The Custom House Murders (Captain Lacey Mysteries #15) - Ashley Gardner Page 0,98
judge, the same age as Mrs. Beadle’s grandson, Harry, and a little older than Peter. He had taken a seat next to Eden, his small legs swinging above the floor. He stared in blatant fascination at Brewster, who balanced his tiny teacup on huge fingers.
“Meaning young Robbie here wasn’t free to go?” Grenville asked.
“He belonged to Warrilow,” Eden said.
“Ah,” I took a sip of very good tea. “I begin to see.”
“Mr. Warrilow had sold me to his neighbor when Robbie was about six summers,” Mrs. Davies said. A spark of old anger rose. “He refused to let Robbie come with me, saying he was useful for work in the garden. It was not so bad—Mr. Warrilow’s plantation was close, and I visited Robbie whenever I could.” Her stoic words belied the anguish I saw in her eyes. She’d faced her pain with a courage most men I knew, including me, would lack. “When Major Eden freed me, I told him about Robbie. Major Eden promised he’d fetch him, and we’d be together always. I didn’t quite believe it.” She sent Eden a radiant glance.
“As you might guess,” Eden said. “Warrilow wouldn’t sell. I tried everything to talk him into it, even offering him an exorbitant price, but he would not budge. He knew I wanted Robbie badly and delighted in being intractable.” Eden shrugged. “So, I stole him.”
Robbie flashed a huge grin. “It was brilliant.”
Eden laughed with him. “Robbie is a born actor. I managed to speak to Robbie when I came to badger Warrilow, and told him exactly what he needed to do. Robbie never breathed a word to anyone, turned up to do his work in the gardens as per usual that day. He then walked off to eat his lunch in the field—as per usual—but he kept on to the windmill on the edge of the plantation, where I was waiting. I swept him up, and off we went. I’d already booked passage on the ship, and we boarded the next morning. I had no paperwork for the lad, nothing to say I owned him legally or that he was free to depart Antigua.” Eden rubbed his forehead. “So I had to smuggle him.”
“I hid in his trunk,” Robbie burst out. “He gave me things to eat and drink and said I had to be very quiet. I’m good at that.” His voice filled the room now, but when we’d come in, I’d never seen nor heard him by the fireplace.
I remembered the box with the key Eden had carried away from the Custom House. It was large enough for a small boy to hide in. That day Eden had also left me to Creasey, claiming to Brewster that he had an appointment. He’d likely been coming here, to check on Mrs. Davies and Robbie.
“He is a very good boy,” Mrs. Davies said with pride. “He did exactly what Major Eden said, and here he is.” Her happiness rolled from her, filling the cozy room.
“I did not keep him in the trunk the entire voyage,” Eden said hastily. “So, please do not look so appalled, Mr. Grenville. Once we were well out to sea, no turning back, I would have spoken to the captain and had the quartermaster fix a bunk for him. But, I am ever unlucky.” Eden sighed. “Warrilow decided at the last minute to sail to England, and ours was the only ship going that day.”
“Robbie is why you went constantly to the hold during the voyage,” I said, the pieces falling into place.
“Of course. I had to feed the poor mite, and let him walk about and relieve himself. One of the sailor boys was pleased to help and keep it quiet—he despised Warrilow too.”
“Did Warrilow discover you? After all, Robbie disappeared, and you, who’d tried avidly to buy him, left for England at the same time. Did Warrilow put the two events together?”
Eden made a noise of derision. “Do you know, he hadn’t even noticed Robbie was gone. When I came across Warrilow at supper the first night, he crowed that he’d thwarted me from purchasing the lad, and said obviously I could not now, as I was heading for England, never to return. At first, I thought he had found me out and was taunting me, but no. He had no idea.”
“How did you spirit Robbie away once you landed?” Grenville asked. “The customs agents were everywhere, you say, and they took your box.”