kindly smile. “You are family now, my dear!”
He really was the dearest old man. She smiled fondly at him, but what she had to say was too important to get distracted. “Grandfather - did Mr Jackson tell you that we have a suspect in mind?”
“Louise…” Shaun began, shaking his head, but Louise hushed him.
“This is important. I think he should know.”
Lord Ferndale looked from one to the other of them. “Spit it out, one of you!”
“We think it’s my cousin Benjamin Baxter,” Louise said, in a low whisper.
Lord Ferndale’s bushy grey brows shot up. “But he’s just a boy!”
“A boy with a grudge against everyone who’s been a victim of the fires,” Shaun said, looking resigned. “Whose parents are lax with him, whose window can be easily climbed in and out of at night, and whose father has a horse loose in a field behind the house that is a very easy creature to catch and bridle.”
Louise looked at Shaun in surprise. “You’ve been investigating,” she said.
He shrugged. “It’s what I’m being paid for.”
“I wonder why Mr Stratforth was targeted, then?” she mused, suddenly wondering. She couldn’t think of a motive for Benjamin to target the farmer.
Lord Ferndale and Shaun looked at each other, and then they both laughed, confusing Louise mightily.
“Oh, I think we can guess exactly why he was targeted after he danced with you at the Midwinter Assembly,” Lord Ferndale said pointedly. “I think the two of you might be onto something, especially since the fires have now stopped… since the boy went off to school, correct?”
“Indeed.” Shaun nodded. “But we have no proof.”
“And if you make a counter-accusation now, Mr Baxter will say that you’re accusing an innocent boy, who’s not even here to defend himself, to throw suspicion off yourself,” Lord Ferndale said.
Louise felt sick. She hadn’t even thought of that, but she could see from the look on Shaun’s face that he had.
“All we can do is wait until he comes home, and see if the fires resume,” Shaun said. “Though I will see if I can find someone in Oxford who will let me know if there are any unusual fires there.”
“I suspect school will be a lot less easy to escape from to cause mischief than my cousins’ house,” Louise said miserably to Shaun as they walked back to the bookshop together. “And if there are no fires in Oxford…”
“It doesn’t make any difference. Once Benjamin comes back here, we’ll be following him day and night,” Shaun vowed. “We’ll catch him, Louise. I promise.”
Louise looked as if she didn’t really believe him, and Shaun had to admit he had been a dismal failure at his job so far. It was Louise who had begun to suspect her cousin, and though Shaun wasn’t dismissing the possibility of a different culprit out of hand, the fact that the fires had stopped immediately Benjamin Baxter went away to school was telling.
“I’ve seen a house I like,” he said, hoping to invite her to come and look at it with him.
“Really? Where?”
“It’s a little bit out of town… a mile or so.” It wasn’t an ideal location, he’d prefer a house in town, but it was a nice property. He could see himself living there, with Louise as his wife, hopefully, though she’d been a little distant in the last few days. He knew she was concerned about her sister Marie, who seemed to have come back from Cumbria thoroughly miserable, and of course there was the ever-present concern about her father, who hadn’t sent books in almost a month now. Perhaps Louise wouldn’t accept him even if he proposed, wanting to wait for her father to return home, as well as her eldest sister, still in Ireland with her husband.
“Mm.” Louise seemed to lose interest in what he was saying, looking away and smiling at someone ahead of them. Shaun’s hands clenched on the brim of his hat as he saw Mr Stratforth standing at the lych-gate.
That damned farmer! He seemed to be in town an awful lot for a man who should be busy with his cattle, and in the bookshop far too much for Shaun’s liking. Was Louise seriously interested in him? She was thanking him now for speaking up for Shaun.
“Not right, what Mrs Baxter was saying,” Stratforth replied. “Had to speak up.”
Well, that was jolly decent of him, even if Shaun was beginning to think of the man as a rival. Shaun gritted his teeth and shook Stratforth’s offered hand.
“I’m not really all that concerned about what your cousins were saying,” he said as Louise took his arm again and they walked on. “There are plenty of people who saw me literally miles away at the same time as fires started. The printer fire, for example… I was on the farthest distance patrol that night, and stopped at the inn that’s almost to St Albans. A dozen people must have seen me there.”
“You don’t know my cousins,” Louise said, looking straight ahead. “Phoebe would just say you had someone else light it. At least Mr Stratforth could say it wasn’t you or any of your men.”
“And he’ll be able to vouch for Benjamin being the right build too, when the time comes,” Shaun noted thoughtfully.
“Yes, when the time comes.” They’d reached the bookshop, and Louise let go of his arm. “Thank you for walking me home,” she said, as her sisters came up behind them.
That was a discouraging dismissal if he’d ever heard one. He bowed, first to Louise and then to her sisters and Mrs Poole. “Good day, ladies.”
A clatter of wheels behind him warned him it would be a bad moment to cross the street; he waited for the carriage to pass, but it pulled up right behind him. He was still facing the Baxter sisters, saw the dawning astonishment and delight on Marie’s face.
“Renwick!” she cried, and then she ran past Shaun and threw herself into the arms of the earl, just stepping down from his coach.