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“All right, Sergeant, you have fulfilled your duty. Mr. Duff has heard your charge, and he has told you he is not guilty. If you wish to wait for Dr. Wade to confirm that he is too ill to be moved, you may do so downstairs, perhaps in the morning room. Mrs. Duff may also need to be alone …”
“It will not be necessary to wait.”
Evan swung around to find Corridon Wade behind him looking exhausted, hollow-cheeked but absolutely unflinching.
“Good evening, Dr. Wade.”
“Hardly,” Wade said dryly. “I have been fearing this would happen, but now that it has, I must inform you officially, in my capacity as Rhys’s physician, that he is not well enough to be moved. If you do so you may jeopardize not only his recovery but possibly even his life. And I must remind you that you have made a charge but you have not yet proved it. Before the law he is still an innocent man.”
“I know that, Dr. Wade,” Evan answered calmly. “I have no intention of forcing the issue. I shall leave a constable on duty outside the house. I came only to inform Mr. Duff of the charge, not to attempt to take him into custody.”
Wade relaxed a little. “Good. Good. I’m sorry if I was a little hasty. You must understand it is extremely distressing for me on a personal level, as well as professionally. I have been a friend of the family for many years. I feel their tragedies very keenly.”
“I know that,” Evan conceded. “I wish my errand were something other.”
“I’m sure.” Wade nodded, then walked past Evan into the room, glancing at Hester with a look of quick appreciation. “Thank you, Miss Latterly, for your part. I am sure you have been of great strength. I shall remain with Rhys for a while, to make sure the shock of this has not affected him too seriously. Perhaps you would be good enough to be of what comfort you may to Mrs. Duff. I shall be down very shortly.”
“Yes, of course,” Hester agreed, and instantly shepherded Evan out of the room and down the stairs.
“I’m sorry, Hester,” Evan said, going down behind her. “There really is no alternative. The proof is overwhelming.”
“I know,” she answered without turning. “William told me.” She was stiff, holding herself upright with an effort, as if once she let go she might never find the strength to regain her composure. She crossed the hallway and went into the withdrawing room without knocking.
Inside, Sylvestra was sitting on the sofa near the fire, and Monk was standing in the middle of the carpet. Neither of them had been speaking at that moment.
Sylvestra looked at Hester, her eyes terrified, questioning.
“Dr. Wade is with him,” Hester said in answer. “He is distressed, of course, but he is not in any danger. And naturally he will remain here.” Her voice dropped. “I asked him if he was guilty, and he shook his head vehemently.”
“But …” Sylvestra stammered. “But …” She looked at Monk, then at Evan, behind Hester.
“That is not helpful, Hester,” Monk said sharply.
Sylvestra looked bemused. Her hands moved as if to grasp at something, and closed on ai
r. Her body was rigid and she moved jerkily, increasingly close to hysteria. At this very moment, her need was greater than Rhys’s.
Hester went over to her and touched her, taking her arms.
“There is nothing we can do tonight, but in the morning we must plan ahead. The charge has been made. It must be answered, whatever that answer is. Mr. Monk is a private agent of enquiry. There may yet be more to discover, and naturally you will employ the best legal counsel you can. Just now you must keep up your strength. No doubt Dr. Wade will tell his sister, but I will tell Mrs. Kynaston, if you would find that easier.”
“I … don’t know …” Sylvestra was shaking violently and her skin was cold where Hester held her.
Evan moved uncomfortably. He should not be witnessing this agony. His task was completed here. This was an intrusion, as it was for Monk. He looked at Hester. She was absorbed in her feelings for Sylvestra. He and Monk barely touched the periphery of her mind.
“Hester …” It was Monk who spoke, but hesitantly.
Evan looked at him. Monk’s face was filled with pity so profound it stood naked, startling, and it was a moment or two before Evan realized it was for Hester, not the woman who had received such a devastating blow. It was not only pity, there was also in it a burning admiration and a tenderness which betrayed his defenses utterly.
Evan longed for Hester to turn and see it, but she was consumed by her anguish for Sylvestra.
Evan walked towards the door. He was in the hall when he saw Dr. Wade coming down the stairs. The doctor looked haggard, and he still had the trace of a limp remaining from his accident.
“There will be no possibility of your moving him,” he said as he neared the bottom. “Whether he will be fit to stand a trial I cannot say.”
“We will have to have a medical opinion of more than one man to that,” Evan answered him. He looked at Wade’s strained expression, the darkness in his eyes and what he thought might even be fear, or the shadow of fear to come.
“Sergeant …”
