Free Shadow of the Past by Judith Cutler

preference, was minuscule.
    So often did we tarry over supper, my good friends pressing me to stay the night, they had been kind enough to designate a bedchamber as mine. I kept not only a nightshirt there, but also spare clothes for both day and evening. Thus I too was respectably dressed. As for Jem, who also kept spare attire in his own particular room, he insisted that he was happier dining with George and Turner, Hansard’s admirable valet. Without doubt young Burns would have been horrified to learn that during Edmund’s bachelor days, both Turner and Jem had eaten with us as the equals we believed them to be.
    ‘We broke the news to Lady Chase without incident,’ I said, adding with a smile, ‘as I am perfectly sure Mrs Hansard will have told you.’
    ‘She heard it with a very distressing joy.’ Mrs Hansard shook her head sadly. ‘She does not see, alas, that the death of one man who is not her son means that her son is any more alive. As for Mrs Sandys, however – nay, I will ask Tobias to recount that part of our adventure lest I am betrayed into very unladylike sentiments.’
    ‘The woman is a toadying fool,’ I said dismissively. ‘Unfortunately she has nailed her colours to the Bramhalls’ mast, not her ladyship’s. In doing so she has forgotten her manners and her duty to a suffering human being. In short, she neither knows nor cares what has happened to poor Miss Southey.’
    ‘Tobias, I do not think that you noticed the poor girl’s trunk was still in her bedchamber,’ Mrs Hansard said quietly. ‘In my experience, it could mean that she has been dismissed hugger-mugger , her things only being sent on when she has notified her old employers of an address to send them to.’
    Edmund frowned. ‘Or that she has quit her post herself, mydear, with similar haste. It is very unfortunate. I would have liked to question her.’
    ‘As to that,’ I began, casting a conspiratorial glance at Mrs Hansard, ‘I think you will be able to speak to Sir Marcus tomorrow. We – er – I , that is – left a message to that effect with Mrs Sandys.’
    To my amazement, he looked less than pleased. But at last his face softened. ‘Normally I prefer to make such visits without prior warning, Tobias. But what is done cannot be undone, and it will be interesting to see what effect your words have had. But I fear it would be better if I made my morning call alone. We do not want this to smack of conspiracy, my friend.’
    I hung my head in shame all the deeper for the gentleness of his rebuke.
    Mrs Hansard rose swiftly. ‘Poor Cook will be in agonies of distress if those fowl cook one minute longer. Gentlemen, shall we dine?’
     
    While Dr Hansard, with all the weight of his office on his shoulders, set out for Moreton Hall, promising to report what transpired when we gathered for luncheon, I returned to the parsonage, with Jem riding beside me. He kept clearing his throat as if it pained him. I had irritated one friend, and now it seemed that I must irritate another.
    ‘Jem, you are ailing, are you not?’
    ‘’Tis nothing, Toby – just a tickle.’
    ‘A tickle – or a putrid throat? Be honest, man. You have been stifling coughs ever since we set out. I am persuaded that a mustard footbath is the only thing for you. That, and a hot infusion. No, do not attempt to stable the horses – you taughtme how to rub down an animal to your satisfaction years ago, and I fancy I have not forgotten.’
    ‘You wouldn’t dare forget.’ He tried to laugh, but broke off, clutching his throat.
    ‘I want your word that, by the time I have finished with Titus and Ben here, you will be in your chamber, a blanket about your shoulders and your feet already soaking.’ I spoke with mock-seriousness, but for all that I was very worried. Jem was never ill, always a tower of strength when everyone else was succumbing to the influenza or even to the smallpox.
    The horses thoroughly dealt with, I ran inside, to be greeted by