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

stand being without him. I even went so far as to suggest I would tell Father I wanted to marry him. The arrogant bastard actually believed me.” She laughed derisively. “As if I would sink so low. On the day we met up, Billy Wolfe saw us together in the woods. I told Jareth we’d been spotted, and of course, he chased after Billy to scare him away.”

“And then you tried to frighten him too, didn’t you? You went to the shed to scare him, and that is when you stole his knife.”

“My, you are the clever one, aren’t you? No wonder I wanted to be your friend.” She looked so pleased with herself. “Yes, I took Billy’s knife, and the next time Flynn came to meet me, I stabbed him. It was ridiculously easy. I dragged him out to the water and left him there.”

“Did you know Peggy found him?”

“Of course. That nosy old witch. I saw her from the boathouse, but she didn’t see me watching.”

“Flynn was still alive you know.”

She shrugged, “Not for long.”

“And the knife?”

“I kept it for a few days, and then placed it in the woods. I took one of the gardeners with me looking for a handkerchief I said I had lost. I knew he would find the knife.”

“That was very clever. And I suppose you hid Flynn’s wallet in Billy’s room at the farm as well?”

“Yes,” she chuckled.

“You thought you had taken care of everything—saved Perry and Marik and yourself from Flynn. But there was still one other who knew the truth about your brother.”

“Greedy bitch,” she spat. “Marabelle was furious that Father had been too preoccupied with Billy to pay her any attention. She began to get a little too full of herself.”

I remembered her maid’s comments about Marabelle and Evergreen’s argument. “Did Marabelle threaten to expose your brother on the night of the lecture?”

“Now who’s being clever?” Evergreen laughed out loud. “Oh, Jillian, you should have seen her face when I pushed her off the balcony. It was the only time I ever thought her funny. She dropped like a stone—and right in front of you too!”

And there it was. My suspicion confirmed. Good God, Evergreen LaVelle was stark raving mad. How could I not have seen it? Indeed, how could any of us have missed it?

I wanted to get away from her and alert the authorities. “Evergreen. We should return to shore now. Let us find Victor and get you help.”

There was the laugh again. “I need no help. Look what I have accomplished already. Do you honestly think I would have told you everything if I was planning to let you go?”

“Evergreen,” I said as firmly as I could, trying to conceal the anxiety galloping through my body. “We must speak with your father. He can try to sort this mess out. You have already killed two people.”

She stopped laughing, and her entire expression changed to an evil leer. “Two people? Why dear Jillian, I intend to make it three!” In a flash, she raised an oar and brought it with a resounding smack against the side of my head. An immense pain rushed through my ear. Evergreen made a guttural sound and raised the oar up to hit me once again. But this time I was ready. As the paddle reached me, I held up my forearm and deflected its course. It bounced hard against my bone, and I cried out in terrible pain, but I had parried her attempt to render me unconscious. Reaching over, and with all the strength I could muster, I wrenched the oar from her grip and threw it into the water. She paused in surprise, then roared in anger and lunged for me.

My dress ripped open as she clawed at me. Grabbing a handful of her hair, I pulled it so hard that her head snapped back. The look of utter madness in her wide eyes terrified me, but my desire to survive far outweighed anything else. I kept her head back and with my right hand formed a fist and brought it up to punch her soundly under her chin. She collapsed down back onto her seat, but I knew she was not finished. As she landed, I released her hair, climbed behind her, pinned my arm around her throat, trapping her head. She flailed, desperately trying to get purchase, then clawed at my arm. I could only hold onto her for a moment longer. Suddenly I knew what I must do to keep the advantage. With what remaining energy I had left, I placed my other arm about her waist, and pulled us both into the water.

She went straight under. I let her go while I struggled to loosen my skirt and petticoats and pull off my shoes before my clothing weighed me down. Then I swam below the surface to find her before it was too late.

The lake was deep, but as the weather was fine and the wind calm, the current was not strong, though the water was murky. I could see Evergreen well enough. She was in a complete panic. Her arms and legs kicked and flailed, but the weight of her sodden gown was dragging her to the bottom of the lake like an anchor.

When I reached her, I grabbed her arms, and at first she fought me. Then suddenly she went limp, and I was able to gain purchase and hold her, kicking my legs to force us upwards. As we broke the surface, I spluttered and coughed. More from exertion than anything. Evergreen was still, and I realised she must have fainted from fright and lack of oxygen. I put my arm around her neck to keep her head above the water, and I used my legs to propel us back to the boat.

I did not attempt to climb back in but hung onto the side of the boat with one arm while supporting Evergreen with the other. I desperately tried to mobilize