Page 40 of The Demons of Wychwood

Kit’s soon put pay to these falsehoods. “I do hope that all that is shared between us during this meeting remains confidential, sir.”

“Of course. It goes without saying, you can trust me, milord,” Quintrelle couldn’t hide the condescension from his voice. I knew by the look in his eyes that I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could spit! Lord Penhelligan nodded and spoke on.

“This is a rather embarrassing situation, sir, but you assume too much. Whoever told you I was petitioning solely on my hereditary rights was mistaken. I’m here to speak with you about multiple egregious occurrences that cannot be permitted to continue. As you are an external observer it may look, on face value, as if the General was doing me a service by looking after my estate. However, this assumption is incorrect. He did not take on my responsibilities as a kindness. The General was a kind and thoughtful man when he first married my mother, but over the years he changed. He became cruel and has wrought a coercive grip over me and my family for many years. There are times I’ve been afraid of him, fearing for my life. I was unable to stand up for myself because of my young age and my fears about the ramifications of speaking up,” he paused and licked his lips. “I have grave concerns about the safety of my mother and my sister in relation to General Napier, and after what I’ve discovered about the events at Penhelligan Hall in my absence, I can see that my concerns are warranted.”

The elderly magistrate harrumphed in disgust at what he’d heard, he moved to comment, but Kit held up a stilling hand. “But I will stay silent no longer. I’m claiming my birthright, and taking on the responsibilities my father passed on to me on his death.” Kit paused for a breath and turned to me for reassurance. I gave him a nod, and pacified he continued.

“Your Worship, I confess that I’ve discovered that my estate is in disarray. I spent yesterday speaking with the servants at Penhelligan Hall in the presence of my lawyer, Mr. Beckett, and my associate Mr. Lazarus who witnessed all that was said.” He gestured to us both as we sat silently either side of him.

“What the servants at Penhelligan told is the type of villainous aberrations one would read of in a Penny Dreadful. I understand that you are the General’s long-time confidant; however, as the magistrate of Exeter to Dawlish you should know that General Napier was never given the lawful permission to take control of my Estate. He also did not cease his influence from Penhelligan when I came of age. He has overstepped, actually, that term is far too tame for what he has done. The General abused his power and has behaved as if he were the Duke, and not me. When my mother is not in residence, he is a menace. He drank my father’s wine cellar dry and plundered his way through the bordellos of Exeter, bringing both girls and boys back to debauch at my family home. To add insult to injury, he ensured all of the bills for his debauchery were sent to the Penhelligan account for payment. I believe that the General has defrauded me for a considerable sum. My accountant is working on a full tally of debts as proof of his crime, and my banker has been told that General Napier has been cut off and no invoices in his name will be honoured. My servants endured terrible, terrible abuses at his hands and I am determined to find justice.”

I have to say, my heart fluttered listening to Kit’s oration. He was so very brave in facing one of Napier’s cronies with the truth of the situation and I was proud of him.

Magistrate Quintrelle took a gulp of tea, then pinned Kit with his gaze. “Milord, these accusations are egregious. You are correct in your belief that General Napier is known to me for many years, but forgive me, milord, they do not sound like they were carried out by the man I know. The General is and always has been a generous upstanding gentleman. He is a war hero no less, and his service to the crown should be respected!”

Kit did not wait a beat to answer, and my adoration for him grew. “If the General has shown you generosity it is I who unwittingly bankrolled it. And no sir, I don’t know what tales of bravery Edward has told you, but is no hero. His title was purchased and the only damage he’s done with a sword is to accidentally cut his finger.” Kit was on fire now and I was enthralled.

“Sir, do you know the names Elowen Lazarus, Jenny Penrose, Tamsin Birch, Lamorna Carne, Myrna Darke, Annie Gregor, Jago Traynor and Elias Kellow?”

The elderly man stared blankly at Kit, then grimaced, pushed back his chair, stood and with his hands behind his back strode to the nearest window where he stilled and looked out into the Rougemont gardens. I though this terribly rude. This bugger knew those names alright, but he couldn’t look Kit in the eye.

