The Secret of Hollyfield House

by Jude Bayton

I was distracted as Evergreen abruptly rose from the settle and moved away. I looked up at Victor. He wore a thoughtful expression. His pallor was somewhat pale. “Are you feeling unwell, Victor?” I asked, getting to my feet.

  “I am sorry,” he said, clearing his throat. “I fear the cigar was a little strong and has upset my constitution. I must go and find a glass of water. Please excuse me.”

  I watched him walk away and scanned the room to see if Dominic might have joined us by now. He had not. I found his absence unsettling. There was nothing for it but to seek him out.

  At length, I discovered him in the billiards room, engaged in a game with both Perry and Marik. Much to my surprise, Evergreen stood in one corner, a brandy glass in her hand.

  There you are, Dominic,” I said. “I thought you gone home.”

  He set down his cue and came to where I stood. “I am sorry, Jillian. These two ruffians kidnapped me after dinner and challenged me to a game.”

  “We wanted to play against someone we could beat,” laughed Perry, who pocketed a red ball into the side net.

  “Good shot,” exclaimed Marik as he poured himself a drink from a decanter. He looked over at me. “Miss Farraday, you are quite lovely tonight. The green of your gown sets off the richness of your hair.”

  “Dear me,” Evergreen said. “You wax poetic tonight, Marik. I did not think Miss Farraday your—type.” The room tensed for just a moment, and then it passed. I understood her reference, though the LaVelles and Marik were unaware Dominic, and I knew their secret.

  “Thank you for the compliment, Marik. Evergreen was so good as to lend me this dress and the use of her maid. She has been most kind.”

  “Not an adjective I’d use to describe my fair sister,” Perry announced, and I noticed a flash of anger from his twin.

  The atmosphere in the room was unsettling, edgy in a way which one expected something was about to happen. I did not want to remain and promptly decided to leave the men to their billiards. Dominic appeared to have finished his game, and I told him I was returning to the drawing-room, assuming he would offer to escort me. But instead, he smiled and said he would see me later.

  I left the room in irritation. Dominic, normally so attentive, had behaved indifferently. What was wrong with him this evening? I thought he would spend a little of his time with me. Indeed, had I not dressed in finery purely to turn his head? All my hopeful anticipation of the night dissolved, and I could not dam the flood of disappointment.

  I returned to the party, but as I sipped sherry and spoke with the other guests, my heart was not in it at all. It travelled to the billiard room, where Evergreen LaVelle and Dominic remained.

  I watched the mantel clock as an hour passed by. As it struck eleven, Uncle Jasper summoned me to join him and Mrs Stackpoole. It was time to take our leave. Lord Mountjoy’s carriage would deliver us home, and I had little option but to do his bidding. We collected our wraps, and though I yearned to find Dominic to say my goodbyes, I was ushered outside and into the carriage.

  As we pulled away, I turned to take another look at the large house illuminated by gaslights burning bright. Why had Dominic not spent time with me? Did he no longer care?

  MY STATE OF MIND WAS NOT GOOD. After a fitful night of sleep, I had awoken to heavy rain pounding on the roof, a slight headache, and the uncomfortable feeling that my life had shifted position. I lay under my blankets, loathe to get up, while I replayed the events of the evening for at least the fourth time.

  What had made Dominic behave so strangely? Usually affectionate and always attentive, last night he had behaved like a mere acquaintance, not a man who had shown me his love. What could have happened to bring about the sudden change? Evergreen’s face popped into my head and again a twinge of discomfort gnawed at me. Was there something between the two of them? I always picked up on a subtle shift in Dominic’s demeanour whenever Evergreen was with us. Part of me desperately wanted to ask him, yet I was afraid of his answer. I had to believe Dominic was a truthful man. Surely, he would not have encouraged my affections if his own feelings were for another?

  UNCLE JASPER’S MOOD WAS LIKE day to my night. He worked most of that morning, yet on several occasions I know I heard him whistling. For some reason, his joy enhanced my lack of it, and by the end of the day, I was low.

  Would I see Dominic? Though I knew he would be in Kendal with Billy, I half-expected him to knock at the door on his way home, as he was wont to do. He did not come. At dinner, I barely touched my food.

