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Chapter sixteen

The magistrate was furious. “No, indeed, Mr. Chinworth had not escaped!” He clapped his large, gloved hands together, as though we’d lost our senses. I’d thought the man fair, with a good reputation. Why did he behave thus? Twas confusing to say the least.

He stepped closer to Tobias. “No, indeed, I have not seen or captured two suspicious figures about Butterton or the village. No, indeed.” His hands came together again as his face reddened with frustration.

“What I’m not sure of is you, sir.” He pointed a finger at Tobias’s chest. “Mayhap like father like son, eh?” He cleared his throat while maintaining a pointed stare. “Time will tell.”

“Lord Sherborne can attest to my character, sir.”

“Can he? I’ll not take your word for it.” He grinned. “Perhaps I’ll visit him when I leave here.”

“By all means, do. I hope you will see that I am not my brothers and Father.” Tobias held his calm. “About Father’s trial. Can you tell me if there are any developments? When is it to take place?

“Nay, sir, I’ll not say a word to you about it though you may grovel at my feet. Under hat, mind you. Under hat! Must keep it mum.”

“What about the fact that I was shot at? Will you search that out at least?”

The large man squeezed his walking stick and gave it a generous tap on the floor. “Poacher’s gun misfiring. Your imagination has run wild, Chinworth,” He huffed. “As for the rest of what you ask…”

Tobias grimaced. “Yes. I know. Under hat.”

“Old Liza says it’s going to snow.” He opened the door and cast a glance to the sky.

“Nothing like snow to get one in the mood for the holidays and all that.” He turned back to Tobias.

“You must understand, Mr. Chinworth. I trusted your father implicitly. In light of recent events, I do not know who I can trust any longer. From Butterton to London, Banbury’s scheme’s have put a pox upon my life and work.

I am tired. I have been called a fool by the constabulary for not knowing information sooner.

I’ve been touted as ‘ridiculous’ in my club in London.

Ignorant of the weevils in my meat and bread.

” He puffed a great breath of air. “I don’t know the Chinworths as I thought, and it wounds me.

” He pressed a hand to his heart. “I’ve known you since you were a lad.

I’ve seen you come up. But a man will do what a man designs to do and I’m left to juggle his doings with the rule of law. ”

Tobias was generous. He bowed. “I understand. Let me know if I can help you in any way. The Banbury case is too large for anyone to handle, no matter how small the village.”

The magistrate seemed surprised by his humility. “I know I can trust Sherborne.”

“As do I.”

“Well then. Good day.” He gave a swift nod to me and I returned a swift curtsy.

The butler closed the door behind the man.

I drew my shawl closer about my shoulders. It had grown even colder. “That was quite a speech he gave.”

“Not at all.” Tobias strode to the dining room with long steps while I followed. “I waited up all night for the man. He simply doesn’t want to help me. I’m not surprised.”

“Oh? Are you certain about that?” I thought the man merely overwhelmed.

He turned to face me, his eyes burning. “I’m a Chinworth, Tessa.

” He swallowed as if to let that sink in.

“My family name has fast gained quite a terrible reputation.” He looked me directly in the eye.

“If you choose to take my name, you might never live down the gossip. You will be tied to me, and the deeds my Father committed.”

I took a plate from the buffet, filled it with toast and egg, and calmly sat. Did he realize what he’d just said? “Pardon, dearest Tobias.” It was my turn to look him directly in the eye. “But I have not received a proposal of marriage.”

He ran a hand through his unruly hair. “I—dash it.” He strode from the room, and I ate my breakfast alone, hardly tasting a bite.

I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Perhaps saying nothing would have been better.

I hadn’t intended to sound so sarcastic.

We were both overly tired from the night before.

We were both irritated with the magistrate's lack of concern.

And I was not about to walk away from Tobias in his greatest trial.

I wanted to weather it with him. No matter what lies ahead.

I took a sip of tea, not certain I could eat food just now. I’d been as plain as he. And he’d run from the room. I dissected an egg with my fork, allowing the yolk to run across the toast.

Cecily finally went to sleep last night after a good cry. I’d stayed awake, by her side the night through. Indeed, our emotions were raw. Too raw.

