Jack George smiled wryly. “I declined. I said running would make my guilt obvious. The authorities would quickly track me down.”
“Selina retorted, ‘And sitting there with a weapon in your hand won’t shout your guilt? You are not thinking clearly.’
“She told me to give her the mace so she could hide it. Then she thought a moment and told me to lie down on the floor,to not move or open my eyes until someone came and raised the alarm. I knew Mary would be coming at nine with Oliver’s breakfast, but I still didn’t understand. So I remained sitting in the chair, confused, and asked Selina how lying on the floor would help.
“She said it would appear as though I’d been struck by the assailant before he went into Mr. Oliver’s room.
“I told her no one would believe that. Not without a head wound. I am not the actor she is.
“Selina said I would not have to act. She also said she knew better than to try and surprise me, because my reactions are too fast. She said I would have to let her.
“‘Let you what?’ I asked.
“She said, ‘I am sorry to have to hurt you. But it’s all I can think of.’ Then she looked me in the eye and asked, ‘Do you trust me?’
“And I bowed my head.”
Mr. George exhaled a deep breath and rubbed the back of his skull, apparently without realizing he did so.
“For a while after that, I hoped I might go free, that the verdict of death ‘by person or persons unknown’ would stand. But I was and still am willing to face the consequences. Truth is, I have experienced enough of this weary world. Selina, however, has so much life ahead of her. She might yet fall in love, marry, and raise a family of her own. Given the chance.”
He held Frederick’s gaze. “I failed to protect Edie, but let me protect Selina now. Leave her out of it. She may have guessed what I planned to do, but she did nothing herself.”
“Nothing except strike you to provide an alibi?”
“I will deny it till my dying day, which will be here soon, I imagine. Besides, who would believe it? That slight, feminine Selina, my own loving ward, knocked down a man like me—aformer trooper and expert fighter? Everyone knows the infamous moneylender, Mr. King, was here, rings on his fingers and vengeance in his eyes. You accuse her and I’ll sayhestruck me, to get to Oliver. Which version do you think a jury will believe?”
The man had a point. “Are you saying you will confess under oath to Ambrose Oliver’s murder if Selina is left out of it?”
“Completely out of it, yes.”
When Frederick did not respond, Mr. George added, “Please, young man. Have you never wanted to protect someone you love ... a woman you love? She has done nothing wrong. Has punished herself for years because of her sibling’s suffering...”
Frederick thought of Rebecca and her guilt over not being able to protect John from Mr. Oliver’s cruelty.
Mr. George continued, “...while Ambrose Oliver has gone on with his eat, drink, and gamble life without a backward glance or a glimmer of remorse for what he did to our beloved Edie. Our hearts.”
The man’s voice cracked and Frederick felt his resolve crack with it.
“You will confess in court?”
“I will. Once I have your word as a gentleman that no harm shall come to Selina.”
Frederick considered. He still suspected Miss Newport might have been more involved than Mr. George let on—or at least had been tempted to harm the author herself. Yet knowing he could not prove it, he concluded this was likely their only chance for a conviction. He felt no satisfaction at the triumph ... if triumph it was.
He said, “I reserve the right to tell Miss Lane and Thomas in confidence about your relationship with Selina, and that shewas aware of what you did and did not report it. I promise it will go no further.”
The man’s mouth twisted. “To warn your brother off?”
Frederick held his gaze. “You are not the only one who feels duty-bound to protect his family.”
Mr. George hesitated, then nodded. “I understand.”
“Then yes,” Frederick promised. “You have my word.”
———
A short while later, Frederick followed as Mr. Brixton led Jack George across the hall toward the hotel’s front door. He glimpsed Miss Lane and Lady Fitzhoward sitting near the fire. Both turned solemn faces toward the grim procession.
