Page 58 of The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House

The day was bitter, but the interior of Maude Grimmer’s cottage was just as cosy as Edward remembered.

It was Christmas Eve and his arms were wrapped around the woman he loved, as she sat in front of him, on the floor, before the fire in her tiny cottage.

He’d not worn his wig nor dyed his eyebrows since the moment Christian Felthorpe had exposed him at the top of Thistlewick cliffs.

He was learning to suffer the pitying looks and thoughtless comments, because the one person whose opinion really mattered still looked at him in wonder, as though he were the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

Besides, the villagers had so much to contend with, that the albino currently cohabiting with the adulterous drunk on the other side of the woods was only of passing interest.

The Felthorpe family solicitors had successfully chased down a distant cousin of Lord Felthorpe and informed him that he was to inherit the hall.

Rumour had it, the fellow was married to the daughter of a renowned liberal theologist. Their progressive view of Christianity would certainly shake things up in Thistlewick Tye, and not before time, thought Edward.

The bishop was waiting for the new Lord Felthorpe to take up residence before securing someone to fill the vacancy left by the sudden and unexpected resignation of the Reverend Fallow.

The villagers deserved a vicar who would bring them light and joy, because they had been foolish sheep, easily led and needed a good shepherd to guide them.

Their local landowner was dead, and lovely young Dr Appleby, with the kind eyes, was to stand trial for the murder of Mrs Emma Shaw in the new year.

Not to mention the upset caused by the dramatic deaths of Silas Garrod and Old Mrs Cleyford, and the news that Jacob Palmer was a wanted man.

Meanwhile, a neighbouring priest was overseeing the church services, which had recently included the funeral of another elderly influenza victim.

At least the dead were staying dead, much to everyone’s relief and thanks to a clandestine midnight ceremony performed on the cliffs by Hazibub.

Luckily, the constable was far too overwhelmed by everything to consider that Silas’s death was anything other than the accident he had always supposed it to be.

Edward was certainly not about to demand Noah be traced and made accountable.

Several officials from Norwich had arrived the week of Lord Felthorpe’s death to investigate reports of human bones falling into the sea.

Edward advised his friends to play down the spirit possessions, as only Barnabas and Dr Appleby, outside the four of them, knew the truth with certainty.

Both these men, for different reasons, chose to say nothing, and Mrs Drayton, the only other person they’d told, had never been fully convinced.

Instead, Sarah claimed that as a young child, she’d seen the massacre of the circus troupe on that very spot, but had been too scared to speak the truth whilst Christian Felthorpe was alive.

The constable, who was instructed to investigate these historic murders, almost wept when he realised the monumental task that lay ahead of him.

From being the most underworked policeman in Norfolk, he was shortly to be one of the busiest.

Maude Grimmer played no part in the allegations and kept to the shadows. The drunkard who lived outside the village boundary was, after all, nothing to do with any of this…

Edward gently kissed the top of Mallory’s head and then leaned back on the bench, inhaling the incredible smells drifting about the small space – no longer vying with the odour of cheap tallow candles.

Barnabas had insisted on donating several items to Mallory to make her life easier – including two smart oil lamps and a box of the finest beeswax candles…

and, that afternoon, a brace of partridge.

‘I’ve never eaten partridge,’ Mallory said, twisting her head to look up at him. ‘I hope I’ve done the birds justice. Your cousin’s being overwhelmingly generous.’

‘He’s atoning for his past transgressions,’ Edward pointed out.

‘It makes him happy, and anything that keeps him away from the drink, and stops him wallowing, is a good thing in my book. He’s also been incredibly generous to Sarah.

They’re both giving up their spare time to volunteer at the church and keep things ticking over until the new vicar is appointed.

He’ll never get over Emma, but I can’t help but hope that in time this friendship will develop into something more. ’

‘Sarah is a woman in her mid-fifties! There must be nearly fifteen years between them.’ Mallory looked slightly scandalised.

‘There’s over thirty years between us, and you don’t find that an issue,’ he teased.

Barnabas had finally accepted that his cousin would not take Thistlewick House but insisted that he kept the five hundred pounds – he had, after all, solved Emma’s murder.

Edward had issued instructions for what remained of his London possessions to be auctioned, and the proceeds, along with the money in the Cattisham Orphanage Fund, were donated to a real orphanage. He had no desire to return to the city.

‘Open it then,’ he urged, pointing to the small envelope tied in ribbon that was resting on Mallory’s lap. They were exchanging gifts, as was the Christmas Eve tradition. She undid the bow and slid out three tickets for a steamship liner sailing to America in the following February.

‘But—’

‘After we’ve tied up everything here, we’ll leave with only what we can carry and when we arrive in New York, we shall present as man and wife.’

‘And the third ticket?’ she asked, frowning.

‘Your elderly father is coming with us.’

Edward had used some of the money from his cousin to spirit Hazibub to Liverpool, where he was to wait patiently in rented accommodation until his friends could join him.

Coincidentally, old Dr Appleby had allegedly been seen by Mrs Grimmer, walking into the sea, the day after his son had been arrested.

A pile of his clothes was left on the beach and no one was surprised that in his senility, he’d committed such a tragic act.

But his body would never wash up on the shore.

‘Katerina wasn’t free to marry when she met Samson, but they made their life together nonetheless,’ Edward continued. ‘I want to make mine with you – and Hazibub – in a place we’re not known and can start again.’

‘And where will we live? What will we do for money?’

‘About that…’ he said, grinning. ‘I’ve a mind to set up a travelling show.

Alberto the Albino – Magician and Living Curiosity.

’ He waved his hands through the air, imagining his name across a huge banner in the sky.

‘It suits me to perform under canvas, away from the sun, and I have an eye for fancy clothes and a talent for the dramatic. We can start small and pick up acts as we move around the country, making sure everyone is treated well and paid fairly. There’s something that appeals to me about gathering up our chosen family along the way.

Samson and Katerina had the right idea – surround yourself with people you like, and stand by their side always, so they never feel alone.

Our circus, however, will have far less debauchery. ’

‘And far less alcohol,’ she declared. Edward smiled; she was warming to the idea.

‘Whoever we scoop up, we will not ask them about their past, nor judge them for their differences. I’ll embrace what I am and wear all white. My impossible illusions will be talked about far and wide, and you’ll be my sensible head and stop me buying zebras.’

Hazibub had offered to pass on all his secrets and spells to the man who had made his Toad Girl so happy, knowing that his time on this earth was limited and wishing to leave a lasting legacy.

The pull of such a promise had been too strong for Edward to resist. After all those years of cheap tricks and illusions, he’d shortly have access to real magic. Now wasn’t that something?

‘So, despite telling me that the happiest you’ve ever been was at my tiny cottage, eating stew, and living a simple life, you now wish to travel to America, set up a circus and perform in front of admiring crowds?’

‘Yes,’ he confirmed, dropping his head to the back of her neck and leaving a trail of tiny kisses. ‘As long as you’re by my side.’

She placed both her hands over his and smiled.

‘Although the truth is, if we never make a bean, I’ll still be happy, because you, Mallory Hornchurch, Toad Girl and Living Wonder, are all the riches I need.’