Married by Morning (9 page)

     “They have what?”  “Lady Darby…”No Jarvis, I heard you and I should have guessed.  Do you happen to know where cousin Alfred is?  Or where cousin Driscoll is keeping himself?”  “The last time I checked they were in the dungeons, my lord.”  Sy gasped and grabbed his coat.  “I should have taken her away from this crazy family.  She is better than all of us.  I just hope she didn’t come to dinner and end up being dinner.”  He grabbed his pistol and knife off his dresser and strode from the room.  “Shall I bring the constable when he arrives, my lord?”  “No, this is family.  I will handle this.  You keep him looking through the house and I will search the nether regions with the others.”  “Yes your lordship.  I would hope they would have better table manners than that.”

    “Me too, Jarvis, me too.  Make a head count and see if anyone else is missing.”

   “Aye, I mean yes, your lordship.”  “Get busy Jarvis, we may already be too late.”  Sy ran to the stairs and Jarvis to the door as the knocker was banging loudly.  It was a busy morning.

    Constable Spencer was in a bad temper.  It was the holidays and he had to leave his family, which was bad enough, but he was planning to visit his mistress, Emerald too.  He was a very ruddy man with red hair and whiskers and a constantly red nose.  Spencer had a horrible temper to match his red hair and complexion.  He smiled when Jarvis finally answered the door. “I hope that I didn’t keep you from your lollygagging. This is not the way you treat most people that come to your door.  I am about frozen to the stoop.  I know this must be important but me balls are withered away out here in the frost.  Jarvis where is Lord Darby and be quick about it?” 

     “Lord Darby, Lady Darby, Lady Stella and Lord Avery have gone to find something.  I am to escort you to the library.  There is a fire laid and I will get you some hot tea and scones.”  “I appreciate that Jarvis.  Do you know why they have sent for me?  I had a murder last night that kept me busy till midnight and now this.  It is the holidays.  I know you have had a sad business with Lord Darby’s father passing but I am a busy man. “  “If you will have a seat by the fire.  I will get you a brandy to warm you before I leave.”  “Now, you are talking Jarvis.” The Constable sat in the seat by the fire and Jarvis laid a cover on his legs and put a pillow behind his head.  Then hurriedly poured a generous brandy.

    “Can you tell me who was murdered, Constable Spencer?”  “No, not that I won’t but that I can’t.  It was a mess.  Parts of them were everywhere.  We are not sure it was human yet.  It will be known shortly for we sent for Doctor Goldberg to identify the remains.  How is Lord Darby taking his father’s death?”

     Jarvis shook his head. “He is holding up but his mother is having a hard time of it.  Lord Darby is to be wed this morning to a Lady Constance Templeton.”

     “Well, that is quit sudden, isn’t it?  I thought he was engaged to Lady Tracy Lee Penton.  Didn’t his father arrange that?”  “You are correct Constable Spencer but I believe they had a change of feelings and circumstances.  I think the Lady Constance is a sweeter morsel than the other, but that is only my lowly opinion.”

  “Well, when can I meet this sweet morsel?”  “I think they have gone to find out that very thing.  I shall get your tea and scones now.”  He handed another full glass of brandy to the glaring Constable and bowed out of the room.  When Constable Spencer finished that glass he rose and poured himself another.  He felt a lot better now that he was warm inside and out with the brandy.  He flopped back down in the chair nearest the fire and closed his eyes.  He felt much better.

     Lady Mable Ethel St. John and Lord Fenster were talking over breakfast in the dining room.  They had a very lively conversation about roses. “Have you seen our white roses?  They are to toast of the county.”  “I thought I had heard about that particular variety.”  Lord Rathbone and Lady Rachael were deep in conversation about a new species of butterflies that he had just discovered.  “I do believe that the society will want a paper on it.  I am most excited.”  “No doubt, I would be too over such a discovery my lord.”  Lord Thornton came into the dinning room looking flustered.  “Have you seen Lady Darby?  I have looked everywhere and that Constable fellow is doing nothing but singing jingles of a vulgar nature in the library.  I am afraid he is no help in finding anyone or anything.”  “Jarvis, have you seen mummy this morning?”  Lady Rachael shouted.  Everyone turned and stared at her.

Jarvis came in carrying a large platter of ham and black bread.  “Yes, Lady Rachael, she is with the rest searching for Lady Constance.  Is there anything else you need besides your hot chocolate?”  “No, I am satisfied.”  She giggled and held onto Lord Rathbone’s arm.  Lord Thornton shook his head.  “Well, I am not.  I want you to take me to Lady Darby this instant.  I am worried about her and she has come to mean a great deal to me.”  “Lady Rachael glared at him.  “You mean you like mummy?  That is…is…wonderful.  I can’t believe it but I am very happy for you.”  “That may be the case but I am still worried about her.  She is very delicate.  She feints all the time and no one seems to care for her delicate condition.”  Rachael giggled again and swallowed hard.  “That is the best news I have ever had.  Lady Darby will be along shortly.  Sit down and have some tea or coffee at least.  Calm yourself.  I assure you mummy is fine.”  Lord Thornton sat down and started shoveling food onto his plate. 

