Page 24 of Winterset

“Did they find who did it?” Rafe McIntyre asked.

Several people shook their heads. The solicitor was the first to speak. “A number of people didn’t think it was a person. They thought it was this ‘Beast.’”

“One can hardly believe that a person would do such things,” the vicar added.

“People were scared about it for years afterward,” put in the squire. “I remember my nurse used to tell me about how people would bar their doors and windows, even in the heat of the summer, afraid of the Beast.”

Even disbelieving as she was, Anna could not help but feel a little shiver run down her back at his words.

* * *

The party broke up shortly after that. There seemed little more to say, and the natural inclination for most was to seek the shelter of their own homes.

When their guests had gone, Rafe slid his arm around his wife, pulling her against his side, and Kyria laid her head gratefully on his shoulder.

“Sorry about your party, darlin’,” Rafe said, kissing her gently on the temple.

Kyria shrugged. “I don’t mind that…. It’s that poor girl.”

“Do you think it’s the Holcombs’ maid?” Rosemary asked, frowning in concern.

“It seems likely, given the fact that she is missing,” Reed commented. “I did hear the constable say that the body was that of a woman.”

Miss Farrington shuddered and said in a subdued voice that she was going up to bed. Reed cast a look at his sister and Rafe, saying, “Join me for a drink in the study?”

“I think a bit of brandy is exactly what we need,” Rafe agreed, and the three of them strolled down the hall into Reed’s study. A large, comfortable room, it was still furnished with the large leather chairs that had been there when Reed bought the place, all well worn into a buttery softness.

Reed walked over to a cabinet against the wall and took out a decanter of brandy, pouring a healthy dollop of cognac into three small balloon glasses.

Kyria sighed as she sat down on the sofa. “It’s so awful. Poor Anna. She looked white as a sheet. Did you notice?”

Rafe nodded as he sat down beside her. He linked his hand through hers and brought it up to his lips, kissing it tenderly. Kyria smiled at him and snuggled up against him.

Reed, pouring the drinks, turned at his sister’s words, his eyes narrowing. “I wasn’t with you when she heard. Was she much distressed?”

“I would say so,” Kyria said. “She was quite pale. Of course, she assumed it was their servant. That is much worse than just hearing that a stranger has died.”

“I wonder…” Reed murmured, staring down at the glasses without really seeing them, the decanter still in his hand.

Rafe and Kyria exchanged a glance. “Wonder what?” Rafe asked bluntly. “Did you know this servant girl, or whoever it was that was found?”

Reed shook his head. “No. But…” He set down the decanter, then picked up two of the drinks and brought them over to Rafe and Kyria. “You will probably think me mad. I told Theo about it, and I’m fairly certain that he did.”

Kyria raised her eyebrow. “Told Theo what? How is Theo involved in this? He’s in London.”

“He’s not involved. But I told him why I was coming here.”

Kyria stared at him. “I thought you were coming to put the house in order so that you could sell it. That is why Rafe and I came along, to look at the house in case we wanted to buy it. Is that not why you came here?”

“Not entirely, no.”

Rafe and Kyria exchanged a glance, then looked back at Reed. “Reed…what are you saying? Are you not planning to sell Winterset?”

“I don’t know. I—I had thought I might.” He sighed. “I don’t use the place. And it seemed like a reasonable excuse to come.”

“Excuse?” Rafe picked up on the word. “Why would you need an excuse to visit your own house?”

“Because it has been three years. Because…I thought it would stifle any awkward questions.”