  “Jilly, what ails you?” Uncle Jasper asked with a concerned frown.

  “Nothing,” I lied. “I am a little under the weather. I think perhaps the rich food and fine wine at dinner last evening were too much for me.”

  “Well, that would explain it,” he stated. He then embarked upon a story where he had over-imbibed and the dramatic effects it had taken on his body. Mrs Stackpoole seemed riveted. I did not listen to a word.

  My uncle retired to his study while I helped Mrs Stackpoole clear away the dinner plates. My mind jostled with many thoughts, yet they kept returning to Dominic and his treatment of me at the Mountjoy’s. Finally, I had enough. It was not my nature to dwell and worry. I would rather speak my mind and have it out. I took off my apron, hung it on the peg and told Mrs Stackpoole I was taking a quick walk before it got dark. I did not wait for her reply.

  DOMINIC WOULD NOT EXPECT ME this late in the day. I knew it was foolish on my part to go to Wolfe Farm unannounced, but I could not help myself. I was desperate for answers.

  The farm took on a different persona as dusk gave way to the night creeping slowly across the land. Shapes so familiar in the light of day were at once foreign and shadowed. But I chased away my concerns and approached the farmhouse, drawn to a lit kitchen window like a moth. Thank goodness it appeared Dominic was home.

  As I reached the kitchen door and went to knock, the sound of voices stilled my hand. Dominic was not alone. Loathe to be a bother and interrupt, I put my ear to the door and listened intently. I heard a woman speak, and I froze. Who was with Dominic at this hour?

  I moved away towards the kitchen window. When I reached it, I debated how I could look through without being seen. Slowly, I peered around. Two figures stood facing one another in front of the hearth.

  Their voices became louder. I could not hear what was being said, but their tones grew hostile. I wanted to know more. Bolder now, I stepped in front of the window at the very moment Evergreen LaVelle moved nearer to Dominic. My stomach convulsed with what I could only know as jealousy. My blood raced through my veins at a gallop. What was Evergreen doing here?

  At first, I thought she meant to strike him. Even from my poor vantage point I could see the wildness of her expression. But as she neared him, the breath left my body as Evergreen placed her arms about Dominic’s neck, pulled him close and kissed him.

  My heart lurched, I felt sick and my mind raced. I looked away in utter disgust, tears streaming down my face. So, my suspicions had been correct. I had been played the fool the entire time. Evergreen and Dominic were obviously involved prior to my moving here. Dear God, Dominic Wolfe had toyed with me like I was a lovesick child.

  I moved away from the repugnant scene and ran from the farm. I do not remember how I arrived home or how long it took me to get there because I was too distraught, too broken-hearted to pay attention or see through my tear-filled eyes. I went into the house and directly upstairs to my room. I threw down my cloak and fell onto the bed where I buried my face into my pillow and soundlessly wept. How could they? I was so ashamed.

  And then a myriad of thoughts crashed into my mind. Dominic’s quiet response when we had discovered evidence of a tryst at the boathouse and thought it Evergreen. His tolerance of her appalling words to Billy. His inattentiveness towards me last night. Had it been a façade from the very start?

  I had been so easily deceived. Indeed, though I had little experience with men, I was no imbecile. I read people well enough. But Eve
rgreen? My blood boiled as I thought of her efforts to be kind and how she used me to entertain herself whenever she pleased. No wonder she was so snide with me—she wanted Dominic for herself, and I was getting in the way.

  As my tears quickly gave way to rage, so my fury mounted. I turned over onto my back and stared at the ceiling. My fingers twisted the pendant I still wore about my neck, but it brought little comfort.

  Dominic Wolfe had stolen my heart, and now ignited my vengeance. I would not be humiliated, nor would I be used for his pleasure any longer. As for Evergreen? She thought she had my friendship, but now she would receive my wrath. I would never forgive either one of them.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  DOMINIC CALLED AT THE HOUSE the next morning, but I had already instructed my uncle that I was unwell and wished to see no one. I heard them talking and then Dominic’s retreating footsteps. But I cared not. I planned to immerse myself in work and let this pass.

