Chapters (50)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- The Pengarron Sagas
- The Harvey Family Sagas
‘Leave the children with the nursemaids. I need to talk to you both urgently. I fear something dreadful has happened.’
Forty-Five
‘What do you mean, Luke, that you fear Bartholomew has gone off to murder Clem Trenchard?’ Oliver demanded incredulously, moments later in his study. ‘You’re not making any sense!’
Luke was watching his mother with concern. She might take this news very hard.
‘Why should he do such a thing?’ she said, angry that Luke should come up with this ludicrous idea over Clem’s safety. It wasn’t true. How could it be?
His fingertips together, Luke pointed out the facts as he knew them. ‘Bartholomew blames Trenchard for your recent troubles. He mentioned last evening that he’d go to any lengths to remove anything detrimental to the well-being of your marriage. I’m telling you, Father, Mama, that he is fully capable of such a crime. You don’t know what he’s become. It was he who murdered Lord Alexander Longbourne. He came down to Cornwall to ask you if he could leave his child here while he makes himself scarce and free again, but he was also sent by Sir Decimus Soames, to ascertain if I or Jack knew certain details in connection with Longbourne’s death. He’s lied to Soames to protect the family, or at least, because he sets such great store by you, Father. Otherwise, I don’t think he’d have spared Alicia Rosevear, he’s lied about her survival too.’
Icy darts of fear for Clem rode up Kerensa’s spine. ‘Apart from gossip over this Lord Longbourne’s death I don’t know what you’re talking about, and full explanations can wait till later. If you really believe Bartholomew has gone to kill Clem, we have to do something!’ She looked steadily at Oliver. ‘I’m sorry, I have to know.’
Oliver nodded and said gravely, ‘What we’ll say to the Trenchards if Luke’s fears prove unfounded, I’ve no idea, but that’s not important. The three of us will set out at once for Greystone’s.’
At the beginning of the ride to Greystone’s Farm, Kerensa, Oliver and Luke prayed they would come across Bartholomew innocently making his way back to the manor. Later, as their mounts kicked up the dust and avoided the ruts and holes in the narrow, straggling lanes of the moor, they prayed not to find him returning from the violent deed that Luke feared he had slipped away to perform.
‘Why did you not tell me the truth about Bartholomew? Do you suppose I’d have continued to welcome even kin of mine under my roof after such a change of personality?’ Oliver asked Luke bluntly at one point.
‘I was going to tell you once I’d made sure he’d left Cornwall. He was all set to return to London immediately after Beatrice’s birthday party, but then Cordelia ran away.’