The Lexington House Murder
~ Chapter One
Ichabod
Crane was an early riser. He woke each morning at the sound of his
coffee tray placed outside the bedroom door. He would fetch the tray,
careful to leave a steaming cup next to Katrina’s bedside and
always he would hesitate a moment to gaze at the beautiful sleeping
face before placing a chaste kiss on her creamy cheek. The ritual
never failed to leave him feeling a very lucky and contented man
indeed.
Ichabod dressed and taking his empty cup with him,
walked downstairs and into the dining room. The house was a little
more crowded with himself, Katrina, Jonathan and Cook, but they were
managing quite well. With the recent promotion due to his success
with the Sleepy Hollow case, they would soon be able to afford
something roomier. But for now, quarters were close but cozy.
Ichabod sat down before a generous plate of breakfast and
read the previous evening’s post. A creak from the floor
above
signaled that Katrina was up and moving about. She had of late been
sleeping beyond her normal waking time, yet rising early enough to
join him for coffee.
Jonathan, as young Masbeth was now
called by the household, was already seated across from Crane,
enjoying some good amount of breakfast himself.
“Jonathan,”
Crane asked, “Have you noticed Katrina arises later each day?
Is
she over tiring herself with her charities while I am busy down at
the Constabulary?
Two hands covered Crane's eyes and a gentle
voice spoke, “Good morning, gentlemen.”
Katrina gave
Ichabod a gentle kiss on the cheek. “Did I hear my name just
now?"
Pause. “Ichabod? Jonathan?”
Jonathan tried to
keep his eyes down, “I believe he worries at your fatigue,
Ma’am”.
He looked knowingly at Katrina, gave a half nod, and left the room.
Crane frowned, “Now where is he off to in such a
hurry?”
In the kitchen Jonathan waited patiently with Cook, their
ears pressed against the door’s edge. They could hear
murmuring
from Katrina. Then a long pause.
THUD. There it was. Cook and
Jonathan exchanged a knowing look. Jonathan quickly opened the door
into the dining room. There was Constable Ichabod Crane out cold on
the floor. Katrina by his side. Jonathan knelt next to her.
“You
told him, then” he said.
Katrina nodded. “I felt I had
to, I mean, he is going to be a father."
Jonathan and
Katrina helped Ichabod back into his chair. He was pale but upright.
Katrina asked Jonathan to fetch a cool cloth.
“Ichabod, are
you alright?” she asked as she rubbed his hands. He turned to
Katrina with a look of wonderment on his face.
“Katrina,
forgive me for fainting, my dearest. But, but…Katrina what
wonderful news. I am overwhelmed with happiness.” He touched
her
face, lovingly.
“My dear, you must rest and take care not
to over tire yourself. I am taking you back to bed myself and have
Cook bring you an enormous breakfast.” He manfully lifted
Katrina
up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. Once in their bed
chamber he laid her down carefully and fluffed up the pillows behind
her. Katrina remained silent, with a tiny hint of an amused smile on
her face.
“My sweet, Ichabod, your concern touches me
deeply. But I assure you, being with child is a natural state; not an
illness. The doctor told me I should continue my normal routine and
that some exercise is good for me. And as for breakfast, I am afraid
that being only 2 months with child, food is rather unappealing to
me, especially in the morning.”
Ichabod nodded. His eyes
were so full of amazement. His beloved Katrina, carrying his child.
He always thought one day…but now that it was here, his
mind seemed to go off in all directions.
Just then a strong
knock could be heard at the front entrance of the house. A few
minutes later, a soft tapping at their bedroom door.
Jonathon
opened the door and peeked around. “There are men from the
constabulary for you, Ichabod, sir. They appear most anxious to see
you. But, shall I send them away?”
Katrina answered, “No,
Jonathan, tell the gentlemen that Constable Crane will be down
directly.”
She hugged Ichabod, drew back and looked into his
eyes. “Now, Constable Crane…off with you! You are
needed
elsewhere and I have Cook and Jonathan to look after me.”
Ichabod
hesitated at the door. “Perhaps I shall have need of
Jonathan,
later.”
Katrina shook her head. “Not this morning. I want
to speak to him myself regarding our previous discussion. With the
baby coming, it is important that I explain our feelings to
him.”
“Do you not need me to be here for that?” Ichabod
ask
anxiously.
“No, I think it best I handle this myself. You
can speak to him later. If you find you have need of him, this
afternoon, you may send for him then. Now, go along, and take my
heart’s deepest affection with you.”
Ichabod nodded and
with a shy smile, he closed the door behind him. Jonathan waited
dutifully in the hall.
“Jonathan, Katrina requests that you
stay with her this morning. If it is necessary I will send someone
from the station to fetch you, later.”
“But sir, uh,
Ichabod, shouldn’t I be with you? In the event this turns out
to be
a serious case?”
“You shall be with me, Jonathan.
But for this morning, Katrina desires a word with you.”
He
stared down at the disappointed face.
“I tell you what; you
may bring a lunch basket with you at noon and meet me then. If indeed
we have a new case, we can discuss it over our lunch. Just you and
myself, how’s that?”
Jonathan smiled. The tiniest bit of
a tremble was threatening to show in his voice. But he managed to
respond, rather cheeily, “As you wish sir, I will sit with
Katrina
for a while and see you later this morning.”
With a painful
heart, young Jonathan watched Ichabod walk down the stairs. His eyes
teared up slightly, but he quickly rubbed them away. He did not want
Katrina to see him weep. Time enough for that, after she told him.
Told him what he already knew.