CHAPTER SEVEN K FIVE: THE MAN WHO BOUGHT SILENCE
Thomas’s study door stood open when Elias entered the corridor.
Ralston was inside, speaking urgently to Thomas over a desk covered with loose papers.
Elias stopped where both men could see him.
“You have an audience,” he said.
Ralston turned with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
“You were told to wait outside,” he answered.
“No one told me that,” Elias replied.
Thomas pushed his chair back.
“I am speaking privately with Mr. Ralston.”
“He sent men to the carriage house to take me away,” Elias said.
Thomas looked sharply at Ralston.
“What is he talking about?”
“A misunderstanding involving stable work,” Ralston answered.
Elias placed the bent chain on the desk.
“This was beside your coach,” he said.
“A hired rider told us what the men were paid to do.”
Ralston looked at the chain and then at the doorway.
“A rider seeking to avoid punishment will say anything,” he replied.
“Then you should hear him in front of the others,” Elias said.
Thomas stared at the chain.
“Did you give orders to seize this man?” he asked.
“I gave orders to prevent a disturbance,” Ralston answered.
“That is not the question,
” Thomas said.
Ralston’s expression hardened.
“You hired me because you wanted a disturbance prevented,” he replied.
“You knew what kind of man I was when you asked me to return.”
Thomas rose so abruptly that his chair struck the wall.
“I asked you to locate the children and settle the rumors,” he said.
“I did not ask you to threaten anyone.”
Elias listened carefully.
The master was admitting that he had known the questions were serious enough to investigate.
He had nevertheless brought back the man who had helped create them.
“You could have asked the families where the children went,
” Elias said.
“Instead you asked Ralston.”
Thomas turned toward him.
“You do not understand the responsibilities of this estate.”
“I understand that Hannah was taken from the kiln,” Elias replied.
“I understand that Joseph disappeared after he became ill.”
“You have no proof that those events are connected,” Thomas said.
“They are connected by the man who arranged them,” Elias answered.
Ralston stepped closer.
“You are speaking far above your station,” he said.
“You have spent months reminding me of my station,” Elias replied.
“It has not made your account more truthful.”
A knock sounded at the open door.
Dinah entered carrying the box from the carriage house.
Isaac followed with the hired rider.
Thomas looked at the collection of people in his study.
“I did not invite you,” he said.
“We were invited to work here,” Dinah replied.
“That has not stopped us from seeing what happens here.”
She placed the box on the desk.
“Your former overseer ordered these belongings removed from the cottage,” she said.
“The man who carried them is standing beside me.”
The rider shifted his weight.
“He promised me wages if I brought the box to the north road,” he said.
Ralston stared at him.
“You have misunderstood an ordinary instruction.”
“You said the mistress must not see the clothes,
” the rider replied.
“You said the children were no longer her concern.”
Thomas opened the box.
He lifted a child’s cup and examined its chipped handle.
“Where did this come from?” he asked.
“The old cottage,” Dinah answered.
“It was there when the children were taken through the orchard.”
Ralston made a sound of impatience.
“Old household goods prove nothing,” he said.
“Then why did you pay a man to hide them?” Isaac asked.
Ralston turned toward Thomas.
“You cannot allow your servants to conduct an inquiry in your study.”
“They are answering questions I should have asked,” Thomas said.
The statement surprised Elias more than he wanted it to.
Thomas looked at the rider.
“Did Mr. Ralston order you to bring a girl to the cottage?” he asked.
The rider glanced at Elias.
“Yes,” he said.
“He said the mistress would cooperate if the girl was there.”
“Cooperate with what?” Thomas demanded.
“I was not told,” the rider replied.
Ralston’s face had gone pale.
“This is a coordinated attempt to destroy my reputation,” he said.
Dinah looked at him without expression.
“Your reputation is not the thing missing from this house,” she replied.
Thomas closed the box.
“Everyone will wait in the hall,
” he said.
“I want to speak to Adelaide.”
Elias did not move.
“You should speak to the families as well,” he answered.
“They have been waiting longer than your wife has.”
Thomas held his gaze for a moment.
“Bring them,” he said.
Ralston started toward the side door.
Isaac stepped aside rather than touching him.
“You can walk into the hall with us,” Isaac said.
“Or you can explain why you are leaving before the questions begin.”
Ralston paused, then returned to the desk.
Elias knew the man had not surrendered.
He was merely looking for the next place where he might regain control.
