Read Online Lies and Misdemeanours by Rebecca King - Free Book Online

while they work to put Meldrew behind bars. I wouldn’t put anything past Meldrew; he is a determined man. If he has done this to Simon, he won’t stop with Hetty. If Hetty is my wife, my colleagues will make sure she is protected while they work on putting Meldrew behind bars.”
    “Charlie?” Hetty whispered.
    “I know you are going to be marrying a condemned man for now, but you will have the protection of my name. Your name will be attached to my real name; not the name Meldrew and Gembleby have. I just have to know you are protected. Do this for me Hetty?” Charlie growled.
    He wished that he could do this in some better way, but he had been neatly boxed into a corner, and the only way out was through death by hanging.
    “When Sir Hugo and my colleagues arrive, tell them that we are married. He will take matters from there. All we need to do is notify the vicar.” He stood back and looked at the jailer, who looked a little stunned.
    “He is due here tomorrow,” the jailer muttered.
    Hetty looked at Wally. She jerked to find him staring thoughtfully at her. Was he really contemplating it? She knew from the look in his eye that he was, and couldn’t make her mind up whether she was appalled or thrilled.
    Marry Charlie? But she hardly knew him!
    “There is no other way,” Wally sighed. “I need to run the mill, and can’t keep an eye on you. If his men come to stay with us while they investigate Meldrew, they will make sure you are protected. I can’t lose you too, Hetty.”
    “Simon hasn’t been hung yet,” Hetty whispered. “It may not happen. What then?” She turned to look at Charlie. “What if your boss gets here first? You are going to be married to someone you don’t know.”
    In spite of the gravity of the situation, Charlie smiled. “I am sure that we will grin and bear it.”
    His eyes met and held Wally’s for several moments. Wally gave him one brisk nod.
    It was enough.
    Charlie looked at the jailer. “Can we marry?”
    It was clear from the look on the jailer’s face, that he thought Charlie and Hetty had completely lost their minds. “You need to go and see Gembleby.”
    “Let’s go and see him then,” Charlie suggested. He grabbed hold of Hetty’s hand, and felt the fine tremors in her fingers. “I have to do this Hetty. I need to know that you will be safe,” he murmured.
    Hetty was too choked to speak. It all felt so surreal that she was certain that she was going to wake up at any moment.
    She looked at Wally, who was sombre and thoughtful.
    Simon looked stunned, and a little confused.
    “You stay here for a minute. I will go and speak to Gembleby, and see what he wants to do,” the jailer said before he ambled off.
    Wally took a moment to hand another jailer some money to pay for the prisoner’s food and keep for the next couple of days, but Hetty couldn’t draw her attention away from Charlie.
    He wished that he had the rest of his lifetime to share with her. That he could talk to her unhindered by strictures, circumstance, or anything else. That they had the opportunity to explore this invisible bond that had crept up, so very quickly, on them both. But it was too late now.
    “Are you sure you want to do this?” Hetty asked. She had never even considered being married before, and wasn’t quite sure what to make of Charlie’s suggestion.
    If only they had been given the time to get to know each other, she knew that they would have gotten on well. Now, it was evident that they were to be denied a chance at happiness. She still couldn’t quite believe that marriage was even being considered, and waited with trepidation for the jailer to reappear.
    When he did, her world turned upside down once again.
    “Gembleby is not here, but the vicar is. He has given last rights to a dying prisoner. He can do it now, if you are ready,” the jailer declared.
    “What about the paperwork?” Hetty whispered. She looked at Charlie with something akin to stunned disbelief in