  As the morning went on, I found myself still plagued by thoughts of our investigation into the death of Jareth Flynn. What of Billy’s situation at the gaol? Could I honestly forget all I had learned these past weeks because of a foolish flirtation? No. I could not. My feelings were but a mere trifle in comparison to the danger Billy Wolfe faced should he go to trial. Therefore, regardless of my opinion, I would continue with my enquiries.

  That afternoon, I folded up Evergreen’s dress, wrapped it in paper, and set out for Hollyfield House. Other than the fact the dress was not mine to keep, I wanted no reminder of an evening which had held such promise yet had been ruined by the subsequent betrayal of two people I considered friends.

  I planned to drop off Evergreen’s gown without speaking to her, but as luck would have it, I turned from our street onto Lake Road and bumped into her maid, Peters. The young woman had done such an artful job of arranging my hair for the evening at the Mountjoy’s. She recognised me immediately and we exchanged greetings. I asked if she was returning to the House anytime soon. Peters said she was on an errand to the post office. I showed her the package I held, and she offered to stop by and collect it on the way back. I leapt at the chance to avoid going to Hollyfield. I told her my address and went back home to await her arrival.

  She did not take long. With a little persuasion, I encouraged her to come inside and share some tea.

  “This is right nice of you, Miss Jillian.” She beamed, taking another biscuit.

  “’Tis the least I can do, Peters. I have never had my hair arranged before. It was a treat, and I appreciate your work.”

  “Well, I thought you looked very pretty in the gown, miss. I do believe my mistress was a little put-out with that. Miss Evergreen doesn’t like competition.”

  “I doubt very much if anyone could outshine your mistress. She looked stunning in her sari.”

  “She does like her clothes, that one.” Peters continued. “I’ve never seen one woman go through so many dresses. Though she is generous an’ gives away the old ones to those of us workin’ at the house.”

  “That is kind,” I said flatly. “I am sure you are all most grateful.”

  “We are.” She looked sheepish. “I think she does it ’cause she feels guilty.”

  “Guilty? What do you mean?”

  “Miss Evergreen can be difficult at times. She has a cruel tongue—if you get my meanin’.”

  “Oh, yes. I understand. I have been on the receiving end of that myself. It is like getting stung by a whip.”

  Peters nodded. “Lots of the girls up at the house, well they don’t care for her. They like the gents well enough, but Miss Evergreen can be very demandin’.”

  That was putting it politely. “How long have you been Miss Evergreen’s maid, Peters?”

  “About a month now.” She helped herself to another biscuit.

  “Is that all?” I was surprised.

  “Yes, miss. The last one left after one of my lady’s ‘tempers’. I expected the position to be a tough one, but the money is good, so I took it. Right after I started at Hollyfield, Miss Marabelle died. I didn’t know much about her other than the staff said she never required her own maid. By all accounts, she was a very unhappy person. She and Miss Evergreen never saw eye to eye, about anything.”

  “I noticed they were not close,” I commented, egging her on.

  “You can say that again. The night of the lecture was a such a carry-on. It was my first time to dress Miss Evergreen for a formal evening, and she was in a right old mood. Miss Marabelle, well, she’d barged into the bedroom and they had a nasty set to.”

  “What about?” I asked.

  “I don’t know because they asked me to leave. But it was something about Mister Perry and his foreign friend. By the time I was called back in, I barely had any time to get my lady ready.”

  “Well, you did a fine job, Peters. I remember how lovely she looked that night.” And I remembered that Marabelle had lost her life as well.

  The subject changed to other topics until finally, Peters thanked me for the refreshment, took the parcel containing Evergreen’s dress, and went on her way.

  After she had gone, I went out into the back garden and sat down on the kitchen doorstep to think. I reached into my mind to find a missing piece of information I knew had to be there somewhere.

  I started at the beginning—the day I had been knocked down in the village by the LaVelle carriage. Slowly I retraced all the events which had taken place since Jareth Flynn’s death—Billy’s arrest, his shocking parentage, Marabelle’s fall, Louisa’s confession, Evergreen’s relationship with Flynn, and finally Perry and Marik’s secret affair.

