Page 28 of The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House

Edward returned to Thistlewick House, a journey that took longer than anticipated because of his injured ankle, explaining to Barnabas that he’d fallen, down on the beach, but that someone from the village had tended to him, managing to avoid mentioning Maude by name.

Mrs Drayton wanted to send for the doctor but his cousin, well aware he would not want to be examined, backed him up.

They sat together awaiting luncheon, when the Reverend Fallow called.

He made it painfully clear that he was there to speak to Mr Shaw and Edward was not welcome.

But loitering in the adjoining room, Edward heard most of their exchange, which included a particularly admonishing talk on temperance and the evils of drink.

As the vicar was shown out, he informed Mr Wright how disappointed he was that the household had facilitated their master’s descent into unacceptable behaviour.

He strongly suggested that Mrs Drayton reduce the amount of spirits she purchased, requesting that she keep all household receipts for him to inspect upon his next visit.

Unable to hold back, Edward stepped out into the hallway and confronted him.

‘Surely, Reverend, it’s not for you to tell a man what he may or may not do in his own home?’

‘I disagree completely, Mr Blackmore. That is exactly my duty. I serve to educate my flock as to the difference between right and wrong, and drinking to excess is wrong.’ Wright helped him on with his coat and handed him his gloves.

‘We care for our neighbours in Thistlewick Tye,’ he stressed.

‘The schoolmistress sends the children to me at the first sign of laziness or dishonesty, and we find the child concerned rarely transgresses again. The Bible can be a very powerful tool.’

‘Depends what you do with it,’ Edward said, flippantly. ‘A whack across the backside with a book that heavy might make a small lad think twice.’

‘I’m a firm believer in spare the rod and spoil the child, and it’s yielded excellent results for me over the years. Nearly every adult in the village can read – Noah excepted.’

Whilst that was an impressive achievement, it concerned Edward that the church was overstepping its reach.

Of course, he knew it wasn’t acceptable to commit heinous crimes against one’s fellow man, but the whole point of the Christian faith was that people had free will.

Every decision in life came with consequences, good and bad, but surely it was not within Reverend Fallow’s remit to enforce that.

Certainly not to the extent of speaking to Barnabas’s staff.

The poor man’s life had totally collapsed and if alcohol was helping to see him through that for the short term, whilst it was far from ideal, it was his choice.

After the reverend had left, he voiced his concerns to Mrs Drayton.

‘But the vicar and the doctor have always worked together in this regard – overseeing the physical and spiritual health of the villagers,’ she said.

‘Besides, God works in mysterious ways. Not long after Charlie Tutter started a fight with some visitors last summer, he was dreadfully sick. Divine retribution.’ She folded her arms as if that was the end of the matter.

He peered back into the drawing room, sad to see Barnabas, stooped and silent, standing at the windows and staring out over his gardens.

Strangely, he felt no elation over this state of affairs.

His nineteen-year-old self would have relished such a reversal of fortunes, but he no longer wanted to exercise such power over his cousin.

He knew Maude’s unexpected kindness had disarmed him and it was a reminder that everyone was redeemable and deserved a second chance. He stepped into the room.

‘Emma loved you,’ he said. The most peculiar sensation swept over him as he spoke the words. ‘Right from the moment you first met. To my knowledge, she never wavered in her devotion, despite what you thought that summer in London. It was only ever you she wanted, Barnabas.’

His cousin turned his head, blinking furiously. ‘And that’s the truth?’

Edward nodded. ‘Of course. You rightly surmised that I was as enchanted by her as you were, but my feelings weren’t reciprocated. Besides, we both know she wouldn’t have accepted me once she found out about my condition.’

‘There, cousin, I think you’re quite wrong.

It wouldn’t have mattered to Emma. When she loved, she loved fiercely.

Your father was not a good man and he coloured your view of the world.

Not everyone sees a person’s differences as a reason to exclude them.

It wasn’t your albinism that made me cut you from the company; it was my pride and my greed.

I knew you’d do a better job than me, and I didn’t want my inadequacies highlighted by your competence. ’

Edward felt a lump form in his throat. His cousin’s honesty meant the world.

Wright entered the room to attend to the fire and then asked his master if he would like a nightcap.

‘Splendid idea,’ Barnabas replied, and Edward’s mood dipped as he contemplated another evening of watching his cousin sink into drunken oblivion.

‘Would you join me in a hot cocoa?’ he asked, and a tiny part of Edward hoped that his kind words had helped to bring about such a small but significant change.

* * *

The following morning, after a bracing walk along the beach, Edward decided to check on Carl. He’d seemed more chipper the previous day, and he hoped his servant might soon return to his duties. But when he stopped by his room, he found it empty.

‘Where is my man?’ he asked Mrs Drayton.

‘He left not long after you, sir.’ She frowned. ‘Did Mr Shaw not say? I got the impression you knew about it. Going back to recuperate, he said, and took your big trunk with him. Wright ran him to Cromer in the trap, so he could catch a train to London, but he left you this.’

She handed over a folded note.

Mr B

Sorry but I aynt dying for no one. This spirit stuff has got wyrd and I don’t want nun of it. Don’t try to find me. I know people.

Carl

And Edward returned upstairs to his room to find that, along with his manservant, most items of value that he had with him in Thistlewick Tye had disappeared.