     Lady Diane and Lady Missie came into the dining room.  Diane took a plate and sat down while Missie paced.  “I don’t know why everyone is so upset this morning.  Did we not want Lady Constance to leave?  It looks to me like that is exactly what she did.  She got cold feet on Sebastian and left him at the alter, so to speak.”  She chuckled and sat down clasping her hands together.  “No Missie, that is not what happened.  Our brother was hit over the head and his Lady Constance stolen from him.  He is most distraught.  He says he will throw us all out in the streets if he doesn’t get her returned.  They search for her still.”  “Well, I don’t know why.  She wasn’t all that special to me.”  “That is because nothing is special to you dear sister.”  “That is not true, Lord Rally is very interesting and special to me.  We talked nearly all night.  We have a great deal in common.”  “Glad to hear it sister, since you may be on the street shortly.”  Rachael laughed and stuffed a sausage into her plump mouth.  Lord Rathbone was almost undone when she licked the sausages first.  It was more than he could bear.  He recrossed his legs and politely asked her to pass the biscuits.  This was a very interesting lady.  He could barely focus on the conversation for wanting to touch her.  He could not believe the texture of her skin or the fan of her eyelashes.  She probably felt like heaven to hold.  He had some very intense dreams last night of the lady.

     Lord Avery was right behind Lady Stella.  She smelled so wonderful.  It was a lilac mixture with a smidge of roses.  She tormented his soul.  If he could just touch the reddish blond hair for it tormented him, the way the silk ribbons touched with flames of fire slithered about her face.  He could just imagine how the fiery locks would slither through his fingers.  Her eyes peered into his soul and knew all his secrets and actually approved of them.  He chuckled to himself.  He was in love with this exquisite creature and all they could do was wander through spider webs and damp chambers looking for what?  “Lord Darby, how long will we continue this hunt?  I am feeling a mite peckish.  I  believe it is near luncheon already.”  “I don’t give a bloody dame about your feelings Lord Avery.  My woman is missing and I will not stop until I find her.  If you want you may go up and eat but my sister and mother will continue to help me until they drop.  I will have no other problems from them.  They know how serious this is.”  “Lord Avery, do not leave my side.  You would be in danger from…from…falling or getting lost.  Isn’t that right Lady Darby?”  “Yes, Lord Avery, you must stay with us.  We have to stick together.  It is very important.”

    Suddenly they heard a growl and then a howl that would make anyone run for cover but they stood absolutely still.  “What was that?”  “Lord Avery, that is part of the problem.  You need not know and so you are not told.  Just keep up with us.”  “I most assuredly will be told.  If I am to marry into this family, I have a right to know everything.”  “Alright, Lord Avery, you are proposing to my sister Lady Stella?”  “Yes, Lord Darby, may I have the hand of your sister Lady Stella?”  “You may have her hand and everything else that goes with her.  Now listen to me, you are betrothed to my sister and therefore a part of this family, yes?”  “Yes, I am.”  “Then Lord Avery, you are also related to a werewolf named Cousin Alfred and a vampire named Cousin Driscoll.  They are part of this family and their secrets are our secrets on pain of death.  Do you understand me?”  “Yesss…I…do.  Ah…is that one of them there?”  Sebastian turned and Cousin Alfred was washing blood off his face and hands. “Have you eaten my fiancée?”

“No, I have not eaten Lady Constance, although it would be a treat.  Is that why you are in my domain and searching my quarters?”  “Yes, we lost her.  Someone hit me over the head and took her last night from my very arms.”  “Oh, my that was cruel.  Cousin Alfred took a towel and covered his naked bottom and smirked at Lord Avery.  “You are to be part of our family, then?”  “Yes, I just proposed to Lady Stella.”  He looked away from the intense eyes that flared flames at his.  “I never believed that this was possible.  I have heard tales but I did not believe.”  “Just keep your mouth shut or you will be a problem and we handle our problems ourselves.  Do you understand?”  “Yes, I do and I am excited to be a part of this family.  At least you are not boring.  I hate boring.”

    Sebastian ran his hands down his face and looked at the beaming face of Lord Avery.  Nuts, everyone was nuts.  He shook his head.  “You are in a family that will never be boring I assure you.”  He shook his head again and smiled. “Now, Cousin Alfred, can you get Lady Constance’s scent and help me track her down.  Mother is getting very tired.”  “Yes, I am.  I need to eat too.  I am old after all.”  Cousin Alfred sniffed the air.  I don’t smell her in here.  Have you looked outside at all?”  “No, it is already daylight and I thought it better to come here.”  “Well, there is the other chamber. Cousin Alfred laughed a gruesome laugh and shook his head. Cousin Driscoll has it shut off.  Come on let’s find out if he has captured your love.”  He winked at Lord Avery and he jumped back a few feet.

