Adalyn moved forward, dropping Daniel’s arm and hurrying to the front door. “Giles, what’s happening? Who are these men?”
Three people stood on the Wolfbridge doorstep, tidily dressed, but clearly not members of country Society.
“Ma’am.” The one in the front doffed his cap. “I’m William Dressling, Ma’am. County Constable and representative of the Lord Lieutenant, Sir Gerald Ffolkesborough.”
“Are you indeed, sir. Well all this sounds quite important, but it has obviously upset my…my butler. Would you please restate the reason for your visit?”
Adalyn could feel Giles’s fury, his lips tightly closed, radiating anger from every pore. It unnerved her, but she found the courage to stand beside him with her chin high.
“Ma’am, I’m charged by the Lord Lieutenant—as yer can see by this here warrant I’m a carryin’,” he waved a sheet of foolscap at her, “to hereby take into custody one Mr. Trevallyn Jones, known to all hereabouts as Trick.”
“What?” Adalyn’s mouth fell open. “Trick? What on earth are you talking about?”
“He’s to come along with us, Ma’am. We has to take him into custody, like I said. He’s to be remanded into the Roundhouse in Ditchley, until such time as his Lordship Sir Gerald comes an’ speaks with ‘im.”
“About what?” pursued Adalyn. “Is my groom being charged with something? Surely you have more information than this…”
Her heart was pounding and her hands were damp, and she felt Evan, Daniel and Jeremy move close to stand with her.
“I’m sorry, Ma’am, my Lady,” the man lowered his gaze for a moment. “’Tis not good news.”
“I gathered as much, Mr. Dressling. Out with it. Why are you here to arrest Trick?”
“Well, Ma’am, it has to do with the…” he lifted the paper and consulted it for a moment, then lowered his hands and looked at Adalyn. “Mr. Jones is under arrest, and is to be held on suspicion of causing the untimely death of Sir Amery Fairhurst from Fivetrees.”
“I don’t believe a word of it…” Evan sputtered out his confusion.
“What?”
“This is outrageous…”
“Absurd, completely absurd…”
Adalyn’s exclamation was closely followed by both Daniel’s and Jeremy’s outbursts of shock and disbelief.
“It’s the truth, my Lady.” Dressling held out the warrant. “”Ere. Read it fer yerself…”
Adalyn noted his language had lapsed a little, and she eagerly perused the document to ensure that no mistake had been made. But it was all there.
She looked at Giles. “It’s a valid warrant, Giles. What do we do?”
“There’s nothing to be done, my Lady.” A voice from behind them made them all turn.
Trick stood there, to one side, pale but composed. “I did not do it, of course. It’s an absurd charge. But there is no point in denying these gentlemen the opportunity to do their job.”
Adalyn heard the quick sigh of relief from Dressling, as Trick’s statement sank home.
“That’s good of you, sir.” He gave Trick a slight bow. “We mean you no harm, just doing as we’re bid.”
“Trick, you can’t…” Adalyn grasped his arm as he stepped close.
“I must, my Lady,” he replied. “This mess will be straightened out, but for the moment ’tis better you stay to one side and let me manage what I can.”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “I don’t like it, and I can promise you we’ll be doing all that we can. Just know this…” she squeezed his arm. “There’s only one side we’ll be on, Trick. And that’s your side.”
He turned his head to look at the others and nodded, making sure he looked away from the men waiting for him.
“I know, Adalyn, love.” As he whispered, he covered her hand with his, then withdrew.
