“Was there any condition to acquiring a license?” I asked.
“Not as far as I know. As long as the bridegroom paid the fee and assured the issuing cleric that there was no impediment to the marriage, a license would be issued.”
“Do you think it’s possible that Alys and her betrothed obtained a marriage license?” I asked. I knew it was a long shot, but every avenue was worth pursuing when researching a story.
“Well, we know Alys had a child. What we don’t know is when that child was born. It is quite possible that she was already pregnant, and the couple was in a rush to wed and didn’t want to wait a whole month to finally be allowed to wed.”
“Where would they have obtained a license?” I asked.
“Chesterfield, I should think.”
“Would this information be online?”
“No. But it might be at the diocese archives. I’m going to be in Chesterfield tomorrow, as it happens. I will take a peek at the records,” Jonah offered.
“Oh, would you?” I gushed, wishing I could come along but not wanting to push my luck. Jonah was probably going to Chesterfield on church business and wouldn’t want me tagging along.
“I most certainly will. I’ll ring you as soon as I know anything, one way or another,” he promised. “I wouldn’t get my hopes up, though. All this happened a very long time ago, and it’s quite possible that there’s no record of a marriage license, even if one was obtained.”
“Yes, I know,” I conceded. “It would be interesting to know when Alys’s son was born, though.”
“Do you think the date of birth would hint at his paternity?” Jonah asked, sounding quizzical. He clearly hadn’t considered this angle.
“Given Marjorie Lockwood’s obvious jealousy, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the child was Jeremiah Lockwood’s,” I said. “If the child was born less than nine months after the wedding, it’s possible that she was already pregnant and married quickly in order to hide her shame. Her husband may or may not have been the father of her child. However, if the child was born nine months or more after the wedding, it would show that the child was conceived after the marriage had taken place and was most likely her husband’s.”
“That’s a flimsy supposition at best,” Jonah said. “She might have had relations with her future husband and become pregnant. If the child was born within a few months of the wedding, it proves nothing other than that the father of the child was willing to step up and take responsibility.”
“Yes, you’re probably right,” I said. “I’m just grasping at straws. There’s no proof that Alys had an affair with Lord Lockwood. It could have been all in his wife’s imagination.”
“Exactly,” Jonah agreed. “Had Alys been in a relationship with Jeremiah Lockwood and borne him a son, I highly doubt he’d go along with his wife’s accusations of witchcraft, especially if Alys was married to another and her child was considered legitimate. My theory is that Marjorie Lockwood genuinely believed Alys Bailey was a witch, and Lord Lockwood shared that belief. Perhaps they found some sort of proof.”
“What sort of proof?” I demanded.
“Not the sort of proof we would find acceptable, but at that time, many things could be seen as proof of consorting with the devil. The interesting thing is,” Jonah said, clearly warming up to the topic, “Lord Lockwood was not known for being cruel or gullible. If anything, he had something of a reputation for being too lenient and dismissive of local superstition, something that must have grated on his wife, given her Puritan beliefs and need to eradicate evil in all its forms.”
I considered this suggestion. “He died only two years after Alys was executed, correct?”
“Yes,” Jonah said.
“How much of a reputation could he have established in the short time he was master of Ashcombe Manor? Had he lived, he might have evolved into a tyrant and ruled his estate with an iron fist. Bringing witches to justice was looked upon favorably by the monarchy, so Alys might have been the sacrificial lamb Lockwood needed to gain the favor of the king. He was a Royalist, was he not?”
“He did fight on the side of the monarchy,” Jonah confirmed.
“I’m afraid we know too little of his true character to jump to conclusions,” I said, hoping I hadn’t offended the reverend.
“You’re right, of course. Always better to work with facts. I will ring you tomorrow after I leave the office of the bishop.”
“Thank you for your help, Jonah. I really do appreciate it,” I said.
“No need to thank me. This is the most fun I’ve had in years,” Jonah confessed. “A little intellectual puzzle. I might even get Tanya interested in this one.”
“I hope you do,” I said, and rang off.
It was nearly six thirty and time to get ready for dinner. I hadn’t seen Kyle since we returned from Chesterfield in the afternoon and looked forward to sharing my recent findings with him. I felt a little flutter of nervousness in my belly at the thought of tonight. Would he invite me back to his room? Should I invite him to mine? As I dressed for dinner, I felt like a teenager for the first time since I actually was a teenager. The thought made me smile.
Chapter 56
Kyle
Kyle was just about to head downstairs when his mobile vibrated. He glanced at the screen, which proclaimed it to be his mother, so
