Chapter Eight #2
With the rope around the body’s legs knotted securely, he rose from the mire.
“It’s a corpse, Alden. It’s got to be Edmond.”
He spat water and shook his wet hair. He climbed from the muck slowly. When he got to the dry bank, he grabbed a blanket from his saddle bag and wiped his face. He was freezing, his teeth chattering, but he wanted to see…he had to see.
With the rope tied to his saddle, he slowly backed his horse away from the bog. The rope stretched taunt, but slowly, the bog released its grisly prize from its depths. Once on shore, Devlin and Alden got their first look.
It was Edmond. His face had decomposed somewhat, but due to the mud and the cold weather, Devlin could make out his features, and further, his cloak bore the family crest. Devlin dropped to his knees. His shaking and chills hindered his movements, so Alden grabbed his friend from behind.
“Devlin, man, you must get out of your wet clothes.”
Devlin nodded. “Don’t touch him. Wait for me.”
Devlin quickly changed into trousers and a shirt he had packed with him and he grabbed his warm cloak. He then returned to the body.
There was no outward evidence of any injury that he could see.
He looked up and down the water-logged form.
He bent down and carefully examined Edmond’s legs and arms and felt no breaks, and there were no rips or tears in his clothing.
Devlin was ready to call his death an unfortunate accident.
Perhaps for reasons unknown, Edmond’s horse was spooked into the bog, or maybe it was too dark; Edmond rode his horse too close to the edge, and he and the animal got stuck.
Devlin was elated. He could tell the king it was an accident.
He peeled back the edges of Edmond’s cloak and sought out the inner pockets of the garment.
Inside, he found a small dagger in the left upper side pocket.
When he reached into the larger pocket, he found a small leather pouch.
Upon opening the pouch, he discovered twenty pieces of gold and a few silver pieces as well.
Devlin wondered about the money, but he was glad he found it as this would support his theory that Edmond was not robbed and this whole thing was an unfortunate accident. Devlin rolled him over.
There were bulges and lumps in the back of his trousers and large ones at that. Upon closer inspection, he discovered heavy rocks had been crammed into his pants, and large flat stones wedged into his waistcoat and belt.
Devlin sighed loudly. His accident theory now had an unfortunate snag. Lord Edmond’s body had been weighed down. Whoever did this hoped he’d never be found.
Alden shook his head, “Dammit! But who would take the time to sink his body and not take the gold? It makes no sense!”
Devlin shrugged and sighed. The brief hope of there not being foul play was gone.
“Let’s get him wrapped up, and back to the manor.” Alden went to his horse to get the extra blanket he carried with him.
Devlin noticed something in Edmond’s shriveled hand.
It was a chain with a locket. He picked the necklace from the dead man’s grasp, and opened the locket.
The locket contained two miniature pictures painted inside.
It was a man and a woman, and he didn’t know who they were.
But his gaze fixed upon the miniature portrait of the woman in the locket, and he began to see a resemblance with the long, curly dark hair and the eyes.
He quickly stashed the jewelry in his pocket before Alden returned to his side.
The men wrapped the body in the two blankets they had and then draped Edmond over Alden’s horse. The ride home was slow and solemn, and Devlin pondered what direction his investigation would go now.
“I am going to suggest something. And I want you to think about it before you answer. Devlin, you are the most loyal man I know. And you never break a promise or a deal. That’s why the king trusts you with his more, shall we say, delicate matters.
But in this case, I can’t see any good reason why we can’t just say this was a terrible tragedy but also just an accident.
No one will ever know that the scoundrel was weighed down in the bog.
We don’t have to mention that we found signs of foul play.
We can report back to the king and be done with this. ”
Devlin was quiet for a moment. “I want nothing more than to clear Rosalind and her servants. No, not servants. They are her family. None of them deserve to face any punishment or consequences of any kind from that bastard Edmond and his cruelty. But we have too many loose ends. Kirkeby, for one. He thinks the betrothal contract was sent to the king. When he finds out it never made it, he will never believe that Edmond died in an accident. He will try to implicate Rosalind, or at the very least her family, to help his case.”
“We could kill him,” Alden said matter-of-factly.
“You don’t think I haven’t thought of that?” Devlin replied quickly. “I have enjoyed the possibility of ending Roland Kirkeby in a variety of different ways since he made his appearance and intentions known, but I don’t think it would help.”
“And the king,” Devlin continued. “I don’t think he will believe an accident, in a bog, in the middle of the forest when his man had no reason to be out here.
And let’s just say he did believe our story.
Rosalind and the children are sure to be separated.
The king will marry her off, and who knows what will happen to Ridley, Kaylyn, and Luella.
They are the children of servants and not titled in any way. ”
“Sounds like Rosalind needs an acceptable suitor then. Someone who is ready to settle down and who will accept the children…and the unconventional servants. Someone who is loyal to the king and who will watch his border closely. Hmm, I wonder who could… and would fill this unique position,” Alden said with a grin, and a sparkle in his eye.
Devlin stared at Alden, and after a stunned moment of silence, he said, “Are you mad? You don’t think I should marry Rosalind?
I’m…I’m not…I’m not what she needs. She is a titled, gentle lady.
I have nothing. I can give her nothing. She’d probably run in the opposite direction, screaming at the thought. ”
“I think you underestimate the lady of the manor, Devlin. She’s strong and brave. But more than that, she isn’t interested in jewels, fancy gowns, or gold. She wants her family together and to be safe, Devlin. You can give her that.”
Devlin shook his head. He saw no way that the king would grant him Rosalind’s hand. A marriage would give the king a measure of security, sure, but he wouldn’t gain any lands marrying her off to his hired man.