Page 92 of An Affair at Stonecliffe

“We don’t know that he killed them all. Unless he confesses, we are certain only that he tried to kill Gil and Nathan and frame me. And I don’t know that he planned it from the start. He may have simply realized one day how few of the founders had sons who grew to manhood. Maybe he began to think how convenient it would be if they all died.”

“So he decided to help them along.”

Carlisle nodded. “Sprague Haverstock’s and John Brookwell’s murders may be hard to prove, but it’s my opinion he either killed them or paid Diggs to do it.”

“They were the most recent deaths. He began much earlier with Gil, but, then, Gil would have been the most danger to him, being so young.”

“Yes. He might not have been bent on killing Gil at first, just kidnapping him and making sure we didn’t know where he was. But once Gil was here at home, Thompkins must have realized he had to do away with him entirely. Or he discovered, after Haverstock and Brookwell, that killing someone didn’t bother him all that much. Maybe he even enjoyed it.”

“What I don’t understand is why he shot Diggs. Diggs worked for him.”

“To keep from having to share the money with him. That’s my guess. And Diggs knew much too much about him and his crimes. If Diggs were caught, he would probably have given up Thompkins, hoping for leniency. Diggs’s knowledge also made Thompkins ripe for blackmail. Diggs could demand money in return for not revealing what Thompkins had done. Year after year, for the rest of his life.”

“But if Thompkins shot Diggs, he’d look like a hero, as well as relieving himself of a threat. It played into his scheme, too,” she added. “When he was trying to convince me that you had orchestrated the killings, one of his main arguments was that Diggs worked for you. Someone had hired Diggs, and the obvious person would be you.”

“Yes, that would have looked bad for me.” He glanced over at her. “I’m very glad you didn’t believe him.”

“No one would have.” They were on dangerous territory again. Noelle wished she hadn’t blurted out that she loved him; in the midst of her relief and joy, she hadn’t paused to think. Carlisle must already know it, of course, but as long as it wasn’t said out loud, it would be easier to remain friends.

Noelle hurried on. “There were a number of things that didn’t make sense. If I hadn’t been so stunned and confused, I think I would have already realized that there was something decidedly off about his story. How did he know that Gil and I would be at this cottage? And it wasn’t necessary that he shoot Diggs. Diggs wasn’t trying to strangle me or shoot me. He might have done so later, but at the moment Thompkins fired, he had only grabbed my arm and was about to hit me.”

At this revelation, Carlisle’s face contorted with fury. “It’s probably a good thing Cato shot him—I would have made Diggs pay dearly if he had landed that blow.”

Noelle couldn’t help but smile at the fierceness with which he reacted. “What I’m saying is: threatening Diggs with his gun would have been enough to make him stop. Later, when Thompkins started telling me that you were behind the plot, his story was unbelievable. I knew you would never do such a thing, and if you had, you certainly would have done a better job of it.”

“Thank you. I think.”

She gave him a half smile. “You know what I mean—the whole thing’s been very haphazard, hasn’t it? Everything this evening was impulsive. He hadn’t planned well for it, hadn’t prepared.”

“And I am never impulsive.” Carlisle shrugged and gave a rueful smile. “Except tonight, when I came running after you without thinking to pick up a weapon. Thank God I found one on Diggs.”

Noelle instinctively reached out to squeeze his hand. “I am very glad you came to rescue us, weapon or no. Thank you.”

“Of course I came after you. I always will.” He stopped, his fingers interlacing with hers, and cast a frustrated glance back at Gil, who was watching them with great interest. “I must talk to you.”

“Carlisle, there is no need.”

“There definitely is a need. I don’t—”

“Look!” Gil yelled. His face was stamped with excitement as he pointed ahead.

There was a light through the trees, bobbing a little. No, several lights, she saw now. “Rescuers?”

At that moment, a familiar voice trumpeted, “For pity’s sake, man, can’t you go any faster? We’ll never reach them at this rate.”

“Lady Lockwood?” Noelle and Carlisle glanced at each other in surprise, then hurried forward. Even the pony picked up his pace. Soon they saw men carrying torches or lanterns, and in the rear was a dark figure on horseback.

“Grisham!” Carlisle called out to the head groom, hurrying forward. “You followed us!”

“Sir! Thank God we found you.” Grisham glanced back over his shoulder at the figure on the horse.

The rider came forward, men jumping out of the way. Now in the torchlight, Noelle could see that the rider was Lady Lockwood dressed in riding habit and boots, crop in hand.

“Lady Lockwood! It’s you. On horseback.” Carlisle stared.

“Yes, of course it is I,” she snapped back. “What a foolish thing to say. How else do you think I’d make my way up this trail? Hobble along on my cane?”

“No, it’s just—I’m surprised you joined the search party.”