Free Scandal at the Dower House by Sally James Page B

more days and this need not have happened. She considered her options. If she refused, Delphine would try to make a different arrangement, and would certainly insist on having her direction in order to contact her about it. She gave in to the inevitable, and hoped she could maintain the fiction.
    ‘I would love to dine. Thank you.’
    ‘I will send a carriage.’
    ‘No, no, that won’t be necessary. I’ve no doubt my aunt will have some commissions for me that I will need to do beforehand. She usually does, so I will use her carriage. Where is your apartment?’
    She escaped soon afterwards, when Delphine recalled all the various tasks she had to perform before they left for home, and after watching her friend and the maid walk away, Catarina turned back towards their own apartment, walking slowly so that she could think what to do.
    * * * *
    Nicholas was relieved to see that the Dower House cook had not been so viciously attacked as Staines had suggested. There was a deal of blood, but it appeared to come from just one wound, a heavy blow to the side of her head. Doctor Holt arrived and pronounced her dead, which they all knew. Then the constable came and shook his head gloomily.
    ‘Poor woman, but she was asking for it.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Well, sir, Ellen was always a flighty piece. The despair of her parents, though they tried to keep it quiet. Lady Brooke couldn’t have known what her reputation was when she took her on. After all, she came from ten miles away. But I’ve heard rumours lately she was meeting one of Farmer Lewis’s men on the sly. Married, Dan is.’
    ‘Mr Lewis’s man? Mr Lewis who rents the home farm?’ Nicholas asked. ‘So that could account for her breaths of fresh air late at night. You think this might be a lover’s quarrel?’
    ‘Aye, that or a jealous wife. Dan’s missus Annie has a vicious temper, and has given him a black eye or two since they’ve been wed.’
    Jeremy was horrified. ‘This isn’t a woman’s crime!’
    ‘This was done with a heavy club, or more likely something like a heavy branch, not a fist,’ Doctor said. He was still examining the body. ‘Look, there are scraps of leaves and bark in her hair, which I swear didn’t get there except from the weapon. The blood has stuck to them.’
    ‘I’d best go and talk to Dan and his missus,’ the constable said. ‘And send a lad with a note for Ellen’s parents. Poor souls, they’ll be wretched. She was their only daughter. They may want her buried over their way.’
    ‘Doctor, if you have finished, can we put her in an empty stable?’ Nicholas asked, and the cook’s body was soon neatly stowed.
    Staines had remained at a distance, but now he came forward.
    ‘My lord, how can I let her ladyship know? I don’t have her direction, I don’t know where her foreign relatives live.’
    ‘It’s near Oporto. I’ve no doubt her father’s partner will know. I’ll ride to Bristol and ask him. Jeremy, if I go immediately I may be able to return tonight. Can you deal with matters here?’
    ‘Of course. Staines, should we employ another cook for now?’
    ‘I couldn’t say, my lord. One of the girls can do all we need, while the mistress is away. I wouldn’t like to take the responsibility of engaging someone else until she comes back.’
    ‘If you need help, ask at the Grange. I have more servants than I need,’ Jeremy offered.
    Nicholas reached Bristol several hours later. The roads had been dusty and busy, and he decided he would have to remain the night, his horse was too tired for the return journey. He stabled the beast and booked a room at one of the main inns, then set out on foot for the wine importer’s premises.
    To his frustration Mr Sinclair was not there, and not expected back until the following day. Nor was he at his home, and his wife could not help, she did not know precisely where Catarina’s family lived.
    ‘I once heard her mention the Quinta das Fontes,’ he tried prompting