Death in the Valley of Shadows Read Online Free PDF

into my shop yesterday and said he thought me to be an honest citizen.”
    “Why on earth should he do that? Was it a joke?”
    “Mrs. Rayner,” the Apothecary answered firmly, “it was said in all seriousness. Your father asked me to take these very papers to Sir John Fielding of Bow Street in the event of anything untoward happening to him.”
    Jocasta seemed to shrink to half her size, crouching back in her chair as if she had been physically attacked. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
    It had come and not at all as John had wanted it. Yet discretion must be paramount at this stage.
    “Simply what I say. I think your father feared that someone had a grudge against him and might, just possibly, carry that grudge too far. So he had prepared a statement for the Principal Magistrate in the event of an accident befalling him. That is all I can tell you.”
    “So he was expecting an attack,” Jocasta said, her voice very low.
    “I think he was, yes.”
    “But from whom? He didn’t have an enemy in the world.”
    “We have covered this ground, Mrs. Rayner. In the morning it will be my duty to take Mr. Fenchurch’s statement to Sir John Fielding. It will then become his obligation to track down your father’s killers and to discover the facts behind his death.”
    Jocasta was very quiet, slowly sipping her brandy, gazing into the fire. Then she shook her head. “Poor Father. I hope that this is all a horrible coincidence. That he imagined someone hated him enough to kill him.”
    “Perhaps it is just that. Perhaps he was done to death by cut- purses after all. Personally I think you should stop speculating until Sir John has made his decision.”
    She was silent again, then drained her glass and got to her feet.
    “You are right, of course. No amount of conjecture can bring my father back. Incidentally, Mr. Rawlings, I shall be staying at Bloomsbury Square for the time being. My unmarried sister and my cousin are both in residence there and have asked me to remain until after the funeral. Millicent, of course, is coping but Evalina is completely hysterical.”
    “And which sisters are they? Older or younger?”
    “Millicent is a cousin who lives with us. Evalina is the eldest of us three girls; my younger sister, Louisa, is … out of town at present.”
    Why had there been a slight hesitation in Jocasta’s voice? John wondered. “Then she will not have heard the grievous news?” he asked.
    “No. She is… touring… and I am not sure exactly where she is at present.”
    Again that hesitation. “Is she married?” John asked pleasantly. “Yes. Yes, indeed.” Mrs. Rayner started to move towards the door.
    “You came by coach?”
    “I did. It is presently round in Dolphin’s Yard.”
    “I’ll send a footman to fetch it.”
    They went into the hall together, listening to the sound of the equipage coming to the front door.
    “You have been very kind, Mr. Rawlings. Pray will you call in person bringing some more of that excellent physick.”
    He bowed and took her hand. “Of course I will. I shall arrive about noon.”
    “And if you have anything even stronger for Evalina I am sure the whole household will be mightily relieved.”
    He smiled irregularly. “I’ll do my best.”
    Her coach had drawn up outside and a servant went to open the front door for her. Jocasta turned in the entrance.
    “I wonder if Mrs. Bussell knows?” she said, more to herself than to her host.
    John remained silent, determined to keep all secret until Sir John Fielding decided it was time to do otherwise.
    “Do you think I should write to Father’s friends?” Jocasta continued.
    The Apothecary shook his head. “I think you will find that such a dramatic story concerning a well-known merchant will be reported in the newspapers tomorrow.”
    She smiled, very wryly. “I suppose we will then be overwhelmed by callers.”
    John gave an answering smile. “It is the way of the world, alas.”
    Jocasta Rayner curtseyed.