Death at Kimbal

Chapter 17

"Ed." Effie's voice cracked as she looked into her brother's sallow face, a lump rising in her throat, "Why?" Matthew's blood ran cold as the name was revealed. It was worse than he could have ever dreamed it to be, kin and blood turning on each other, threatening death.

"It is simple sister." Edmund's voice was full of spite as he sat in the seat facing her, cracking his knuckles softly, "With Mama remarrying we would be cast aside. She owned the estate, not Papa, so whoever she married would become Lord. The child," His face contorted into a look of disgust as he spoke of it, "It would have a higher standing than me, than us. I wanted it out of the way. The most sensible way would seem to be removing it before it became too much of a threat. Mama was just a stepping stone in a much bigger ploy. Her death was easy, after Lucian," He spat his name, eyes ablaze with hatred, "called for me, all that I had to do was make it to her bedroom, leave her lying dead on the floor, forge the note and escape. I left the dagger there and hurried down to meet you, you never suspected a thing. It was simple and I carried it out to perfection."

"How could you do that?" Effie's words came out choked from tears as she looked at the boy she had once loved with disgust and anger, "It hurts me even now, does it not affect you?" Ed shook his head slowly, a creepy and evil smile gracing his lips.

"The year passed smoothly," He continued, "Lucian was meant to die in war but he returned. But it mattered not, a new plan was forming in my mind. I would tell the maid, she was a stupid girl and could never keep things to herself, I knew that. Once she had told, I could blame him and my path would be clear once more. He was taken to Bodmin, his fate was set in stone. I had won. I stabbed the maid in the night, leaving her in his wardrobe. Simple, yet an effective idea. The evidence was stacked against him and he would die. Yet again, another complication I had not foreseen. Lucian had told you, I had to dispose of you. Especially after you told Lennox, they did not believe you but it will only be a matter of time. I can kill you now and then take over the estate. Blame your unexpected death on that disgusting stable boy Matthew, they would believe me." Matthew clenched his fists in the corner, wanting nothing more than to destroy the young boy. Use his own weapon against him.

"And the letter from Ross?" Effie questioned her brother, "Was that you?"

"Of course." He smirked, "No underage woman should have power, weak ones like yourself least of all. But no more talk sister, you must die. You know too much and I cannot trust you. Goodbye Evangeline." He slowly pulled the knife out of his pocket, twirling it in his fingers as he leant closer, a cruel smile playing on his face. Matthew stood impatiently in the corner, Maddock had told him to make sure that the killer was facing completely away from him before attacking. Effie's eyes flickered his way, begging him to help. Unfortunately, Ed saw and flicked his head to face the corner.

"Whats this?" He leered, pulling away from his sister and walking towards Matthew, "An eavesdropper. How simply fabulous, I can kill two birds with one stone. Prepare for your death scum." By the time he had said those two words, he was standing directly in front of Matthew, able to kill him at any moment.

"I wouldn't want death from you." He hissed, grabbing the hilt of the dagger and shoving the blade far into the wall behind him. Ed struggled to remove it, but he had never seen a day's work and his arms were weak, "Effie," Matthew said, throwing Ed backwards away from his weapon, "Fetch Doctor Maddock." Effie nodded and ran from the room, sending a last worried glance over her shoulder.

"You will never get away with this." Ed growled, stepping further and further back Matthew bore down on him. The stable boy was two years older and heavily built, towering above him and with strong muscles from years of laborious work.

"Why?" The stable boy snarled, his voice husky with anger, "You are weak."

"This why." Ed said calmly, pulling a second knife out of his pocket and trying to shove it into Matthew's chest. The older boy blocked it easily, sending it flying out of his hand and landing a heavy punch right in his face.

"You will never 'arm this family again." He spat, pushing him to floor with a single hand, "Not if there's a breath in my body."

"Matthew!" Effie screamed, bursting into the room just in time to see him kick her brother in the face, his anger taking control of him, "Matthew." She said again, quieter and gentler this time, making him stop and turn, "Stop. Leave him be."

"Yes Miss." He said grudgingly, pulling Ed up off the floor and pinning his hands to his back, "Is the police 'ere?"

"They are." Doctor Maddock smiled at him, also entering the room followed by five policemen who looked rather worried.

"Well done laddy." One of them said, taking the struggling Ed from him, "Nice work. Saved an innocent man from a cruel death you did."

"Thank you Sir." Matthew smiled slightly, sending Ed a dirty look, "Whats going to 'appen to 'im?"

"Life imprisonment most likely." Another policeman replied, "Can't hang at this age."

"Thank you." Effie smiled at them, "For believing us. And please, treat him well. He is family after all."

"Course Miss." The first policeman replied, "As you wish." The six of them left, Ed struggling hard but to no avail, leaving the three alone in the room.

"You know," Doctor Maddock said, "I don't feel like sleeping now, not after all of that."

"Well my friend," Effie replied, "I for one am in need of a good night's rest. I shall see you in the morning. Goodnight Master Tresham and thank you."

"G'night Miss." Matthew said, walking out as he wiped the blood away from his nose.

"Well done my dear." Maddock said warmly, wrapping her up in a warm hug, "I do believe that no more shall die protecting you."

"I agree." Effie smiled, "No more shall die for me."