We were supposed to be out of danger and focused on finding Tobias’s nephew.

I placed my elbow on the table and leaned my chin in my hand.

I closed my eyes, trying not to let discouragement sway me.

I pushed the plate across the table and leaned my head across my arms. I could sleep for days, weep for days.

I loved him. Why did it have to be so hard?

A moment later, I heard Tobias reenter the room. At first, I thought it naught but the maid to clear away the food. But it wasn’t. His warm hand spread across the back of my neck and rubbed.

“Are you asleep, my love?” He had calmed.

I lifted my head, a rogue tear slipping down my face. He knelt by my chair. “I have not taken care of your heart as well as I ought. Already, I fail. I’ve much to learn. Forgive me.”

Another tear betrayed me.

He pulled something from his pocket and held it aloft.

“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” A ring rested in his palm, a bright sapphire wrapped in gold.

Love filled his eyes. “I’d planned to wait until Christmas.

But I find I cannot wait a moment longer.

I don’t deserve you—you know this. But I ask all same. ”

He’d left the room to retrieve a ring. Not because he was angry…“Yes, Tobias. With all of my heart.” I couldn’t stop the flow of tears.

He took my left hand and placed the ring on my finger.

“This will be my promise of marriage. I don’t know when we can tie the knot,” he smiled, “but you have my promise all the same. I love you.” He wiped the tears away with his thumbs and pressed a kiss to my lips.

“Go get some sleep. I’ll have lunch sent up in a few hours.

Don’t worry about Cecily. I’ll take care of her today. ”

“I can help, Tobias.”

“No. You need to sleep.” He pulled me up. “Someone needs to look after you for a change.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. We stood in the soft silence and let peace pour over us. I might have fallen asleep on his chest. One day, I would.

The drama of the previous night faded as the assailants hadn’t returned and the plot to murder Tobais’s father hadn’t come to fruition.

I recounted what I overheard the men say a few more times.

Tobias feared the men would do him harm, but the magistrate would not set an additional guard to Mr. Chinworth’s cell.

Perhaps the magistrate was correct in this matter.

If there were men, and there were, they were long gone by now.

We endeavored to do what we must—and that was to wait. Tobias managed Mayfield, I taught Cecily and readied for Christmastide, and Lord Sherborne assisted in the hunt for the missing babe. He was still not to be found.

One thing we could not understand was why? Of what great import was a wee babe to anyone but the Chinworths?

On one cold, December night after Christmas, Tobias would find out who and why. I’d been sent to have supper with Cecily in our rooms due to the sensitive nature of a certain Lord Camden’s visit. Lord Camden of Butterton Hall. A tumultuous meeting occurred.

I’d never seen Tobias so dismayed, so out of temper.

He was furious. We watched Lord Camden retreat on his horse from Mayfield.

He’d left Tobias with a threat if he told anyone what they’d discussed.

“I must find the box, or we might never find the boy—or worse. He is the one who has stolen my nephew! He bargains with life!” His voice broke.

“We can tell no one, do you hear me, Tessa?” Urgency filled every fiber of his being. “We cannot tell a soul.”

He endlessly paced before the fire. I could not coax him to take tea, to sit, or talk anything through. Once, he paused with a glimmer of tears in his eyes. “Lord Camden does not realize it, but something he said tonight made me realize something rather awful.”

“What is it, Tobias?”

Fists pressed against his unwanted emotion. “My past is catching up with me. You may wish to end our engagement.”

“I think not.”

“You don’t know what I’ve done…”

“Tell me then?”

“If I do, you will see the rogue in your eyes every time you look at me. I couldn’t bear it.”

“I can very well guess what kind of rogue you were.” I laughed.

“It isn’t humorous, Tessa.”

“No. But I would have you understand the nature of forgiveness.” I rose to meet him and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It is given without cost.”

“Lord Camden mentioned his niece had arrived for an extended visit. One Jane Hartford.”

Understanding dawned. “And this Jane Hartford—was one of your many conquests?”

He shrugged. “Not exactly that, but I may have misled her for a reason.” He paced once again. “I was sent by Father to gain her father’s trust…and…”

“You got into her good graces to do so.”

“I am ashamed. So ashamed.”

