Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
THEO
Istood at the back of my father’s office waiting as Lord Thistlebury gave his reasons why the accusations against Rue were complete nonsense.
My father regarded him haughtily, no doubt well pleased that his son had traced the well-known aristocrat who vanished soon after his wife was convicted of sorcery.
‘Finally we have a resolution of the biggest mystery in recent times hereabouts,’ my father said with a smug expression on his face. ‘I recall telling you ten years ago that I intended investigating you next and that I believed you complicit in your late wife’s dabbling in sorcery.’
Lord Thistlebury’s expression was stony but he didn’t answer.
‘And now, my son has been successful in locating you.’ He looked at me with pride. ‘Naturally I’m unsurprised that my son was the person who tracked you down.’ His chin jutted forward as he breathed in through his nose and puffed out his chest. ‘He has been taught by the best.’
I saw Lord Thistlebury had crossed his legs and folded his arms and I wondered if it was to restrain himself from standing up and hitting my father.
Not that he would ever have lowered himself to do such a thing, but from the working of the muscle in his jaw I guessed that it wouldn’t have taken much more for him to lose his temper.
Again I found myself questioning my role in these townspeople’s lives.
Unlike my father, I felt no satisfaction being here with Rue’s father and wished our visit to be over as soon as possible.
I hadn’t failed to notice the surprise on villagers’ faces as they looked up and saw who was accompanying me and where we were going.
It might be ten years since Lady Thistlebury had been executed but the shock of my father executing an aristocrat ensured that the incident remained in everyone’s minds.
People might have been surprised to see His Lordship, but none seemed amused.
In fact, those who looked from him to me had a fear in their eyes more profound than any I had witnessed before.
I hated to think of anyone fearing me; I would much rather they saw me as someone who made a positive difference to their lives.
If only I had been born into a family whose job didn’t cause people to fear us.
I used to enjoy entertaining guests at parties with my quick wit and silly anecdotes.
Now I was back in the place of my birth, all that seemed a world away and it saddened me.
‘Theo, did you hear what I said?’
I had no idea and, rather than guess, shrugged. ‘My apologies, sir, I’m afraid I did not.’
He glared at me, furious at my lack of attention.
‘I was explaining to Lord Thistlebury that, regardless of his assurances to the contrary, his daughter has been accused of practising witchcraft. I am unable to take the word of a man who hasn’t seen his child since she was nine.
’ He clasped his hands together piously.
‘I also reminded him that he assured me of the same thing with regard to his late wife.’
Rue’s father turned around in his chair until he was able to look me in the eye, his disdain obvious.
‘Your son persuaded me to come here. He insisted you were a fair man and would be open to hearing what I had to say.’ He gave me a pointed glare and turned back to my father.
‘He also told me that if I was to come here, you would reconsider prosecuting my daughter.’
My father scoffed. ‘I did say those things, but they were on the proviso that you give me evidence of her innocence, which you have not done.’
‘I had hoped that Lord Thistlebury’s willingness to come before you to vouch for his daughter’s upbringing with her grandmother and aunt might be enough to reassure you of his daughter’s innocence.’
My father gave me a disappointed frown. ‘Then you were undoubtably mistaken.’
Clearly he had no intention of changing his mind about Rue. All I had done was deliver Lord Thistlebury to my father, who could now make him suffer by tormenting his daughter further. The situation infuriated me and I couldn’t hold my tongue.
He pressed his thin lips together.
I ignored his forbidding expression and continued. ‘He might not have seen his daughter as much as he would have liked, but Lord Thistlebury knows her character. Having met her on several occasions, I am unable to imagine her practising anything that might be harmful to others.’
My father glared at me in silence for a few seconds. Then his expression was replaced by one of ice-cold fury. I knew I had made a mistake and wished I could take back what I had said.
The Witchfinder looked from me to Rue’s father, a self-satisfied expression on his face. ‘My assistant, or should I say my son, as that’s what we are both aware he is, has just offended me.’
I was stunned by his words. But then I saw the cruel darkness in his eyes. ‘I think we can both perceive why your visit has been in vain, Lord Thistlebury.’
