Beyond Reason (22 page)

‘She killed Josiah and she tried to kill Henry,’ Eliza said venomously.

Doctor Carr looked up, his needle half in Henry’s wound. ‘She?’ He raised his bushy white eyebrows and pressed a bit hard on Henry’s wound, making him scream in protest.

‘That – that bitch who married Josiah. She took all she could get and gave him nothing.’

Doctor Carr’s mouth tightened. He had seen for himself the pleasure Janet had brought to Josiah’s life. Their relationship had been more that of a brother and young sister or a favourite uncle and niece but there was no doubting the genuine affection which had developed between them. ‘And how did Janet kill her husband, then?’

‘She must have hit him and knocked him down. He was on the floor over there.’ She pointed towards the hearth. ‘She tried to stab Henry when he saw what she was doing, didn’t she, my boy?’

‘Ouch, you’re hurting me,’ Henry cried out and jerked his arm away.

‘She stabbed you. Tell the doctor what she did, Henry!’ Eliza persisted.

‘Madam, I think we would get on faster if you would leave us alone. As for you, young man, I can’t stitch your wound if you keep jerking your arm. Go now, Mistress Ross, and send Donald Baird in here immediately.’

‘Why do you need him?’ Eliza asked with a scowl.

‘I need him. Go and tell him. I will call you when I am finished.’ As soon as Eliza left the room the doctor turned to Henry. ‘So how did you get the scratches on your cheek?’

‘I – I er, I don’t remember,’ Henry stammered, feeling his cheek with his free hand and smearing it with blood.

‘Don’t remember, eh? Get scratched with a woman’s nails regularly, do ye? Well let me tell you this, you whining brat, you tried to foist yourself on Josiah’s wife and in so doing you roused his anger and
you
caused his death. You’ve lost the best friend you’re ever likely to have.’

‘Best friend? He was no friend to me. He wouldn’t even pay my debts…. Ouch! You’re hurting me, you….’ He broke off as Donald Baird came in.

‘Right, Donald. This whining young pup will not keep still while I clean his wound, let alone stitch it. I want you to hold his wrist and put your other hand round his neck and make him stay still. Sit on him if you have to. We’ll pull his arm over the side of the settee, then he can’t see what’s going on.’ Donald looked sharply at the doctor. He had known him all his married life and he knew he was usually a kindly man, patient and gentle with the children, or anyone in pain, but today there was a frosty gleam in his eyes and a grim set to his face. Donald shivered and was thankful it was not his arm which was about to be stitched. Before he resumed his task, Doctor Carr locked the library door to make sure Eliza Ross could not return.

Henry howled like a baby and screeched obscenities between every stitch, and there were a lot of them. Doctor Carr took his time. Henry was sobbing like a schoolboy by the time they were finished.

‘Right, we just need to bandage you up for several days, then you’re done,’ Doctor Carr said with satisfaction. He bent down and put his face close to Henry’s. ‘You’re not so much of a big man, eh, for all ye were intent on raping another man’s wife. I can’t imagine what sort of a soldier you’re going to make.’

Henry didn’t answer. His face was white and he looked exhausted after his ordeal. Donald would have felt sorry for him but he knew the fellow had intended to make Janet suffer. He deserved his fate.

Before he departed, Doctor Carr went through to the kitchen to leave sleeping potions for Janet and Lizzy with Maggie McLauchlan.

‘Mrs Ross is insinuating Janet killed Josiah, then tried to murder Henry,’ he said slowly. ‘We know that’s not true, but you’d best warn Janet to be wary.’

‘Murder! That’s impossible. You think Mrs Ross might accuse Janet, Doctor?’

‘If she can gain by it,’ Doctor Carr said grimly. ‘Josiah respected
his brother-in-law but the Right Honourable Edward Ross does have friends in high places. Mrs Ross might try using them against Janet if she can. Josiah didn’t trust her, I know that.’

‘You think Janet could be in danger?’ Peggy asked fearfully.

‘I don’t know, but I believe Mrs Eliza Ross is devious.’ He sighed heavily. ‘It’s a sad day, this. We have all lost a good friend. We can only hope Josiah’s wishes will be carried out. Now, I will see if Janet has written the letter to Fingal. We’ll pray he gets here for the funeral. He will know the law and how to deal with malicious tongues.’

Eliza Ross was indignant when the Reverend Drummond refused to discuss the funeral arrangements with her instead of Janet. Doctor Carr had warned him of her wild accusations but he was dismayed to find Janet made no attempt to defend herself.

