Page 88 of The Premonition at Withers Farm

“Jasper!” Her eyes locked onto the form that barged into the room just ahead of a flustered Mrs. Hannity and an even more perturbed Detective Poll. A sense of relief washed over her, though it made little sense considering Jasper was as male as the two other men in the room. Something about his self-confident demeanor calmed her. He pushed past George and grabbed for her hand.

“Perliett, I—”

George stiff-armed Jasper so the man was forced to drop his hand from Perliett’s.

“Excuse me!” Jasper leveled an affronted glare at George. “You can see she needs comforting.”

“I am her physician and I will say what she needs,” George retorted.

“Posh, both of you!” Mrs. Hannity pushed her own way in. She settled her plump form firmly between them, crossing her arms over her ample bosom. “Mr. Bridgers, I must insist that you leave. You too, Detective.”

“How about you questionhim?” George interrupted, jabbing his thumb in Jasper’s direction. “He always seems to pop up at the most convenient moments. Does no one else find it suspicious that women starteddyingwhen Mr. Bridgers came to town?”

“I’m offended!” Jasper roared.

“Now wait one moment!” Detective Poll’s expression turned beyond irritated.

“A moment ago, you all but accused me of being suspect in the brutalization of Miss Van Hilton.” George was incensed, and even through the fog in her mind, Perliett found some reason in his words, loath as she was to admit it.

“Because you were seen on the road—” Detective Poll was cut short by Mrs. Hannity’s loud and exaggerated clearing of her throat.

“I realize you need all sorts of information from this young woman and perhaps both of these men.” Mrs. Hannity restedher cool hand on Perliett’s arm. “But she is not well. She has been mistreated in some of the vilest ways, and until she is tended to, your questions will need to wait.”

Detective Poll opened his mouth to speak, but Mrs. Hannity held up her hand.

“Ah, ah, ah!” she interrupted. “Go now. Take Mr. Bridgers with you. Why he was summoned I have no idea.”

Jasper dipped his head in response, offering a brief explanation. “Miss Van Hilton’s mother sent for me to be by Miss Van Hilton’s side in her mother’s stead.”

“Pishposh.” Mrs. Hannity waved the man off. “The woman doesn’t have her full senses—my apologies for being rude, Miss Van Hilton—and sending for you in the middle of the night is complete and utter poppycock. What relation are you? Have you taken oversight of the Van Hilton women? I think not. And I, for one,wouldknow because I make it my business to know these things. Now, Miss Van Hilton needs a goodChristianwoman to care for her, along with Dr. Wasziak—”

“Who is under suspicion for—” Detective Poll interrupted, to which Mrs. Hannity skewered him with an elder’s glare.

“Under suspicion for assaulting Miss Van Hilton?” she countered.

Perliett widened her eyes.

“Yes!” Detective Poll affirmed sternly.

Mr. Bridgers whirled on George with a look that communicated he might engage in war if not stopped.

“Poppycock!” Mrs. Hannity laughed. “Have you looked at him? His shirt is crisp and white, his trousers pressed, why—he even has clean hands!”

Detective Poll heaved a frustrated breath, his chest rising and falling with annoyance. “A man can clean himself up.”

“I was merely out for a walk,” George protested, entering the fray. “Have you never walked a country road at night for leisure?”

“No. I have not.” Detective Poll raised an accusatory eyebrow. “And you were spotted—”

“The cows spotted me and, who else, a handyman hired by the Withers family?”

“Mikey too,” Detective Poll reminded George. “He ran into you when he was on his way to retrieve you.”

“Mikey and the handyman. Reliable sources. And the handyman is half blind—I’ve treated him myself.”

“So have I,” Perliett inserted weakly.

George glowered at her.