In the Barrister's Chambers Read Free Page B

the library first,” Evelyn rushed. “Father always goes to his office after arriving home.”
    Taking her hand, Jack made his way past the drawing room toward the library. He had been here years before, and he remembered that the library was located in the back of the house. It was a good bet that Lord Lyndale would be there.
    It appeared that every candle in the house had been doused, and Jack held the lamp up high. When they came to the library, Evelyn sucked in a breath.
    The room had been ransacked. Books had been ripped off the shelves and papers were scattered across the floor. Armchairs had been turned over and the leather upholstery slashed. Horsehair filling littered the carpet.
    At first glance, Jack thought the room was vacant, but then a movement of the curtains caught his eye. He rushed forward and pulled the drapes aside. Emmanuel Darlington, the current Earl of Lyndale, was bound and gagged and thrust in the corner.
    â€œFather!” Evelyn cried out and dashed to his side.
    Jack immediately set to work untying the older man. “Lord Lyndale, are you hurt?” he asked, looking for signs of obvious injury.
    Emmanuel Darlington’s eyes widened as he looked up at Jack. “Jack Harding? What are you doing here?”
    â€œIt’s a long story, my lord. I shall endeavor to explain everything once a doctor sees to you and Hodges.”
    â€œHodges? Was he harmed?”
    â€œKnocked unconscious in the foyer by the intruder who forced his way inside. Where is your manservant, your housekeeper, the rest of your staff?”
    â€œThey have one night off a week, save Hodges,” Evelyn answered. “Father insists that we are quite self-sufficient and the staff deserves a respite.”
    Jack bit his lip at Lyndale’s generosity.
    Lord Lyndale stood with Jack’s assistance and sat in a chair behind the desk. A solid wood chair, it had been spared having its cushions slashed open like the other chairs before the fireplace.
    Evelyn set to lighting the candles in the sconces on the walls. A warm glow illuminated the library, and Jack was shocked to see how much his former teacher and mentor had aged.
    Gone was the full head of dark hair and robust stature. This Lord Lyndale before him was balding with sparse tufts of gray hair, deep frown lines between his eyes. Whereas he used to enjoy a hearty meal and had a sizable paunch, he was now thin and had an unhealthy pallor. Jack mentally calculated Emmanuel Darlington’s age as sixty-five, but he appeared in his midseventies.
    An angry welt marred the back of his scalp, and Jack knew he had been struck from behind.
    â€œDid you recognize the intruder?” Jack asked him.
    â€œNo. I was searching for a book, my back to the door, when I was attacked. When I stirred, he was still in the library, but I was bound, gagged, and stuck behind the curtains. I could hear him rummaging about, but I could see nothing.”
    Jack motioned to the ransacked room. “Has anything been taken?”
    Evelyn spoke up. “It doesn’t appear so, but it will take me time to sort through this mess and take inventory.”
    They were interrupted by a loud pounding on the front door.
    â€œIt must be the constable,” Jack said. “I’ll see to him; you look about for any missing items. They may give clues to the intruder’s identity.”
    Jack left and opened the front door to find two men standing on the porch.
    â€œI’m Constable Bridges and this is Lord Lyndale’s personal physician, Dr. Mason. We were told there was a burglary.”
    â€œWho are you and where’s Hodges?” the doctor asked.
    Jack opened the door wide. “I’m Jack Harding, a fellow barrister and close friend of the family. There was indeed an intruder, and Hodges, Lady Evelyn, and Lord Lyndale all need your medical services.”
    The men stepped inside and soon every candle in the house was alight. Dr. Mason