Rue’s father gave a sharp intake of breath and rose to his feet. ‘I … I don’t understand.’
‘Lord Thistlebury,’ I began, hoping to calm him before he lost his temper further.
He gritted his teeth. ‘Am I to believe this isn’t exactly what you intended?’
I hated him thinking this of me. ‘No. I promise you, Lord Thistlebury, I am not a man who plays games with people’s emotions.’
He sniffed, ignoring my father and focusing all his disgust on me.
I stepped forward. ‘I beg you to believe me, sir. That is not at all what I have done, what I intended to do.’ I shot a furious glare at my father, then addressed Rue’s father once again. ‘I was hoping to do exactly what I explained to you.’
Conscious that he did not believe me, and desperate to right the situation, I decided to appeal to whatever reason my father still held.
‘Sir, I see now I have made a mistake in bringing Lord Thistlebury before you. No malice or insult was intended by me, and I assure you none was offered by His Lordship. If you will permit us to leave, I shall escort Lord Thistlebury to his home and continue with my investigation of his daughter as before.’
Her father and I waited, both of us barely breathing, as my father contemplated my request. After some time, his mouth drew back into some semblance of a smile, though there was nothing friendly about it.
‘I shall be one moment,’ he said leaving his office and closing the door behind him. I exchanged confused glances with Lord Thistlebury and was about to apologise to him once more when my father walked back into the room.
‘Is there something else?’ I asked concerned about what he might plan next.
He didn’t look me in the eye. ‘I decided before this meeting to have Thistlebury Manor searched and have sent militiamen ahead of you to wait for your arrival.’ He held up a folded piece of paper, his seal in red wax on the outside.
‘Present this at the manor. Arrest anyone who refuses you entry and bring them to me for questioning.’
His announcement horrified me. How had I misjudged my father this badly? ‘Isn’t this rather extreme?’ I asked, forgetting in my shock to use his title.
‘You dare to question me?’ He practically threw the order at me. I wanted to give it straight back to him and tell him to do his own dirty work, but knew that he would only send someone else. If I had any chance of helping Rue and her family, I needed to remain calm and do as he ordered.
I slipped it into my jacket. Content that I wasn’t about to defy him, my father gave a satisfied nod.
‘Escort His Lordship to his home in High Marcham. Then return to the manor where my three representatives will be waiting for you. The four of you will enter the manor house and search every last corner. Any incriminating evidence against the girl, her aunt or her grandmother is to be brought back to me immediately.’
‘My daughter has done nothing to warrant your ire in this way. This is a disgrace.’
‘Lord Thistlebury, if you do not leave here quietly, I shall have you arrested and taken to Mont Orgueil Castle where you will await the result of your family’s investigation. Do I make myself clear?’
‘Perfectly,’ Lord Thistlebury responded, his voice tight and low.
My father is enjoying this, I thought angrily. It turned my stomach.
I considered his instructions. I needed to think quickly.
Whatever I decided to do must be without my father’s knowledge.
I had already offended him enough to almost be taken off the case, and if I was to help Rue, that couldn’t happen.
At least if I was still involved I would be kept abreast of my father’s plans for them.
I decided to reassure my father that I was willing to do his bidding. After that, I had no idea.
My father gave a satisfied sigh. ‘You may both leave now. I shall arrange for a group of my men to meet you at the crossroads of High Marcham, Merryvale and Oakley, Theo. From there you will lead them directly to the manor and carry out my orders.’ He gave me a pointed stare.
‘I want no room missed, do you understand?’ I nodded.
‘Every corner of that manor house is to be checked for evidence.’ His dark eyes bored into mine waiting for me to answer.
‘I will see that it’s done, sir,’ I said, hoping I was right in my instinct that Rue did not dabble in witchcraft.
A slight doubt that she might unnerved me for a moment but I immediately pushed it away.
Damn my father and my own stupidity, believing I had influence to change his treatment of suspected witches.
‘You may leave now,’ my father was saying.
I walked to the door in a daze. I opened it for Lord Thistlebury to leave. The poor man appeared as stunned and desolate as I felt. I hated that I was responsible. I had to do something to put right my error, but I was only too aware how little time I had to do it.