without
her knowing.’
Rachel studied the picture. The E-fit of the woman found at Lister Cottage certainly bore a striking resemblance to Tessa
Trencham. She was as sure as she could be that Sylvia Cartland was a liar.
Chapter 14
The Jester’s Journal
7 June 1815
Oh, how the Lady Pegassa has the Squire in her thrall. For a woman who has no English, she knows how to make her demands clear
to all. She sulks, she pouts, she throws the china if something displeases her, and behaves like some great lady who is not
entrapped by manners and morals.
I asked the Squire if he thought the lady would enjoy one of my entertainments but he made no reply. Perhaps he fears her
reaction if events should displease her.
I shall write to Henry Catton and suggest that he pays the Squire another visit. I long to arrange another of our hunts, but
I fear that woman has caused my Master to lose his appetite for the chase. However, if anybody can overcome the power of the
Lady Pegassa, it is Henry.
8 June 1815
Today the parson came to our door, all humble and reeking of sanctity. I knew the purpose of his visit was to view the Lady
Pegassa, for her presence has been the talk of idle tongues in these parts since her arrival. How the servants do spread the
Squire’s business abroad like muck on the fields to ensure a good crop of gossip and stories to fill their empty brains.
Our mealy-mouthed steward, Christopher Wells, invited him into the house with a display of obsequiousness that would make
a cat laugh. ‘Yes, Vicar. No Vicar. Shall I wipe your arse, Vicar?’ How I would like to see that man kicked from the house
and sent out into the lanes to beg his food.
When Wells led the parson to the library, where the lady was in the habit of spending the mornings, I secreted myself in the
passage behind the panelling and listened, stuffing my mouth with a handkerchief to prevent my laughter from being heard.
The clergyman attempted to speak to the lady in a number of strange tongues, and his solemnity and pomposity must have caused
her much amusement, even if she did not comprehend the meaning of the words.
It was a full-half hour before he abandoned his efforts and left, his departure only to be followed by the arrival of the
Misses Haddon of Neswell Court. Those two silly spinsters reminded me of a pair of hens as they clucked and fussed, looking
around full of apprehension in case the Squire should appear and chase them off with a brace of whipped backsides. Once again
they were shown into the Presence where they received little satisfaction as the lady addressed them haughtily in her incomprehensible
tongue. The sisters, I know for certain, came out of curiosity, andnow word has got out, no doubt there will be more visitors trooping up the drive in the mornings when all the district knows
my master rides to view his hounds.
Perhaps I should put a stop to it. When I write to Henry, I shall tell him how these impertinent numbskulls take advantage
of his kinsman.
Chapter 15
Gerry gazed out to sea, standing too near to the edge of the cliff for Wesley’s liking.
Wesley edged nearer to him, trying not to look at the churning sea below. ‘This must be where they went over,’ he said. ‘Colin
said they had post-mortem injuries consistent with a fall from a cliff.’
‘It’s a long way down, Wes,’ the DCI took a step back to the safety of the path where the crime scene tape was flapping wildly
in the warm breeze and Wesley followed. ‘Do you think anyone would willingly stand there on the edge, naked as the day they
were born? I certainly wouldn’t.’
‘They might if they were being threatened with a shotgun. But the crime scene people say there’s nothing to suggest they died
here. No sign of any stray shot and no blood.’
‘Why were they naked?’
Wesley thought for a moment. ‘Could be sexual, butwe’ll have to wait till the post-mortem proper to find that out. Or it
her knowing.’
Rachel studied the picture. The E-fit of the woman found at Lister Cottage certainly bore a striking resemblance to Tessa
Trencham. She was as sure as she could be that Sylvia Cartland was a liar.
Chapter 14
The Jester’s Journal
7 June 1815
Oh, how the Lady Pegassa has the Squire in her thrall. For a woman who has no English, she knows how to make her demands clear
to all. She sulks, she pouts, she throws the china if something displeases her, and behaves like some great lady who is not
entrapped by manners and morals.
I asked the Squire if he thought the lady would enjoy one of my entertainments but he made no reply. Perhaps he fears her
reaction if events should displease her.
I shall write to Henry Catton and suggest that he pays the Squire another visit. I long to arrange another of our hunts, but
I fear that woman has caused my Master to lose his appetite for the chase. However, if anybody can overcome the power of the
Lady Pegassa, it is Henry.
8 June 1815
Today the parson came to our door, all humble and reeking of sanctity. I knew the purpose of his visit was to view the Lady
Pegassa, for her presence has been the talk of idle tongues in these parts since her arrival. How the servants do spread the
Squire’s business abroad like muck on the fields to ensure a good crop of gossip and stories to fill their empty brains.
Our mealy-mouthed steward, Christopher Wells, invited him into the house with a display of obsequiousness that would make
a cat laugh. ‘Yes, Vicar. No Vicar. Shall I wipe your arse, Vicar?’ How I would like to see that man kicked from the house
and sent out into the lanes to beg his food.
When Wells led the parson to the library, where the lady was in the habit of spending the mornings, I secreted myself in the
passage behind the panelling and listened, stuffing my mouth with a handkerchief to prevent my laughter from being heard.
The clergyman attempted to speak to the lady in a number of strange tongues, and his solemnity and pomposity must have caused
her much amusement, even if she did not comprehend the meaning of the words.
It was a full-half hour before he abandoned his efforts and left, his departure only to be followed by the arrival of the
Misses Haddon of Neswell Court. Those two silly spinsters reminded me of a pair of hens as they clucked and fussed, looking
around full of apprehension in case the Squire should appear and chase them off with a brace of whipped backsides. Once again
they were shown into the Presence where they received little satisfaction as the lady addressed them haughtily in her incomprehensible
tongue. The sisters, I know for certain, came out of curiosity, andnow word has got out, no doubt there will be more visitors trooping up the drive in the mornings when all the district knows
my master rides to view his hounds.
Perhaps I should put a stop to it. When I write to Henry, I shall tell him how these impertinent numbskulls take advantage
of his kinsman.
Chapter 15
Gerry gazed out to sea, standing too near to the edge of the cliff for Wesley’s liking.
Wesley edged nearer to him, trying not to look at the churning sea below. ‘This must be where they went over,’ he said. ‘Colin
said they had post-mortem injuries consistent with a fall from a cliff.’
‘It’s a long way down, Wes,’ the DCI took a step back to the safety of the path where the crime scene tape was flapping wildly
in the warm breeze and Wesley followed. ‘Do you think anyone would willingly stand there on the edge, naked as the day they
were born? I certainly wouldn’t.’
‘They might if they were being threatened with a shotgun. But the crime scene people say there’s nothing to suggest they died
here. No sign of any stray shot and no blood.’
‘Why were they naked?’
Wesley thought for a moment. ‘Could be sexual, butwe’ll have to wait till the post-mortem proper to find that out. Or it
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