Jonathan paused, and sipped some of the water that was on his desk. “Most of you have worked on the estate for many years. A few of you have been hired recently. In light of our current troubles, the extra guards who were hired for the trading fair will be kept on. Your duties will be to patrol the grounds two by two, and to watch for anything unusual.”
Jonathan smiled wryly. “While I am not usually in favor of being my brother or sister’s keeper, if you see any lover’s trysts, you will break them up immediately and escort the couple to me. Otherwise, you shall all carry out your normal duties. Any questions? None? Then you are all dismissed to return to work.”
As the staff members stood up and walked quietly out of the hall, Jonathan walked back to where Mr. Hammonds stood by the door. “Did I do it right?” he asked the old butler softly.
“You did beautifully, Your Grace. Your father, the late Duke, could not have done better. I am just sorry that it is such a sad occasion that has prompted use of your oratory skills.”
Jonathan sighed. “Likewise, Mr. Hammonds. Likewise. Now, when should I expect the villagers?”
“At any moment, I should suspect, Your Grace. Do you want to come in at the last as you did for this presentation, or will you receive them as they arrive?”
“I will receive them. With the staff, I wanted it known that I will not tolerate any nonsense. But the villagers are my neighbors, my tenants, and some of them I even consider friends. They are frightened and worried. I do not think the maid was well known to them since the agency in Edinburgh listed her as an orphan, but they will be thinking about their own daughters.”
Then Jonathan smiled. “I have seen the effectiveness of a crowd of country folk when they are roused. Given the right incentive, an armored knight can be pulled down and defeated by a sufficiently determined mob. We are isolated here. Our well-being and safety are dependent on mutual cooperation and friendship. Besides, someone among them might have seen or heard something that will be useful.”
“Truer words were never spoken, Your Grace. I am glad to hear you put it so. I’ll do my best to put them at ease, and announce them to you as they arrive. Where will you sit?”
“I’ll come down and sit at the head of the table, as a first among equals. This loss, this terrible thing that has come to us, affects everyone.”
It seemed to Jonathan that it took forever for the villagers to file in. Sometimes they arrived one or two at a time, sometimes they came in family units or clumps of associated businessmen. After a time, Mr. Hammonds had to send a footman to ask staff to bring up more chairs.
Through it all, however, he had a word or two for each one as they came in. He asked after family members and commented on small doings in the village. There was Mr. Cory, the blacksmith, who had sent a son to the College of Law in Edinburgh with Jonathan’s help and blessing. Mrs. Brandenburg, the candy maker, came in with her emaciated husband and three plump children. Three of the Gentle Sisters, in their soft brown habits and crisp white wimples came in the company of Father Jacob. Parson Graves, his wife Lillian, and Deacon Brown represented the local Kirk.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the village gardeners, entered in the company of Mr. Brown the shepherd, who was older brother to Deacon Brown and had taken on young Pete Brown as an apprentice. Finally, there was Constable McHenry bringing up the rear of the long line of interested parties. The Constable nodded to Mr. Hammonds as he entered. Mr. Hammonds looked out, and seeing no more people, closed the door.
After he had greeted everyone, Jonathan sat down and listened to what his people had to say.
At first, they were very quiet. Then Brother Jacob spoke up. “We are grateful to you for sending Sally Ann to us, Your Grace. We will take very good care of her.”
Deacon Brown spoke up. “Well you should. But don’t scare the girl by telling her of your heathenish ways.”
Parson Graves lightly laid a hand on Deacon Brown’s sleeve. “Deacon, the Sisters have always taken good care of the girls. Many of them are able to go on and have normal lives, in other locations, of course.”
“Other girls?” Jonathan looked puzzled. “There have been other girls?”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Mrs. Brown spoke out. “Not many, not like some of the great houses, but one or two a year. Sometimes a lad will come forward and let it be known that the babe is his. Then we have a wedding, and if the babe is a little early . . . well, that is not all that unusual with a first baby.”
“But sometimes,” added Mrs. Brandenburg with conspiratorial relish, “the girls refuse to tell who the father might be. Just like this Sally Ann. We always suspected that it was someone high up in the Castle who didn’t want it known who he was.” She stared meaningfully at the Duke until her lean husband must had pinched her or kicked her ankle, because she said, “Ouch!” and turned to glower at the man.
One of the Sisters looked at Brother Jacob, as if to ask permission to speak. “Go on, Sister Sarah,” Brother Jacob said. “It is why you wanted to come.”
“I was one of those girls,” said the Sister. “I never knew his name, because he always wore a mask. I was a dairy maid, and he used to like to sing that silly song about a maid going milking. He spoke well, with a low-lander accent.”
“That could be any of a dozen men in the Duke’s employ,” said Constable McHenry. “Still, Father Jacob and I thought you should hear of it from her own lips, Your Grace.”
“I can tell you that it was not I,” Jonathan said, fixing Mrs. Brandenburg with a stare when she began to put a smirk on her face.
“Oh, no, not a bit of it,” said Sister Sarah. “I would recognize the voice, I think. Your’s is nothing like it, Your Grace. You’ve always had a wee bit of a lilt, like singing, to your voice. But your voice is deeper, his was higher. Not like a woman’s voice, but higher.”
“I would never accuse you, Your Grace,” Mrs. Brandenburg burst out.
“I am glad to hear it,” Jonathan said. “What I would really like to know is why I have only just now been informed that there have been other young women?”
Mr. Smith, shrugged, and lifted his hands, palm up. “What do you do when it might be someone in charge? But the thing is, Your Grace, usually the girls are just hastily married off and no more said about it. But killing them…this is new and not at all good.”
“Well, we are in agreement on one thing,” Jonathan replied. “It is not good. Nor do I think that any of you should have to endure such things, even if it is hushed up and the girls wed. Mr. McAhmladhson and Mr. McOwen will work with Constable McHenry to see what they can learn between them. Mr. Hammonds and Miss Sedgewick will make themselves available to any servants, or any of you, who want to share information. And I’ve sent to Edinburgh for a specialist to help us in our time of need.”
One by one, the villagers filed out. When they were gone, Jonathan sat down heavily in his chair and rested his face in his hands. Mr. Hammonds and Mr. McAhmladhson sat down in the chairs on either side of him.
