“If all you have said about Bragg is right, then I shall have to alert my superiors the moment he is in custody,” Hastings said as the wagon slowed on approach to the drive of Sedgwick Manor.
“Superiors?” Graham asked, his eyes peeled toward the driveway.
Lord Bragg’s carriage was in the drive with its unfamiliar coat of arms: the crown flanked by two swords. It had sat there quite undisturbed during the night, or so it appeared, as raindrops still sat on the windows and rooftop.
“Indeed. He is a Peer of the Realm, as are you. If accused of murder, he will be brought before a court of his peers in London. He will be held there until trial, not here.”
Graham nodded, not wanting to admit he had no idea what would happen to Bragg once he was arrested. Then again, how could he have known? He did not regularly keep company with murderers, after all. Graham stepped out of the carriage, noddingto the man who'd riddento tie the animal up at the hitching post outside the house.
The rest of the men dismounted, and Graham stood behind the constable as he walked up to the door and knocked.
They waited for the butler to open it, but no one came. They knocked repeatedly, but five minutes passed without any answer. It was too long. No butler worth his salt would let the front door go unanswered so long. Or did the Sedgwicks no longer employ a butler? Graham could not be certain. He’d seen one in the past, but what about recently? He shook his head, even if the man had been let go, a maid would surely answer instead.
Anxiety welled in Graham’s chest, the memory of Bridget’s fear for her mother washing over him. Lord Bragg had said that he would hurt her family if she was to tell the truth, and he feared that was exactly what had happened.
“We must get in,” he said. “We should make our way inside by force. Someone could be hurt.”
The constable frowned. He looked up at the windows and then walked backward as he continued to peer up.
“I shall need a good reason for entering the home of a nobleman,” he said, and Graham nodded.
“Well. As I said, a direct threat has been made against Lady Bridget’s mother. Bragg’s carriage is here, so…”
Hastings raised his hand. “Very well. The man we seek is a true villain, in that, you are right, and I have never known a noble household to leave callers standing outside for this long.”
Graham exhaled with relief.
“We must enter,” he repeated.
“We must indeed,” the constable echoed. He reached for the door and tried it, and Graham was certain it would be locked…
…but it simply swung open.
His gut roiled and twisted, the eerie silence inside the manor deafening. The family had certainly let go of some of their servants, he knew, and it had been quiet when he was last there. But the silence inside the manor just then was different. It was frightening.
The constable turned. “Stay behind me, Your Grace. Men,” he hissed and nodded his head for the half dozen men to fall in line behind them. Then, Hastings made his way forward slowly, leading the rest of the men inside.
“Do you hear that?” the constable whispered and came to a stop.
Graham turned to ask what he was referring to, but then he heard it as well—a shrill scream coming from somewhere in the house. His heart pounded, and he lurched forward, then realized what the sound was.
The kitchens.
A tea kettle boiling on the stove and left unattended.
Graham raced toward the sound, eager to get his first look at a clue. He hoped it meant that Lady Sedgwick was all right.
Yet what he found did little to set him at ease.
The table was set for breakfast, but the food had been half-served and untouched, as if the manor’s residents had left in a hurry. A full cup of tea sat on the table, stone cold.
What had happened?
Graham moved past the table and into the kitchens, where he found the bellowing tea kettle. It had overflowed, spitting hot water into the hearth below, the coals hissing. The constable rushed forward and fetched a cloth, then removed it, hence ceasing the infernal noise.
“Where have they gone?” the constable asked. “I do not like this one bit, Your Grace.”
“Nor do I,” Graham said. “But they must be here somewhere. We should keep looking. Shall I lead? I am familiar with the home.”