Death at the Devil's Tavern by Deryn Lake Page A

died.’
    â€˜How long ago was that?’
    â€˜Only seven months. It is all quite, quite shameful.’
    Julian interrupted from behind them. ‘It was a natural thing, Mr Rawlings. Ten years ago, when Juliette and I were nine, our mother suffered a stroke which led her to be paralysed. My father was quite hale and strong at the time, in the early part of his fifties, and I believe sought the comforts of marriage elsewhere. My twin and I were too young to know about such things but we overheard family gossip and had the long ears of childhood. Then he met Amelia and she became his mistress. My grandmother found out and took great exception to this, as did other members of the family who considered her a money-seeking flap. However, my father obviously cared for the girl because he planned to wed her.’
    â€˜I know about that,’ John put in.
    â€˜The marriage was to have been secret but Grandmama got wind of it …’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜By terrorising Luke Challon into telling her. Then she ordered us all to go, dressed in black, to try and put a stop to it.’
    â€˜But how could you have done that?’
    â€˜Had the marriage proceeded she intended to shout out yes when the preacher asked if anyone knew any just cause or impediment.’
    â€˜But she had no right. Your father was a widower after all.’
    â€˜She considered that Mother – who was her daughter by the way – was not yet cold in her grave. Why, she swore that she would go to any lengths to see that her son-in-law did not remarry. Did she not, Juliette?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said his sister, going pale as the full import of the words dawned on her.
    John glided over the awkward moment. ‘And what was your opinion of Miss Lambourn, Mr Hartfield? I presume from your general tone that you take a man of the world’s view of your father’s transgression. Am I right?’
    Julian blossomed and the Apothecary, remembering that the young man considered himself something of a gamester and blood, smiled inwardly.
    â€˜I certainly did not disapprove. She is a very pretty delicate soul, albeit something of a dell.’
    â€˜Really, Julian,’ said Juliette crossly, ‘she is a lowlife little harlot and well you know it.’
    â€˜Men and women see these things differently,’ he answered carelessly.
    Sensing that they were about to bicker again, the Apothecary determinedly changed the subject. ‘Tell me of the other members of your family apart from your grandmother. Describe them to me.’
    â€˜Well, there’s Aunt Hesther, Grandmama’s daughter and our late mother’s sister. She never married and now acts as the old lady’s companion, poor creature.’
    John nodded as into his pictorial memory flashed a picture of a fluttering female and a nasty old woman sitting together in church.
    Juliette took up the tale. ‘Father had five children, Roger, Thomas – who drowned at sea – Hugh, then us. Roger never married …’ She exchanged a sudden mischievous look with her brother which spoke volumes. ‘… so he brought no wife to the house, though Thomas did. You’ve met her, Lydia the dark lily. She’s odd, a bit maddish, in total contrast to our brother Hugh, who is such a prim it is hard to believe he is a Hartfield. And the same can be said about his wife Maud. Needless to say they have no children. Julian reckons that they don’t know how to set about getting one.’
    She giggled naughtily, her radiance restored, and John considered how ephemeral were the emotions of youth. Then, as if she had picked up his thought wave, Juliette’s face grew stricken again. ‘We shouldn’t be laughing, should we, with poor Father dead?
    â€˜On the contrary, you are grieving for him in your heart so smiles are not forbidden. Now, is that the picture of your family complete?’
    â€˜All but for Luke, though he is not