Ravishment: The first diary of Lady Jane Tremayne by James Walker

Author:James Walker [Walker, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Seventeenth-century detective story;British setting;aristocratic lady narrator;historical thriller;historical romance
Publisher: The Conrad Press
Published: 2019-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

26

A chance meeting

‘S o, do you fancy a day in Exeter? I asked Olivia as we rode back to Fetford Hall, having decided that it was too late to head towards the sea. ‘It’s a while since I was last there and I’m sure we could do some shopping together. We can also pay my sister, Caroline, a visit.’

Olivia smiled at me. ‘Yes, why not. With every step we seem to be getting closer to the truth.’

‘Indeed we do and I’d wager that this Will Thomson told Pemberton exactly where in Tipton his sister lived. I’m sure it would have been done in all innocence and he has only to confirm that to us and the net will well and truly have closed around Pemberton. I still worry that Crabb won’t be convinced but as I’ve already told you I’m prepared to go above his head if I have to.’

‘So when do you propose that we make this visit?’

‘The sooner the better. Tomorrow’s not an option as I must give my attention to estate business but we could go the day after...If you would come to stay tomorrow night we could then make an early start the following morning.’

‘Yes, all right, so long as you’re sure that we are taking a path that it would not be better to let others follow?’

‘I’m sure. We’ve come too far to give up now and you must agree that if we do not do this no one else will. Certainly not Crabb, of that I’m certain, and I have no authority over the constables. In any event, I see no danger in what I’m suggesting. We will merely seek out this Will Thomson, hopefully obtain from him the information which we require, and then enjoy the remainder of our day.’

Olivia seemed persuaded by my argument and we began to talk about what we might purchase together in Exeter. It was then Olivia who first noticed a rider coming towards us and saw that he was dressed in gentleman’s clothes and was mounted on a fine, black stallion.

‘My, what a beautiful horse,’ I declared whereupon I was struck not so much by the appearance of the animal as by my realisation that I recognised the rider as being the same man I had passed on the day I had visited Crabb.

‘I’ve seen him before,’ I hissed. ‘I wonder if he might just be William Pemberton?’

Olivia looked at my in surprise. ‘You really think so?’

‘Well, there’s one way to find out for certain.’

We were now no more than a twenty yards apart and I called out a greeting. ‘Good day to you, sir. Might you be William Pemberton?’

The man immediately looked discomforted and was slow to reply by which point I was able to look him in the eye. ‘I am....What do you want with me?’

‘Nothing more than the pleasure of making your acquaintance. I am Lady Jane Tremayne and this is my friend Lady Olivia Courtney.’

‘Yes, I know of you. I wish you both a good day.

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