Chapter 13 #4
“My father abandoned my mother and never gave a second thought to me. So, yes. What she told you was utter nonsense. But more to the point, if she won’t dine with us tonight, then she’s not going to supervise tonight’s meal preparation.
Mrs. Crabbe is more than capable of handling it all on her own. ”
“Dear heaven.” But this made sense, especially if he thought their housekeeper was a murderess who poisoned her victims.
Was she that sly and conniving?
Tulip had been completely taken in, falling for her tears and for her stories.
Or was Alex wrong about their housekeeper?
He marched into the kitchen with all the authority of a man born to be a duke. “Mrs. Crabbe, has Mrs. Granger come in here recently?”
Their cook was as tough as nails, but even she was intimidated by Alex and his fierce scowl. “No, Yer Grace. Not since early this morning.”
“What was she doing in here in the morning?”
“Reviewing the menus with me, as she does every day.” Her usually surly demeanor was gone and she was surprisingly deferential to Alex.
Well, he was the duke.
And he did look quite fierce at the moment.
His gaze remained on Mrs. Crabbe. “Just reviewing or did she go near the food?”
“None of the food was out yet, Yer Grace.” Mrs. Crabbe frowned. “Has she reported a problem? My food is fresh and I will not have anyone accusing me otherwise.”
Since their cook looked ready to grab a rolling pin and go after the housekeeper, Tulip spoke up. “No accusations, Mrs. Crabbe. But are you certain she did not go anywhere near the food today?”
“Quite certain,” she said with a nod.
Alex appeared a little calmer as he said, “She was looking quite peaked just now and it seemed as though her stomach was upset. I have no doubt everything you put out tonight will be flawless and make us proud. But if she is coming down with something, then it is best she stay out of here for the rest of the day. If she touched something, then throw it out. I won’t have our guests getting ill because she has contaminated your finest preparations. ”
That seemed to mollify the woman. “If Mrs. Granger is ill, I’ll make up some broth for her.
Never ye worry, Yer Grace. I will not let her into my kitchen until she has recovered from whatever ails her.
As ye said, I do not need her breathing on my food or coughing in here.
My scullery girls don’t need to be getting sick, either. ”
She then turned to the girls. “Did ye hear that, loves? Mrs. Granger is not to step foot in here until I say so.”
The girls, who were huddled together and listening to their exchange with wild-eyed looks of fear, bobbed their heads.
Alex nodded in satisfaction and strode out.
Tulip thanked Mrs. Crabbe and then scrambled after him. “Where are you going next?”
“Where do you think?” he asked, his expression daunting. “I’m going to find Mrs. Granger and question her thoroughly. She cannot simply hurl an accusation about your uncle and then go on her merry way.”
Tulip cleared her throat. “Um, she was scared, Alex. Not in the least arrogant or irreverent. In fact, we might have this all wrong. If your predecessors were murdered, then I do not think it was her.”
“Oh, really? That is quite an abrupt change of heart.” He folded his arms across his chest and stared down at her. “If that is so, then let me confirm it. This doesn’t change a thing. I still need to find her. I’m also going to search her quarters.”
“For evidence of poisons? All right, but let me be the one to check her quarters. The staff will talk if they see you go in there. They’ll think…well, you know. They’ll think you are as lecherous as the prior Davenport dukes.”
He let out a breath. “That is ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
He let his arms drop to his sides. “Fine, search her room while I look for her in the garden.”
They parted ways, each walking in opposite directions.
Perhaps Alex was right to pursue this immediately, for this was quite a serious allegation against her uncle.
Why would Mrs. Granger consider her Uncle William a villain? Merely on Ernfield’s cryptic warning?
Had Ernfield even said something to her or was that a lie, too?
Tulip hurried to the staff quarters.
Mrs. Granger had her own room, larger than the rest and set apart from the other bedchambers in a sort of alcove to afford her more privacy.
Tulip knocked on the door. “Mrs. Granger, are you in there?”
No answer.
She knocked louder.
Still no response.
Tulip let out a breath and tried the door handle.
She was relieved when it opened easily and the door swung open to reveal a tidy chamber.
An empty one, too.
“Oh, heaven forgive me,” Tulip said, quietly shutting the door and immediately proceeding to open her housekeeper’s bureau drawers.
She did not know exactly what she was looking for, only that she would recognize it when she came across it.
A diary, perhaps.
But she found none.