  Evergreen still had the strongest link to everyone. Her relationship with Flynn was more than a flirtation if the accounts given by Billy and Jem were to be believed. And what of the boathouse? Evergreen had been seen there with Flynn, by the children. It was there we had found his watch. With her past reputation, surely there could be no doubt there was more to her involvement with the blacksmith than she was willing to admit. But could Evergreen be a killer? I doubted that very much. Her spiteful nature was evident, yet it was a huge leap to go from cruelty to cold-blooded murder. So, who had killed Jareth Flynn? And had Marabelle fallen to her death or had she been pushed?

  And that brought me to Dominic. He had been dismayed the day we went to the boathouse. I distinctly remembered the look on his face when he realised the place was being used for a lover’s tryst. As my thoughts replayed the sight of Evergreen kissing the man I cared for, disgust swirled in the pit of my belly, and my anger began to smoulder.

  UNCLE JASPER WAS GOING FOR A walk on the hills and Mrs Stackpoole told me she would accompany him. She was busy making sandwiches and packing a small picnic basket. I determined their friendship was growing stronger by the day. As soon as the cheerful pair left the house, I waited a few minutes after their departure and then got myself ready to go out.

  I had stewed all night over what I should do with my many conflicting emotions because of Dominic. But I could not allow my personal feelings to sway me from doing what was right. I set off for Hollyfield, and this time I did not notice the lambs in the fields or hear birdsong. I was too intent with what I wanted to say to Evergreen LaVelle.

  I waited for her in the conservatory. This was not by my request, but hers. I sat on the same wicker chair as before and reflected upon my first time here when Dominic was painting her portrait. Back then, I had felt so differently. I remembered the interesting conversation with Marik and how much I enjoyed his company. It was strange now, thinking of his relationship with Perry. They ran such risk of being caught and punished. I could not imagine how it was to love someone and not have the freedom to express it publicly.

  “I am surprised to see you here this early in the day, Jillian. It must be important?”

  She appeared before me in another lovely dress, this one the colour of hazelnut. As always, I was taken aback by her impact. If nothing else, Evergreen was a beautiful woman—at least on
the exterior. She sank into the chair opposite mine and raised a brow. “Well?”

  “I wish to speak with you on a personal matter,” I stated bluntly.

  “I see.” She stared at me with her pretty eyes, yet there was no warmth there.

  “What was Jareth Flynn really to you?” She opened her mouth to speak, but I continued. “And before you say anything, I would have you consider this. You were seen with him, Evergreen, by more than one person. So please, tell me the truth.”

  She got to her feet and paced back and forth in front of her seat. “I do not see what business it is of yours, Jillian. What I do with whomever I please has nothing to do with you.”

  “Perhaps,” I agreed. “Except this person was brutally murdered and found close to where you live. A boy’s life hangs in the balance should he be convicted. I believe it my duty to make a point of helping where I can. Besides.” This time I raised a brow. “Why should you care if you have done nothing wrong? Unless you have something to hide?”

  She sat back down and fixed me with an angry glare. “You have a lot of nerve, Jillian. But then that’s probably what I admire the most about you.” She sighed. “Jareth Flynn and I were lovers.” She paused and threw me a glance, no doubt expecting to see a look of shock on my face which would have pleased her. Her expression showed disappointment because I did not even blink. She smiled. “He was a handsome fellow. Quite the ladies’ man in Ambleside, ask Louisa.” Again, she stopped to watch my reaction and was left wanting. I decided to take a little stab myself. “I know all about Louisa,” I said confidently. “Mr Flynn had a lot of secrets.” I was alluding to what I knew of his blackmailing habits, for now I was convinced he must have also been blackmailing Perry, or Marik. I took a bold step. “Was Jareth Flynn blackmailing you because of your affair?”

  She audibly gasped. “Good grief, Jillian, how dare you suggest—”

  “I think it likely, actually,” I replied. “I am aware of your indiscretion in London and the reason Victor packed you off to the country, as you shared that with me. But to engage in yet another affair with someone far beneath your position, why I am sure your father would have been furious. Perhaps even disinherited you?”