Cakes and Pains: The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren

Author:Nancy Warren [Warren, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ambleside Publishing
Published: 2021-09-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Hamish slowly walked over to me, his head hung low. I nodded grimly. While we’d been here, I’d been aware of activity back at the Hall. It sounded like the hunt was back. But without its master.

Then there was the distinct sound of a lone horse galloping toward us, coming from the opposite direction to the Hall. I stood and turned, holding my hand to my eye to shield the sun. It was Benedict, astride his chestnut horse, kicking her flanks to go faster.

He was with us in seconds, and I realized that in a moment I’d have to tell him something terrible. A shiver went through me. How would I find the words?

Benedict pulled at the reins and jumped down from the horse the moment she slowed.

“I thought I heard my mother scream.” He was looking around, no doubt thinking it was the countess who’d had an accident.

“It’s your father,” I said quietly.

His eyes followed mine as I turned toward where his father lay dead.

Benedict stood completely still for a moment. All color drained from his face.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I’m—”

But Benedict didn’t wait for me to finish. He walked over to the earl’s body. “He’s fallen from his horse. Has an ambulance been called?” He sounded curt and in control, but I imagined the truth was sinking in. The earl was too still.

Hamish said, “I’m afraid he’s dead.”

“I can’t believe it,” Benedict said. He sat beside his father’s body on the rock and smoothed the hair from his face.

As much as I had disliked the earl, compassion flooded through me as I watched Benedict tenderly touch his father’s brow. I turned away from such an intensely private moment.

Hamish came to my side, and Gaurav checked his phone and said the police shouldn’t be long.

Benedict joined us. “I don’t understand,” he said. “What could have happened? He was nearly back at the Hall. He was a masterful rider.” He looked at the horse, but it stood near the earl, giving no clue as to what had happened.

“The ambulance is on its way,” Hamish said. It didn’t answer Benedict’s question, but what answer was there?

Benedict continued, “He took pride in his control over the horses.” He was so pale, worryingly so, and he appeared to be years older. He looked around for his mother and asked where she was. I had to explain that after leading us to the earl, she had been too upset to watch as Hamish checked for a pulse. “I think she rode back to the Hall,” I said quietly. “I don’t think she could cope.”

I couldn’t blame the countess for not being able to stay with her dead husband. It had obviously been a terrible shock. Perhaps she’d even witnessed the fall. How awful.

Benedict just blinked at me. The shock was setting in. “Has someone called…” he started but then trailed off.

“Police are on their way,” Hamish replied.

“Police?” Benedict looked confused. “But he had an accident. Fell off his horse.”

“Nevertheless, sir, in a sudden death, the police are always called as well as the ambulance.

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