Lady Adalyn (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 1), Sahara Kelly [the best e book reader .TXT] 📗

She cupped her hands around the brandy, sipped and nodded. “Very well. We arrived on time…”

The story unfolded, Adalyn doing her best to be accurate, right down to the conversations. When she reached the point of their departure from the dining room, she paused for another sip.

“It’s hard, I know, but you are doing very well,” murmured Daniel.

“Amazingly well, Adalyn,” added Evan. “I feel as if I’d been there.”

“I wish you had,” she answered. “The food would have been so much better.”

There was a general chuckle at her small jest, and she found it encouraging. “There was a warm fire going,” she continued, telling of the tea, the conversation and Sir Amery’s cross-examination on the matter of Wolfbridge.

“So he still wanted it,” muttered Giles. “Damn the man. He thought of you as fresh prey.”

“I believe so, yes.”

Trick cleared his throat. “I must say that our Adalyn was very skilled and adept at turning his questions aside without insulting him. I was impressed.”

She glanced at him with a small smile. “Thank you, Trick. I was actually angry at his rudeness, but I’m glad to know it didn’t show.”

“So how long were you in the parlour before…the trouble?” Evan posed the question.

“I would venture to say a scant half an hour?” She cocked an eyebrow at Trick, who nodded in agreement.

“So all told, we might guess that close to two hours had passed since you sat down at the dining table?” Evan’s face was sombre.

“At least,” she concurred. “Perhaps even more. There were so many dishes I lost count. But Trick was standing the entire time we ate. What do you think, Trick? Two hours at the table, perhaps?”

“A week more like,” he grimaced. “At least it felt that way to me.”

She sighed. “I’m sure it did. I am sorry about that.”

“There wasn’t anything you could do, Adalyn. Not your fault at all.”

“All right then,” Evan harked back to his original question. “Let’s be generous and say three hours from start to finish. Er…” he paused, “That would be Sir Amery’s finish.”

“Oh dear,” Adalyn winced. “Not how I would have phrased it, but yes. I suppose that would be pretty much on the mark.”

“You have a reason for asking about the time, Evan…” Jeremy spoke, making Adalyn jump. He had been so quiet she’d almost forgotten he was there beside her, leaning against a bit of her leg.

Evan nodded, his expression grave. “I do. Adalyn, do you remember who first mentioned poison?”

She shook her head. “In all the fuss and bother, no, I don’t. One of the maids, I believe, who came hurrying out of the room after we’d taken our leave.” She frowned “Wait. I think…I think she said it was Mr. Wandsworth who had suggested it.”

“Ah,” nodded Giles. “Fairhurst’s butler. Poor man must be in a terrible spin at the moment.”

“It’s Judith I feel for,” Adalyn sighed. “She seems so young to have all this trouble dropped into her lap.”

“I will see if there is anything we can do to help, Adalyn.” Daniel spoke quietly. “We are neighbours, after all. No matter the situation between Fivetrees and Wolfbridge, such an occurrence must override any kind of disagreement or animosity.”

There was a general murmur of confirmation amongst the men.

Which raised a question in Adalyn’s somewhat scrambled mind. It was probably nothing, but she thought it worth mentioning.

“Daniel,” she caught his attention. “Have you…or any of you for that matter…any idea of who will inherit Fivetrees?”

There was silence for several moments.

“No I don’t,” he finally replied. “Why?”

She tilted her head. “Well, for one thing, I believe it is customary to look to the heir in the case of a suspicious death? If Sir Amery was indeed the victim of poison, we must ask ourselves who might benefit from his passing?”

Five pairs of eyes remained on her, betraying their surprise.

For the first time, she found herself slightly irritated with her gentlemen. How could she remind them she had a perfectly good brain which had received a slight shock but was still working quite well?

Giles recovered. “That is an excellent question and an excellent deduction, Adalyn. Forgive me. I will never underestimate your thought processes.”

She chuckled. “A random notion only, Giles. But my reading taught me a few interesting ideas.” She turned to Daniel. “Here’s another question. Would Fivetrees be a good addition to the Wolfbridge estate?”

That question elicited five very clear dropped jaws and a group gasp that probably sucked a lot of air from the room.

“Good God,” said Daniel.

“You want to buy it, Adalyn?” Jeremy’s neck twisted as he stared up at her.

“It’s a sensible question,” defended Evan.

“They have some damn fine stables,” added Trick.

“It was a mere passing consideration, but if there’s a possibility of pursuing it…” She sighed, and in spite of her efforts to hide it, a slight yawn emerged.

“Right. I think we should call a halt for tonight.” Giles rose, and the others finished their brandy.

Adalyn nursed hers in her hands, staring into the liquid as if it might reveal the future. “I’ll admit I’m a mite tired now. Too much drama this evening. Just too sad.”

“Sleep well, Adalyn,” Giles bowed. “We will certainly talk more tomorrow.” He looked at the gentlemen. “Evan, why don’t you sit with Adalyn for a little, to make sure she is comfortable and relaxed enough for sleep?”

Jeremy opened his mouth, but Giles shot him a little frown.

Adalyn wondered at it, but was happy that Evan could stay. If she were truly honest with herself, she’d have been happy to have any of them—or all of them—with her on this troubled night. She hoped for sleep, but given the turbulent evening, it might be a bit of a time coming to her.

So she bid the rest goodnight and watched Evan pull a chair to the bedside.

“In with you, Adalyn,” he smiled, pulling back the covers for her and plumping up the pillow.

“Thank you, Evan.” She chuckled as she slid from her robe and climbed onto the bed, pulling the blankets back