The Wounded Oak (The Northminster Mysteries Book 11) by Harriet Smart

Author:Harriet Smart [Smart, Harriet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anthemion
Published: 2023-05-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-three

Felix’s hired hack carried him back to Margrave. Having dismounted and sent her to the stables, he went into the great house and to the library, feeling like a reluctant schoolboy who must return to a hated lesson. He had expected to meet with Major Vernon, but as he stood surveying the linen-shrouded remains of Sir Francis and wondering if he would have to begin a post-mortem, a constable appeared with a message from the Major. He had returned to Swalecliffe, pleading exhaustion, which in the circumstances was perfectly understandable, but Felix was irritated. If he had known that matters were proceeding so slowly, he would have remained at Hardgale with Sukey. In that moment he would happily have thrown everything up to turn sheep farmer. A life up on that moor in the company of a woman whom he loved so dearly was the only thing his mind was allowing him to consider. Nothing else at all mattered.

He forced himself to sit down in order to begin writing a more considered set of notes from the aide-mémoire he had made after his initial examination. It was an ideal opportunity, especially with the subject to hand to make a thorough record, and he was exasperated by his lack of willpower. He leant back in his chair and gazed up at the painted ceiling. He thought first of Sukey and the pleasure of hearing her laugh, and then remembered the miserable Aloysious and his mysterious wound, a matter that he wanted to discuss with Major Vernon.

He got up from his desk and began to pace the great library, feeling he had a great deal of energy to dissipate. His eye was caught by the pile of books that Sir Francis had marked to be packed and conveyed to his new residence. The history of the Arbury family still lay on the top, and would need a doleful appendix added to it.

The door at the far end opened. It was Lord Rothborough.

“Am I interrupting?” he said.

Felix shook his head. “I was about to ask for some coffee.”

“An excellent idea,” said Lord Rothborough. “But perhaps not here. Let’s go out into the colonnade.”

The order was given and they went out to the well-proportioned loggia that formed an impressive part of the southern façade of the house and which in its cool utility was delightful on such a day. They sat down, and Felix said, “It still puzzles me that he wanted to abandon all this.”

“You are taken with the place, aren’t you?”

“I must confess I am,” Felix said, thinking that it would be more than pleasant to idle on such a loggia with Sukey at his side, and perhaps a dynasty of Carswells playing on the great green swathe before them. The true greatness of the house of Margrave might be yet to come. Who knew how Will might distinguish himself, what genius and talents he might yet display. “One might pass an agreeable, useful life here.”

“Not all the plans we form are destined to come to fruition,” Lord Rothborough said.

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