“Yes, you’re correct. The man I killed was a senior diplomatic attaché, assigned to the Prussian Envoy in London. The matter was kept quiet, but the trial was a political necessity, you see. The Prussians were most insistent. It was held and I was convicted.”
“Jeremy,” whispered Adalyn. “How awful for you.”
He stared at her, his eyes deep with remembered anguish. “I was sentenced to death, Adalyn. They found me guilty of murder.”
“No, no, that’s wrong…” she ached for him.
“My parents were distraught, but there was nothing they could do. The entire business was kept buried beneath the diplomatic rules of secrecy.”
“You escaped?” Daniel asked.
“In a roundabout way,” Jeremy replied. “My lawyer was a canny fellow. He poked into some dark corners, and found that the man I killed had a reputation for assaulting unwilling women. He was also quite highly positioned in the Prussian circle of diplomats and aristocrats. To have such an affair broadcast outside the inner workings of Prussia House would have been devastating and a huge black mark against the entire Prussian contingent in London.”
“He was a miserable excuse for a man and deserved what he got,” said Adalyn through clenched teeth.
“Hear, hear!” Evan added his endorsement.
“Well, with my lawyer’s information in hand, we were able to petition for a reduction in sentence, and wiser heads prevailed over angry politicians and diplomats. Probably from the upper echelons of Prussia House. It was blackmail of a sort, but I suppose that the other side had more to lose than we did. I don’t know. But within a week of my sentencing, I found myself quietly released without any fuss, bother or explanation. All I received was a note instructing me to leave London and never return. Wales was suggested, quite strongly. I was also to remain silent, and told in no uncertain terms what would happen if I broke that silence. I have not. Until now. When you and I met in Cardiff, Giles, I knew it was time for me to move ahead with my life. But as a new person, and not the Jeremy who had blood on his hands. Your offer was just what I needed. And I’ve never regretted it for a minute. Being here, at Wolfbridge, gave me back my humanity.”
“God, man. That is a terrible tragedy indeed.” Giles leaned back. “I knew a little of it, but the details are quite shocking.”
There were other comments as Jeremy reached the end of his story and the men exchanged opinions freely, all of which were in support of their friend and condemning the system that had created such a miscarriage of justice.
“Let me hazard a guess, Jeremy,” she said, attracting everyone’s attention. “The young woman you rescued? Might she be Miss Susanna Brockford?”
Silence fell as every man stared at her with varying amounts of surprise.
Jeremy recovered himself first. “I’m not quite sure how you arrived at that conclusion, Adalyn, but yes. You are correct. Yesterday was the first time I’d seen her since our last meeting in a courtroom somewhere in London.”
“Is she going to be a problem for you?”
“I’m not sure,” he answered. “During the trial we crossed paths quite often. I think…” he blushed a little, “It’s possible she might have developed an affection for me.”
“You were her saviour. I cannot say that it would be surprising,” mused Daniel.
“But so much time has passed. It’s been over six years, and many changes have taken place during that time. Truly I am surprised she recognised me.”
“Some things are indelible on one’s memory, Jeremy. I can believe the fateful events of that night would be a permanent fixture in a woman’s mind.”
“So where does that leave you now?” Giles asked.
“I don’t know.” Jeremy shook his head. “It has resurrected a past I hoped I’d left behind. It has reunited me with a woman I do not know well, and who is bound to have changed in the past years. She is unwed; she told me she cannot stand the thought of marriage. And yet…”
“And yet?” Adalyn gently encouraged him.
“She seemed…eager to rekindle our acquaintance. She left no doubt that she would enjoy my company.” He straightened in his chair. “I was not comfortable, to be blunt about it. I’m not sure she sees me in the proper light. And I’m certainly not about to accept an improper invitation from a woman I haven’t seen in all these years.”
“Improper?” Daniel’s eyebrows rose.
“Yes.” Jeremy cleared his throat. “She seems to think that if I could spend the night with her and…and…relieve her of her virginity, then she could go forward with a life that has been on hold all these years. Apparently I’m the only man she can trust to treat her properly.”
“Oh dear.” Adalyn’s forehead creased into a frown.
“One has to wonder about the men she’s been associating with over these last years,” commented Evan wryly.
“Where is she now?” queried Giles.
“Staying with her sister, I believe. Over in Little Maddington. She rode to St. Polycarp’s yesterday with a distant relative who had people to meet in the area.”
