“They directed us to put the money in a bag wrapped in sealskin and place it in a tiny rowboat that we were to set adrift where the River Esk meets the North Sea in the Firth of Forth at a specific time. We couldn’t follow it by boat, not too closely, or we knew they would never attempt to retrieve the money. So we positioned men along the shore of the headland to watch, and tried to keep the rowboat in our sights from a fishing boat we had taken out into the firth. But the day was already misty and rainy, and as the afternoon progressed, it only grew worse. Soon we couldn’t see farther than a few hundred feet in the fog, and the visibility for the men on land was even worse. Our boat captain said we had to turn back or we risked running into serious trouble ourselves.
“At first I wondered if the little rowboat had been lost to us all. But then, two days later, Sir Colum’s bones were found in a bag in a pew in their parish church, just as the thieves promised.” He shook his head. “They must have known what the weather was like on that part of the coast, and where the sea currents usually ran. That’s the only way I can figure they would take such a risk collecting the ransom in that manner.”
I leaned forward and began setting our teacups and saucers back on the tray. “I assume you’re thinking what I’m thinking. That somehow these two robberies might be connected?”
“If it’s worked once, why wouldn’t they try it again?”
Trevor handed me his cup and saucer. “I suppose we’ll know for sure if Buchan receives a ransom note.”
“But . . .” I paused, staring at the delicate, china teapot. “What of Dodd?” I glanced at Gage. “I suppose no one was hurt when they robbed Sir Colum’s grave?”
“No,” he admitted. “But maybe they weren’t interrupted.”
“So Dodd truly was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” I murmured, thinking of Willie, of the guilt he clearly felt for not accompanying his mentor.
“That would be my theory. That is, if the same group of men perpetrated both body snatchings.”
“So if the criminals are the same,” I mused, sitting back against the settee, “how are they choosing their victims? Do the late Earl of Buchan and Sir Colum have anything in common?”
Gage pivoted so that he could see me more fully, draping his arm across the back of the settee. “I don’t know. But I did wonder about this Society of Antiquaries you mentioned. You said Collingwood’s torc was supposedly donated to the group, and that Lord Buchan was a founding member.”
I nodded in confirmation.
“I wonder if Sir Colum was also a member.”
“It’s as good a place as any to start. And we can ask the current Lord Buchan whether he knows when we visit him tomorrow. I thought you would wish to see the disturbed grave and the spot where Dodd was killed as early as possible.”
“I would.” He glanced at Trevor and then back to me. “I also want to write to a friend of mine in Edinburgh. He’s a sergeant in their new police force, and I’m curious whether he can tell me if there have been any other similar grave robberies.”
“You think there might be more?” I asked in surprise.
“Maybe. There’s no reason to think that Sir Colum was the first. And if there have been more, then that gives us a wider circle to search for clues and connections. These body snatchers have to be choosing their victims somehow, even if their motive is only greed.”
“It’s often as good a reason as any,” Trevor remarked.
I noticed he was more relaxed than when our conversation had first begun. I hoped that meant he was finished antagonizing Gage, and that whatever had troubled him about our guest had been put aside. I knew my brother viewed himself as my protector, but if that was the way he intended to exert his role, then I planned to protest. Surely he knew that our brother-in-law, Philip, considered Gage a friend, and normally Trevor trusted Philip’s judgment.
But I also knew that our sister, Alana, had been writing to him, and I had to wonder once again just what she had told him about the relationship between Gage and me. Which called into question how much Alana actually knew. For instance, did she realize that Gage had visited me in my bedchamber both at Gairloch Castle and Dalmay House, innocent as it had been? Did she know we had kissed? Several times, in fact. I had told her nothing of these things, but my sister was nothing if not resourceful, and disturbingly accurate at reading my expression. With the way he’d acted upon Gage’s arrival, I was only too grateful that Trevor was out of practice with that skill.
Crabtree knocked on the drawing room door to inform us that Gage’s valet and his luggage had arrived.
“Then please show Mr. Gage up to the Evergreen Room,” I told him, rising to my feet with Gage.
“Wouldn’t he be more comfortable in the Sunset Suite?” Trevor interrupted.
I turned to my brother in surprise. “Grandmama’s old room?”
Trevor cleared his throat. “Er . . . yes.”
I arched a single eyebrow at him in chastisement. That room was frosted in ivory and lace, with ribbons and furbelows to match, and well he knew it.
“No, the Evergreen Room will do nicely,” I informed Crabtree.
Our stoic butler nodded and led Gage from the room.
“Is that really appropriate?” Trevor hissed.
“What do you mean? Your old bedchamber is really our only bachelor quarters. Unless you want to give up the master bedchamber? But won’t that be a little awkward?”