Chapter 6: The Death of Lord Bargrove

[HoneyDog]

The third man snorts derisively. “They don’t say anything to us. Nothing decent anyway.”

[Philulhu]

”We understand the circumstances as to what’s happened here. It’s not your fault that Lord Allingham moved out the old folks to give you somewhere to live while you’re here, but we need to know what the locals have said to you about the field and moving that stone, whether decent or not,” said Captain FitzWilliam.

[HoneyDog]

“We were warned away from the place when we first came” says the first man. “We just put it down to superstition. They’re pretty backwards round ‘ere. But they’ve not said anything about it lately”.

“Had Lady Bargrove said about any work for us?” he adds, anxiously.

[Philulhu]

”Truthfully, she hasn’t,” replied Captain FitzWilliam, who thought it might be an opportunity to get the men on-side. ”But she has just lost her husband under very trying circumstances so she is more than preoccupied with that and caring for her daughter at the moment. If I find the right time, I will mention your situation to her, though.”

”Did the locals say anything specific about why you should stay away from the field?” he continued.

[HoneyDog]

“No. They just said its best to stay away from there.”

[Rooter]

"Did you notice anything unusual about the stone when you moved it?" Percy asks.

[aine]

Isolde still says nothing; this is men's talk so she stays inconspicuous at the back. She's rather disappointed though; these men are not her idea of modern druids, they seem too ignorant and unwordly in their outlook. She whispers to Alexander,
"So none of these men has any inkling of who raised the stone back up then? One would have thought they'd be quite indignant that someone undid all their hard work with no apparent effort at all!"

[HoneyDog]

The men are growing irritable. “What's unusual about a stone?” says the first man. “It’s a bloody stone, isn’t it?”

“We just want to know what’s going on” says the second man in exasperation. “Are we going to get more work? Or do we need to move on? You’d better tell her Ladyship to make up her mind. Come on boys.”

The second man claps one of his fellows on the shoulder, and with disdainful looks, they move off in the direction of the cottages.

[Philulhu]

”We’re just making friends wherever we go,” said Captain FitzWilliam, dryly.

He looked around. ”Well, what next? Short of the local wise woman, we’ve spoken to everyone who has an interest in these matters.”

[Mr. Handy]

"I can't see the workmen complaining about the stone being raised," says Alexander. "They still got paid for their work, and that's the important bit. They may even get paid again if Lady Allingham tells them to bring it back down - though if they did that, it would attract unwanted attention from whoever killed her husband. Is there a local wise woman? It couldn't hurt to see what she knows."

[Philulhu]

”I’ve really no idea,” said Captain FitzWilliam. ”It was merely a figure of speech.”

”Even if there were a wise woman,” he continued, ”I’m not sure what else we could learn from her. We know that something happened here, many millennia ago, and the name Hob’s Field suggests some sort of hobgoblin or demon...?” He shrugged, not sure what any of it meant.

”So, what do we do now? Another attempt at a seance? Do we watch the graveyard tonight? Or even the field itself?” He looked around at rest of the society’s members to see if they had any ideas.

[Rooter]

"At least we can tell her ladyship about Isolde's suspicion of druids," Percy says. "She might know of some connection to the Allingham curse. Also, those men were very eager to gain employment with her ladyship. What if we suggested to her that she employ them to move the stone again as her late husband did? Then we might be able to catch whoever tries to put the stone back."

[aine]

Isolde feels a lot more positive suddenly. "That is a good idea; pull the stone down again and see what happens. I think we should do this before having a seance in the field, we would likely get better results if the scene is similar to the night of the murder. I just wish it wasn't so cold; it really won't be much fun out there at midnight."

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, now there's a thought," says Alexander. "I'm sure the men would appreciate the work, though it could make Lady Allingham a target."

[Philulhu]

”Is that really going to be a good idea?” said Captain FitzWilliam, sounding a note of caution. ”After all, the last time the stone was moved, a man was murdered!”

[Rooter]

"Then it would depend on whether Lady Bargrove is willing to take the risk," Percy replies.

[aine]

"At least we are forewarned this time. Was his Lordship out walking when he was attacked? I can't remember what the report said. I shan't be out walking the moors alone, you can be sure of that!" Exclaims Isolde.

[Mr. Handy]

"We'll just have to explain the risks to her, and see if she's willing," says Alexander.

[HoneyDog]

OOC,Would you like to return to Bargrove Manor?

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,Yes, please.