The Secret of Hollyfield House by Jude Bayton (first ebook reader TXT) 📕

me. “No. We had better stay out of it. At least for now, until I have had more time to think.” He reached for my hand. “Come along. Let us get away from here before we are seen. I am sorry I brought you out in the rain for no purpose.”

“No need to apologise. I have had quite the adventure.”

Without a word, he pulled me into his arms, and pressed the warm caress of his mouth against mine. Thoughts of Evergreen tumbled from my mind as I became supple as a wet leaf and leaned against his strong body. The kiss was long and lazy. My senses supine, as sheer pleasure rippled through me as the rain poured outside the boathouse.

Dominic ended the kiss but kept his forehead pressed to mine. “It seems when I am with you, Jillian Farraday, I cannot keep from touching you.” His golden eyes shone with desire, and I knew mine mirrored his.

“And I am glad of it,” I said softly, while our fingers wove together.

“We should go,” he said reluctantly.

But as we moved away, my foot caught on a coiled piece of thick rope, discarded on the wooden planks of the dock. Dominic tried to catch me, but it was too late. I tripped and fell, my hands taking the brunt of my weight as I landed.

“Jillian, are you all right?” His voice was weighed with concern, and I quickly responded, feeling somewhat absurd at my lack of balance. He made to scoop me up to my feet, but I stopped him.

“Give me a moment to catch my breath,” I asked, dusting away granules of dirt embedded in my sore hands. It was then it caught my eye. Lying by the rope which had caused my fall, I saw something shiny which looked out of place. Slowly I rose to my feet and took a step closer.

“What is it?” asked Dominic with a frown.

“There is an object stuck underneath the rope.” I bent down and reached for the article. My fingers tugged it from its hiding place, and I straightened back up, simultaneously opening my palm to show my find. It was a small watch fob. Not ornamental, but sturdy and well worn. The clock face was scratched but framed by an engraved horseshoe. I turned it over to study the back. Here was another engraving, this time it was initialed, faded but still legible.

“Look at this, Dominic.” I held out my hand so he might see what I had read. The letters ‘J.F.’ were clearly marked. Dominic turned it over and looked at the front of the fob and then his eyes swung up to meet mine.

“Jareth Flynn?” I said quietly.

“Yes,” he agreed. “’Tis the blacksmith’s watch.”

Chapter Sixteen

WE HURRIED BACK TO WOLFE Farm. The trek was wet and muddy, and the wind howled. After hurriedly shedding our raincoats and boots, we hastened into the kitchen where Dominic quickly put a kettle of water on the hob and stoked the fire. Before long, we sat in front of a roaring blaze sipping our tea, while our limbs thawed from the damp.

“Jareth must have been at the boathouse before he was murdered.” My mind had been spinning theories since finding the timepiece.

“It certainly appears that way. Because if he didn’t leave his watch there, who did?” Dominic’s frown deepened between his brows.

“It could have slipped out of a pocket onto the floor of the dock. But it was underneath the rope, so it must have been dropped and then slid under there.”

Dominic stared at me. “What is your theory?”

I shrugged. “Flynn’s watch could have come off if the chain broke. Or, if the blacksmith was there, he could have been in a tussle which would have snapped it.” It was a guess, but to my mind it made sense. “He was murdered, and his body found quite close to the boathouse, Dominic. It is quite possible he was in a struggle, perhaps he was even stabbed there? The killer could have moved his body into the lake. Peggy said she saw him take his last breath.”

Dominic nodded. “Plausible—but still guesswork. Someone has definitely been using the place, judging by what we saw. I just wish I knew who.”

“Perhaps Jareth was meeting someone there? Could he have had a rendezvous with Evergreen?” I did not know anything about the man, but Mrs Stackpoole had told me he was a handsome fellow. Was Evergreen LaVelle involved in a relationship with him? It seemed far-fetched to me.

“Unless he was here to spy on someone else,” Dominic commented, in between sipping his tea.

“But who else is there?”

“Well, the fact there was a wine bottle leads me to believe it was none of the village folk.” Dominic rose to pour himself another mug of tea before sitting back down. “They are far more likely to drink ale. So, it would be someone with easy access to a wine cellar, and who isn’t overly concerned about using a place owned by the LaVelles.”

“Then it has to be someone from Hollyfield House, be it one of the family, or a servant,” I stated.

“Seems logical to me.” Dominic retrieved the watch from his pocket and studied it.

I watched his expression. “What shall you do with it? Take it to Constable Bloom?” I did not think for one minute he would. My guess was he would pass it on to Victor.

“No, Jillian. I’d rather show it to Victor first and get his opinion.”

I agreed it was the wisest choice to make based on the little we knew.

Suddenly, there was loud pounding on the door of the cottage. Dominic leapt to his feet and went to answer it. He shouted my name, and I ran into the hallway. In the doorway stood a child of about seven, his large brown eyes wild with fear and his conversation punctuated by sobs.

“What is it?” I cried in alarm as Dominic threw on his coat and boots.

“Jem cannot find his sister—says she’s run off and he’s scared she’s