The Curse of Deadman's Forest (21 page)

Ian and Carl dashed the rest of the way to the castle and quickly made their way to the front door, where Ian used the knocker a bit too exuberantly and the door was opened abruptly by the earl’s head butler, Mr. Binsford. “I say!” he exclaimed when he took in the two sweaty boys on the front steps. “What
is
this about?”

“We’re terribly sorry, sir,” Ian said in a rush as he glanced over his shoulder for any sign of Landis. “But we have an urgent matter for the earl!”

“The earl is not in,” Binsford said with a sniff, still looking put off by the racket Ian had made with the knocker.

“We know, sir,” said Carl. “But it’s a matter of life and death! Can’t you send word to him and have him come back immediately?”

Binsford’s expression suggested that not only had Carl
spoken out of turn, but what he was asking was highly inappropriate. “I’ll do no such thing!” the butler said loudly. “Now off with you two before I alert your headmistresses that you are creating a disturbance!”

Ian’s heart sank again and he was about to throw himself at Binsford’s mercy when a voice from inside the great hallway asked, “Who is that, Mr. Binsford?”

The butler’s face turned a shade of crimson. “No one, my lady. Just two lads from the orphanage.”

“Oh! I’ve just come from there,” said the earl’s aunt. “Which two lads is it, then?”

“It’s us, my lady!” Ian said loudly, ignoring Binsford’s warning scowl. “Ian and Carl. If we might have a word with you? We’ve a very urgent matter to discuss. It involves Theo, my lady.”

“Urgent matter involving Theo?” repeated the earl’s aunt as she stepped to the door. “What’s this about, Master Wigby?”

“Someone claiming to be Theo’s father has come to the orphanage and he wants to take her away!” Ian cried, flinching when he heard his own voice crack.

Lady Arbuthnot’s hand flew to her open mouth. “Oh, my,” she gasped. “That
is
most distressing! Most distressing indeed!”

“Madam Dimbleby says she can’t do anything to prevent the man from taking Theo away with him,” added Carl. “That’s why we need the earl. He’s got to come back straightaway!”

Lady Arbuthnot looked keenly down at them. “Yes, I
quite agree,” she said, and turned to the butler, who was quietly smoldering off to one side. “Binsford,” she said, her voice full of authority. “Alert my nephew that he is to leave London and journey back to Castle Dover this very instant.”

“We are expecting him the day after tomorrow, my lady,” Binsford replied politely.

“That is not soon enough!” she snapped with an impatient hand gesture. “Send an urgent telegram. Insist that he come home at once! Tell him that I shall expect him no later than the morning, in fact.”

Binsford looked from Lady Arbuthnot to the boys and back again. Knowing he’d been outmaneuvered, he bowed slightly. “As you wish, my lady.”

Later that night Ian was back at the keep and sitting with Carl and Theo in his room. Below, the clank of utensils on china sounded, and Ian’s stomach gave a small rumble. For leaving the keep’s grounds, the boys had been sent to bed without supper and were ordered to their room until further notice.

In protest, Theo had also skipped her evening meal, and maybe because she’d done so voluntarily, she seemed to be in brighter spirits than the boys. “The earl will figure this whole affair out,” she said for the fiftieth time. “He’ll know what to do.”

And also for the fiftieth time, Ian silently hoped she was right. He’d been fidgety and nervous since they’d returned to the keep, but was glad to learn that even though Madam Dimbleby had suggested that she would not be able to stop
Major Fitzgerald from taking Theo away if he could prove that she was his daughter, she had in fact told the major that for the sake of everyone involved, she would require more evidence than just the one letter from Jacinda Barthorpe to prove that he was indeed Theo’s father.

This, she had told them as she escorted the boys to their room after Landis had brought them back to the keep, was in an effort to present the earl with as many facts as she could and allow him to make the final decision. Ian had immediately felt ashamed for not having had a little more faith in her.

“I wonder when the earl will arrive,” Carl mused. He was faceup, lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

“Shortly,” Theo answered immediately. “And someone’s bringing us a gift,” she added.

Ian was about to ask her what she meant by that when there was a soft knock on the door, and a moment later Jaaved entered with a rather satisfied smile on his face. “Hello,” he greeted them, and quickly came inside and shut the door.

“Hello,” the three of them replied.

“I’ve brought you something,” Jaaved said, his grin growing bigger.

