Tuppence (The Tipton Hollow 3)

“We don’t have the time or the manpower to protect the witness,” Mark sighed, but he knew a man who would.

Once Edward had left, and while he waited for Isaac to finish talking to Tuppence, Mark set about re-reading the Coroner’s report. He then began to make a few decisions about how he was going to solve the case while protecting Tuppence, and Isaac too now apparently.

In the cell, Isaac eased Tuppence gently into his arms. He wanted to stand up because the respective seated positions side-by-side on the cell’s only piece of furniture, a makeshift bed in the form of a large plank screwed into t

he wall, was decidedly uncomfortable. He didn’t move, though, because he needed to hold her as much as she needed to be held.

“I will help you with this, Tuppence.”

“Baxter. He has nobody to look after him,” Tuppence whispered tearfully. When she sniffed miserably, she forced herself to sit upright. It was then that she saw the large damp patch on his jacket. “I am sorry. I have gotten your jacket all wet.”

“Don’t worry about Baxter or the farm. Leave them to me.”

“I can’t ask you to look after the farm too.” Despite having nobody else to offer her support, and nobody who could look after the animals or Baxter, she was still reluctant to turn to Isaac.

“I have a farm already, Tuppence, and plenty of staff who can move your cattle into my pastures and make sure they are fed. Further, I will take Baxter home. He will be fine, don’t worry about him. For now, I hear that you are due in court in the next few days.”

“I didn’t do it.” Tuppence started to cry again.

Isaac hugged her closer and held her for several moments. He took the opportunity to press a loving kiss into her hair. Despite their unusual surroundings, it felt right to be so intimate with her. She needed comfort, and after their devastating news this morning, so did he. He needed to reassure himself that she really was all right, physically if not emotionally.

“Look, try not to worry. I have an uncle who is a Barrister and will send a message to him immediately. He will not be able to get here by morning but should be here in a day or two. He can get you out of here.”

“How can he? They have arrested me for murder, Isaac, but I didn’t kill Mr Lewis.”

Isaac cupped her face and forced her to look him directly in the eyes. “Listen to me. Try not to panic. They think you did it because you were the one who found him, but they have no proof that you killed the man. None. Do you hear me? None. They can assume, and say that you found the body, but there is no proof that you killed Mr Lewis. All you need to do is stick to the truth. If they cannot find any evidence that proves you did it, they can’t convict you. It is as simple as that.”

“Mark wants me to face trial for murder. I thought he was my friend.”

“Don’t condemn him,” Isaac growled. “He has a job to do. Even he has said that there is a lack of evidence that supports you being the killer.”

“He has?” Tuppence’s heart leapt with hope.

“Don’t tell anybody that, though, or he will have my hide.” Isaac ventured a smile and watched her lips quirk gently at the corners in response. It gave him hope that she was going to allow him nearer. He could understand why she couldn’t manage a proper smile right now, especially in a place like this so, without saying a word, he cuddled her closer and simply held her for several long moments. They both needed this moment of unity, of silent support, if only to brace themselves for the battle they needed to win to get her out of the horrible cell.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Tuppence whispered eventually, even though him leaving was the last thing she wanted. “People are going to gossip about you being here if they see you.”

“I don’t care,” Isaac growled. “People are going to gossip regardless of what we do. That is the spiteful nature of people, I am afraid.”

“Your mother is going to be furious about you being here with me.” Tuppence forced herself out of his arms. It was a little startling that he immediately tugged her closer again, as reluctant for her to leave as she was for him to go. With a sigh, she settled against his shoulder again and simply sat there but neither held him nor pushed him away again.

“I am thirty years old; far too old to be told how to live my life by my mother. She may think that she rules the house, but it is my home. I pay the bills. I own the land and house. It is all mine. I don’t care what she likes, frankly. She has made her choices in life and has to show me the same modicum of respect and allow me to make my choices in life whether she agrees with them or not.”

“But this is something that could destroy your reputation, Isaac.” Tuppence immediately forced herself out of his arms when the stark reality of their situation registered on her. The warmth, his warmth, she had enjoyed a moment ago was suddenly engulfed by a waft of cold air that made her shiver, but Tuppence made herself stand up and move to the opposite side of the cell. It wasn’t far, and only put a foot of distance between them, but it was enough. “What am I doing? Mother of God, what am I doing?” she moaned. “You are Lord Aldridge. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Really? Thank you for reminding me of my name,” Isaac muttered sarcastically.

“You are in the cell with a woman who has been arrested for murder. Are you out of your mind?”

“You didn’t do it,” Isaac informed her simply as if she didn’t already know.

“You have a reputation to uphold, a family name to preserve and protect. Thank you for your kindness today, but it is highly inappropriate for you to be here.” Tuppence fought the urge to cry again, especially when Isaac stood up and the cell seemed to shrink in size.

Isaac mentally cursed at the sudden emotional distance between them but knew that it was probably for the best. The last thing he needed right now was for their first kiss to happen in a jail cell, but if he kept touching her, holding her, it was going to happen. Before temptation could get the better of him, Isaac made his way to the door. “I will see you tomorrow,” he murmured while the Duty Sergeant was unlocking the door to let him out.

“Don’t,” Tuppence protested. “Don’t come back. Just look after Baxter for me. I will make sure that you are sufficiently recompensed.”

“I don’t want your money,” Isaac growled, annoyed that she was being so stubborn. He started to wonder if she did have something to hide after all. Didn’t she know how dire her situation was? Why wouldn’t she accept his help when her situation was so dangerous?