Constant Lovers by Chris Nickson Read Free Book Online Page A

farmer?’
    Nottingham settled in his chair and took off his stock. ‘That’s what he told me.’
    â€˜He’s a bit more than that. Owns most of Horsforth, most like. Big, grand house, more servants than you can count. I don’t think he’s one of those out in the fields at first light breaking his back.’ He paused, considering what he’d just said, then added, ‘Still, give him his due. He doesn’t have any side to him.’
    â€˜Did he have much to say?’
    The deputy rubbed a hand down his face. ‘Not a lot that was useful. He wanted us to open the coffin so he could have a last look at her. Took me a while to persuade him that it wasn’t a good idea. She’s going to be buried properly tomorrow. The local curate came while I was there and couldn’t do enough to help him.’
    â€˜What about his marriage?’
    Sedgwick blew out a long breath. ‘I really think he loved her.’ He paused to frame his answer. ‘He was genuinely devastated, boss. Couldn’t sit still, kept pacing around the room while I talked to him.’
    â€˜Did you talk to any of the servants?’
    â€˜Aye, while he was with the curate. According to them, his wife had been shy at first. About the only person she’d really talk to was the maid she’d brought with her. They thought she felt she was too good for them since she had a title. Most of them had come around a little but they still weren’t too sure of her. She didn’t talk a lot, evidently. A couple of odd things, though.’
    â€˜Oh?’
    â€˜She and her maid would go off for the day once a week. Not always the same day, mind. The maid would never tell the other servants what they did. They’d leave after breakfast and come back late afternoon.’
    â€˜That’s strange,’ Nottingham said. ‘No one has any idea at all?’
    â€˜Rumours and thoughts, you know what it’s like. Nothing with any substance. The other thing is, though, the washerwoman there reckoned that Mrs Godlove might be carrying a baby.’
    The Constable sat straight. ‘Go on,’ he said.
    â€˜No breech clouts last month, she told me.’
    â€˜And Godlove didn’t say anything about it?’
    â€˜Not a word. I don’t think his wife had told him.’
    Now that was interesting, the Constable thought. He was glad he’d sent Sedgwick; the man had a knack for charming out information.
    â€˜So we have more questions, but we’re not any further along.’
    â€˜Nothing to help us. What about the gentry?’
    Nottingham recounted the visit to Lord Gibton, then added, ‘There’s something not right about it all.’
    â€˜What do you mean, boss?’
    â€˜When I arrived he knew it must be bad news, but he never pressed me for any details. What would you do if someone came and told you James was dead?’
    â€˜I’d want to know everything,’ Sedgwick replied.
    â€˜Exactly. All he did was turn quiet. Said he knew she must have been murdered or I wouldn’t have ridden out there, and that was it. About the only time he spoke much was explaining how the family had lost their money and why his daughter had needed a maid. It was as if he had to justif y everything about his life, never mind that his daughter was in the ground. It was just  . . . cold. It’s not human.’
    â€˜How much did you tell him?’
    â€˜Not much at all. He never bothered to ask where she’d been found or how she’d died. I’ll tell you, John, I don’t know what to make of it. I’ve never seen anything like it. And something else – on my way I stopped in the village there, and the woman at the alehouse thought Godlove had paid them so he could marry Sarah.’
    â€˜What?’ The deputy looked at him incredulously.
    â€˜I know it sounds ridiculous, it should be the other way round – the girl