The Amorous Nightingale by Edward Marston

Author:Edward Marston
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It was late before Jonathan Bale was finally able to seek the refuge of his home and close the front door on another taxing day. Taking part in a search with Christopher Redmayne did not release him from routine duties in Baynard's Castle Ward and he had to cope with a number of incidents before he could retire from the streets. The last - a dispute between three different families over some stolen fish - was only resolved when the constable identified a stray dog as the real thief, leaving the aggrieved victims to patch up their differences with their neighbours and promise that they would not resort to false and over-hasty accusation again. By the time that he left them, all three families were engaged in vigorous reconciliation, united by a common desire to destroy the culprit.

'Where is the animal now?' asked Sarah Bale.

'Scavenging somewhere else.'

'There are too many stray dogs in the streets.'

'Stray cats, too,' said her husband. 'Not to mention gulls, pigeons and other birds with an eye for a tasty piece of fish. They were unwise to leave it in the kitchen like that with the door wide open.'

'As long as you solved the crime, Jonathan.'

'I wish they were all as easy as that, my love.'

A simple meal with his wife revived him. He listened to the rich crop of gossip she had harvested during her day and threw in amused comments along the way. Too late to read to his sons, he wanted to know how well they had behaved themselves.

'Oliver was quiet for once,' said Sarah.

'That's unusual.'

'I was afraid that he might be sickening for something but he seems healthy enough. He ate all his food.'

'So he should.'

'Richard was noisy enough for the two of them.'

'He's a growing boy full of noise and mischief.'

'Is that how you were at his age?'

'I don't know, Sarah,' he said, diverted by the thought. 'It was such a long time ago. I suppose I must've been. There were four of us children, always squabbling. My father beat me a lot, I remember that.'

'You, a naughty child?' she teased. 'Never!'

'It's true.'

'Did you cause trouble, tell lies?'

'Probably.'

'What turned you into such a pillar of honesty?'

'Marriage to a certain Miss Sarah Teague.'

'You blame me, do you?'

'No,' he said with a grin. 'I thank you, my love.'

They talked on for half an hour or more before it was time to climb the stairs to bed. After the exigencies of the day, it was a relief to be able to chat about domestic concerns but Jonathan was never entirely freed from thoughts about the kidnap. His mind kept returning to it time and again but he did not confide in Sarah. He might entertain her with the tale of the purloined fish but the abduction of two women was another matter, especially as his wife knew one of the victims. Tired from her own exertions, Sarah was the first to get into bed. Her husband was not allowed to join her. The clatter of hooves took him to the window.

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