A new Case

Disclaimer: I do not own Constable Ichabod Crane but I do own Lady Davenport for I am her. The story is not based
on actual happenings which means it’s all made up.
This is a non for profit piece of writing.
If you find any spelling mistakes keep ‘em. :)


It was a cold winters day.
I sat in an arm chair by the fire place,
drinking a cup of hot lemon tea and starring out of the window.
I watched how snow flakes fell to the frozen ground all morning.
The picture of my deceased husband sitting on the wooden table beside me.
I was grateful for the silence for once which was soon to be disturbed by a pounding sound at the front door.
I felt myself jump in the chair.
By then my nerves were overstrained from organizing the interment and involving with fretful acquaintances, neighbours and family who announced their deepest
regrets towards me more than enough.
Who would this be? I asked myself.

I rolled my eyes, sighed with discomfort and held my hand against my forehead as the knocking continued. I arose from my chair laboriously.
Grouching about the house maid’s unreliability as I walked down the chilly hallway to the front door.
I wrapped my shawl tighter around my body, noticing for the first time how much weight I must have lost throughout this procedure.
I saw Elaine rush down the stairs,
fixing her hair bun but I was already at the door.
“I apologize my inadvertency M’ am “
She hastened to the door but I stopped her.
“No, it is incurious now.”
I knew precisely how she spent her working hours and whom with. Dear god the whole community did!

Trying to calm the sudden wave of rage rushing through my body I opened the door. I was exceedingly surprised to be faced with an extraordinarily handsome gentleman.

“ Lady Davenport, I presume.”he said with his hands hidden behind his back, rocking slightly back and forth.
I nodded my head a little confused.
“Crane, Constable Crane” he said holding out his hand.
“I’m delighted Constable.” I told him shaking it.
I wondered what made him come here but I pretended to not be confused and welcomed him warmly as my good manners obliged me to.
`”Would you like to join me for a cup of tea?” I asked him with an inviting gesture, opening the door further and stepping aside.
“You are too kind.” He bowed rather stiffly before entering.

“Pardon my unfavourable appearance Constable. I am mortified!” I conceded as I lead him to the room I was sitting in before.

“Your appearance is very appealing.” The constable shyly said, clearing his throat nervously afterwards.
I felt he only said that out of sympathy because I must have looked horrifying. The black dress I wore hung from my deadly thin body, my eyes were swollen and small from lacking of sleep and my long brown hair was messily pulled into a bun.

Still unsure about the motive of his visit I asked him to take a seat. We sat down opposite each other. I examined him intensely as he crossed his legs. He seemed stiff and insecure. I could tell by the way he tugged at his fingers uncontrollably, which laid in his lap.
A nervous habit I assumed.
His gaze wandered from one corner of the room to another until he paid attention to Elaine who brought in a tray with tea.
He thanked her kindly before taking one of the cups and holding onto it while he laid his hands back into his lap.

“Constable Crane” I spoke up. “A name I am familiar with but I’m not quite sure where to put it.”
I paused.
“Pardon my rudeness but may I ask for your first name?”

“Ich…Ich…Ichabod” he stuttered.

I thought about it.

Then suddenly it hit me.

“You are the hero of Sleepy Hollow aren’t you? You solved the mystery of the headless horseman!”

His eyes widened and his hands started shaking, almost causing the cup to fall down on the floor.
I rushed to him, kneeling by his side and grasped his arm after realizing I broached a traumatic subject.

“I’m so sorry Constable!” and I really I was. My eyes must have pleaded for forgiveness.

We looked into each others eyes for what seemed like eternity. I felt his oratorical gaze burn into me.

“You really are young.” he spoke up bluntly but regretted the indecorous question as soon as it escaped his lips.

I detached my hand from his arm and arose from the floor.
“Well…” I started with a sigh. “ I was a mere child when I consented the marriage.”
I walked over to the window starring into blankness as my thoughts began to drift away not noticing that the Constable was inspecting my personal belongings.

I was sixteen years of age when the marriage was performed. My husband was well advanced in years.. nearly 40 years of age difference laid between us which is not uncommon at all these days. Quite the contrary. It distinguishes a wealthy man from every other. A young wife is an attribute of prestige.

Back then my father, a very well educated and affluent man, was befriended with William Davenport who was an influential gentleman and well known for his contribution to the City of New York. God bless his generous soul!
My parents diligently chose Davenport to be my husband always wanting the best for me.
And he was a good husband to me, he truly was.
My dear parents must have had a shock when the dramatic news arrived. Who would have thought that my marriage would only last a short period of time?!
I felt my heart sting by the memory of his and the thought of my current condition. A women too young to be a widow, left and lost on her own! I couldn’t help but sob silently to myself and press my hand flatly against my chest trying to ease the pain.

I was pulled back into the present situation as the Constable spoke.
“I suppose that’s him. Your husband.”
He held the picture that stood on the table in his hand.
“Was.” I replied.
“Pardon?”
“He was my husband.”
“ah…yes…yes.” He uncomfortably said.
“Which makes me come to the reason for my visit.”
I looked at him interrogatively
“Please do take a seat.” he said as he pulled on the fabric of his trousers legs. He seemed very tensed.
I did take a seat and he followed my action.
Again he cleared his throat before he began.
“Very much to my regret I must inform you that investigations do not exclude a murder to your husband.”
I gasped out loud, holding one hand to my heart and the other onto my mouth. The horrifying message literally took my breath away as I was trying to inhale desperately and waving my hand anxiously in front of my face.
The constable panicked, ran over to me and tried to calm me with soft-spoken words I cannot remember. He called for the maid who brought me a glass of water immediately.

When I eventually calmed down the Constable helped me lay down on the cream-coloured chaiselon, my husband brought from France a few months ago as a small gesture for my 19th birthday.
He kneeled to beside me, still holding onto my hand until he realized that I was getting back into a more stable state of mind . He let go abruptly when he heard my quiet yet valid spoken words.
“Constable,“ I said searching his face which was dangerously close to mine and would have led anyone to critical suspicions….justifiably,” What makes you so sure of this ferocious assumption of yours?”
“Not now Misses. I will introduce you to this case as soon as you recovered.” he gently said.
This case I thought. I was astonished how little it bothered me that he referred to my husband in such an impersonal way.

He remained silent., his gaze still upon me.
I surveyed his eyes intensely, which enflamed a fire inside me I have never felt before up until this day.

“I shall leave now.” he stated.
He propped up on the couch as he stood up rather chivalrously in his punctilious way and turned to leave. He stopped walking when he reached the door. He turned around to face me again.

“I do apologize for my unpleasant visitation yet I count on your cooperation to help solve this tragic incident.”

Even after he left I felt this unknown sensation deep inside my abdomen. An odd tension I have never felt towards another male before…not even my husband. I caught myself thinking about how his sensually shaped lips would meet mine...

I sat up abruptly, feeling my face blush and burn.
I have never ever felt so impure before. Oh dear mother of god please forgive my sinful thoughts!
“It must have been the shock that misled me to such satanic perceptions ” I told myself.
But as a devoted Christian I decided there and then the first thing I’d do the following morning was go to confession.

But even that didn’t stop me from longing to reunite with Constable Ichabod Crane.