The Wards' Mystery

Chapter 1

Jay Jannet was a woman of good taste but of poor character. A favorite child of an old, lenient earl, she never knew any struggles. Same could not be said about her father. Rich, single and bored with an overwhelming passion for journalism, Jay caused him massive headaches.

Was it a respectful gentleman who had worked his child workers to death, or a baron who had married twins to fulfill his twisted dreams of two wives — Jay's articles held plenty of righteous fury for both. But make no mistake, it was not a civil duty or by any means sympathy that drove Jay's passion, but a vulturous curiosity and a constant hunger for fame. But as her fame grew, so did the list of her enemies.

One spring morning the old earl discovered a dead jay bird on his marble doorstep. It was a clear shot and a clear warning. Then and there it was decided that Jay was to be sent to her aunt's house in Ripon.

Ripon, surrounded by wetlands and forest, was very small and very unremarkable. Local gossip about drunkards and unfaithful spouses posed no interest for a regular Londoner much less so for an aspiring journalist. Though she may find it unbearably boring, Jay would be safe, because as was said before — nothing ever happened in Ripon.

That is why when an unknown servant girl came knocking on Jay's aunt's door at an indecently early hour, Jay had asked to let her in and smiled a wide smile. Uninvited visitors were her heralds, her favorite agents of drama. Jay got into the pink wrapper and rushed down the staircase.

The servant girl was shaking. Water ran in little streams down her skirt right onto the blue Turkish carpet, adding numerous dark dots to its floral pattern. Heavy rains have been plaguing Ripon for two weeks straight now.

"How can I help you?" Jay asked, perhaps too eagerly. There was a moment of confusion in the girl's eyes before she inquired with a timid uncertainty, "Are you Lady Jannet? The journalist who wrote about the dead children?"

"I write about many things. Dead children included. But I believe you did not come here to discuss my work, did you?" Jay replied.

"Lady Jannet, I am so sorry to bother you at this hour. But I don't know whom else to turn to..."

The girl's gaze dropped and she started fidgeting with her skirt.

"Not, a word more. First we reach the drawing-room, sit comfortably by the fireplace, and I will have my pen and journal ready," said Jay, then asked the housekeeper to serve them breakfast and guided the girl to a small, cozy drawing-room.

The servants had already lit the fireplace and set the candles up. Their flames flickered soothingly in sync with the rattling rain. As promised, the girl was seated by the fire. Jay grabbed her journal from the table and settled into a crimson brocade armchair opposite her.

"What is your name?" Jay asked, opening her journal.

"Daina, m'lady. Just Daina. I'm an orphan." Dainas' glance got fixated on the beautiful pen in Jay's hand.

"Here, you can have a look. I always have at least four on me," she said.

Daina turned the pen around, then traced the golden ivy pattern with her fingers. It seemed to calm her down.

"Keep it. It is good to have something in your hands when emotions are running high. So tell me, Daina, what has happened to you?"

"Nothing, but I'm sure something will. Three other servants have disappeared in the house I'm working in. And I'm sure I will be next. Please help me, Lady Jannet. I don't want to die."

Jay held Daina's gaze. It was full of hope and admiration. She wondered how strange it was to put so much faith in a person you barely know. Silly child.

"What makes you so sure that they were murdered?" Jay inquired.

"The lies, m'lady. The housekeeper keeps lying about their disappearance. She wouldn't lie if my friends were alive and well, would she?"

"It hardly proves murder... Tell me, Daina, are your masters kind to you?"

"They usually are, m'lady. That is why I don't believe Ada would run away or that they would send Milly to the other house without letting us say our goodbyes," Daina explained.

"Which family did you say you were working for?"

"I didn't, m'lady."

"You know that I cannot make any decisions missing such vital information, do you not?"

Daina squeezed the pen so tightly that Jay was tempted to ask it back. After a moment or two Daina took a deep breath and replied, "The Wards."

"Wards," Jay repeated the name several times, "Are they related to Lord Bordan?"

"I don't think so, m'lady. Mr Ward trades Indian cotton."

"Poor thing. I have heard there is a rebellion in Meerut. His trade might be at risk," said Jay, tilting her head to the side.

The servants brought two platters with fresh pastry and a big teapot. Jay looked out of the window. It was almost dawn. The heavy dark clouds didn't promise any change in the weather.

"Tell me the whole story. How did you end up working for the Wards? And please, take a crumpet. They are pleasantly crispy," Jay said.

Daina grabbed the crumpet and instantly dropped it back on the plattеr. The crumpet was still burning hot. To hide her smile, Jay took a sip of tea.

"Two months ago Mrs Ward visited our orphanage and offered me and three other children servant apprenticeships. The work was hard, but no one ever lifted a finger on us and we were paid. What more could an apprentice wish for, m'lady?" Daina reached for the crumpet again

and this time succeeded in her endeavor. She took a small bite, then a couple of bigger ones. Only when the crumpet was gone did she continue.

"Ada disappeared a month ago. When she didn't return to the servants quarters, I didn't give it much thought. She often worked late and ended up sleeping in the kitchen. Next day the housekeeper said that she had run away. But she had nowhere to run. And why would she do it?"

"Maybe there was something you did not know about. But, please, carry on," said Jay.

"A week after, Milly was sent to another house without saying any goodbyes. Then nothing happened for a week. And I thought maybe, just maybe, I was wrong and Ada did run away and Milly was now a maid in another house. However, yesterday I learned that Paul was kicked by a horse and was taken to a hospital. That was too much even for me." Daina took a white round button out of the pocket and fixed her eyes upon it.

"It's Paul's. Today I found it next to the manor's gate." Daina was silent for a moment and then added quietly: "I knew this apprenticeship was too good to be true."

Jay's pen scribed against the soft paper for a while. Then it stopped dead. Jay lifted her eyes and beamed at Daina.

"Congratulations! Your masters just got themselves a new maid."

***