Maggie's Child (13 page)

‘What was your relationship with him, Lizzie? What you have told me is that the truth?’ Maggie asked.

Lizzie sighed. ‘He can be sly at times and he follows me into the dairy when he knows no one else is around. He tried to kiss me once, but I wouldn’t let him. He told me he wanted what I gave the others. I gave him a piece of my mind and nothing more. Please Maggie, gal. Please believe me. Oh, gracious and all that is good, whatever happened? He is probably happy that Jacob has been arrested. Yet runs around as if it is the most dreadful thing to happen.’ Lizzie burst into tears, and Maggie made a decision.

‘It does look more and more as if it is him. We will keep quiet at the present time. The authorities are coming in the morning to ask us questions. Before they do, we will speak with Larky in a casual manner. We will try to establish where he was when you milked the cows. He is obliging everyone tonight by making himself useful. I am now in doubt of his sincerity but I don’t think he will run away. He has made a good story and thinks he is beyond suspicion. You will sleep with me -- you are in no position to go back to the cottage.’ Maggie rose from the table.

 ‘I must go. It is only right I pay my respects, and see Peter’s body off of the farm. It is my duty. No. You stay here; it will be for the best. I am going to lock the door behind me. Strange I know, but under the circumstances, I think it best.’

***

Maggie added her condolences along with those of the staff. Peter’s mother held her hand, her face a pitiful picture.

‘Mrs Sawbury, they say it was your husband, and he is locked away. I pray it is not so, for you will have a difficult life ahead. I know what it is to work without a man alongside me. I have also heard whisper he is considered innocent. The latter is the preferred outcome, but it will leave a question on everyone’s lips. Who killed my beloved son? I curse the girl who enticed him to her bed. You need to watch that one, loose with her skirts so I hear.’

Maggie stood in silence and allowed the woman her words. There was nothing she could add to them. She did feel she needed to wipe smooth the tarnish she had added to Lizzie’s character. She spoke in soft, but firm tones. With people absorbing every word tonight, things needed to be handled carefully. She might be young, but she was also wise enough to know her words would be the ones most would listen to that night. She needed to leave them with a picture in their minds.

‘Peter and Lizzie were not lovers. They were in love, and have been courting in secret for some time. I understand they were going to be wed when the time was right. This news came to me from the girl herself. She is distraught and carries the distress of someone who has lost someone precious, so I have no reason to doubt her words. Any slanderous accusations you may have heard were from the mouths of those who were jealous. Now take your boy home, and leave Lizzie to me. I ask only one thing. Allow her the right to mourn your son alongside you. There will be comfort for you both in sharing your love for him.’

Maggie made arrangements for the woman to be escorted home and sent with her a pitcher of milk, butter and cheese. There would be great need for them when the villagers descended to pay their respects.

Back at the cottage, Maggie had a lot to discuss with Lizzie. The girl was curled on a horse-hair sofa in the corner of the room. She looked so vulnerable.

‘Lizzie. I have just told Peter’s mother, in front of a large crowd, that you two were in love, not just lovers. I also asked her to allow you to mourn alongside her. Now hear me out. Your character has a stain on it tonight. A man in your cottage and village gossip will not help you find a husband. Should it be known you were left by your love through his death, it is a forgivable reason. I need you to show a broken heart.’

Lizzie looked up at her and Maggie was shocked. The girl would not need to act. The distress in her face said it all; she had indeed loved Peter.

‘How long had you been courting in secret?’

‘Three months. We thought if Jacob found out he would turn nasty. I told Peter ‘bout his visits.’ She looked shamefacedly at the floor. ‘He promised he would not challenge him about them, if I promised to try and avoid them. A promise I was willing to make for him, Maggie.’

‘Maybe Jacob and he did confront each other. We can only hope that is not the case. Why did you never confide in me? Oh, Lizzie I am so sorry. I never had a clue. I have never seen you together.’

‘That was our intention. We were going to announce our love when the time was right. We wanted to learn more about each other and be sure marriage is what we wanted. It was love, we share so much.  I know little secrets he had, about his father and many other things. Facts that will prove to his mother how much we loved each other. Maggie, what do I do now?’

