Midsummer at Eyre Hall: Book Three Eyre Hall Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page A

provide
me with any more information, but I needed to find out more. “Whose is the third
testimony?”
    “A valet who served her last year. You
just saw him. Fred. He swears he saw her speak to the devil and conjure his
help.”
    “Jane has never spoken to the devil!”
    “I saw it myself when Mr. Junot, the so-called
Sin-Eater, was invited into this house to carry out his demonic rituals. When
your uncle died, she conjured him again and conversed with him. Fred was not
the only person who saw it.”
    “Fred was only working here for a few
months.”
    “Enough!” The table shook under his
angry fist. “Anyone can see she’s mad in just a few minutes.”
    I waited while he drained another glass
of wine. “Whose is the fourth testimony?”
    “The vicar, Mr. Woods.”
    “That’s impossible! Jane takes care of
the church, his salary, and the parish schools. How could he betray her?”
    “My dear, you understand nothing. Mr.
Woods has not betrayed her. He is helping her. He has witnessed many of Jane’s insane
actions over the years. She’s a heathen, a devil worshipper, a sexual deviant,
and she’s a danger to herself and those around her. She needs to be locked up
for her own safety.” 
    “Of course, a vicar is hardly in a
position to refuse an archbishop’s mandate. You know that’s not true; Jane is
neither mad nor a devil worshipper.”
    He ignored my comment, biting and chewing
the last morsels of meat on the bone before speaking again. “I also have Cook
and Joseph’s testimonies. Six in all.”
    So that was what poor Joseph was
babbling about when he arrived at Ferndean.
    “Leah’s in bed,” he continued. “She’ll
sign when she’s recovered. The rest refused, so I told them to leave Eyre Hall
at once.”
    “Where did they go?”
    “That’s their business. New staff will
be arriving tomorrow.”
    My eyes were stinging and a thick lump
of dread was climbing up my throat.
     “Come, my dear, it’s for the better.”
    I wiped my tears with my unused napkin,
avoiding the archbishop’s smug smile by staring at the embroidered flowers.
     “I need your testimony too, Annette.”
    I closed my eyes, pinched my arms and
bit my lip to make sure it was real. I needed to feel physical pain and wake
up, but when I opened my eyes, he was still there, sneering at me. “Why are you
doing this?”
    “I would be careful, if I were you. You
could find yourself accused of being her accomplice, Miss Annette Mason.” He
shook his finger at me. “You have a family history of madness. You had better
not contact Mr. Smythe, or Dr. Carter, for your own good.”
    “When is John returning to Eyre Hall?”
    “He has been informed. He’s on his way.
His ship will be arriving before Christmas.”
    I shook my head and wiped my tears,
which were flowing uncontrollably. “I can’t believe it.”
    “I’ll look after matters at Eyre Hall in
the meantime. I’ve moved in.”
    “And your work as Archbishop of York?”
    “I’ve resigned. My duty now is to the
Rochester family. John is alone in the world and he needs me. For the time
being, things will remain the same. Fred will be returning as your valet, to
make sure my orders are obeyed. You will not visit Dr. Carter’s residence
again.”
    “But I’m helping him with his mother.
Mrs. Carter is frail and unwell.”
    “Then her son should employ someone to look
after her. You are not his servant, nor his wife. He is below your station.”
    “But I’d like to continue my work at the
hospital, helping the patients.”
    “You may visit the hospital
occasionally, but it is not suitable employment for a member of the Rochester
family. We will find you an appropriate husband. There are already several
candidates.”
    He wiped his hands and mouth, threw the
napkin on the table and belched loudly before speaking. “Do you remember the
Bishop of Leicester? I introduced you last summer. I owe him a favour, and he
needs a young wife who will give him many