‘I am responsible for Josiah’s death. If only I had not screamed….’ He looked at her pale face with the dark circles beneath her eyes and tried to reason with her.

‘Don’t you see?’ she said. ‘He would not have jumped off his bed, or hurried into the library. He would not have reached for the dagger to – to defend me from that – that b-beast. J-Josiah collapsed onto the floor and I-I could not help him … I could not help….’ Tears welled in her eyes.

‘Have you sent for Fingal McLauchlan, Janet?’ the minister asked quietly.

‘I have written. Doctor Carr took the letter. In his last letter, Fingal said he would be working in another town further north for a while. He may not get my letter in time.’

‘He will come for the funeral, I’m sure of it. He will help you deal with Mrs Ross and her son,’ he added firmly, his mouth tightening. ‘Now, do you have the key to Josiah’s desk, please? I know he kept his will in this top drawer. It is locked.’

‘I do not have the key. He kept it in his waistcoat pocket on his watch chain.’

He knew Peggy and Maggie had washed and laid out Josiah’s body but Peggy had told him Mrs Ross had snatched away his suit of clothes as fast as they could remove them. He rang for Eliza Ross now. ‘Can I have the key to Josiah’s desk please?’ he asked.

Eliza glared at him. ‘Why? You have no authority! My brother’s affairs have nothing to do with you!’

‘On the contrary I am the executor for his will, with Doctor Carr.’

‘He didn’t leave a will.’

The Reverend Drummond looked up sharply and saw twin patches of colour stain her sallow cheeks. He guessed he would not find the will in the locked drawer, or anywhere else, even if he had the key. ‘Nevertheless I must search. There are ledgers relating to payments to be made to the workers.’

Eliza drew herself up and sniffed, but she realized she had no option but to give him the key.

When she had gone Emma came in with a basket of logs to mend the fire. ‘Please, sir, Mrs McLauchlan said I was to ask you if you would like a tray of tea brought in and if you will be staying for the evening meal.’

‘Thank her, Emma. I would enjoy a cup of tea and one of her scones with her raspberry jam, but I shall not be staying for a meal. I have much to do.’ He sighed. He had not found Josiah’s will in the desk drawer. ‘Emma, do you know if anyone has been in this office since Mr Saunders died?’

‘Only Mrs Ross, sir. Miss Jan… er, I mean Mrs Saunders often came in here with Mr Saunders. She helped with the ledgers for Home Farm, I think. She hasna been in since he died.’

‘So only Mrs Ross has been in here?’

‘Yes. She was burning papers,’ Emma said. ‘There were lots of blackened pieces in the grate this morning when I came in to light the fire.’

‘I see. Do you know what sort of papers?’

‘No, sir, I’m not very good at reading. There had been a big yellow envelope because part of it hadna burned. The papers were written by Mr Saunders. I know that because he had such lovely writing.’

‘Indeed he did. Thank you, Emma.’

‘Very good, sir. I will bring your tea now.’

The Reverend Drummond watched her go thoughtfully. It was true Josiah had had fine copperplate handwriting and he had
painstakingly made a copy of his will. Neither he nor Doctor Carr had considered it necessary to take so much trouble for such a long document. One of the copies Josiah had entrusted to himself to lodge with a lawyer in Dumfries. He remembered thinking Josiah was being over cautious, but apparently he had had good reason. Certainly there was no sign of the will where it was supposed to be. He scratched his head, trying to remember what Josiah had said. He had certainly put one copy of the document in a big yellow envelope, along with two sealed letters which he had said were to be given to his wife, Janet, and to Fingal McLauchlan. He had closed the envelope with wax and his personal seal in two places.

His first duty as minister of the parish would be to see his good friend Josiah Saunders laid to rest in peace, but he would contact the lawyer and ask him to ride out to Crillion Keep and read Josiah’s will in person to all those mentioned in it. He knew there were quite a few because Josiah had been a scrupulously fair and generous man. Eliza Ross and her son would get a shock.

Janet avoided both Mrs Ross and her son and prayed Fingal would get here in time for the funeral. When she went to bed, she relived the nightmare of Josiah’s death, and still she blamed herself, deliberately shutting out the memory of Henry’s marauding hands and evil intentions. Sleep evaded her, or if it came it was filled with nightmares.

