Page 169 of An Unholy Affair
She gripped his hand, her eyes wide.
‘He… He was being careful to be quiet. And—’ Jack swallowed a swell of nausea. ‘Simon came straight to your room.’
‘What happened then?’ she whispered.
‘I pulled the door open and punched him. Stelle and I then tied him up, and she called the police.’
Eveline stared at him—white as a sheet.
‘Sweetheart,’ Estelle began. ‘I made the decision that it was best for Jack to leave, and for me to say I hit Simon.’
‘Why?’
‘We need to make sure he can’t touch you ever again.’ She sighed. ‘Charges are more likely to stick if it’s seen as him against two women, one of whom was incapacitated.’
‘Oh.’ Tears filled Eveline’s eyes. ‘Poor Simon.’
Jack stiffened. Surely, she wouldn’t try to excuse him?
‘He must be desperately unhappy to have done such a terrible thing…’
‘When the police arrived, they could see how ill you were and so won’t be questioning you,’ Estelle continued. ‘I told them about Simon’s recent behaviour and accusations and they arrested him on the spot.’
‘And… They believed you punched him?’
Estelle turned her hand over, showing Eveline the bruised and swollen knuckles.
‘Oh, my goodness! Youdidhit him?’
‘I… I thought it best if he was only hit once, so I punched the wall instead.’
‘Oh, Estelle… That must have hurt so much.’
Estelle’s eyes welled up. ‘I would cut off my fucking arm for you, Eveline,’ she muttered. Tears spilled down her cheeks. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, angrily wiping them away as if furious to be showing emotion. She gulped another ragged breath. ‘I’m s-sorry…’
Jack moved to the other side of the bed and put his arm around Estelle.
Her shoulders were heaving. ‘It’s just delayed sh-shock, that’s all,’ she sobbed. ‘And, and I’m so grateful that—that you’re okay…’ she said to Eveline. ‘I was so fucking w-worried.’
‘My sweet friend,’ Eveline said, her own voice cracking. ‘I love you so very, very much.’
Jack held Estelle tighter as she cried, a lump in his throat. She always came across so strong, but this was a reminder that she was a sensitive soul underneath the front.
God, if you’re actually there. Please give Estelle love. Jack caught Eveline’s eye and suddenly it was as if they were one mind and one soul again.I know Eveline’s asking you the same thing right now, so if you don’t want to listen to me, please listen to her.
34
‘Jack! It’s so big!’ Eveline cried.
‘Do you like it?’
They were sitting in the living room of the rectory, with Eveline confined to the sofa to rest. Her mother was in the kitchen and her father was tending to the pigs. Eveline had been out of hospital for a day and another vicar had been called in to cover her work at Saint Saviour’s until she was better.
She stared at the huge ruby, surrounded by diamonds. ‘I, I love it! But…’
‘Ye-es?’
‘It looks, er…’ She bit her lower lip. ‘Terribly expensive…’
