Hearts of Darkness by Paul Lawrence Read Free Book Online

sculpted on her face. ‘My son serves Lord Arlington. Why should his lordship say such a thing?’
    Because he was a black-hearted demon. ‘Arlington says he sabotaged a peace mission, besides,’ I revealed. ‘Which accusation by itself is serious.’ Serious enough to see him executed.
    Mrs Josselin stamped her foot upon the wooden floor. ‘My son is neither a murderer nor a traitor. The idea is absurd. What evidence do you bring with you to support such an accusation?’
    ‘None at all.’ I spread my hands. ‘For it is not my accusation. You may ask Lord Arlington yourself, though I would not advise it.’
    The young woman buried her head in her hands and began to wail, a mournful sound that spoke of fractured anguish. Discouraging besides, for I fancied she might know more of his movements than the mother. Mrs Josselin stood erect, eyes darting side to side. Embarrassed, I realised, to be presented with such grave news by one so common.
    ‘Would that my husband were here,’ she said, voice choking. ‘He would tell you of this family’s loyalty to King and country. He should
whip
you with it.’ She quivered with angry indignation.
    ‘He would be wasting his time,’ I sighed. ‘I have not challenged his loyalty, nor yours, nor your son’s.’ I held up my hand as her brow fell over her eyes. ‘For he is accused. He has fled into Essex and will be pursued. If he is innocent then there is foul trickery at play, which I am not a part of.’
    Mrs Josselin stepped towards me, eyes narrowed. ‘Why else would you be here?’ she demanded, while her young companion continued to bawl. ‘Perhaps to prise stories from us you can use against him.’
    I sat down heavily upon a well-worn chair with frayed upholstery. She descended upon me like a great spider and thrust her beautiful, old face into mine. It was like donning a pair of spectacles, the delicate lines that ridged her scrubbed skin loomed sharply into focus.
    She cocked her head like she intended to peck out my eyes. ‘My husband is missing, not only my son,’ she said, slowly. ‘What do you know of that?’
    I knew my face betrayed my unease. ‘I heard he was arrested,’ I admitted, ‘by those keen to prove your son’s guilt. Think on it, Mrs Josselin. If your son is innocent, then someone else killed Berkshire and accuses him of treachery. That person will do everything they can to ensure the lie is not discovered.’
    ‘Who arrested him?’
    ‘Arlington.’
    ‘Do you work for Lord Arlington?’ she asked, eyes sharp and piercing.
    ‘Yes,’ I nodded. ‘He commands this investigation.’
    ‘You said you wanted to help us,’ she said. ‘Yet you work for Lord Arlington and I know Arlington for what he is. If he has decided my son is guilty, it is because it is politic to do so. He wastes no energy in pursuit of the truth.’
    ‘You know him better than I, then,’ I answered, dry-mouthed.
    ‘Say you,’ she snapped. ‘Come now, Eliza.’ She withdrew, watching me like she would a snake.
    Eliza stared at me with red-rimmed eyes sunk painfully within a snotty face, more like a young girl than a full-grown woman. As she opened her mouth I watched a strand of saliva stretch from top lip to bottom. I could not imagine James Josselin confiding anything ofimportance to such an innocent. Mrs Josselin took her arm and pulled her away.
    ‘I am leaving tomorrow, Mrs Josselin,’ I told her calmly. ‘If you tell me nothing, then I cannot help you, and I can assure you no one else will, unless you count the King a fond acquaintance.’
    She stopped her passage out of the room. ‘What would you have me tell you, Mr Lytle? What evidence do you think I might offer you? You, who come here to help, you who asks me questions about the Dutch paintings on our walls.’
    ‘Anything to disprove his guilt,’ I replied, standing. ‘You said Berkshire was his friend.’
    ‘I said his
best
friend, Mr Lytle.’ Mrs Josselin stabbed her long thin finger into my