Edwin only sighed and said, "I did what I had to. Now I'll deal with the consequences."
Somehow, his utter acceptance drained every last drop of anger from James' body, and he was left with nothing but the creeping exhaustion slowly taking over his entire self.
* * *
The night watchmen arrived an hour later; they strode into the manor with stern scowls and harsh words and took James' account of what happened. They spared no niceties because he was a marquess, getting right to the point before turning to address Edwin.
"So, you killed your own father?" One, a tall and slender man, asked. "And then tried to poison your own brother? Here I thought the Arvill's already had enough going on." He tilted his head. "No offense meant, Lord Arvill."
"None taken." To be fair, they were right. It seemed that this house held nothing but cruelty. It was just one disaster after another - a never-ending stream of malice. It hurt his heart to know that his own brother was thecauseof most of that. He could barely even look at Edwin as the night watchmen hauled him into the foyer.
To his credit, Edwin didn't try to fight as the officers hauled him away. "I only did what I had to," he echoed from earlier, turning an accusing glare to James. "This is your fault; you led me to do this."
The same man raised a brow. He hadn't introduced himself, except to say that he was the night watchman and here to help. Now, he was staring down at Edwin with a look of contempt - and it was strange to see that look aimed at someone else. James was so used to people turning that horrid gaze ontohim.
"He means because he hates me," James muttered. It seemed more and more difficult to talk as the night progressed, exhaustion settling in his skull and making the back of his eyes ache. All he wanted was to collapse into bed and pass out for days.
The watchman shrugged. "Well, we'll take care of him. Seems to me like there's a whole story here, lord."
"There certainly is."
Just as they had arrived, the watchmen left without much fuss. They vanished into the night, dragging a half-crazed Edwin with them, but even then, it was without fanfare.
Edwin, though, did turn around one last time to glare at James as he was swallowed up by the darkness. "Just remember," he snapped, "you've nobody to blame but yourself. Maybe I'll be in prison - butyouhave to deal with the fallout!"
Then Archie shut the great doors and Edwin was gone.
Silence stretched throughout the house; it was so silent, in fact, that all James could hear was the rasping of his own breath. He didn't speak - because what was there to say? Edwin was gone, but it didn't really fix anything. Alicia was still sick, father was still dead, and now James had to deal with the dawning realization that his own family had been behind it the entire time.
Archie strode over, a reassuring smile on his elderly face. "Perhaps you should try to rest, my lord. It's late, and you've had a stressful day. Maybe things will appear better after a full night's sleep."
James sucked in a breath - and released it shakily. He had hoped that it would make him feel better, but it only served to make his stomach churn. "Thank you, Archie," he managed to reply, ever so cool and calm. He turned, intending to go upstairs and collapse in his bedroom, but his legs didn't seem to work. They were frozen, unable to move, as he tried to take a step forward. His entire body felt like jelly, unresponsive and weak.
Archie put a hesitant hand on James' arm, steadying him. It was blurring the boundary betweenemployeeandfriend,but in that moment, James didn't care if it was appropriate or not. That kind, fatherly touch was welcome. "I'm so sorry," Archie murmured, "to think, that your brother was behind the late Lord Arvill's death this entire time. I can't imagine what you're going through, my lord, but you have my support should you ever need it. Miss Sempill's too, I know. That woman would do anything for you."
James' heart stuttered, but it didn't bring him any joy. "If she pulls through," James replied softly.
"Doctor Ashburn is a wonderful physician, and Miss Sempill is a strong, healthy young woman." Archie paused, a smile creeping onto his face. "I have every faith that she will be fine."
That, at least, brought a flicker of hope in his chest. If Archie believed it, then so did he. "Thank you, Archie. You always know just what to say."
"I've been on this earth for a long time, my lord, and I've learned a lot in my years in your service."
James smiled, just a touch, and let out a sigh. "I think I'll go to bed, then. Perhaps I'll check on Alicia before I do."
"A splendid idea."
They said goodnight, and then James was wandering up the stairs alone. It had been easier, with Archie, to pretend that everything was all right; but as he crept down the darkened hallway, shivering in the drafty chill, it hit him all at once. One moment he was fine - and the next, James was doubled over in the middle of the hallway, eyes squeezed shut as he tried to muffle his sobs with the sleeve of his shirt.
His heart felt like it was being torn from his chest, lungs aching with every breath. When he thought of Edwin, it was with a spark of disgust so strong that James physically reeled back, sickness rising in his gut.
Betrayed by his own brother. His father, murdered. The woman he loved, unconscious and sick. Everything crumbled around him, and James couldn't be strong any longer.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alicia rolled over in the bed, bleary eyes blinking open. The first thing she noticed was the heaviness in her body; like she had been stuffed with rocks. When she tried to lift her arm, she only managed to raise it a few inches from the mattress before it flopped uselessly back against the bed.
Her legs were a little more cooperative, shifting beneath the covers so she could shuffle higher onto the pillows stacked around her. Even so, she felt heavy and weak in a way she had never experienced before, and it made her heart thud anxiously against her ribs.
