The Secret of Hollyfield House, Jude Bayton [books for 20 year olds txt] 📗

placed a kettle on to boil. My eyes scoured the area, and within a few minutes, I had cut a thick slice of bread and cheese and made a steaming mug of sweet tea, both of which I placed before him, though he paid no heed to my actions.

I sat in the chair beside him and gently pulled one hand away to grasp it in my own. He looked at me. The light in his eyes was gone, replaced by hollow anguish which pierced my soul. The poor man was wretched. Again, I felt such empathy, such sorrow for his plight.

“Dominic, I know you have no appetite,” I said gesturing to the plate. “But you must stay strong for your brother. Starving will not help him one whit.”

He nodded and pulled the food towards him, breaking pieces off and chewing them slowly.

“You are in shock, though I know little about it other than what Marabelle Pike shared when I was at Hollyfield, just now. What I do know is you cannot lose yourself in despair. It will serve Billy no aid whatsoever. You must take nourishment and remain clear-headed. ’Tis the only way to get to the bottom of this mess.” I took a deep breath. “And I am here to help in any way I can assist you.”

He swallowed and then took a sip of tea. “Thank you, Jillian. I am sorry for my manners and being so abrupt. They took Billy in the early hours of the morning, and I have been up since then, worried sick.”

“Tell me what has happened,” I urged. “Why do they accuse Billy?”

“It was his knife,” Dominic said softly. “The blade which killed Flynn was my brother’s.”

“Are they sure?” To my mind, one knife looked much like another.

“Yes, they are certain. It is distinctive as it bears our family crest carved into the handle. The head of a wolf. It was my father’s, and Billy always keeps it on him.”

“What did Billy say when the constable came? Did he deny what had happened?”

“Not exactly.” He drank more tea. “He became confused and started to cry. He was terrified.”

I could only imagine. A level-headed person would find it distressing enough to be arrested, but a boy like Billy?

“They handcuffed him and took him away, and he just kept shouting out my name to help him. I followed them outside, and as they put him in the wagon, he said ‘I lost my knife, Dom, I lost it’, as they drove off.” He pushed away his plate as though disgusted by food being close to him. “I will never forget the sheer terror on his face.” He looked at me, and his eyes were dark as pitch. The chair scraped noisily as he rose to his feet. I stood quickly. Boldly I went to him and wrapped both of my arms around his shoulders. I could not bear to see him so distraught and broken. All I could offer was the comforting touch of another human being. We stood motionless for a time, and then he pulled away. He went to the kitchen window and stared out through the glass.

I remained where I was, allowing him some distance. When he turned to face me, his expression had changed completely. Gone was the drawn, beaten visage he had shown moments earlier. Instead, his jaw was firmer, his gaze hard and determined. He ran his fingers roughly through his tousled dark hair.

“I will clean up, and then I am going to the post office.”

“Whatever for?”

He came towards me and stopped a hair’s breadth from my face. “I must send a telegram to Victor LaVelle. I shall ask for his help.”

I must have shown my surprise at his words.

He explained, “Victor has been good to my family for many years. I shall need sound legal advice to sort out this almighty mess. He is the only person I know with those resources.”

I was both concerned and worried Dominic was on a fool’s errand. His brother was charged with murder—surely no amount of legal help could change that? But I held my tongue, relieved to see the spark back in his eyes, hear the conviction in his voice.

“Go home to your uncle, Jillian. I must ready myself and take care of this business. I will stop by and see you and the professor, later today.”

I did not want to go. In the course of one morning, it was as though an indescribable bond had taken root between us. I had seen him at his most vulnerable, and in that precise moment, something inside me had changed. For now, Dominic was no longer disparaged. He was devising a plan of action, and therefore his focus had returned. He needed no distraction.

“I shall go, Dominic. But please do come by later and let us know how you fare.” I yearned to reach out and touch his arm but resisted the impulse. His mind was on far more critical issues than me.

I ARRIVED HOME TO FIND MRS Stackpoole ensconced in the study with Uncle Jasper.

“I thought you’d be back early,” Uncle commented as I joined them.

“How did you know?”

“’Twas me,” Mrs Stackpoole interjected. “For I’m not long back from Kendal and have told Jasper what happened during the wee hours.” She shook her head in disgust. “What a to-do. How could that Billy Wolfe do something so wicked?”

Uncle Jasper sipped his tea. “’Tis a shocking turn of events, to say the least.”

“You are both very quick to believe all you hear.” I could not keep the irritation from my voice. Two grey heads snapped up and my uncle and our housekeeper looked at me with surprise. I cared not.

“Having known Billy Wolfe for many years, I am surprised you condemn him without questioning the findings?”

Uncle Jasper frowned. “’Tis hard not to, Jilly, when the boy owns the murder weapon.”

“Yes, my dear,” agreed Mrs Stackpoole. “Evidence is evidence. At least that’s what my Ruby’s husband says, an’ he would know—he is a constable.