Sunshine and Roses

Justin waited. . .and waited. The time came and went for Lowry's usual weekly visit. Three weeks had passed and Lowry did not come, did not contact him. There was a chance that Lowry had reverted back to his feelings of guilt. Justin sincerely hoped not. He swallowed his pride and went to Sir Guy's home.
"I am sorry, " Holmes said stiffly, "Brother Raymond is no longer with us."
"Why? Where did he go?"
"Perhaps you should speak to Sir Guy. Shall I ask him if he will see you?"
Justin did not like that tightness around the other man's mouth. There was something wrong. "What happened?"
"I am sorry, sir. You shall have to ask Sir Guy that. Shall I ask him if he can see you now?"
"Yes." Justin stood impatiently in the hall, waiting. 
A young girl came running down the stairs. A woman appeared behind her. She was dressed in black. She was old, dour. Standing at the top of the stairway, she ordered, "Mary! You return to the nursery right this minute!" 
The girl stopped, turned. Staring in mutiny upwards, she yelled, "I won't!" 
Another woman appeared. She was exotic in her darkness. The deep crimson of her gown should have made her look beautiful but there was something about her that made Justin tensed. "Mary! You obey Mrs. Crimshaw this instant."
"I hate you!" Mary stamped her foot. "I want Brother Raymond back!"
"What an evil, wicked girl you are." The woman in red stepped down, saw Justin and stopped. "Mrs. Crimshaw, make her return to her room."
"I hate you! You lied about Brother Raymond! You liked!"
The old, dour woman walked briskly toward the girl but Mary finished her escape.
"Did you want something?" the woman in red asked coolly as she descended in cold regalness.
"I am here to see Sir Guy."
Her brow arched upward in question. "I am Sir Guy's wife. May I help you?"
"I have come to inquire after Brother Raymond."
Edith's features grew taut. "We had to dismiss him."
"Why?" He realized his tone had been too sharp, too demanding. "I apologize."
"What is he to you?" Her own tone was just as sharp. It held a touch of suspicion.
Justin wondered why his question was so antagonistic to her. "he was acting as my secretary on his days off."
"i see." She probed every inch of his face.
Holmes appeared. "Sir Guy will see you now, Sir William." 
"Thank you. Madam. . .?" She nodded aristocratically and he left her.
Sir Guy looked up from his desk. He stood up. "Sir William. . ."
"Sir. . ."
"Holmes tells me you wanted to see me about Brother Raymond?"
"Yes, Sir Guy. I understand he has left here?"
"I dismissed him almost three weeks ago." A strange expression passed rapidly over his face.
"Why?!" Sir Guy's features revealed his surprise and then his displeasure over Justin's brusque voice. Justin refused to back down but he mellowed his tone. "Do you know where he has gone?"
"Nay. What is he to you?"
"I consider him a good friend." Justin's eyes grew icy blue. His gaze challenged the other man who looked away. Was Justin really seeing chagrin on the duke? Why was it there? And. . .what had he done to Lowry? "May I ask why you dismissed him?"
Sir Guy hesitated and then said, "I thought it was best."
"I would really like to know why you discharged him."
"It is my turn to ask you why."
"As I said, he is my friend and because he is, I cannot see him doing anything that would cause his termination."
"I did it for the children."
"I do not understand. He loved your children."
"i know." Sir Guy closed his eyes briefly, sighed deeply.
"Then. . .?"
"It was brought to my attention that he and another servant were having sexual relations. . ."
"Brother Raymond?!" Justin's eyes grew wide. His tone held incredulous overtones. That was one statement the ex-soldier refused to accept.
"I saw them myself, " Edith said from the doorway.
"My wife, Sir William."
"We met out in the hall. Madam. . ."
She entered the room with graceful, flowing motion. She went to her husband, placed her hand on his shoulder. Sir Guy's features altered swiftly, moving rapidly from love to guilt to sadness. She smiled, toyed with his hair. "As I said, I saw them myself." When Justin said nothing, she glanced at him and her eyes narrowed. "He and the cook's assistant, Jonathan Mort, were engaged in sexual misconduct. I happened upon them. If it had been the children. . ." Her eyes defied Justin but again, he said nothing. "And Guy has a son who must be protected."
"Brother Raymond would not touch his son." Justin's voice was hard, threatening. His mind added silently, <And he would not touch Jonathan Mort.> He had no doubt about that truth, no doubt at all.
"I dismissed him, Sir William, " Sir Guy said in an old, tired voice. "i do not know where he went."
"Thank you. Sir. . . Madam. . ." His blue eyes informed the woman that he knew she had lied. She only smiled faintly at him while her black orbs mocked his knowledge.

On his way home, Justin wondered why Lowry had not gone to him when he was thrust out into the world?