It turned out that three people had died in all. As well as St Austell and Mrs James there was a third guest that nobody knew particularly well, but still a lost life for all that. Of the wounded there were many more than John had first realized. These amounted to a simple graze as a bullet had flown past to several people having been hurt. The Apothecary and the surgeon were in the middle of giving life-saving first aid when Elizabeth came from upstairs and called Mr Perkins to attend. Much as John had suspected, Imogen was miscarrying her child. Which would, no doubt, be a relief to the anxious woman he had spied in the apothecary’s shop.
At last the line of hurt people was dealt with and John was just sipping a cup of coffee, which he had requested in order to steady himself, when a very pallid Felicity came to stand beside him.
‘Mr Rawlings, I wonder if you would look at my arm. I think I might have a bullet in it.’
He noticed then that the shawl with which she had covered herself was bloodstained and as he pulled it away she gave a little shudder.
‘I’m sorry. Did that hurt you?’
‘Yes, it did rather.’
She gave him a brave smile but he saw as soon as he examined her that she had indeed a bullet lodged in her upper left arm.
‘I will bandage this up for you but I daren’t remove the cause of the problem. We must get the surgeon to look at you fairly soon.’
‘Tonight?’
‘Yes, tonight. There’s no escaping that fact, young lady. Where is your mother?’
‘Over there.’ And Felicity pointed to where Lady Sidmouth was dispensing hot drinks and small eatables to the shocked and wounded.
‘How was it that you got shot?’ John asked the girl, his opinion of whom was rising by the second.
‘I picked up a candelabra and threw it at one of them.’
John leant back and gave a low whistle. ‘We shall have to report all this to the Constable. By the way, has he been sent for?’
‘Mama thought it best to wait until tomorrow.’
‘I don’t know that that was entirely wise. He really might like to see the scene as it is.’
‘But who is the Constable. Do you know?’
‘I have no idea because the job changes annually. But Exeter seems to have a system of each citizen chosen for the unpleasant task employing a certain individual to take his place. And if that system still holds good and if the individual is the same as the one I came across when last there was a murder in Devon, then his name is Tobias Miller and he is a first-class individual.’
Felicity gave a little shiver. ‘Must I go to the surgeon tonight? He seems awfully busy.’
‘Yes, you must, foolish child. It will be painful but it is best the bullet comes out as soon as possible, otherwise infection might set in.’
‘How do you know that it won’t anyway?’
‘Because I have spread on a good paste from Lady Sidmouth’s store cupboard. That will look after it very well until the bullet can be removed.’ John looked round him. ‘Is there anybody else?’
But it seemed that there wasn’t, and he decided that it was time he had a brief chat with Felicity’s mother before leaving.
Lady Sidmouth had proved herself to be a woman made of steel. Her headdress had come off, she had bloodstains all over her dress but, nothing daunted, she plunged into caring for the injured and keeping up the spirits of the rest as if it were her bounden duty. Which, John considered, it probably was. She looked up as he approached.
‘Well, Mr Rawlings, this is one wedding you won’t forget in a hurry.’
‘Indeed not, Madam. I can honestly say that it will be imprinted on my memory for ever.’
She smiled grimly. ‘Lady Imogen has lost a child, by the way. I had half guessed she was pregnant. Had you?’
‘Oh yes. It is better all round that that burden has been taken from her.’
‘Indeed. They say it was old St Austell’s by the way.’
‘What?’
‘Apparently he has been interfering with her since she was a child. If it’s true then he met his nemesis today.’
‘What a foul old bastard!’ John said with vehemence. ‘He deserved everything he got. Of course I feel sorry for Miranda…’
‘I wouldn’t do too much of that,’ came the sharp reply. ‘I think she knew perfectly well what she was getting into.’
The Apothecary held up his hand. ‘Say no more, please. Let me have some illusions left. Now, my Lady, Felicity must see the surgeon tonight. She has a bullet in the arm which I cannot remove.’
‘Young Perkins shall come as soon as he’s finished with Imogen. He’s a nice fellow. Lives in Exeter. As a matter of fact he is quite a friend of Felicity’s. Indeed I have certain hopes. Damn this going after a title business. If he’s a sound man, then let nature takes its course.’
John gathered from this somewhat convoluted statement that Mr Perkins was a possible suitor for Felicity’s hand.
‘Then will you get him?’ he asked.
‘I’ll go upstairs at once,’ she answered.
Having reassured himself on that point, John surveyed the scene. Lady Bournemouth was spreading her girth on to a small chaise while Cordelia and Freddy both fanned her face frantically. Mr Cushen, very grey about the gills, was escorting Mrs Cushen out to their waiting coach. Robin Sidmouth had tired of trying to comfort Maud and had whirled round the room like a bee and was presently deep in conversation with Viscount Falmouth while Maud sat alone, a miserable and solitary figure. Meanwhile a group of strong young estate workers, obviously having been called from their beds, had come into the Grand Saloon armed with planks and determined expressions. They went first to the late Earl and regardless of the blood seeping through the cloth that covered him, hefted him on to the plank, shoulder high.
‘Where is he going to be put?’ asked John.
‘The cellar is to become a temporary mortuary. It’s cool down there, and besides the Constable will no doubt want to examine the bodies,’ answered Elizabeth, returned from the room above. Her voice changed. ‘John, as soon as you are finished here I want to go home. I want to ride out into the night and search for those two old besoms. The fact that they got away has hurt my amour propre.’
‘It would appear that they did the world a service in getting rid of Milord.’
‘Yes, but think of those they wounded indiscriminately. Think of poor Felicity. Think of poor Mrs James — foolish, yes, but actually harmful, no. Think of the other man, a meek fellow in life and perfectly inoffensive in death. Should not they be avenged?’
‘Indeed they should.’
‘Then let’s ride out. It will be a great adventure. In the darkness, you and I.’
Something of the excitement she felt began to penetrate his weary body. Much as he disliked riding at night, he felt himself wanting to accompany her. Besides, she was right. Those two creatures — had they been men all along? — must not be allowed to wreak such carnage and then walk clean away. They must be hunted down and tried by jury.
A thought occurred to John. Unless the couple had acted on their own volition, then there was somebody else to find, the man or woman who had masterminded the whole thing. For surely two such crazy people as the assassins appeared to be, apparently shooting at random, had really had but one target and that could only be the Earl of St Austell. The very number of his wounds was some proof of that. The rest of the volley of bullets would have been to mask the fact that he was the actual victim. The Apothecary thought more deeply and it occurred to him that Mrs James with her gossipy manner and her constantly clacking tongue might also have been on the list to be taken care of. As to the third man, a Mr Meakin, he knew nothing of him but he intended to find out.
He turned to Elizabeth. ‘As long as I am no longer wanted here I’ll come with you. The night air might clear my head. By the way, where is Miranda?’
‘Lord Falmouth took her upstairs. She has been put to bed and Mr Perkins has given her a sleeping
