Avice scowled. “You say Nicholas could have found out on his way back – but this murderous Uncle Jerrid of yours couldn’t have known a thing about my Papa. Your uncle was back in Westminster.”
“Uncle Jerrid comes and goes,” sighed Sysabel, “and being of little importance he has no official position at court and has very small quarters there. He could have travelled back with Nicholas. How would we know?”
Emeline leaned back heavily against the pillows again. “Nicholas has never said very much about him, and has never taken me to meet him. He certainly never told me his Uncle Jerrid was capable of committing murder, especially for such inconsequential motives.”
“If it happened, then Nicholas would have known. But he could hardly have admitted it.”
“But,” Emeline pointed out, “he didn’t join us on the road. And Nicholas would never, ever condone such a thing.”
“You must certainly remain loyal to your husband,” Sysabel murmured.
Emeline bit her lip and turned hurriedly to Avice. “Go on then, Avice. Who is this one mysterious name on your list? Sysabel is brave enough to accuse her own uncle, not to mention implicating Nicholas. So you might as well speak out as well.”
Avice sniffed, looked around, cuddled her knees a little tighter, stared down, took a deep breath and spoke to no one in particular. “Adrian,” she said.
There was a short silence.
Sysabel’s blue eyes appeared to brighten. Two little spots of colour shone like rouge in the middle of her cheeks. For a moment she seemed to swell, as though in preparation for something. Then she squeezed her eyes shut, fisted both hands, opened her mouth very wide, and began to squeal. Pitched high like a whistle, at first the sound rose and rose in a thin wail of fury. But then the squeal became a scream. Sysabel beat her fists on the counterpane, and stamped both feet on the ground. At her back the bedpost vibrated and the mattress shook. Both Emeline and Avice seated at the head of the bed, bounced in unison. Everyone stared wordlessly at Sysabel. Both maids backed silently into deeper shadows. Nurse Martha stood, anxious, awaiting orders. Aunt Elizabeth sighed, muttered something no one could hear, and closed her eyes. Finally the baroness stood, came around the foot of the bed, stood over Sysabel, and abruptly emptied her cup of light ale over the girl’s head.
Sysabel seemed not to notice. The thin liquid seeped amongst her blonde curls and formed two twinkling trickles down her face, finally dripping from her chin to soak the neckline of her small busted gown, turning the cream fichu dark. Sysabel continued to scream. So the baroness leaned forwards and slapped her sharply across the cheek.
The girl stopped screaming, looked up, gasped, catching her breath, reached for the fallen cup of ale and threw it directly at Avice. Not a bad aim and too close to miss entirely, the heavy pewter cup clipped Avice on the ear. Avice howled and hurled herself at Sysabel. Emeline caught her rushed offensive, both arms around her sister’s waist. Hauled backwards, Avice struggled. Sysabel stood in a hurry, backing quickly from the bed’s shadows. Behind her, apple blossom fading, Aunt Elizabeth hiccupped and began faintly to remonstrate. “These young people,” she complained to the ceiling beams, “such excitement, such energy.”
Martha stood, quickly strode to Sysabel and took her by both shoulders, turning her away from Avice. The baroness stepped forwards again, ignored her tussling daughter and claimed Sysabel from Martha’s containment. “This is the most shocking behaviour, young lady,” the baroness told her, “and you will never ever again behave this way in my presence.” Sysabel sagged, looking down and saying nothing. “I hope that is understood,” continued the baroness. “Loyalty to your brother, a disagreement on the facts, an explanation of his certain innocence, all these are the proper response. Indeed, I might have admonished Avice for being so outspoken. But this exhibition of temper helps no one.” She looked across at Avice, who had relapsed back against the pillows. “I thought,” she said, “you two young things were firm friends.”
Avice sniffed and once again cuddled her knees. “We were. We are. But she said nasty things about Nicholas which isn’t fair to Emma. And anyway, I used to really – like – Adrian. Now I don’t. And I think he could have killed Peter, and Papa, and all sorts of other people if he wanted to. I wouldn’t have said so in front of Sissy, but Emma told me to be brave. So I said it.”
Aunt Elizabeth opened her eyes and stared bright blue accusation at her niece. “Standards,” she said loudly and with unexpected clarity, “are being sadly eroded as we speak.” She swept up her train, looping the pale pink damask over her lap as she turned to the baroness. “I apologise, my lady, for such unruly disregard of the proprieties.” And back again to Sysabel, “remembering, young woman, that the reputations of the Fryes and Chatwyns, being ancient and noble houses, must never be undermined. And also remembering that you can be carried back to Nottingham within an instant, should I decide you have outstayed your welcome.”
“Oh dear,” mumbled Emeline. Sysabel had crumpled to the little stool beside the bed, and now sat regaining her breath.
“Then I believe it is time to go downstairs for supper,” announced the baroness. “This discussion can be resumed later on, if everyone will stay calm and sensible. Sysabel, you must present your reasons for your brother’s innocence, and we will all listen carefully, I promise you. Personally, I do not suspect him at all. It is the common man and the gutter dweller who more usually turn to crime. But we, who need be conscious of our station, must remember decorum. Nor do I have the slightest desire to have his lordship overhear our arguments, and perhaps involve himself. He would not be welcome.”
“I shall take my niece to my bedchamber,” decided Aunt Elizabeth, reluctantly staggering to her feet. “Help me up, girl,” she beckoned to Hilda. “And come with us to help Sysabel rearrange her hair and look respectable for supper.” She gazed sadly at the baroness, shaking her head. “A most unfortunate – my niece has a temper, my lady, and can be petulant. Our apologies. The child is still young, and without parents, has pleased herself too long. It troubles Adrian, and I have tried, on his behalf, to curb her tantrums. To no avail. I shall speak firmly to her before we join you in the hall.”
The baroness waved her apologies aside. “No matter, no matter, madam. Everyone is hot, bothered and basted, since these are such difficult discussions, and the warm weather sends the blood to the head more quickly. I trust Sysabel will feel better after supper.”
Lady Elizabeth’s nose twitched, both eyes once again adopting an unexpectedly formidable glint. “Indeed she will, my lady,” said Sysabel’s aged aunt.
The baroness stood only a moment, the disputed paper crushed between her fingers. She looked at it briefly, nodded, and folded it small. Then she smiled and tucked it into the depths of her cleavage.
It was impossible to discuss anything further over supper. Swelling with suspicion and intrigue, the women glanced, smiled, glowered and indicated with always one eye to the solitary figure of the earl in their midst’s.
Much accustomed to being left frequently and entirely alone by all his relatives, his lordship was not offended at having been abandoned all afternoon to sleep in his chair. His fuzz of greying hair had fallen across his face and he had snored gently until abruptly awoken by the clinks and clatter announcing the laying of the great table. He now appeared quite unaware of the unusual undercurrents seething around him. Sysabel, with her aunt unusually close at her side, appeared particularly subdued, her light blue eyes more than normally watery. Avice was also unexpectedly well mannered, attending in silence to the short prayer and then to her platter. Sir Adrian did not join them, and conveyed no excuses, but the earl seemed pleased enough to be surrounded only by women. “Spent my life surrounded by men, you know,” he informed the baroness. “Sons, brothers. Been a bachelor for years. Nice to see a pretty face for a change.”