The White Worm by Sam Siciliano

Author:Sam Siciliano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

Eight

Adam Selton was at Lesser Hill, and he was as glad to see Diana as she was to see him. I managed to get a moment alone with him and told him briefly what had happened with Caswall. His face darkened, and he said a single vulgar word. “Be kind to her,” I whispered. Soon I set out for Micklethorpe.

I went directly to the telegraph window and composed a short note begging Michelle to come as soon as possible. This is a dark business, I wrote, and explained how Diana needed a woman’s help. I also mentioned that no bodies had yet appeared, but hinted that could change, as a man had gone missing.

Afterwards, I went to the White Swan for a late lunch. The ruddy stout publican seemed to remember me from our last visit when Holmes had asked so many questions. He held the stem of his clay pipe between his teeth, his eyes wary. He filled a glass with beer, and a few minutes later a plate was set on the table before me: a slice of ham, two large wedges of different cheese, and some rustic bread.

I sipped the beer, then put the ham on the bread and had a bite. Certainly Michelle would heed my appeal. It was Monday afternoon. She could be here tomorrow. The last week without her had dragged along, and now things seemed to be spiraling downward. Holmes had been exuberant when he had come out of the pit yesterday. He must have some suspicions about what was going on, but as usual, it all seemed a hopeless muddle to me.

“Mind if I join yuh, squire?” said some gruff voice.

I looked up and saw Holmes’s thin face with the hawk nose and piercing eyes. I gave a soft laugh. “I certainly didn’t recognize your voice.”

“That was my intention.”

“Where is Hamswell?”

“On his way back to Diana’s Grove. The weather had turned so pleasant I thought I would stop here for lunch, then walk back on my own. I had hoped to develop some friendly rapport with Mr. Hamswell during our journey, but he did his utmost to reveal as little as possible about himself, Lady Verr or his former master. Oh, he did answer a few direct questions, but I learned nothing new. He had his guard up the entire time. He has been with Lady Verr a dozen years, about the same length of time as her maid Angela.”

“We had a bizarre morning.”

“Indeed?”

A barmaid brought Holmes a plate of food and a glass of beer, and I told him all about Caswall’s disastrous visit and Diana’s reaction. Afterwards, he was silent for a few seconds, then took a drink and set his glass on the table. “It is a very good thing you remained behind, Henry. I do not like to imagine exactly what might have happened had you not been there. However, I suspect Lady Verr will not abandon her pursuit of Caswall.”

“No, I don’t think she will either. She obviously is aware of his deranged oddities, so she was not surprised.

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