“Evelyn, dear child,” the Duchess said gently, “If you can shed some light on all these strange happenings, then you should. Tell me, at least, and I will be the judge of whether it needs to be told to others. If it should, I will also sift those who should know from those who should not.”
To tell or not to tell? If Mayson has been harmed, if the knowledge could save him, I hardly know what to do.
The war within her must have shown on Evelyn’s face for the Duchess said gently, “I would never tell anything that would harm either of you.”
Evelyn pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve, wiped her eyes and nose, before folding it and tucking it away again.
“Very well, Your Grace. I must trust someone. Mayson is not quite who he has appeared to be.”
“Aha! I knew it! Say on, Mrs. Swinton.”
Evelyn tried to think of the best way to say it. “His name, Your Grace, is Mayson Rutley.”
“Rutley! He is the lost heir?”
Evelyn nodded. “He feared for his life, so he faked his own death shortly before he was to come into his majority. But now…”
“Now?” the Duchess prompted.
“Now, he has been unhappy about the way the people at Hillsworth have been treated. And about how tumbledown it has become.”
“I see,” said the Duchess. “but how does that become the tale of mayhem and mishap that has developed for the last few weeks? And how can it be your fault?”
“It is my fault because I encouraged him to begin to take steps to claim his inheritance, Your Grace. He has a friend who is a magistrate. After Mayson went to him to begin the process of proving his identity and taking his rightful place, the accidents began to happen.”
“I see.” The Duchess tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. “Was this also about the time that the broadside advertising a reward for locating the heir came out?”
“Why, yes, Your Grace. I believe it was.”
“Now that is very interesting. This curious tale might have more than one branch to it, and perhaps a few red herrings, as well. Send for the constable. He, at least, should hear this.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Evelyn rose and tugged on the bell pull.
Mr. Wilson came to the door. “You rang?” he asked.
“Yes, Mr. Wilson. Please send the constable up to me. There is something he should hear.”
When Mr. Wilson had departed, Evelyn said, “There is something else you should know, Your Grace.”
“What is that, my dear?”
“Yesterday, he decided to give it all up. As soon as he is well enough, we plan to travel to New South Wales to begin a new life.”
“Good gracious!” the Duchess exclaimed. “I thought you were both happy here.”
“We were. We are, Your Grace. But Mayson felt that his presence is endangering the household. Much as I love working here, I could not let him go alone.”
“Of course you could not,” the Duchess agreed. “I should be loath to lose either of you, but I would not stand in the way of such love as I have seen developing between the two of you. I had hoped that I would have both of you continuing on as part of the household.”
“I know, Your Grace. We might have been glad to do so, had not this unknown person begun creating situations that endanger the everyone.”
“That intolerable situation must stop, of course,” the Duchess said firmly. “That is why we shall speak with the constable.”
There came a tap at the door. “Come in,” the Duchess called.
The constable entered the room.
“Constable Morris, Mrs. Swinton has something she needs to tell you.” The Duchess looked around at the servants and the other gentlemen who had entered the room with Constable Morris. “Clear the room, please.”