Kit was not put off by having the magistrate’s back to talk to. “Your Worship, surely you must remember these names? The families of six maidservants from Penhelligan, all got with child by General Edward Napier, petitioned you seeking justice and you dismissed their case,” Kit said outraged.

Quintrelle turned and raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Milord, the law of the land is clear. It states that the age of consent is twelve. If the General took these girls for a tumble, what business is it of ours what happens behind closed doors? No law was broken,” he sneered as if he was speaking with a simpleton.

“Sir, I must insist that you reconsider this case.”

“Accusation of Rape is most heinous, milord. And multiple sexual assaults, if proven, would show the General to be a dangerous predator who should face the full force of the law. However, there is much ambiguity about the nature of the offence. Rape is an accusation easily made and hard to be defended by the accused. For instance, in the cases you’ve insinuated about between General Napier and servant girls and boys, were there any witnesses?

“No, I do not believe there were witnesses to the actual offences, as was the General’s design.”

The magistrate held his hand up again to silence Kit. “The issue remains that there are no witnesses and no proof. These girls have passed, God rest their souls. The dead cannot speak, and without firm proof of wrongdoing by the General, accusations by these families are merely hearsay.”

“Sir, I witnessed a firsthand telling by the surviving young woman Elowen Lazarus, and it is my solemn belief she was indeed raped by General Edward Napier. When her belly began to show he took her to London and abandoned her. She wishes to make a formal complaint. Justice must be served.” Kit demanded.

“This young woman is quite welcome to follow regular judicial procedure and petition me directly with the details of her accusation.” Quintrelle sneered condescendingly, then he turned back to gaze out of the window as if the conversation we were having was meaningless and he was done with it. I could stay silent no longer. Elowen had been too afraid and ashamed to speak out about what Napier had done. And if she thought that she could have gotten justice she would have sought a reckoning herself. But all in the district knew that the General and the magistrate were thick as thieves. There could be no justice through regular channels. I rose up from my chair and roared,

“How much is he paying you for your silence?” I knew I should have kept schtum but I was so outraged that couldn’t keep the words in.

Quintrelle turned from the window and gasped “I beg your pardon!” I may well lose my job at Wychwood if word of what I was about to say got back to the employer, but I’d just about had enough of this rich bully.

I stepped away from my seat and began to stroll towards the hypocrite whose bushy lamb chop sideburns had jiggled in time with his fleshy arse as he was pounded.

“I’ve seen you before your worship,” I sneered. “You like a little trip up to London once a month for a particular type of party, ain’t that right?” I saw the old bastard’s cheeks start to pinken.

“I recall that you take room eight.” Quintrelle’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. I didn’t want to shame him for his desires or share his membership number, but hearing the room number he used with his beau, that was enough to scare the piss out of him.

“Who the devil are you, man?” he sneered low and vicious, like a dog readying to pounce.

“I’m the brother of the only girl who survived Edward Napier’s unwanted attention. He fathered her daughter. She told me what he did to her, and she did not consent. I won’t stop until she finds her justice, and if sharing the sordid secrets of you, and Edward Napier with a fellow in the press is what we need to do, my friend the Duke of Penhelligan and I will make that happen.”

“Are you blackmailing me…a magistrate?” Quintrelle chuckled unperturbed by my threat.

“Oh no sir, there’s no need to be getting a head of yourself. We ain’t blackmailing you, cos that would assume we want payment in return for our silence. What we want is for you to do your job is all. Arrest him. It really would be in your best interest to make that happen.”

I pivoted to see both Kit and Mr. Beckett looking at me with a mixture of horror and wonder in their eyes.

Quintrelle turned back to the window and was silent for a tense moment. Then without looking back to face us, in a waspish voice he said, “Very well. I will issue a warrant for the arrest of General Edward Napier. Now, good day gentlemen, milord, I have business to attend to.”

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