Longborn said. “I’m afraid we're behind the times. Really, it’s more of a hassle than anything.”
I suddenly understood part of his hesitance. I was asking a man to do his job when he rarely had to rise to the occasion to do so. Most of his time was probably spent checking in on the local shops, responding to petty disturbances called in by old ladies, and meeting with the local town council. He didn’t have to deal with bones and closed files and subsequent investigations into the matter by people associated with the Crown.
“I would appreciate it. But what does the age of the bones tell you?” I didn’t want to forget to address it.
“There are always stories about houses this old. It’s hard to know which ones are true. Most of them have been blown up over the years. They’re old wives tales and stories we tell our kids on chilly nights to give them a good scare.” Longborn stared into his class before lifting his eyes. “But sometimes stories are true. The trick is knowing fact from fiction.”
"The bones change the story,” I guessed in a quiet voice.
“Perhaps,” he admitted, heaving a sigh. “I don’t know if there’s a point to dragging up old crimes.”
“It depends on the crime,” I said.
“Will you feel that way if I have to tear apart your cellar?” he asked. “I can speak with the town council, reopen old investigations into disappearances around the estate.”
“Disappearances?” This was only getting worse.
The last thing I wanted was to dredge up bad history. Now wasn’t the time. I needed to focus on my wife and my family. But couldn’t I just ignore what we’d found. “I’d like the file. I’ll have my people look into it. I don’t think there’s cause to bring the town council into things.”
Longborn smiled in understanding. He paused, his mouth opening but hesitated before he spoke.
“Unless that’s a problem,” I said, hoping to prompt him to share what was on his mind.
“Far be it for me, to tell a man how to run his home,” he started, and I got the sense he was about to do just that, “but sometimes the past is better left in the past.”
I often thought the same thing. But every time I tried to move forward, it seemed the past stuck it’s rotting hands out of the earth and dragged me back down to hell. Maybe there were no answers to be found where Thornham was concerned. Maybe I needed to remind myself that I’d never escape my own sins until I learned to let go of the past.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I promised him. I didn’t know what I was going to do when those files arrived or what they would contain. Maybe it would be best to simply pass them to Georgia and have her look into the matter. She had the benefit of distance where things were concerned.
I showed Longborn to the door. He paused at the entrance, taking his hat off the hook next to it and popping it on his head. “Thank you for the Scotch. Call me if you find any other strange discoveries.”
"Should I expect to?” I asked him, puzzled over why he would bring that up.
“I imagine this house has more secrets inside it,” he said simply. “Congratulations on your new baby. Give your wife my best. And Mr. Price, if you don’t mind me saying so, keep an eye on them.”
"I will.”
He tipped his hat one more time before shoving his hands in his pockets and defending the steps towards an old Renault parked in the circle drive. My gaze followed behind him, wondering if his final words were simply good natured advice or a warning.
I shut the door behind him, my fingers glancing over the lock. It was the middle of the day. Humphrey and Mrs. Winters and Rowan would all be coming and going. I wasn’t in London anymore where locking your door was second nature. There was no reason to need locked doors in a house this size, but Longborn’s words lingered in the air around me. I drew my hand back, deciding that it was ridiculous to lock the door in the middle of the afternoon. Then, I went to look for Belle.
I found Nora with Penny in the nursery, rocking her softly. Daylight streamed around her, casting a shimmering glow. She looked up at me and smiled. I returned it and edged quietly out of the room. I appreciated having