Well, someone smart enough to murder three or four dukes and avoid suspicion would not be stupid enough to write down the details of each crime.
Nor did Tulip find a suspicious vial containing pills or any unfamiliar liquids.
In fact, there was absolutely nothing to be found in here.
Not even letters from her family.
No remembrance of her deceased husband, assuming he ever existed.
Not a single personal item.
That seemed odd in itself.
Tulip made certain to leave everything exactly as she had found it and hurried off to search for Alex.
He stood by the willow tree, a hand shaded over his eyes as he gazed toward the distant salt marshes.
She hurried forward and called out to him.
He turned and strode toward her. “Anything, Tulip?”
“No, but I think this might be something in itself.”
“What do you mean?”
She quickly told him about her search. “She had absolutely nothing in her bedchamber. Not a letter from a friend. Not old letters from family. No remembrance of her husband. No bible. No records whatsoever of her life before coming to Thornwycke Hall.”
“I am not surprised.”
“You aren’t?”
“Because her entire identity might be a ruse.”
Now, Tulip was really confused. “Are you saying she is not Mrs. Granger? And not related to Elspeth, the girl who disappeared all those years ago?”
He raked a hand through his hair, something he did whenever he was perplexed. “I don’t know. Anything is possible. She could be completely innocent, or possibly guilty of three or four murders. We don’t even know if these were murders.”
“Oh, Alex. My head is now in a complete muddle.”
“So is mine,” he admitted with a wince. “Let me find her and get this cleared up. One of the gardeners thought he saw someone heading toward the salt marshes. Could be her. Go back to the house and stay within sight of the staff until I return.”
“No, I’d rather stay close to you.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you searching alone along the salt marshes. I know these tides and you do not. Besides, am I not safer with you, at least until we find her? What if she went back into the house? How will I be protected while you are out here searching for her?”
He grunted, obviously not pleased that her reasoning made sense.
After a moment, he nodded. “All right, stay close. But you must do exactly as I say and the instant I say it. No questioning and no hesitating.”
“Got it. If you say hide, I hide. If you tell me to run, I’ll run.”
He cast her a wry smile. “And will you run even if you believe I am in danger?”
She cleared her throat and glanced down at her toes.
“This is important, Tulip. I am the one who has vowed to protect you. It does not work the other way around.”
Honestly, did he have to be so marvelously apish about this? She would run and she would hide, but she was not going to keep running or hiding if he were in danger and she could do something to save him.
Mr. Carver happened to be walking back from the salt marshes with some of his workers. Alex stopped them. “Have you seen Mrs. Granger?”
Mr. Carver frowned in thought a moment. “Perhaps, Your Grace. We noticed someone in the marshes and thought it odd because the tide was coming in. I just assumed it was a fisherman, but didn’t get a good look.” He turned to his workers. “Anyone notice who was out there?”
“No,” a few replied.
But one of the men regarded him uncertainly. “Didn’t look like no lady, but I only got a glimpse so I could be wrong. I thought it was a fisherman carrying his nets over his shoulder. Looked like a man hauling a bundle. Why would Mrs. Granger ever be out here?”
“No idea,” Alex said smoothly. “But she seemed out of sorts this morning and my wife is worried about her.”
Tulip put a hand to her throat. “The tide comes in fast and she may be too distraught to realize it.”
“I’ll come search with you, Your Grace. Er…with your permission,” Mr. Carver said, handing his shovel to one of his men at Alex’s nod. “Lads, escort Her Grace back to the house and then gather rope and rowboats, and come help us search.”
“Yes, take my wife back. Two of you stay with her until I return.” Alex now turned to Tulip. “Mr. Carver’s right. You need to go back to the house. I don’t want you getting caught up in the tide and drowning.”
She shook her head. “But I know my way around these marshes and you do not.”
“I expect Mr. Carver knows them better than both of us. I’ll be safe enough.” He gave her cheek a light caress. “Please, I don’t want to be worrying about you, too. We’ll return shortly.”
Tulip did not like this one bit, but she supposed he was right.
She was not dressed for wading through the marshes, not to mention she had to prepare for this evening’s party.
“All right, but stay close to Mr. Carver and do not stray from the path or you’ll sink into the mud and could get stuck.
If you feel the ground begin to give way beneath your feet, immediately lie flat and crawl toward firmer ground. ”
Alex cast her a soft smile. “I will, Tulip. Thank you for the good advice.”