Free The Captain's Mysterious Lady by Mary Nichols

mean that? And what would it have to do with me?’
    â€˜I have no idea. As you say, a riddle. What else did she say?’
    â€˜She talked of trials to come and a death. I found it all very disturbing,’ she confided.
    â€˜Take no note of it. I am not inclined to believe anyone can look into the future. If they did, we should all be better off, do you not think? We could avoid the pitfalls life throws at us and embrace only the good things.’
    â€˜Perhaps she was talking about something that hadalready happened. The death of that man on the coach, perhaps.’
    â€˜Perhaps. Have you started to remember anything of him at all?’
    â€˜No. And Aunt Harriet definitely did not know him. She has a strong stomach and peeked at him when he was laid out for burial. Aunt Matilda is the more squeamish of the two and would not look.’
    â€˜You are very fond of your aunts, are you not?’
    â€˜Indeed, yes. Since the accident I have come to know and love them all over again and am quite certain I always did. It is not Highbeck or Blackfen Manor that frightens me.’
    â€˜But you are frightened?’
    â€˜Yes, a little, but I think it is only of the unknown.’
    â€˜That may be said of everyone. Perhaps that is why wise women are so much in demand,’ he commented drily.
    â€˜Yes, I suppose I was very silly to go to her.’ She sighed.
    They were clattering over the draw bridge into the courtyard. ‘Will you come in and take refreshment?’ she asked, as a groom hurried forwards to take her reins and help her dismount.
    â€˜Thank you.’ He jumped down, threw his reins to the groom and followed her indoors.
    They found the Misses Hardwick in a small parlour where one was sewing and the other reading. They rose to greet him, bade him take a seat and ordered refreshments to be brought.
    â€˜Did you enjoy your ride, Captain?’ Matilda asked him.
    â€˜Yes, indeed. We have explored the village, looked upon the fen, investigated the church and talked of how peopleabout here make their living, including…’ He paused to turn to Amy. ‘What was the wise woman’s name?’
    â€˜Widow Twitch,’ she said.
    â€˜Oh, she is harmless enough,’ Harriet said as the refreshments arrived and she set about making tea and handing out little almond and cherry cakes. ‘There are some who believe every word she says, but it is my contention she fabricates most of it. Every young girl would like to believe a rich handsome man is coming to carry her away and every young man dreams of finding a pot of gold. It is nonsense, of course.’
    He smiled and looked at Amy, who flushed a becoming pink. ‘We came to the same conclusion, did we not, Mrs Macdonald?’
    â€˜Yes,’ she agreed, looking from Harriet to Matilda, who was shaking her head imperceptibly. It was Aunt Matilda who had suggested calling on the old lady and Amy supposed she did not want to be scolded for it.
    â€˜I wonder if you can tell me if there is a house to let hereabouts,’ James said, addressing Miss Hardwick. ‘You see, I think my business may take longer than I thought and it would be more convenient to have my own establishment. It need not be very large, I do not intend to entertain on a grand scale and I have only one servant at present.’ How much of this idea was a conviction that the answer to the riddle lay in Highbeck and how much to a reluctance to go back to his own empty home, he was not prepared to speculate.
    â€˜One cannot run a house with one servant,’ Miss Matilda put in.
    He acknowledged this with a slight bow. ‘I shall take on more as necessary.’
    Matilda looked at Harriet. ‘Harriet, what about the Lodge?’
    Her sister looked thoughtful for a moment, then brightened. ‘Do you know, I think that is a capital notion. If it is occupied, it might keep Cousin Gerald off our backs.’ She turned to James.