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

ladies both a good night.” He turned and went out of the kitchen door, leaving a vacuum in the room where he had been.

WITH THE HOUSE SECURED FOR THE night and the lamps doused, Mrs Stackpoole bade me goodnight and we retired to our respective rooms. I lay in bed. Undulating thoughts filled my head, most centred around Dominic and our time together. I examined the catalogue of memories I had already amassed with him. Had it been just a few weeks since we had met? Strange, but it was difficult to picture my life without him being a part of it now. How different might it have been, had Billy not been arrested? Indeed, it was surprising our relationship had managed to even start under these terrible circumstances.

I reached over to my night table and on impulse did not extinguish the lamp but opened the drawer to retrieve the tin containing the moonstone. Its presence had slipped my mind with everything else going on in the past week. But now I held it in my fingers and studied its bright iridescence. Who had given this to my mother? Was it a man she truly loved? My thoughts went to Dominic. Had she felt as strongly for this stranger as I did for Dominic Wolfe? The idea surprised me. What did I feel for the handsome artist? Love? Affection? Compassion?

I closed my eyes. I did not want to love Dominic Wolfe. For everyone I loved always left me.

Chapter Twenty-One

I WALKED TO WOLFE FARM AND my fingers toyed with the moonstone in my pocket. I had fallen asleep with the gem in my hand, and for some reason felt the compunction to keep it on my person today. There was such significance to the stone, or at least there had been to my mother at one point in her life. Regardless, somehow it made me feel closer to her.

It was early, but I knew Dominic would already be up and busy tending the livestock. I was certain he would not mind my coming. The morning promised yet another beautiful day. Birdsong trilled in the air. Even the creatures were happy it was almost summertime.

I found Dominic in the stables, mucking out the stalls.

“Good morning, Jillian.” He paused and leaned on the pitchfork. “I’d greet you more warmly, but I smell of manure.”

I laughed, noting the sweat beading upon his brow. He had clearly been working for some time.

“Can I help?” It seemed a feeble offer, but I made it anyway.

“Not out here. But if you’ve a mind to put the kettle on, I’ll come in presently and share a mug with you?”

I nodded and left him to his work.

By the time Dominic joined me in the kitchen, the kettle had boiled, and sausages sizzled in the frying pan. I was not sure if he had breakfasted, but the look of delight he threw my way told me he had not. I had warmed a pan of water, and I poured it into a tin bowl so he could clean his face and hands. It did not take long, and while he washed, I fried eggs and a piece of crusty bread.

I joined him at the table with a hot mug of tea and watched with interest as he devoured the plate of food I placed before him. While he ate, I showed him the moonstone.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, taking it from my hand. He examined it carefully and held it up to the light. He frowned. “It is a pretty pendant. You don’t have an admirer I should know about do you?”

I laughed. “Of course not. It belonged to my mother. It seems she was the one with an admirer, before she met my father. Apparently, a mysterious man gave her the moonstone, and when their relationship ended, Mother left it in my uncle’s care. I found it tucked into the back of a wardrobe, and Uncle Jasper told me its history.”

Dominic handed it back. “Well, now you have unearthed a hidden treasure, you should let me find you a chain so you can wear it as a necklace. My mother had inexpensive pieces of jewellry. I will look and see if I can find one which might fit.”

“Oh no, Dominic,” I said quickly. “I couldn’t take something that belonged to your mother.” I put the stone back in my pocket and met his even stare. He looked as though he wanted to say something else and then changed his mind. The moment was awkward.

“I am curious about your meeting with Victor yesterday.” I changed the subject, anxious to get on a more comfortable footing with him.

He took a sip of his tea. “Yes, it was unfortunate Mrs Stackpoole decided to interrupt us last evening before I could tell you.” He grinned, and a wicked light shone in his amber eyes. “Though perhaps it was fortuitous, for I might not have behaved myself at all.”

My cheeks grew warm, but I was not embarrassed—in fact, quite the opposite. I liked this man’s attention and praise.

“How did you find Victor?”

“Suffocating in a houseful of well-meaning relatives who are sorely trying his patience. However, we had a good conversation, and he brought me up to date with Kemp’s findings.”

“What did he say?”

“Kemp plans to introduce the idea that Billy’s knife was used by another to kill Flynn. Therefore, either intentionally or by chance putting Billy in the frame for murder. He will introduce Peggy Nash’s information, though he does not expect it to hold well because of her mental state and lack of credibility. But it lends itself to support the theory of his innocence. With the discovery of Flynn’s financial obligations to a few dubious characters, it provides other candidates with motives far outweighing my brother’s. Whenever there is violence, it is common to find money issues at its heart.”

“And what of the blackmail?” This was shaky ground.

Dominic leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh. “That is where