Celia (A Sinclair Society Novella)

Chapter Eight

"Lady Leith?" Sir Henry said, catching my attention. "Is something wrong?"

"I want that gunshot investigated." The sooner I knew what was happening, the better.

For a moment, his forehead furrowed, but then he nodded. He raised his hand, getting the attention of my husband. "Leith!" he called out at the same time. "Why don't you send one of the grooms to see what happened? It will ease the ladies' minds."

To my relief, Horace agreed immediately. He called for one of the grooms that had been scaring out the birds. In a matter of moments, the young man was jogging off to make his inquiry. The shooting was put off for the time being.

Mr. Harper was looking around quickly as he approached. "Did anyone see where Bladen went?" he asked. There was a note of annoyance in his voice. "I don't remember him saying he was leaving us."

Everyone shook their heads. No one seemed to have noticed the man slipping away at all. How had he managed that? One of the other grooms mentioned the man had needed to relieve himself, but hadn't sounded confident about it.

With each passing second, I was more and more anxious about my friend. Where was Juliet? Was there some excuse I could give to have my maid come with me?

"Horace!"

I knew that off-pitch voice and my heart gave a lurch. "Simon?"

Horace looked just as confused as I felt. "What is he doing here?" The dowager exclaimed as Simon Leith, her youngest son came running across the grass. "Where is Miss Webber? She is supposed to keep him out of the way. Horace!"

I barely had time to be angry at how she always–always–wanted to hide Simon. She treated him as if he was something shameful, instead of giving him more love and attention!

The young man wasn't wearing a coat over his shirt shirtsleeves. There was a streak of scarlet across the white fabric that matched his hands. Blood. Had he been injured? Had he seen what had happened?

There were several shrieks of horror as the others saw what I had seen. "Who is that?" I heard one of the Williamson sisters say, though I wasn't sure which one. At least she was being calm. "Where did he come from?"

"Horace, hurry," Simon said as he reached us. It wasn't often he used his voice, so it was something of a shock that he did so now. He held a piece of paper out in one hand as he gestured to the east with his other. "Help her."

"Help who?" Horace asked as he took the paper.

But I knew who. "Where?" I demanded, stepping up to him. I made sure to exaggerate the word so that Simon, who could hear nothing, would be able to understand. "Where are they, Simon?"

"In the maze," was the answer. "He has a gun."

My heart felt like it was in my throat. "Horace," I said, turning to my husband. He was already running with his gun. Mr. Harper was beside him and two of the grooms who had been scaring out the birds.

"Well, this is an upset," Lady Jonson said, her tone calm. "Shall we all go inside now, Lady Leith? I think some tea would be very appropriate."

Right. My guests. I took a deep breath and faced them. "I'm afraid there has been an accident of some kind," I informed them. "Let's all go in now until Sir Horace learns what has happened."

"An accident?" Miss Reynolds said, crossing her arms. "Didn't that man say that someone was killing another person?"

"Don't be ridiculous," the dowager responded before I could. For once, I was glad of her sharp tongue. "Simon said nothing of the kind. Merely that someone had a gun. We are in the country. It is not so rare for a man to be out and about with a gun."