The minister frowned and shot the gravedigger a warning look. “Forgive him, My Lord, he knows not to whom he speaks.”
“Clearly,” the Earl shot the gravedigger a disapproving look.
“Were you acquainted with the deceased, My Lord?”
“Aye, I was.”
“I am sorry, My Lord, but I cannot change the rules, even for a nobleman of your standing. It is out of respect for the man that Professor Wallace once was that I had forgone the custom of burying him at a crossroads and have agreed to bury him here in the northside of the churchyard.”
“That is unacceptable,” Cleo insisted, clenching her teeth so hard she feared that they might crack.
“Nevertheless, it is as it is and it cannot be changed,” the minister’s eyes were not without sympathy, but they were also firm and allowed for no further argument on the subject.
The Earl’s hands balled into fists, but he did not use them. Cleo watched him out of the corner of her eye as he took a deep breath to calm himself. It felt good to have him on her side. She was still suspicious of him and everyone else that she had encountered since the day of her father’s murder, but she could not help the feelings that the Earl stirred within her.
“Cleo?” a familiar feminine voice inquired from behind her.
“Aunt Caroline,” Cleo turned around and greeted her father’s sister. “I am glad to see that you were able to come in time for Father’s burial, but I fear that it will cause you nothing but more pain. They refuse to bury Father with Mother.”
“You would bury my brother with criminals?” Aunt Caroline turned to face the minister. “After everything that my family has done to support your charity works in the parish, this is how you treat us?”
“There is nothing that I can do, Mrs. Brown. I am sorry,” the minister bowed, then walked away unable to take the looks of seething anger he was receiving for another moment.
“Is there truly nothing that can be done?” Cleo asked her aunt.
“I will not stand for this, Cleo. I will find a way to see that right is done by my brother, but I do not think that it is going to happen today, even with a nobleman such as yourself attempting to come to our aid, My Lord.”
“Aye, I see that it is nae, but I will do all in my power tae see it set right,” the Earl offered them both encouragement. “It will take time, but we will find our way tae the truth.”
“We?” Aunt Caroline asked, her brows arched in inquiry.
“Yes, Auntie, His Lordship has offered to aid me in my search for Father’s killer.”
“Nay, Cleo, I will not have you placing yourself in danger. It is clear that the man who did this to your father is dangerous. I will not have you place your life in harm’s way. Your father would never allow it.”
“My father is not here and danger or not, I will not rest until my father’s killer has been revealed.”
“My Lord, surely you would not place a young lady in harm’s way?”
“Nae, I would nae, but the lass has a right tae ken what happened tae her faither.”
“Nay, I will not allow it. I will not allow her to be placed in danger. If you wish to seek out my brother’s killer on your own, My Lord, I cannot stop you, but I will not allow Cleo to take part in this.”
“And how do you intend to stop me? You do not live with me,” Cleo challenged. “You are not my guardian, and I am of an age to make such decisions for myself.”
“One-and-twenty does not give you the right to be impertinent, my dear niece. And as for your living arrangements, that is something that I intend to change. I have decided to come to live with you here for a time, until you are wed at least.”
Cleo looked at her aunt in surprise. “You are always welcome to stay with me, Auntie, but I warn you, I have no intentions of wedding anyone anytime soon, nor do I intend to remain quiet, while my father’s name is being besmirched.”
“We shall see about that.”
Chapter 5
The burial was a morbidly quick affair without a minster’s reading or prayers for the deceased. Cleo stood trembling with grief and rage as silence reigned over the cemetery. The Earl of Irondale, who was standing beside her and her Aunt Caroline, took her hand, squeezed it in reassurance, then stepped forward to address the gathered multitude. “Professor Henry Wallace was a man among men, a kind man, a good man, a strong man.”
There were several nodding heads among the group, many were the professor’s former students. A snort of derision from one of the gravediggers, the one who had been quite rude to Cleo, caused the Earl to turn his icy stare toward the offender. A murmur went through the crowd drawing his attention back to the task at hand, but the glare had been enough to silence the gravedigger.
“Contrary tae what ye may have heard, Professor Wallace was nae the sort o’ man tae take his own life.”
