Free Silence of Scandal by Jackie Williams Page A

heroically.”
    Alexander looked up. Tears glistened in his eyes but he blinked them away and stood up. He stared into the fire trying to come to terms with the severity of the disaster now staring him in the face.
    “Phillip smuggling, I can scarce believe it. He must have been beyond desperate.” He looked over at Giles who stared back at him as he nursed his brandy. “I have heard enough for one night. We must eat and toast the dead, for whatever their faults they were still my kin and brave ones at that. I feel I have been treated lightly during my years fighting for the Crown. Only one scratch to my body and not a thing to worry about otherwise. It seems that my family had not that luxury. Come, we must eat and then look at the problem again in the morning.”
    He led the way out into the dining room where Grady served them a satisfactory if small dinner before they all found their way up the cold staircases to the bedrooms.

Chapter Four
     
    Leg Shackles
     
    Alexander took a deep, steadying breath. His three weeks were up and he was no nearer discovering the truth or uncovering bounteous amounts of hidden treasure. The family jewels were nowhere to be found. Alexander had to surmise that his mother was mistaken and they had been sold along with whatever else could be removed from the castle. Carter was expected within the hour and Alexander was filthy, reeking of sweat and burning flesh. He tore his jacket from his shoulders and shouted for Grady to bring his bath.
    Giles picked the splinters from his fingers where he had been helping repair a fence with less than adequate gloves. He stared out at the weed free drive in front of the castle. Clipped hedges showed signs of new growth and beyond the surrounding walls several of the fields had been cleared and ploughed in hope of planting a late crop.
    “I’m not sure that any of this has been worth the trouble. Seems to me that you could have sat here drinking your father’s excellent brandy for the last three weeks rather than run yourself ragged trying to tidy up an estate that someone else is going to get their grubby hands on. The only benefit of these weeks being over is that at least you will find out exactly who you are indebted to. At least you will have the satisfaction of being able to punch him in the face.” He winced as a bead of blood drew to the surface of his thumb where he had pulled an extra thick shard of wood. He stuck his finger in his mouth and sucked hard.
    Alexander kicked off his mud covered boots and stomped up the stairs in his stockinged feet. He spoke over his shoulder as Giles followed him.
    “Better to work than sit here doing nothing but brood over what cannot be changed and I couldn’t stand the smell of rotting sheep pervading every breath a moment longer anyway. I’m glad we have burned the things at last. I wish we had caught the damned animal that ripped out their throats though, but even leaving the carcasses to tempt the beast from its lair didn’t work.” He glanced out over the estate from a stair window. “It’s a shame I haven’t another six months. I feel sure I could turn the place around by then.”
    The work was only possible with the goodwill of Ormond’s depleted staff. He had spelled out the situation and even written to those at Albany clarifying the situation. All of those remaining had been glad to keep a roof over their heads for a little longer. That was all Alexander could promise them for the foreseeable future but not one of them had left him and all were more than pulling their weight. Grady had been levered, protesting vociferously, into an apron but he managed to dust and clean quite as well as the women. Sarah, cook and Bethany had been seen weeding the drive and digging in the neglected kitchen gardens. Geoffrey had taken over the stables entirely and two lads who worked the land came in everyday for the loaves of bread and slices of bacon cook gave them every evening. Even the crippled