Chapter 15
My father-in-law did not deem to share his intentions with us, but he promised Gage he would ensure Birnam never left the south lawn where the amusements we had planned were to take place.
“We’ll try to corner Paget near the northwest side entrance, if you’d like to listen in,” Gage murmured as we made our way along the corridor toward the back terrace.
“However, if I read the man correctly, I don’t recommend speaking up.
” His expression turned stony. “He’s more likely to respond to a show of force. ”
I realized what this meant, though I hated the necessity. Having witnessed Gage and Anderley work together to interrogate a suspect before, I trusted they wouldn’t actually use violence, merely the threat of it. But it wasn’t my favorite tactic. I knew it wasn’t my husband’s first choice either.
Arriving on the terrace, we discovered a number of the guests already gathered.
Many of the ladies were dressed in similar attire to my own, which would accommodate a freer range of movement for wielding a bow or swinging a mallet.
Truth be told, I wished I could wear gowns like this archery dress every day, for it was also devoid of the voluminous sleeves I so despised.
The gentlemen wore loose trousers and sporting coats in earthen hues.
Gage and I led the party down into the garden and then along the path around to the side of the house where a slope led to the south lawn.
Beyond it lay the sparkling pond that Emma so adored.
I noted a few fishing poles had been propped along the shore for the gentlemen’s amusement.
Targets had been erected along one end of the lawn, at the edge of the western woods, while the lawn billiard court had been laid out on the other.
Between them, at the base of the slope rising to Bevington Hall, a white canopy had been erected and chairs and tables set out beneath it for spectators.
While warm, a cover of clouds had staved off the worst of the heat, and a cooling breeze from the southwest provided some relief. If we were fortunate, we might have rain later.
Lord Gage was slow to join us, but I soon realized why when I saw him leading Mr. Birnam down the slope. I wasn’t certain what his plans were to keep the man distracted while Gage spoke to his manservant, but evidently, he intended to enact them immediately.
He called for our attention as they reached the canopy where we’d all gathered. “We shall begin our archery tournament shortly, and Mr. Birnam, here, has agreed to be our fair and impartial judge.”
Some of the guests began to clap, and we all joined in, much to Birnam’s delight. His color was improved, and I was curious if he’d finally taken some medication to ease his pain or if it was the fresh air and the chance to direct his thoughts to something else.
“Ladies, you will go first, so select your bow carefully.” Lord Gage swept his hand toward the area where all the equipment had been laid out.
Alana and I jostled each other playfully in our haste to choose the best bow.
“What is the record? My one hundred thirteen to your one hundred twelve,” Alana taunted as we began sorting through the available options.
“Not for long, dear sister,” I quipped in return.
There had been a time when Alana, Trevor, and I had indulged in a fierce rivalry over our archery skills, shooting practically every day on the back lawn of Blakelaw House.
But that was long ago, and our opportunities to compete against each other since had been few and far between.
Though that didn’t mean we weren’t all quite aware of the current standing score.
“Oh, how quaint,” Lorna interjected. “Though there’s no need to squabble over second place.”
“You think you can best us?” Alana turned to demand.
“Oh, ‘best’ is such a modest word,” Lorna stated, patting her pale blond plaited hair to ensure it was still in place. She flashed her white teeth. “Decimate is more like it.”
Alana scoured her figure with a derisive glare. “We shall see about that.”
I couldn’t restrain a smile as the two hurried off ahead of me still trading barbs.
It widened when I turned to find Matilda staring at us wide-eyed as if we’d lost our minds.
“It’s all in good fun,” I told her, looping my arm through hers to lead her toward the field of battle after pausing long enough to collect a quill of arrows for both of us.
“Didn’t you and your brother ever tease each other? ”
“No…Well, a little.” A pleat formed between her brows. “Actually, when we were younger, Portia was the one most likely to tease me.”
I turned to search her face, recalling that she’d said Miss Whitlock and Matilda had almost been like sisters. “In fun, I hope?”
“Oh, yes. Portia was never deliberately cruel.” But her response only seemed to trouble her more.
“You miss her,” I said gently, suspecting it was the truth, whether she would admit it or not.
