The Whispering Rocks Read Online Free Page B

bed. “Whatever is wrong?” For the first time she saw the paleness of his face and the obvious marks of a struggle which sullied the usual perfection of his clothing and appearance.
    He came nearer. “A great deal, I’m afraid, Sarah, and the consequences of it will fall upon you and there’s nothing I can say or do this time to prevent it.” His voice was tired as he came to sit beside her on the bed. The copper of his hair shone as if polished by the swaying light of the candle.
    At last he looked at her, his face strained. “Ralph Jameson lies dead at my hand.” The words fell like icicles into the quiet.
    She stared at him disbelievingly. “You cannot mean it,” she whispered.
    “Sarah, I didn’t come here to jest with you. This evening I decided to take my meal at the posting-house in the village, having little stomach for your father’s guests. I was dining in a private room when I heard a group of gentlemen enter the adjoining room. It wasn’t long before I recognized Jameson’s voice— he spoke so loudly that I think the whole village must have heard his every word.”
    Jack paused, reaching out suddenly to take her hand in his. “Sarah, he was telling them all about this morning’s incident in the wood, but he distorted everything to cast the odium on you. There was no mention made of his low behavior, no mention of his cowardly retreat—nothing. Instead he credited you with conduct befitting a whore. My temper has never been renowned for its steadiness, and I burst into that room and lifted him from his chair like a rat, calling him liar, lout, and many another name which I won’t repeat before you. In front of his friends I told the true story of how he’d forced his attentions on you, and also I described the miserable figure he’d cut in his hurried departure. I left him no choice, Sarah; he had to call me out.” Holland’s fingers were warm and firm around hers.
    “And?” Her voice was so low that she could hardly be heard.
    He shrugged, dismissing the details effortlessly. “My aim was the steadier,” he said simply. “I killed him, and so great was my fury that I had every intention of so doing. Had I come upon him alone I think I’d have choked the last breath from his body with my bare hands.”
    She shuddered, for something in his voice told her that he would indeed have done just that. He frightened her a little for she sensed a strange mixture in him, as if one portion of his soul battled continuously with the other. She clasped his fingers tightly. “What will happen to you now?”
    “I came here before the uproar begins because I wanted you to know why I did it. I’ll manage to survive all this, but shall first take myself away and allow the dust to settle.” He smiled. “I’m sorry only for what this will do to you. Whether my version of the incident is believed or Jameson’s, one fact remains clear; you were alone in the woods with him, and had arranged it so, and because of that he’s now dead. There’ll be great pressure on your father from all sides to cast you out and send you back where you came from.”
    “There’s already such a move afoot, since Lady Hermione has told everyone that she found me in the woods with you, so my reputation will be worth nothing soon. I’m resigned to the fact that my days here are numbered, and in truth I think perhaps it would be for the best, for I don’t really fit in this life.”
    His thumb was moving gently against her palm. “Oh, but you do, Sarah, you do....”
    The door opened and Betty hurried in, the draft of her movement setting the candle flame dancing. “There’s a dreadful fuss at the main door, miss. Someone’s there demanding entry in the name of the law.” Her voice was round with alarm.
    Sarah’s heart began to thunder. They had come after him already. “Have a care, Jack.” She used his first name quite naturally and did not notice that she did so.
    He pulled his hand away and went to the window.