“We know,” said Carl.

“You do?” Carl pointed at Theo and Jaaved nodded. “Oh,” he said. “Yes, I forgot. There’s no sense trying to surprise you lot with Theo around.”

Theo giggled and Ian marveled at the way she could recover from such distressing news so quickly. He seemed to be
having a harder time of it than she was, in fact. He’d hardly cracked a smile all the rest of the day.

Jaaved reached under his long shirt, which he insisted on wearing outside his trousers, and pulled out a napkin. Unfolding it, he handed over three dinner rolls and several slices of ham. “Jaaved!” Carl exclaimed as he eagerly took the food. “You’re blooming brilliant, mate!”

Jaaved rocked happily back on his heels. “And it was all the more difficult because I was seated right next to Madam Scargill,” he said proudly.

Ian took his share and forced a smile. “Thanks,” he said, then wolfed his food down.

“Theo says the earl’s going to be here soon,” Carl said, licking his fingers after polishing off the meal.

Jaaved’s eyebrows rose. “The headmistresses aren’t expecting him until morning.”

“You should go and tell them that he’ll be along tonight,” Theo insisted. “They don’t like to be surprised.”

Jaaved turned to the door as Theo added, “And tell them that he’s bringing Lady Arbuthnot with him, and one other man.”

“Who?” Ian asked her.

Theo’s expression turned confused. “Why, I’m not sure. That last bit just popped out of my mouth, really.” Jaaved smiled as if he understood, and left them to deliver the message.

“It’s a good thing that the earl’s bringing his aunt to discuss the matter, don’t you think?” Carl said.

Ian smiled, feeling a sense of relief for the first time since
that afternoon. “Yes,” he agreed. “Lady Arbuthnot will surely be on our side. And the other gent could be a barrister, someone to help the earl with the legal matter of keeping you here, right, Theo?”

Theo stared pensively out the window, her hand fluttering up to the crystal about her neck. “I hope so,” she whispered. “I sincerely hope so.”

    The earl and his aunt arrived at half past eight, when most of the children were already yawning and sleepy. Ian and Theo were both called downstairs by Madam Dimbleby for a meeting with the earl, and Ian was in high spirits until he looked to the bottom of the stairwell and realized that the man standing next to the earl was wearing a uniform.

As he and Theo walked down together, he noticed that the man turned anxious eyes to Theo, and his expression became delighted. Theo must have noticed too, because she reached out and gripped Ian’s hand tightly.

Ian knew immediately that the man in their entryway was none other than Major Fitzgerald himself, and Ian had a difficult time controlling his anger toward the man claiming to be Theo’s father.

Madam Scargill saw to ushering the rest of the orphans to bed while Madam Dimbleby led Lady Arbuthnot, the earl, Major Fitzgerald, Ian, and Theo into the headmistresses’ private study for what was sure to be a most uncomfortable meeting.

Ian sat down on a small sofa right next to Theo and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. He noticed she refused
to look up and meet the major’s eyes. He also noticed that the major had a kind face, which saddened when she refused to look at him.

Once everyone was seated, the earl cleared his throat and addressed them. “Thank you all for agreeing to meet on this most urgent matter so late in the evening.” Most of those in attendance smiled politely at the earl. Ian just stared hard at the major, willing him to leave them all alone. “I would like to begin by introducing our guest, Major Fitzgerald from Debbonshire.”

“My lord Arbuthnot, you have my sincere gratitude for bringing all concerned parties together. I’m most anxious to settle this matter and take my daughter home.”

Theo immediately began to cry. Ian scowled angrily at the major. Lady Arbuthnot tsked, as if she didn’t approve, and the earl cleared his throat again. “Yes, Major, about that …,” he began. “My aunt the Lady Arbuthnot has informed me that you believe Theo to be your daughter, but as I explained to you on the telephone earlier this afternoon, Theo is a very precious member of my orphanage, and I shall not let her go without overwhelming evidence that you are, in fact, her father.”

The major appeared taken aback. “Forgive me, my lord, but I’ve never heard of an orphanage requiring proof of lineage to remove a child and give her a permanent home.”

The earl nodded, as if he thought that a perfectly reasonable statement. “Theo is not just any orphan, Major Fitzgerald. We have come to believe that she is a very special child, and we have also come to believe that because of
her natural talents and abilities, Theo’s life would be in mortal danger should she leave the safety of my keep.”

