Page 37 of Secrets of Capell Manor
“That’s the biggest load of horse dung I’ve ever heard, brother!” Devlin cried out. “Since when do you go all poetic and soft? She doesn’t need me! She needs a titled gentleman, one who is generous enough to take in the children. One who can fill her wardrobe with fine clothes and can ensure she never scrubs a floor or slaves in a kitchen again. How could I ever give her any of that?”
Alden looked his friend squarely in the eye. “Would you…if you could? Would you marry her and raise the children as your own? Would you take her and the children in if you had the means?”
“Yes. Yes, I would, and Benton and Marta too, if they would come with us.”
Alden nodded. “Then we’ll find a way, friend.”
“But what if she is a murderer, Alden? What then?”
“Do you think if she did do such a thing, it would have been under the direst of circumstances? I can only see our sweet ladycommitting a crime if it was to protect herself or her family here.”
Alden stated the obvious, and Devlin fired back, “Of course! She doesn’t have a greedy or evil bone in her body and would never get enjoyment from someone’s demise. You know that. And I know that. But the king? Would he even care? His moods are like the wind. He could be merciful one minute and then cruel the next. Can’t you see how he might make an example out of anyone who threatens those who are loyal to him? I fear I won’t be able to save her, Alden, no matter what. If she is guilty, or even just the most likely culprit, then the king will do as he pleases, and I’ll be powerless to stop him.”
“Then we must prove she is innocent,” Alden stated matter-of-factly. “Let’s start now. I know there has to be more to Ridley’s account than what he described. I’m going back up to Capell’s study, and I’m going to keep looking.”
“I’m coming with you.”
The men climbed the main staircase and passed the lady’s chamber and the girls’ room. Alden peeked into the room. The fire still burned brightly, and the girls were snug under the covers. Grim slept at the very end of the bed. The dog raised its massive head and tilted it to the side, as if to ask Alden what he needed and how dare he interrupt his sleep.
Alden came back into the hall and just shook his head, “That dog has turned into the children’s nanny.”
Devlin didn’t argue. When they reached the lord’s chamber, the cold air from the unused room hit them squarely in the face. Devlin felt the chill in his bones. He lit several lanterns, and the men went to work on Capell’s desk.
Devlin started by moving the ledgers he’d pored over and placing them on a small side table across the room. Alden sat in the desk’s chair and took every object and paper from each drawer, and Devlin examined them. Once each item wasscrutinized, Devlin took them to the side table. The desk didn’t have much in it overall, so it didn’t take long to empty it completely.
“Well, that’s it,” Alden announced reluctantly.
But Devlin wasn’t convinced. “There’s got to be something.”
He traced each edge and corner of the desk with his hand. There was nothing out of the ordinary. He then took out each drawer, turned them over, and peered inside the drawer space. Nothing there either. He even crawled under the desk and examined the underside, but again there was nothing.
Devlin sighed in frustration and anger burned from his core as he wanted to hit something. He paced the length of the room, and a few expletives escaped his mouth. He was at a complete dead end, and Kelley would be here any day now.
“Wait just a minute,” Alden said quietly.
Devlin rushed back to his side. “What have you found?”
“The front panel of the desk—part of it is recessed,” Alden said as he showed Devlin where he found the abnormality in the workmanship.
Alden pulled on the small section of wood, but nothing happened. But then he ran his finger underneath and discovered a small lever of sorts. He slid the lever over, and a hidden drawer popped open just slightly. The compartment was only slightly bigger than Alden’s hand.
“Well, what do you know?” Devlin smiled as he reached inside and found a thin, leather-bound book. He opened it to discover it was another ledger with numbers and dates recorded.
Just like the larger books he’d pored over before, the writing existed of only one or two initials and an amount. However, there was a notable difference here. All the entries listed were paid to Lord Edmond. There were no notes of money that he owed anyone recorded.
Devlin smiled and looked at Alden, “I think we have a real motive here, friend. It appears that several people were paying Lord Edmond regularly, and whatever it was for, he kept it hidden.”
“I agree. There’s no telling what that man was delving into. He was a disgrace. Still, our case would be stronger if we knew who was paying him and why.”
Devlin nodded and turned a few more pages in the small book. At the end of the book, the last three pages showed several dates and times recorded. Each one was written, then crossed out. Except for one, which had a location scribbled beside it as well.
Wisbech, The Boar’s Head, January 18, Dusk
“January 18. That is tomorrow,” Alden said.
“Then Wisbech is where I will go,” Devlin stated firmly.
“Finally, a real lead. I think we’ll find that Capell was up to no good. Let’s just hope there will be enough evidence that shows someone would want him dead.”
