Devil May Care (A Jonathan Harker Mystery) Read Free Page B

young doctor in St Ives. Still, the friendship between Sir Owen Velland and the Reverend Trewellard must count in the baronet’s favour.’
    Edith stood up and walked to the fireplace, adding a log from the pile stacked on the hearth. She took up the poker and stirred the fire into a blaze. ‘No doubt. However, the Reverend Trewellard can afford to think the best of everyone, since he commands a position which all must respect. As for me, I will reserve judgment on Sir Owen and would advise Jonathan to do likewise. Now, if we have all had enough of baronets and mysteries, perhaps we could try a hand or two of whist before the evening ends?’
    *
    That night, while I lay in bed gazing at the gnarled oak beams that snaked across the ceiling, I thought back to the letter that Nathanial Haywood had sent to my senior partner, Mr Joplin. I reminded myself that in the morning I had an appointment with Mr Haywood in St Ives, during which he would no doubt tell me more about his concerns regarding Sir Owen Velland. As I turned over to compose myself for sleep, the distant hooting of a solitary owl felt strangely comforting. That and the soft breathing of Mina next to my pillow eased me gently into slumber.

     
    Chapter Three
     
    Mina and I arrived downstairs at nine o’clock the next morning to find that Charles Ashby had already left the house on parish business. After an excellent breakfast of eggs and bacon I was about to leave for my appointment, having resolved to walk the mile or so to Hayle station and complete my short journey to St Ives by train. I was standing in the hall taking my leave of Mina when there was a knock at the door.
    Edith stepped past us and answered it herself. There on the threshold stood a cheerful, ruddy faced man of about fifty years of age, holding the reins of a dapple grey horse in one hand. He was wearing the moleskin trousers, collarless shirt and corduroy jacket which usually denoted a labourer, but he spoke in the cultivated tones of a gentleman.
    ‘My dear Mrs Ashby! My apologies for my unannounced visit, but I would like a brief word with your husband, if that is convenient.’
    ‘Good morning, Reverend,’ Edith said. ‘I am afraid that Charles has just left. He’s taken the horse and trap to call on poor Mrs Wilson, who’s not expected to last the day. But I am forgetting my manners. Let me introduce you to my old school friend Mina Harker and her husband Jonathan. This is the Reverend Trewellard, Vicar of St Elwyn.’
    The vicar shook hands. ‘You have politely refrained from commenting on my appearance,’ he said with a smile. ‘I will let you into my secret. I am a dedicated fossil hunter and some excellent specimens are to be found in the rock formations uncovered at low tide.’ He pointed to a small canvas saddlebag. ‘I have just returned from Black Cliff Cove with some fine examples of asteroceras – ammonites, that is.’
    Edith persuaded the Reverend Trewellard to tether his horse and take tea before he returned to his vicarage in Hayle, although he insisted on removing his muddy boots before entering the hallway. As I had arranged to call on Nathanial Haywood and his wife between ten and eleven thirty that morning my departure was not urgent and I therefore agreed to join Edith, the vicar and Mina in the drawing room before leaving.
    ‘The reason for my visit is not in the least a private one,’ Trewellard said to Edith, passing her a packet of dog-eared papers which he had taken from his jacket pocket. ‘Charles has very kindly agreed to transcribe these parish accounts into a comprehensible form and to forward them to the bishop on my behalf. He has a far better head for figures than I.’
    I noticed Mina’s raised eyebrows and could guess what she was thinking. The Reverend Trewellard was clearly one of those parsons who were more than happy to delegate most of their work to a curate.
    Trewellard looked towards me. ‘Of course paperwork will hold no terrors for