“Oh, no.” She laughed nervously. “Why would I? Even though she was my father’s secretary, we’ve barely spoken in years.”
But that didn’t mean she didn’t still miss her, didn’t still miss the friendship they’d once had.
I wondered who had been at fault for their not having rekindled it upon Miss Whitlock’s return.
Had Matilda, perhaps under the influence of her mother, felt the social gulf too wide and a friendship inappropriate given Miss Whitlock’s new position?
It would admittedly have been awkward. Or had Miss Whitlock established the boundary, knowing the complications that could ensue?
Had we been alone, I would have pried deeper, but I had no desire to expose her tender emotions to the scrutiny of those around us.
So instead, I squeezed her arm where it linked with mine.
“I confess, I cannot recall the last time I fired an arrow.” I’d lowered my voice as if confiding a secret.
“It is likely my sister will trounce me,” I added with a laugh. “Are you any good at this?”
“Only adequate,” she demurred.
But this proved to be a lie. Matilda was far more than adequate. She was quite good. Good enough to advance to the final round against Lorna. I had to settle for third, and the happy knowledge that at least I’d bested Alana. A fact I made sure to crow about.
“We’re tied, dearest. Tied,” Alana retorted with a sniff. “You still haven’t bested me overall.”
“She’s a terrible loser, isn’t she?” her husband, Philip, leaned over to mock whisper, earning himself a swat on the arm.
“Used to fill my bed with acorns when I bested her,” Trevor declared.
Alana glared at him, but I could only gasp. “You never told me that? How did I not know that?” After all, I’d lived in the same house with them.
“I was but too honorable,” Trevor replied with a false solemnity he ruined by grimacing. “And our governess threatened to tan my hide if she found any unwarranted forms of nature or wildlife in my room.”
Gage erupted into laughter.
“And you knew that, didn’t you?” I accused Alana.
She merely shrugged, though the brief curl at the corner of her lips revealed the truth.
“That’s my girl!” Alfie shouted as Lorna let fly her first arrow of the final round.
We all turned to watch, cheering for both women. It was a tight contest, but in the end, Lorna emerged the victor, much to her husband’s delight. Alfie even proposed to lift her up on his shoulder and parade her about. She countered that if he did, she’d slice his favorite coat to ribbons.
Meanwhile, Trevor consoled Matilda, who was grinning, accepting the loss with good cheer.
“Now, that’s the way to lose,” Philip continued to tease, and I thought for a moment Alana would do him true violence. Fortunately, whatever he murmured to her next made her snort with laughter.
I turned to Gage with a smile, but his attention was diverted elsewhere. I then noticed Anderley along the path toward the house, sending him a discreet signal.
“Follow me after a few moments,” Gage urged.
“You’re not going to shoot?” I asked.
“Not if the timing doesn’t coincide.” With this, he slipped away.
The men were already jostling each other over the bows, preparing for their turn.
There would probably not be a more perfect time when most of the party was preoccupied either by participating in or watching the men’s archery contest. Philip, Alfie, and Trevor, in particular, were filled with high jinks, and I wondered if Gage had hinted to one or more of them that a distraction was required.
However, Jemmy, Baron Foley, Lord Brougham, Lord Milngavie, and even old Lord Strathblane appeared to be getting into the spirit of the contest. I was almost sorry to steal away.
As I neared the corner pavilion of the manor and the side entrance that led into the billiards room, I heard voices coming from the western face. Realizing Gage and Anderley must have cornered Paget there rather than inside the vestibule, I stopped with my back to the wall to listen.
“We already know about your past, Paget,” Gage stated coldly. “Quite the criminal record.”
I didn’t know if this was something Anderley had since uncovered for fact or merely speculation, but Birnam’s valet didn’t attempt to deny it.
“In fact, if I were to identify someone here with the experience and mindset to commit such a deed, it would be you.”
“I ain’t never killed nobody,” Paget growled. “That’s no’ in my experience,” he retorted.
“Maybe you hadn’t before,” Anderley chimed in. “But we know you’ve pulled other nasty tricks. That you’ve pulled them for your employer. What’s to say he didn’t put you up to this one, too?”