Thorns And Roses

Chapter Eighteen

The evening of the trial, Eleanore and Sweeney arrived home late and didn't speak. Sweeney dined alone while Eleanore retreated into her bedroom for the rest of the evening and didn't speak to him or Toby. At the end of the night when he'd cleared his dish away and passed her room, he could hear her crying inside.

He debated whether or not to go in and even brought his hand to the door handle, but after seeing some sense he turned and went back up to his barbershop. He had no right barging in on her while she was in her bedroom, and besides he had already done a lot for her today - he didn't want her to become clingy.

The next morning she was still relatively down but she turned on her smile as usual whilst serving the few customers who came for breakfast. However, Eleanore's fears returned when a mere hour after opening she spotted the figure of George running towards the shop in his usual police attire.

"Oh," She greeted "George, are ye alri-"

"I have to speak to you." He blurted, panting like he'd been running for quite some time. Something in Eleanore's gut twisted when he said that, and she became very worried.

"Why? Wots wrong?"

George shook his head, a concerned look in his eyes as he surveyed the few people that were around "Please, somewhere private."

Eleanore stuttered then turned to Toby who approached, sensing she needed something. "Um Toby love, do ye reckon you could cover for me darlin', just for a lil bit?"

"Sure mum. Take as long as ye need." He said cheerily.

"Thank you." She ruffled his hair. Bless that boy...

Her face became serious again when she turned to George and beckoned him inside the shop. "Come on."

She was aware of a few eyes on her from outside but before she could ask George anything he took her hand and pulled her further inside her home, insisting they needed to be far away in case someone was listening. That scared her too.

He stopped and turned when they reached the hall that led to the staircase up to Sweeney's apartment. The walls enclosed them, preventing anyone from seeing or hearing and so George let out a breath in relief.

"For god's sake calm down, love." She said fearfully "Jus' tell me what the matter is?"

George sighed before looking at her. He hesitated, then swallowed and said: "Wilkins is dead."

Eleanore stared at him, her mouth falling open. "Wot..?"

"Guard duty found him this morning, he hanged himself with his own sheets."

The baker felt as if the room was spinning around her. He was dead, the man who'd attacked her and Arthur was dead. Why was she not happy about this? Most people would be jumping for joy. But something just didn't make sense, it wasn't right.

"But...but how?" She stuttered "He woz scared of bein' hanged, he broke down in front o'the Jury...how could 'e jus' turn around and do that?"

"That's what I said," He agreed, happy that she was voicing her scepticism. This woman was far more intelligent than people gave her credit for. "I think it may have something to do with that he was telling me when we brought him back to his cell. He confessed everything to me, Eleanore. Then he started giving me names, telling me about a group of men he worked with. Begging for a re-trail if he came clean about the group involved."

"Wot group?" She squinted at him.

George groaned and took off his helmet, scratching his head. "I haven't been entirely honest with you, Eleanore." He said with a sigh "We think that Wilkins was part of the London Thorns,"