Bennett opened the front door and ushered them out into the cold night air. He walked on with lengthy strides. ‘Gawain Tressidick is dead. He was a young man with a promising career ahead of him.’
Rose had to quicken her pace in order to keep up with him. She held her sister’s hand, towing her like a small, tired child. ‘He was Billy’s best friend. I’ll never believe that our brother struck the fatal blow.’
‘Nor I,’ Cora said faintly. ‘Billy abhorred violence of any sort.’
‘But I understood he was something of an expert in the noble art of pugilism.’ Bennett came to a halt, facing Rose with a steady look. ‘He was, wasn’t he?’
Rose gulped and swallowed. It was a question she had been dreading. ‘He regarded it as a science as well as a sport. Billy would have defended himself, but he would never start a fight. I’d stake my own life on it.’
‘He was a southpaw,’ Cora said proudly. ‘He told me so, although to be honest I’m not exactly sure what that means.’
‘Billy is left-handed?’ Bennett’s dark eyes glinted with the golden reflection of the gaslights as he met Rose’s questioning look with a triumphant smile. ‘Is that correct?’
‘It is,’ she said slowly. ‘But I don’t see what that’s got to do with anything.’
‘This piece of information might have a huge bearing on the case.’ He smacked his hand on his forehead. ‘Why didn’t I think of that before?’
Rose and Cora exchanged baffled glances. ‘I don’t understand,’ Rose said, frowning. ‘What difference does it make?’
‘I can’t be certain, but it might be the one fact that has been overlooked. I have to return to Cornwall first thing in the morning.’
‘So soon?’ Rose stared at him in surprise. ‘But you said you needed to know more about Billy.’
Bennett started to walk, hands clasped behind his back. ‘This could be just what I was searching for. I couldn’t understand how a young man who was destined for the clergy could suddenly turn into a vicious killer, which is why I accepted the brief in the first place.’
Rose forgot that her feet hurt and her throat was sore from singing in a smoky atmosphere. A glimmer of hope had been ignited in her breast and she wanted to know more. She caught him up, leaving Cora to stumble along behind them. ‘Why is it so important, Mr Sharpe? Don’t keep me in suspense.’
‘I don’t want to raise your hopes too high. You will have to trust me in this. I’ll leave a message for Scully and he’ll keep you informed as to my progress, or the lack of it.’
‘Stop here,’ Rose said breathlessly. ‘This is where we live.’
Bennett came to a halt, staring at the vicarage as if committing every brick and tile to memory. ‘Then I’ll say goodbye for now. Will you explain my absence to your aunt, and ask her to accept my apologies?’
‘I will, but I know she’ll be overjoyed to think that there is hope.’ Rose held out her hand. ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
Bennett raised it to his lips. ‘I promise you I will do my utmost for Billy.’
‘Are you leaving us, Mr Sharpe?’ Cora caught up with them, holding her side and panting. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘I’m afraid not, Miss Cora. Rose will explain everything, but I hope to see you when I return to London.’
‘When will that be?’ Rose asked anxiously. ‘Please don’t leave us in suspense.’
‘I don’t know. Everything depends on what I discover when I return to Portmorna.’
A shiver ran down Rose’s spine. ‘Billy was staying at Portmorna House.’
Bennett slipped his hand into his breast pocket and took out a deckle-edged calling card. ‘This is the address of my chambers in Lincoln’s Inn. If you need help they will put you in touch with Scully.’
Rose took the card from his outstretched hand, and it was still warm from his touch. She tucked it into her reticule. ‘I’d like to see Billy. He’s so far from home and I can’t imagine what he must be feeling.’ She slipped her arm around Cora, who had begun to sob. ‘Don’t cry. Mr Sharpe is doing everything he can for Billy.’
‘I promise you that I’ll do my utmost to bring this sorry situation to a satisfactory end.’ Bennett backed away. ‘I have to leave you now, but next time we meet I hope it will be under happier circumstances.’
‘Thank you.’ Rose stood very still, watching Bennett until he was out of sight. A chill wind whipped her hair from beneath her bonnet and a feeling of exhaustion threatened to overcome her. They were alone again, with nothing to sustain them other than hope.
‘Let’s get you indoors, Cora. You’ll feel better in the morning.’
‘It’s too hard,’ Cora sobbed. ‘I felt better when Mr Sharpe was here, but now he’s gone it’s just the same as it was before.’
‘Not quite,’ Rose said gently. ‘We know he’s on our side, and I trust him.’ She was about to open the gate that led to the tradesmen’s entrance when the clattering of a horse’s hoofs and the rumble of wheels echoed down the quiet street. She hurried Cora into the garden and waited for the vehicle to pass, but it slowed to a halt at the kerb. She peeped out from behind a laurel bush and her breath hitched in her throat.
‘It’s Dr Grantley, Cora, and he’s calling here. Something awful must have happened. Go inside, quickly.’
The kitchen was deserted, but the kettle singing on the range was a sure sign that Mrs Blunt had not retired for the night. Rose helped Cora to a chair. ‘Sit down and dry your eyes. I’ll go and find out what’s happening.’
‘It must be Mama.’ Cora raised a tear-stained face. ‘We shouldn’t have left her.’
‘I’ll find out. Stay there and try to keep calm.’
Rose discarded her bonnet and shawl as she hurried from the room, making her way to the entrance hall where Dr Grantley and her father were deep in conversation. The sound of their deep tones echoed through the otherwise silent house.
‘What’s wrong, Papa?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Has Mama been taken worse?’
Seymour’s thin features were sharply outlined by the shadows cast by the flickering gaslights, and his face was ashen. ‘I’m afraid so. Mrs Blunt is with her now.’
‘I’ll go up, shall I, Vicar?’ Dr Grantley moved to the foot of the stairs without waiting for a response. ‘I know the way.’ He lumbered up the staircase and the treads creaked beneath his considerable weight.
‘Why are you home so late, Rose?’ Seymour demanded angrily. ‘I’ll have words with Polly for keeping you girls out until all hours. She will have to hire more help if she cannot run her establishment without you and Cora.’
‘It wasn’t Aunt Polly’s fault, Pa. We lost track of the time.’
‘Well, it isn’t good enough. I don’t want my daughters roaming the city streets late at night.’
‘I’m truly sorry that you were worried, Pa.’ Rose could see that her father was upset and unlikely to be mollified by excuses. ‘Shall I go upstairs with the doctor? I’ll ask Mrs Blunt to make you a cup of tea or a tisane to calm your nerves.’
He seemed to shrink before her startled gaze, and his shoulders stooped as if burdened