“Ah, so that explains why he didn’t want to be with the rest in the main house. I don’t suppose Brian would have welcomed Joseph’s mistress with open arms, not if he’d a wife he left at home.”
He climbed back into bed. “This is almost becoming farcical,” he said. “Are we never to have a peaceful night’s sleep as man and wife?”
“Daniel,” I said as he turned out the light and climbed back into bed, “why didn’t you tell him that you were a police officer?”
“I decided that now was not the right moment,” Daniel said. “More interesting to listen to what the man had to say when he didn’t know I was with the police. Ah, well, let’s get some rest. I hope to sleep off this damned chill or grippe or whatever it is. I’d like to be at my best when they all arrive.”
With that he pulled the covers over his face and promptly fell into a deep sleep. I lay awake, still disturbed by the nocturnal visit and by the events of the day. I listened to the crashing of waves onto the shore and my thoughts turned to that poor little girl. I pictured her body lying on those rocks and I snuggled up closer to Daniel. There were so many dangers in life and no way to prevent them. I was now married to a policeman. Danger was to be part of our lives. When I had been living alone and running my detective business I had found myself in danger several times. To begin with it hadn’t worried me but lately it had preyed on my mind. I suppose that now that I had Daniel, I didn’t want to lose him.
Seven
Eventually I fell asleep but my dreams were troubled. A little girl dancing on the lawn with a lamb until a great shadow loomed over her and a voice said, “Now the light has gone out of our lives.”
By morning the sadness melted away and I awoke quite cheerfully to another day of brilliant sunlight. Daniel awoke not quite so cheerfully, acting like most men with a cold—in a thoroughly bad temper. I tried to remind myself of my recent vows of in sickness and in health, made him hot tea and a boiled egg and tucked a rug around his shoulders.
“What would really help is a mustard plaster,” he said. “And something to steam. That’s what my mother always did for a cold. Friar’s Balsam, I believe.”
“And what did you do for a cold when you were not with your mother?” I asked, trying to keep my expression sweet and caring.
“Nothing. I never had time to be ill so I just kept on going.”
“Would you like me to walk into town and see if I can find a chemist who stocks the things you want?” I asked.
“That would be wonderful.” He reached out his hand and took mine, looking up at me with gratitude, making me glad that I had acted like a dutiful wife.
I left him with a rug over his knees, sitting in the sunshine, while I put on my cape and hat and went into town. The gardener was working near the gate and he dropped his tools and ran ahead to open it for me. “You’re walking, are you, miss?” he asked. “You don’t need anyone to summon you a carriage or a cab? I’m afraid we’ve no coachman or chauffeur here until the master arrives.”
“I’m happy to walk. I’m enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, thank you,” I said. “It’s a treat after living in New York City.”
“Are you a relative over from Ireland?” he asked.
“No, not a relative. My husband knows the alderman. I’ve never met him.”
“I understand he’s coming later today, or tomorrow, so you’ll have your chance.”
“What’s he like?”
“Not my place to say, ma’am. He’s a tough man to work for. Likes his orders carried out instantly and to the letter, but he pays well. Nothing stingy about him. And he’s very good to his family, so we hear. Supports the lot of them.”
“Does he?”
“Oh, yes. Mr. Joseph is the only one of them who does an honest day’s work from what I can tell.” He looked around as he held open the gate. “But I shouldn’t be talking like this. And I’ve work to do. There will be hell to pay if there’s a single dandelion left in this lawn.”
With that he ushered me through the gate and shut it hurriedly behind me.
On the opposite side of the street was an ordinary brick colonial house, and as I looked at it, I noticed a lace curtain twitch back into place as if someone had been watching me. I set off at a brisk pace into town, found a chemist, and came back laden with a chest rub—Friar’s Balsam—a tonic guaranteed to put people back on their feet instantly, and some grapes to make Daniel feel better. I found him reading and he seemed to have perked up quite nicely, eating a good healthy amount at lunch.
But he still declined to come with me down to the seashore in the afternoon. “I think I’ll take a nap after I’ve inhaled some steam,” he said. “If you could just boil me some water and find me a towel to put over my head.”
I did as he asked, leaving him swathed like a fortune-teller.