‘Now, you sleep. Tomorrow with bring a new batch of problems and situations. I need some rest and so do you. Come now bring the candle.’

Lizzie climbed the stairs ahead of her, and Maggie took one last glance at the seat where Stephen had sat. She tried to visualise him there again, but all she saw was an empty chair.

***

Sunday

Morning brought no joy to the farm. The weather of the day before had moved on to pastures new.
A grey mist swirled outside of the kitchen window. An air of gloom and despondency joined the cloud and cast a shadow over anyone who entered the yard. Even the meadow held no joy for Maggie.

Hangovers, bad memories and fear accompanied the majority. Maggie had instructed the cottage to be scrubbed top to bottom and Lizzie’s things were to be moved into her parlour for a temporary period. Keeping her staff busy was her goal for the day. The more jobs they had to do, the less time they had to stand around gossiping. She and Lizzie had cleaned the dairy. She paid a husband and wife team down on their luck to deal with the livestock. She kept a small pot of money in the salt hole set in the chimney. It was her emergency fund, saved from egg sales. A secret from Jacob; should he know about it he would drink it away. Today Maggie put to good use. A small group of women came to offer their services. Maggie knew they had come only out of curiosity, but as her day was extra busy she set them various tasks. One of which was to cook a large breakfast and set it out in the large staff cottage. Eggs, bacon and bread, and pots of creamed oats were loaded onto a table and gratefully received.

Satisfied all were content and no dangerous gossiping was carried out, Maggie relaxed with them for a few moments with a mug of buttermilk. She watched Larky going about his business. He moved from one person to another, speculating about the night before and loudly making it known he had seen Jacob in the lane. She judged the right time, and decided there was a chance he might be caught out. The more she and Lizzie had discussed their suspicion that morning, and the way he was behaving now, she was certain he killed Peter. It had to be handled carefully.

‘Larky, was the boss going to or from the farm when you came across him?’She enquired.

‘Um, coming to the farm, Mrs Sawbury. Why do you ask?’ Larky frowned.

‘And you? Were you heading here or away?’Maggie continued, ignoring his question.

‘I was coming here.’ Larky pushed his food into his mouth. All eyes were upon him.

‘Why?’Maggie persisted with her questions.

‘Madam?’ Larky gulped down his food. He looked uncomfortable.

‘Well, you do not sleep here. You live in the village. Why did you come to the farm, did you help Mr Sawbury home?’Maggie placed her cup on the table and stared at him. Her curiosity was getting the better of her. She could see a bead of sweat resting on his brow. He looked up from his plate.

‘I was going to, but he shouted at me. I thought I had better come and warn Lizzie he was in a state and on his way.’ His words came in a rush. He stabbed at the bacon slice on his plate, and then made a play of cutting it up.

Maggie controlled her voice into a slow, deliberate level. ‘Why on earth would you do that? I am the mistress of the farm, I am his wife. Oh, I know Jacob visits the cottages from time to time when he has been drinking. But if he is with someone else they always bring him to the house. Home to his wife. Why would you even consider taking him to the small cottage? It is well known my husband drinks heavy and I am used to putting him to bed. I did not need protecting from him, and neither did Lizzie. Tell me, Lizzie, what did you say to Larky when he came to see you?’

Lizzie looked at Larky, then back at Maggie.

‘He did not come to see me, as far as I am aware, Maggie. I were in the milking sheds for quite some time, so he might have come to see me and found me out. He never came to the sheds or the dairy though. Peter was at the cottage, as I explained last night. Peter and I are-were in love. We had kept it a secret, but last night we were discussing our future. When I came back from the milking, that is when I found- I found his body.’ Tears rolled down her sad, pale face.

The room went quiet while everyone took in what was being said.

A clatter of cutlery and plates startled them. Larky banged his hand on the table.

‘No. He was not for you. I heard you both talking cosy in your cottage. I have seen you by the dairy wall. He was not the man for you. He was weak and lily-livered. I was going to marry you. Me. But no, you have to disgrace yourself with him. He deserved it all.’

