Page 28 of All of Us Murderers

Beyond that, someone had set out to terrify Jessamine, and that meant, when he got out of here, he needed to take her with him. He couldn’t just flee and leave her to whatever hellish imagination had conceived this tableau.

Actually, now he thought of it—

“Beyond what?” Jessamine asked. “What were you going to say?”

“Uh—” Train of thought entirely derailed, Zeb tried to remember what he’d been talking about. “Just that this all seems to me like a very unpleasant prank.”

“Prank? Can you not see—”

“This isn’t ghosts, Jessamine, it’s people,” Zeb said over her. “Someone is playing the fool here. Trying to frighten you, trying to make you believe nonsense. It’s cruel and very peculiar, and it needs a stop putting to it.”

He strode back to the house, Jessamine hurrying at his side. They came into the hall, and as they were divesting themselves of damp coats, Zeb heard Wynn.

“Zebedee!”

Zeb turned and saw him, with Gideon looking decidedly tense at his side. “Wynn. I wanted to speak to you.”

“And I to you. I made myself very clear yesterday, Zebedee. Nobody is to venture onto the moors while the mist remains. I will not risk my people, do you understand? Your wishes are nothing to their safety—their lives, even. I told you that in so many words and gave you my refusal, yet now I find you have been playing upon my secretary to have your way. What makes you think you can overrule me in my house? What right have you to countermand my orders?”

Zeb felt the colour rush to his face. Wynn’s tone of angry rebuke was all too familiar, and it gave him the sick, crushed feeling in his stomach of finding himself in the wrong, again, as always. Idle, irresponsible boy, why don’t you ever learn? When will you grow up?

He opened his mouth in automatic response to stammer some sort of apology, and Gideon cleared his throat. One single sharp cough, that was all, but it was enough.

Gideon was not impulsive or irresponsible or credulous. Gideon was sure there was something wrong in this house. Gideon was standing right there, and Zeb was absolutely not going to fold in front of him.

Also, some bastard had put spiders in his room, so if anyone had a right to be outraged, it was Zeb.

“Where’s Dash?” he said.

Wynn’s head went back. “What has that to do with anything?”

“Colonel Dash. Where is he?”

“He is suffering a malarial attack.”

“I said where.”

Wynn scowled. “He is unwell, and this is hardly the point.”

“It’s my point. I want to see him.”

“I am speaking of your behaviour. What makes you think you can have your way with my secretary at your pleasure?”

Oh, that’s nice, Zeb thought. He was probably supposed to panic at that, and wonder what Wynn knew. In the corner of his eye, Gideon looked superlatively blank.

“If you don’t like how I conduct myself, Wynn, I suggest you order the motor and I’ll go,” he retorted. “But before that, I want to see Dash and assure myself he is well.”

“He is not well. He is far too ill for visitors.”

“Then he needs a doctor,” Zeb said. “So why don’t Jessamine and I take the motor to town and get one.”

“Because it is too dangerous!”

“The man can drive slowly. I’ll walk by the motor to ensure it doesn’t lose the road.”

A muscle jumped in Wynn’s jaw. “It’s too far for that.”

“Then two of us can walk. Mr. Grey can come and we’ll take turns. Elise can accompany Jessamine as chaperone so there can be no objection.”

“I have every objection. You cannot order my staff or demand to see my guests. This is my house, and you may not behave as though you are already my inheritor!”

His voice got louder on that last. Zeb had heard a footstep on the stair, behind him. He would put money it was Bram or Hawley.

“So order the motor,” he said. “Frankly, Wynn, your hospitality is starting to resemble a stay at His Majesty’s pleasure. I would like to leave, and it sounds as if you would like me to leave, so I really cannot see any reason why you should be trying to prevent me.”

They stared at each other. Wynn had gone brick-red; Zeb was probably much the same.

“I suggest you consider your position and your manner,” Wynn said thickly. “This is no way to speak. I will talk to you later before I say something I regret.”

He walked off. Zeb said, “Don’t just go like that!” but Wynn didn’t turn round.

“Well, well,” Hawley said behind him. “Good Lord. Has little Zebby found a spine? I must say, I’ve always taken you for one of nature’s invertebrates. Or do I mean inverts?”

“Sod off, Hawley,” Zeb said. “Go on, scamper after Wynn, slander the rest of us, and beg for his money. It’s what he’s brought you here to do, and you’re living up to expectations.”

“Ah, yes, your ostentatious lack of interest in filthy lucre,” Hawley flashed back. “I warned you about scheming for the inheritance.”

“For the last time—”

“Cousin Zeb!” Jessamine said. “Are you not going to speak to Wynn? About our walk?”

“Oh, you two went for a walk?” Hawley asked, barely masking the snarl. “How very interesting. I wouldn’t have thought it was the right weather. I would not have advised the company.”

Jessamine turned her shoulder to him, a little snub that made his nostrils flare with anger. “Will you, Zeb?”

“Why bother?” Zeb said. “I should think he knows all about it already.”

Jessamine’s jaw dropped. “But how could he?”

“You seem to be stirring up trouble between our cousin and her guardian,” Hawley struck in. “I consider that very questionable behaviour.”

“Miss Jessamine is capable of making her own judgements,” Gideon said. “Mr. Zeb, if I could have a moment’s private speech with you?”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Hawley curled his lip. Zeb gave him two fingers and turned away.