The Witching Pool: A Justice Belstrang Mystery (Justice Belstrang Mysteries Book 2) by John Pilkington (love letters to the dead .TXT) 📗

Next to be called was the constable of Powick village. In a glum monotone, he stated that he had learned the whereabouts and condition of the deceased on the morning he was found, from William Mount. He had then gone down to Newland with a cart, in the company of other men. They had retrieved the body, swathed it and conveyed it here, to the church. The parish clerk had reported it to the authorities, after which the corpse lay untouched until the doctor from Worcester came to examine it. The constable looked round, and indicated Boyd.

‘Likely that gentleman can tell you more,’ he added. ‘Meanwhile I stand to do my office, whatever it be.’

He waited, clearly thinking he was no longer needed… but I could no longer restrain myself. Standing up abruptly, I drew a breath and called out to Standish.

‘Might I be allowed to question the constable, sir?’

There was a murmur of voices, and heads turned. I was aware of Humphreys and Rowden sitting together watching me, and of Woolland seated nearby. But I fixed my eyes on the Justice.

‘Master Belstrang.’ Reining in his irritation, he met my gaze. ‘What, pray, do you wish to ask?’

‘I have evidence,’ I replied, causing another stir. ‘Evidence that would contradict what we’ve heard up to now. If you will place me under oath, I would be glad to give it.’

A hush fell; beside me, I sensed Boyd’s unease at my interruption. And when the answer came, it was no more than I should have expected.

‘I might consider that, when I’ve heard from other parties,’ Standish said coolly. ‘In the meantime, as a former Magistrate no doubt you’ll be content to let me conduct this inquest in the proper manner. For the present, I ask you to wait.’

With an effort, I held my tongue and sat down. At least Boyd’s testimony would be heard, I thought; as for Berritt, I was still puzzled by his absence. Yet that was as nothing to the dismay I felt when the next witness appeared - and I gave a start as the name was called: that of Eliza Dowling.

From somewhere at the rear of the watchers, she rose and made her way forward. She was still swathed in mourning black, with the air of a woman bowed in grief. It was enough to convince the clerk, who rose from his stool and placed it before the Justice’s table. Murmuring her thanks, she sat down and faced Standish.

Tense as a pillar, I waited… to be confounded by her testimony. As accomplished liars go, I believe I never heard a better one. For this was a performance – as Boyd had described Cobbett’s testimony, at his daughter’s inquest. In a voice of sadness, dabbing at her eyes with a kerchief, the hard-faced nurse whom Hester and I had faced at the funeral won her audience over within minutes.

Firstly, she spoke of her late charge: her beloved Susanna Cobbett, from whose death, she claimed, she would never recover. Sadly, she related how she had watched Susanna fall into a despondency, an affliction of the mind which none could explain but which, in the light of what had since been revealed, she now understood. She appeared to wish to say more on that topic, but Standish interrupted.

‘We are not here to speak of Mistress Cobbett,’ he said, with impatience. ‘The inquest into her death has already been held, in this very place. Kindly tell us what you know of the deceased, Howell Rhys.’

Mistress Dowling let out a long sigh. ‘In truth, sir, I know little of him, save that he visited Susanna in secret… or so she believed. She was unaware that I had learned of the youth’s attentions, by discreet observation. Naturally I reported the matter to my master, who ordered Rhys never to come onto Cobbett land again…’ the woman paused, somewhat too dramatically. ‘Yet the damage, I fear, was already done.’

‘What do you mean?’ Standish snapped. Whereupon, after giving another sigh, the nurse spoke those fateful words that no-one would forget.

‘They were both bewitched,’ she said, drawing a gasp from the watchers. ‘Susanna, and Rhys too. It was he who urged her to take her own life, sir – I’m certain of it. Since they were forbidden, they would shed their earthly bodies, in the same manner and at the same spot, so that they could be together for all eternity. It was madness… they were driven to it, though of how that came about, I will not speak.’ Slowly, she shook her head. ‘May the Lord have mercy on them both.’

Having delivered her testimony, she fell silent… but for Robert Belstrang it was too much. In a moment I was on my feet again, causing heads to turn and Justice Standish to glare.

‘Sir,’ he growled, ‘I have already told you that I’ll consider any submission you wish to make-’

‘And yet, I cannot and will not be silent,’ I broke in. ‘You, I and everyone here present have been lied to, sir… I demand that you let me give testimony-’

I stopped, or rather was prevented, by a hand gripping my arm: Boyd’s. As I turned sharply to him, the doctor too rose and, in his voice of calm authority, addressed the magistrate.

‘Master Coroner,’ he said, ‘I ask your pardon on behalf of my friend. He, like all of us here, is eager to see justice done… even if certain events have placed him under a strain. With your leave, I’ll take the oath now and give the evidence I am come to deliver – at your own bidding, I might add. Evidence that may perhaps place the death of Howell Rhys in a clearer light… are you agreeable?’

There was a moment, as all eyes went from Boyd to the Justice. Whereupon, to general relief and a good measure of excitement, the man