Fear began to rise within me. I couldn’t help it. “Has she reason to have a claim upon you?”

“Good gracious, no. Though if we cross paths, I can’t imagine she will be pleased to see me. Her father tossed me out on my backside.” He grimaced at the memory. “And earned me my father’s ire.”

The work of pleasing Mr. Chinworth seemed to come with a steep price. But Tobias had not stopped to consider one thing. “Those men—that shot at you. Remember? Your Father was the target. Only he was to be shot at Butterton Hall, not here. At Camden’s residence. Do you think Lord Camden—”

He didn’t let me finish. “I don’t know what to think. The man isn’t good. Anyone willing to kidnap a babe can’t be. As for being a threat to my father—I don’t know. I got the feeling that he was quite under Father’s thumb, not the other way around.”

“I wonder if he promised to help him escape from the gaol, and…would see him eliminated.”

“That can’t be right. He would want to keep Father alive. He knows where the box of papers is, purportedly. The man seemed desperate, no, crazed to find them.”

“Crazed enough to steal away your nephew.”

“What are we going to do, Tessa?”

I took his hand and he let me guide him to the settee. “We should pray.”

“You are right.”

He could not speak, so I did. We sat there in the quiet for a little longer. How long would it take for him to fully understand forgiveness? Guilt ate at him while evil persisted in attacking the Chinworth family. We began to pray together each day at dawn, again at eventide.

Our spirits strengthened. After days upon days of searching for the box of papers, Tobias decided to call upon Lord Sherborne.

Informing him of the situation between Tobias and Lord Camden was worth the risk it posed.

I prayed Lord Sherborne could do something, anything to help in this impossible circumstance.

Tobias simply couldn’t find the box of papers.

We’d turned his office inside and out to no avail.

But just as he saddled his horse, the man himself came riding in, along with Joseph and dear Emmaline. We were overjoyed to see them; I could sense they bore ill tidings. They were sober, serious.

Lord Sherborne bowed. “I’m sorry to be the one to deliver the news, Tobias. Your father was attacked in his cell. He is deceased.”

“Dear God.” Tobias knees buckled as he dropped to a chair. “I warned them it could happen. I warned the magistrate.”

“Yes, you did.” Lord Sherborne said. “I ordered an additional guard despite his reticence. Your father might still have been involved in his dealings from the gaol. Another cache of supplies? Weapons? I do not know. Yet.”

Joseph folded his arms. “The guards have been taken for questioning.” He dashed a look to Sherborne and back to Tobias. “But you must know that they were knocked unconscious. We believe them innocent.”

Lord Sherborne continued. “He’d begun to comply, so I thought. Maybe that’s why they killed him.”

Tobias swallowed at that. I hated watching him endure this news.

He’d reckoned with his father’s guilt some time ago.

Had sought every kind of amends he knew to make.

Had given his life over to God. He understood that his father had the gallows before him, in the near future.

That he’d played a very dangerous game that nearly killed us both.

And more. The tragic news was no surprise, but still. He loved his father.

“It is over.” Tobias ran a hand through his hair. “He is gone. God have mercy on his soul.”

Joseph put a hand on his shoulder. “He did try to fix his mistakes, the wrong way, perhaps. But all the same. God overflows with mercy.”

I prayed that Mr. Chinworth’s final moments were filled with just that. Mercy.

Tobias stood. “What do I do know?”

Lord Sherborne nodded to Joseph. “The magistrate desires you collect his body forthwith. He does not desire to keep it or investigate.”

“Of course not.”

“The good vicar has offered to keep vigil on your behalf. He is willing to perform the burial ceremony as soon as you require it.” Sherborne took a packet from his interior pocket. “He had this with him. I thought you’d want to have it.”

Tobias untied the wrapping. He held a miniature painting in his hand, encased in gilded wood. “Mother.”

I peered over his arm. “She was much like Cecily.”

Tobias closed his eyes. “Cecily. I have to tell her the news.”

Joseph nodded. “Tis why I brought along Emmaline. She and Tessa can help.”

“Thank you, Cousin.”

“I am very sorry, Tobias.”

Sad tidings surrounded by evil, mystery, doubt, and, of all things, love.