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

“Thus it has been demonstrated,” translated Jeremy, his voice low.

“But…” Adalyn couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “We know he didn’t do it. I can testify to that.”

“Yes, you can,” said Daniel. “And now we’re getting to the interesting part. If I may?” He raised his eyebrows at Giles, who waved him ahead.

“We asked Sir Gerald what the next steps were, and what we should do to go about proving Trick’s innocence. He answered that of course a court appearance would be logical. At that point you, Adalyn, could testify about the evening in question and that at no time did Trick leave your presence or approach Sir Amery or his food in any way that could have allowed him to place poison there.”

“That’s correct,” she nodded. “I’d stake my life on that.”

“If we decide to take that option, it might mean as much as a year in confinement for Trick, though. The only judge in the county is seriously ill; and nobody knows if or even when he’ll recover. Thus the other courts that might have helped are already months behind with their cases.” Daniel folded his hands together tightly. “There are only four judges left to administer all the courts in three counties. The sheer numbers are appalling, Adalyn.”

“A year’s wait in a cell? For something he didn’t do and which can be proven with one short statement?”

“Yes.”

“Utter stupidity,” she mumbled.

“Well, there’s more.” Giles looked at her. “Sir Gerald suggested we might wish to speak personally to Mr. Fairhurst, in the event he could be persuaded to withdraw the charges, once he understands we can prove them false.”

“Did you?” Jeremy blurted out the question.

“Yes, we did.” Daniel glanced at Giles. “And he was every bit as unpleasant as we might have guessed.”

“So not amenable to dropping the charges?” growled Jeremy.

“On the contrary,” Daniel’s mouth curved in anger. “He was perfectly ready to drop the charges. If…” He paused dramatically. “If—in addition to her statement—Lady Adalyn would sign over the rights to the Wolfbridge river, and the land bordering it for a distance of fifty feet.”

“What?” Adalyn was stunned.

“He wants the river and the riverbank.” Giles spoke through clenched teeth.

She shook her head. “I do not understand any of this. To free Trick, I have to give away land. I’d be buying his freedom with a piece of Wolfbridge as currency. Has this entire situation been engineered by this fellow to obtain the river? And if so, why? It’s a very complicated plan, and let’s not forget that a man died because of it. What on earth use would it be to him?”

Daniel held up his hand before the others could add their questions to Adalyn’s. “There are a couple of answers. First, we are not sure that Baxter had anything to do with Sir Amery’s death. He may just be using the unfortunate occurrence for his own gain. As far as the river goes, I believe the reason for his interest lies in a growing trend. Canals.”

Jeremy raised his head. “Ah, yes. Now I begin to understand.”

“I don’t.” Evan frowned. “You’d better go on, Daniel…”

“I learned from the servants that Fairhurst has contacted two lawyers who specialise in inheritances. Rumour has it that Judith Fairhurst may be the only heir to Fivetrees, and if so, Baxter will contest the will.”

“So he wants Fivetrees…” Adalyn murmured. “And if he has the river as well…”

“He can use it as a formal canal and charge a toll for everyone who ferries anything downstream, or upstream for that matter.”

“Then there’s the possibility of building locks, which will drastically alter the flow of water around our fields,” added Giles.

Jeremy nodded in agreement. “If I recall something I read recently, the business of locks and canals is growing by leaps and bounds. There are many investors looking for new opportunities to sink funds into it, because the returns are constantly increasing.”

“Ahhh,” Adalyn leaned back in her chair. “That makes a lot of sense. Money, of course, at the root of it all.”

Giles’s face bore an expression of concern. “Lady Adalyn, the response to this lies with you. Would you surrender the land to spare Trick’s incarceration? He will be jailed for as much as a year, awaiting trial. And not in the Roundhouse, or even Little Maddington.. This would be in Deepmere.”

She winced. Deepmere was at least fifteen or more miles away from Wolfbridge. And a fully-fledged city, which probably meant a jail with cells and other unpleasant things she’d rather not think about.

Silence had fallen and she felt the men’s eyes resting on her. Her position as mistress of Wolfbridge weighed heavily on her at that moment, for she knew she had to make the best decision possible under the circumstances.

“May I have an hour or so to fully consider this, Giles? I need to think, and just now I seem to be possessed of a windstorm in my brain instead of coherent thoughts.”

“Of course,” he nodded.

“You’ll do the right thing, Adalyn.” Daniel pressed her shoulder.

“You are the Lady of Wolfbridge,” Jeremy also touched her. “We believe in you, Adalyn.”

“It’s difficult, to be in control of a manor such as this,” said Evan coming to her side. “But you are worthy of the title, Adalyn, and worthy of the position. Whatever you decide will be right…for you, for us and for Wolfbridge.” He took her hand, dropped a light kiss on it, and followed the others from the room, leaving her alone with Giles.

~~~~~

She stood and stretched, then walked to the window, amazed to find that nothing had changed outside. It was strange how things happened and one’s world shifted a little, while the rest of the world continued to turn.

“Giles,” she said quietly. “I would like to talk to you.”

“Of course, my Lady.” He walked to her side. “’Tis a difficult decision you face.”

“Indeed.” She nodded. “And this situation is not the only one.” She turned slightly toward him.