The Corruption of Innocence

Chapter 32

The light had not met the eyes of Jennet Preston ever since the night Jack Edgar was murdered. Since then, her face grew paler and thinner, and her hair had turned white, despite the fact she was only 41. Her heart had broken, and she did not allow anyone to visit her. She lived alone in Chavenage Manor... or so it seemed.

Ignoring the fly buzzing around the puss coming from the sealed window, Jennet sat on an old, wooden chair, resting her head on her hand, elbow digging into the table. The glimmer of the candles did not catch her eye, nor did the cat circling her feet, trying to snap her out of the daydream she was in, and always was in. Ever since her children had died and her husband had killed himself, Jennet had sat on the same chair by the same table and stared into the emptiness.

A floorboard somewhere in the room creaked and the cat began to hiss. Jennet felt its tense body against her leg, but she did not even flinch. Instead she waited, emotionless, as footsteps drew closer to her and took a breath.

The footsteps stopped right behind her and then there was silence. For the first time, she felt afraid, and her eyes moved to the side to try and catch sight of who was there.

"Miss Preston?"

She did not jump but her fingers turned cold and her legs shook slightly.

"Who is it?" she asked sharply.

"Pardon the intrusion miss, the door was open."

Jennet turned around as Oliver took off his hat respectively.

"What do you want, young man?"

"Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Oliver Walling..."

"Walling?"

Jennet rose from her seat and gave him a long, hard look.

"You must leave," she commanded eagerly. "Jack does not like people of Smith's blood. He'll kill you if you don't leave."

"No, please miss, Jack will do me no harm, I have made a sort of friendship with the boy."

"Impossible!" Jennet exclaimed.

"I wanted to speak to you, miss. I know you have a connection with Jack Edgar. I really need your help."

Jennet shook her head and looked away towards the window.

"I cannot. I cannot speak of him. Not after what happened. Do not let me speak of what I did."

"I know what you did," Oliver replied, taking hold of her freezing hands. "And I know Jack can forgive you."

"No, he won't. He will never forgive me. He killed all my children and drove my husband to suicide. He will kill me next."

"Miss, at least let me sit down so we can talk about this. My legs are aching, and I am sure we could both do with a good warming - up by the fire. You seem very cold!" Jennet sighed.

"I suppose you are right. I will tell you what you want to know, but know I am afraid, Mr Walling, I am very afraid, and I know I do not have long left."

Oliver nodded respectively and the pair sat by the fireplace. The woman watched him intently as he begun.

"My daughter is Henry Smith incarnate," he confessed with a sigh, and Jennet's eyes looked saddened to hear it. "The relatives of Smith at Bowood Manor tell me Jack wants her dead in order to rest, as the fact he is alive inside of Charlotte torments him."

"Mr Walling." Jennet turned to him and smiled sadly. "If you think that that is why he won't rest, you are mistaken. Now listen to me - Jack Edgar will never sleep. I am the reason he won't rest. I am the reason he kills," she told him shamefully, looking away. "And I cannot make things right."