     Sebastian found the anti chamber and the secret latch to open it.  He pulled and immediately saw Constance chained to the wall.  “Tell me Cousin Driscoll hasn’t bitten you.”  Lady Constance smiled and wiped away tears as she saw Sy.  “No, actually, he saved me.  He is asleep now in that black box there.  Your cousin Horace Stewart was taking me off to a well.  He said he would throw me down the well if I didn’t marry him.  Your cousin grabbed him and there was a big fight.  I am afraid there was not much left of Horace.”  Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair and paced the room.  “Horace is the big fellow? You know the one that has an eating problem.  He was taking you to a well?  He wanted to marry you?  He is always so quiet and always eating.  I never suspected him.  He is outside?” Sebastian walked to her and took her into his arms.   Constance trembled and practically fell into his arms, holding on for dear life. “I would say that he is all over outside.  When he attacked me your cousins Alfred and Driscoll came to my rescue.  They made a very nasty piece of work out of Horace.  He is very dead.

     Sebastian led the party back up out of the dungeons and into the light.  They were all dirty and went to clean up.  They met back in the dining room and acted like nothing was wrong.  They did have a few announcements to make. 

     “Lady Stella and Lord Avery are to be married today too. If he can get a special license that is the plan.  Where is the parson?” Everyone stood in the dining room and stared at the group that entered. 

     Constable Spencer had staggered into the dinning room and taken a plate.  He stared at the people that entered bleary eyed. “We have been very worried about you Lady Constance.”  He stood and bowed to her and took her hand.

    “I know you have.  Well, I am fine.  I just got lost in the castle.  My family has rescued me.  I am most thankful.”  She took her hand back and sat at the table with Sebastian at her side.  “I think I was called out on a fool’s mission when I was needed elsewhere.  There was a horrible accident or animal killing on the outskirts of your property Lord Darby.”  Sebastian looked at his mother and rolled his eyes.  “When was this Constable?”  “It happened some time last night.  Right now we could not ascertain if it is animal or human remains.  It was a horrible sight to say the least.”  Sebastian swallowed hard and his lips thinned.  He looked down at the plate he had filled and pushed it away.  “Where is the accident?  Can you take me to see it?”  “I would suggest you not trouble yourself.  It is a most appalling sight.  I don’t know if I want to see it again and I must.  You would subject yourself to such a sight?” Sebastian swallowed hard and shook his head.  “I feel responsible as it is on my property.  It could be one of my tenants.”  “Well, if it is, you still will not be able to identify it or them.  It is a mess.  I suggest you wait and see if anyone is missing.  That is all the recommendation I can give.  I would rather say it is an animal rather than a person and close my books to the case.”  Lady Darby shivered and Stella set her spoon down.  She pushed her plate of eggs aside and said,  “It sounds horrible.  I can’t imagine such a thing happening.”  Constable Spencer narrowed his eyes at her.  “It is not for your ears sweet Lady.  I do not think I should have brought it up.  I apologize for speaking about it.  I must get back to my duties.  Your brandy made me rest for a while but after this repast I am ready to resume my duties.  Thank you for allowing me to join you.  I am very happy that Lady Constance has been found.  I shudder to think that something could have happened to her.”  He stood and Sebastian followed him out.  Sebastian grabbed him by the arm before he went out the door.  “You think it is humane?  I really need to know.”  “Constable looked at his feet.  “I shudder to think that it could ever be.  I believe it is an animal and a bear had a feast.  It will not attack again.  We have set bear traps around the perimeter of your grounds so it should be trapped but if you have any more problems or incidents I should be notified immediately.”  Sebastian nodded his head and shuffled his feet.  “I will let you know if I hear of anything like that.  Thank you so much for coming.  I appreciate your response to my concern for my Lady Constance.”  “Good luck with your marriage.  She seems like a lovely lady.  I wish you all the best.”  “Thank you, Constable Spencer, I appreciate your sentiments.”  Jarvis handed the Constable his hat and gloves and he went out the door.  Sebastian sighed in relief.  “What am I to do with this family Jarvis?”  “I haven’t the foggiest idea, your lordship.  I must say you have done a magnificent job so far.  We have Lady Constance back.  I must report that Cousin Horace is still missing.  Do you suppose that he could be the…the…you know.”  “I don’t know Jarvis but I will certainly ask my family.  I assure you.”  He shook his head and headed back to the dinning room.  He turned and called over his shoulder.  “Tell me the moment the reverend arrives.  I am most anxious to have my marriage completed this morning.  I do not want anything else to happen to her.  You understand my urgency.”  “Yes, my lord, I will tell you as soon as he arrives.”  Jarvis looked at a vase over Sebastian’s head and never showed any emotion.  It was like the man was made of stone.  Sebastian wondered if anything ever rattled him?  He was the ultimate English butler.  Sebastian strolled into the dining room smiling at the table.  He wondered if they realized that Horace was gone.  His mother was the first to speak.  Sebastian have you noticed that Horace isn’t at the table.  He never misses a meal.”  “Yes, mother, I have.  I intend to talk to our cousins after I wed Lady Constance.”  “I would think you would check on Horace first.”  “Yes, I bet you would.  There will be no delay to my marriage.  Is that clear?”  Lady Darby snubbed and turned to Stella, rolling her eyes and sighing.  “It seems there is to be a wedding.”