The Wards' Mystery

Chapter 7

After I'd returned to the servant quarters, Jay asked my opinion about her encounter with Mr. Badcock and Mr. Kumar, and I told her all I knew about both men.

Everyone knew that Mr. Kumar was not just an excellent coachman, but a gentleman. Before Mr. Ward hired him, Mr. Kumar was a street performer in Madras. A very good performer that managed to impress Mr. Ward so much that he offered him a job on his ship, and later in his own house.

When Mr. Ward told his wife that the new coachman had never driven a coach before, Mrs. Ward thought him a madman. And she'd be absolutely right, had they dealt with any other person than Mr. Kumar. He was the most gifted learner anyone had ever seen. In a week he drove the coach with ease. In a month he learned everything there was to know about bits, cruppers, bridles, girths and most importantly - horses. His English improved with each passing day and after a couple of months he spoke with the grace of a well educated man.

Soon the whole town talked about the incredible Mr. Kumar. Some tried to lure him over to their households, but he declined them all.

He's been working for the Wards' for seven years now and never has he had any quarrels with anyone. It was hard to imagine that he could do anything to Paul. If anything Mr. Kumar was a good influence on the shy and reserved boy. Once Paul even helped me and Ada to sneak into the stables to pat the horses. The risk that the old Paul from the orphanage would never have taken.

Mr. Badcock was the opposite of Mr. Kumar. He didn't only lack his good looks, but all the social skills. Still they quickly became friends with Mr. Kumar and Ada. She said that Mr. Badcock could be a bit rude sometimes, but at heart he was a kind and caring man. Nothing was known about his past though, and it made people imagine all kinds of things about him. Some said he was a former pirate, others that he was a bastard son of Mr. Ward's foolish brother. Both are total gibberish of course, but sometimes I can't help but wonder who Mr. Badcock really is.

It was highly probable that both men were telling the truth. Still, Ada's appearance in Mr. Badcock's house unnerved me. After all, the most vicious monsters can hide behind the most innocent masks. Speaking of masks, Lady Jannet changes them as often as a lady changes her garments. I should not be surprised. All aristocrats are liars and pretenders. What would she do if say, whatever got others got me too? Will she watch me perish, and then write a sorry-tale about my horrible fate or do everything in her power to help? I simply don't know. It would be safer to rely only on myself.

I tell Lady Jannet that regardless of our opinions on Mr. Badcock and Mr. Kumar, we should check if they were indeed in the pub on the day of Adas' disappearance. Lady Jannet readily agrees. She doesn't seem like a trusting type. I guess the journalist's work quickly makes you

lose hope in humanity, if you ever had any. Good to know that we at least have something in common.

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