On the morning of the funeral, Janet looked like a ghost clad from head to toe in black. Fingal had not come. Henry’s arm had twice as many bandages as usual and he held it prominently in a sling fashioned by his mother. As soon as he had an audience he moaned about his wound, the pain and how he had nearly died. Maggie McLauchlan beckoned Janet in to the kitchen away from the other mourners who were still arriving.

‘Donald thought you would like to see these two people, Janet, and they want to see you. I’ve put them in my wee room off the kitchen.’

‘Has Fingal arrived?’

‘No, not yet. Maybe he didn’t get the letter in time. Come through here….’

‘Mrs Foster! And Joe!’ Janet cried, her face lighting for a moment. She ran towards them and Mrs Foster opened her arms wide and hugged her, while Joe looked on shyly, twisting his hat in his hand. He was still a boy even though he did a man’s work and carried the responsibility.

‘I am so sorry, so very sorry, I left you in the lurch when I ran away,’ Janet said.

‘No, no, Janet, you’re not the one who should be sorry. I was more grateful than you’ll ever know when I heard you had survived yon winter’s night and found refuge with your friends here.’ She looked at Maggie. ‘And now you have more grief, lassie, when you should be enjoying life.’

‘It’s a long drive from Braeheights so I’ve made Hannah and her laddie a cup of tea and a bite to eat,’ Maggie interrupted, afraid too much sympathy might shatter Janet’s fragile control.

‘Oh, thank you, Mrs McLauchlan,’ Joe said gratefully. ‘I didna have time to eat my breakfast this morning.’ He turned to Janet. ‘Ye would hear about father’s accident? His leg was broken in three places. His kneecap is twisted. That’s why Ma and me were able to come. She really wanted to see you, Janet. We all missed you.’

‘I’ve missed you and your brothers too, Joe,’ Janet said. ‘Is your father improving?’

‘He’ll never walk again without a stick the doctor says. He’s dependent on Ma now so he has to do what we want. There’s been no more babies since Ma nearly died. I’m thankful for that and so is Ma.’

‘Yes, she looks well; quite lovely, in fact,’ Janet said sincerely. She had noticed at once how different Mrs Foster looked to the tired, haggard woman she had been.

The Fosters went through to mix with the other mourners now the large hall was filling up. Afterwards there would be food and wine in the main dining room, which Maggie and her helpers had opened up and cleaned. Janet’s heart was too heavy with sorrow to pay much attention. She simply saw a blur of faces and greeted people politely when they sought to shake her hand, or murmur sympathy. Then the prayers were over and Josiah was being driven away for the last time in the coach pulled by four shining
black horses with the men following.

Janet felt a tug on her sleeve. She turned to see Hannah Foster looking anxious.

‘Can we go somewhere private? I need to talk to you, Janet.’

‘Come to my bedroom, then, but I must see that things are ready for the wake….’ She led the way up the stairs away from the crowd of women gathering in the large sitting room.

‘It’s Mrs Ross, Janet. She’s spreading nasty rumours and saying you killed your husband and you tried to kill her son and he’s badly wounded.’

‘She has been saying such things ever since J-Josiah d-died,’ Janet said wearily. ‘Anyway, it was my fault he died, even though I didn’t strike him dead. I screamed and he rushed to help me. We knew his heart was very weak. I should not have screamed for help.’

‘So it is true what Donald Baird told us? Henry Ross tried to molest you?’

‘Yes. He is a beast of a man!’ Janet said through gritted teeth. ‘I wish they would go home and leave us in peace, but Mrs Ross is planning to take over here.’

‘That’s what I need to tell you. Joe was standing on his own at the far end of that great hall. He wasn’t hiding but Mrs Ross didn’t see him beside the stone pillar. She was whispering to a man Joe thinks he is her husband because he said he would take her and their son home with him today. She said she was not leaving, and neither was Henry. She says they are staying because the Crillion estate should be theirs now her brother is dead. She told him you had killed your husband and tried to murder Henry and—’

‘That’s not true!’

‘I know. She says the Reverend Drummond has to carry out the funeral for two young children so he will be unable to return here for the wake.’

‘I know, but he has been a great comfort already.’

‘Yes, but you don’t understand, Janet. That woman has sent her coachman to Dumfries town to bring the constable. She says when he has heard her story he will take you to prison to be put on trial. The minister will not be here to speak up for you.’

‘B-but I have done nothing wrong.’

‘Joe said the man told her she was crazy, but she told him she had already sent for the constable and he would see she was right when you were taken away.’