Shock reverberated around the room. Larky had admitted to the murder with no pressure at all. Maggie spoke first. ‘So my husband never made it home? He never saw Peter or went to the cottage?’

‘Him? He was so drunk he fell of the cart when it came through the gates. I pulled him up onto his feet and moved him to behind the barn. I knew he would be found there and after I had dealt with Peter, he would be the obvious culprit. Lizzie, I love you. Why did you refuse my kiss? One kiss and Peter would be alive.’ Larky stood up and the crowd moved in towards him. Maggie knew he was not going to leave without assistance. Every face had anger written across it, as he tried to justify himself.

‘If she had loved me, none of this would have happened. She is the guilty one.’ His voice was at a loud, high pitch. He was in a frenzied state. His hand trembled when he pointed towards Lizzie.

Lizzie ran from the cottage, Maggie turned to Mason.

‘Keep him here. No-one is to touch him. Do you all hear me? Back away. The boy is sick in the head.’ She doubted he was, but she did not want more bloodshed. ‘Let the authorities deal with him. Not one hair on his head do you touch, understand?’ She glanced at her staff.

‘Me and two others will hold him until he is taken, Maggie. Go on back to work you lot. The master will be in the foulest of tempers when he returns, don’t give him reason to use the stick.’ Mason addressed the rest of his team.

Maggie sent a man to let the constable know, and went to comfort Lizzie. Deep inside, she was disappointed.Maggie realised now that she
could
manage the farm on her own...and guilt gnawed at her over that feeling of disappointment that Jacob would be returning soon.

He is your husband. It is his farm; he has a right to return. You should wish for other things, Maggie Sawbury. Not a life of misery for another. No matter how rotten inside they are.

Their workers would have been supportive. Now as Mason had reminded her, she would have a grump of a man to attend to, and a broken hearted friend. The mixed emotions the summer fayre had brought her way were incredible. She would never forget the lessons she learned that day.

Chapter 13

Wednesday 12
^th
November 1856

The metal taste still lingered in her mouth. Noises disturbed her and Maggie was brought back to the present day. She could smell a mix of fragrant herbs in the room, and with reluctance she opened her eyes. It always pained her to open them. Slowly she focused on the bright light that surrounded her.

She wanted to yawn but the pain was too much, so she suppressed it as best she could. It led to a coughing fit. She groaned. Her body ached so much.

‘Hello, sleepyhead.’ Alice Summers stood beside her bed. Her smile was welcome. ‘I bet you are thirsty. We couldn’t waken you. The doctor has been again. You have been asleep for nigh on a day. We were worried, but here you are now, so all is well.’ She fussed with Maggie’s pillows, not drawing breath as she worked. ‘Young Nathaniel is missing you. He keeps throwing back his other milk. Yours is flowing like the local river, so if it isn’t too painful for you, we will draw a little to keep him nourished. But first things first, chicken broth strained through muslin. Cook has boiled some today in the hope you came around. Mrs Arlington will be pleased. All for sending for the undertaker that one, but I told her, Maggie is a strong girl. She’s in dream land now, but she will come back to us soon.’

Maggie tried to smile, but it was an effort. She moved her arm out to touch her friend. The strain in the woman’s face showed. For Maggie it proved she meant something to her, and not used her to play lady of the house, as Jacob had suggested.

‘I know, darling girl, the pain of it all. I know. My father was a violent man. I understand.’

Maggie moved her head side to side.

‘No? No what, Maggie? What are you trying to tell me?’

Maggie pulled her arm across her chest to her left breast. It was a slow movement, but eventually the nanny understood her message.

‘No pain on that side. Ah, Nathaniel. Yes, maybe if we lay him beside you, he can feed from you, but are you certain the bruising will not be too much for you?’

Again Maggie moved her head side to side. She moved her hand to the right breast and as she touched it, she flinched.

‘No, that one is not ready, my dear. Too much broken skin. It is clean and free from infection. The doctor prepared a poultice and instructed it is not to be used for feeding for one month.’