The major looked at the earl as if he were speaking in tongues. “I’m afraid I don’t quite understand, my lord.”

Lady Arbuthnot spoke then. “Theo is a very gifted young lady,” she said. “She has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to predict the future, you see.”

The major’s eyes widened before he barked out a laugh. “You must be joking!” he said, slapping his knee. “Oh, Lady Arbuthnot, I had heard of your very clever wit, but I never expected you to pull such a lark at a time like this!”

Lady Arbuthnot’s eyes narrowed. “I assure you, Major, I make no jest.”

Major Fitzgerald stopped his chuckling immediately and stared at them each in turn, as if waiting for one of them to crack a smile and tell him this was all just a bit of fun. Madam Dimbleby wrung her hands as the awkward silence continued, and said, “Major, Theo
is
gifted with this extraordinary ability; we who have watched her grow up have witnessed it time and time again. And we also know that because of her abilities, there are those who would like to take Theo away and cause her harm.”

The major’s face showed concern. “Cause her harm?” he asked. “Who the devil would want to cause the young lass harm?”

The earl sighed heavily. “Terrible people,” he said with sincerity. “Believe me, Major. We have been witness to their cruelty, and we do not make these statements lightly.”

The major blinked at him, and Ian knew that the man
was having a hard time believing their claims. “I can protect her,” he finally declared. “I’m a major in His Majesty’s Armed Services and more than capable of protecting my own daughter, my lord.”

The earl looked seriously at him. “I have no doubt that you would try, sir; however, the forces of which I speak are beyond any one man’s abilities. Theo would be in grave danger should she leave this keep. Of that I am certain.”

The major sat back in his chair and threw his hands into the air. “But she’s my daughter!” he insisted.

“That has yet to be determined,” the earl said firmly, and Ian felt a renewed sense of hope.

The major’s brow lowered, his good humor all but gone. “I have given you my letters from Jacinda Barthorpe, who your headmistress has confirmed was the girl’s mother. It is clear in those letters that Jacinda held a very special affection for me!”

The earl nodded. “Yes,” he agreed. “I have read your letters, and they do indeed indicate that she carried an affection for you, but nowhere does she claim that you are Theo’s father, Major. And until I am certain that she is of your bloodline, I’m afraid I will be compelled to keep Theo right here, where she is safe and protected.”

Major Fitzgerald’s face flushed crimson. “This is unacceptable!” he announced, getting to his feet. “I shall have no choice, my lord, but to involve the courts.”

The earl’s face remained calm but firm. “You will do as you must, Major. And I will not fault you for it.”

For a moment no one spoke or moved. The major stood
in the center of the floor, staring at them as if they were all quite mad; then he donned his hat, gave the earl and Lady Arbuthnot a formal bow, and said, “You may expect to hear from my barrister in the morning. I shall see myself out.” And with that, he walked angrily out of the study.

Madam Dimbleby got up from her chair. “I should see him to the door,” she said before hurrying after him.

Once she’d gone, Ian felt his shoulders relax and he gave the earl his biggest smile. “Thank you, my lord!”

But the earl’s eyes suggested that he was far more concerned about the way things had gone than he’d initially let on. “If he goes to the courts, we’ll lose,” he said softly.

Lady Arbuthnot agreed. “Yes,” she said. “The letters and his classmate’s testimony will surely get the court to side with him.”

“But what about what you told the major?” Ian protested. “About Theo being in terrible danger outside these walls?”

Lady Arbuthnot looked at him with her kind eyes and Ian knew she held little hope for their cause. “Ian, no one would believe us if we told them the real reason Theo must stay with us. They would laugh us right out of the courtroom.”

Ian’s heart sank. He knew they’d hardly seen the last of Major Fitzgerald. The moment Theo had gone down those stairs, the man had seen not his daughter, but her mother, and Ian could tell that the major had dearly loved Jacinda Barthorpe. He knew that Major Fitzgerald would fight all the way to the high court to take Theo home with him, just
to have a close connection to the woman he’d obviously never stopped loving. “There must be something we can do!” Ian cried.

The earl wiped a hand over his face, looking far wearier than the hour called for. “I will stall as long as I can,” he promised. “I will hire my best inspectors to investigate the relationship between Theo’s mother and the major, and I shall insist upon unswerving proof before I hand the young miss over.”