Guidebook for the Dark Duke

When Evan followed Duke Wilson into Lord Edward’s room, Edward was sitting by the window. He looked so small sitting there, curled up by the window sill, his curly hair looked so soft in the sunlight.

He heard someone come in but he didn’t look up. His arms shook lightly but his head was still buried in his arms.

“Edward?” Duke Wilson called out to him.

Little Edward raised his head with a look of confusion on his face.

Duke Wilson couldn’t help sighing when he saw this, “Reverend Bruce has come to see you, won’t you say hello to him?”

Edward turned his attention to Evan with a look that showed that he didn’t recognise him. Evan felt a little embarrassed.

“Hello, Lord Edward.” Evan nodded slightly.

Edward just nodded coldly without speaking.

Duke Wilson’s expression suddenly turned ugly, “Edward, how can you be so rude? Reverend Bruce rescued you last time, how can you behave like this to him?”

Edward turned his head when he heard this sentence. He looked at Evan again with a little warmth in his eyes. “Hello,” he said with a weak voice.

Evan just smiled, “Lord Duke is too serious. I just did what I should, you mentioning it again makes me feel ashamed.”

Duke Wilson’s expression improved a little, “Reverend Bruce, you’re the bravest man I have ever seen. Edward has suffered a mental blow from what had happened these days. I hope you can teach him how to have a fearless heart like yours and make him strong.”

While Duke Wilson was speaking, Evan had been observing Edward. Although he was looking out the window with a look of indifference, when Duke Wilson talked about bravery, he clearly saw Edward tremble slightly, like a sensitive little rabbit.

Evan’s heart suddenly became clear.

Duke Wilson left the room after receiving Evan’s affirmation. He looked at Evan with obvious gratitude which also made Evan affirm that his decision was not wrong.

After the duke left, Evan cautiously approached Edward but Edward curled even more, almost curling into a ball.

Evan walked to his side, knelt beside him, stroked his hair and said softly, “Lord, aren’t you cold?”

Edward gently separated his arms and he looked at Evan, “I’m not cold.” There was a hint of curiosity in his eyes but he tried to maintain his cold expression.

Evan couldn’t help but smile, “Sitting here is a little dangerous, it’s better for you to come over and sit on the sofa first.” He stretched out his hand and made an inviting gesture.

Edward gave Evan a determined look and finally starched out his hand.

Evan helped Edward down from the window sill, led him to sit on the sofa and said, “I heard from the duke that you’ve been a little unhappy recently.”

Edward pursed his lips and there was a look of stubbornness on his face.

Evan lightly stroked his hair, and said warmly, “I know that Mr Lawrence’s death has been a huge blow to you but the way you are now makes the duke very worried.”

Edward bowed his head, his two small hands clenched into fists, “I don’t like John!” His voice was not loud but it was unusually firm.

Evan looked at Edward in surprise, “You don’t like him? But I’ve heard that you had a very close relationship with him.”

Edward didn’t respond to Evan’s question at all. He still had his head lowered without saying anything. But his shoulders trembled slightly as if he was holding something back.

Evan felt that something was wrong and he hurriedly asked, “Lord, what’s the matter with you?”

As soon as Evan finished speaking, he saw big drops of tears falling onto little Edward’s shirt.

“The servants all say that John’s character is not good.” Edward choked. “But my father has never been there and I only have John with me. He always exaggerates, talking about how much my father likes him. But I am my father’s child. Why doesn’t he like me!? Is it because I’m not brave enough?” Edward suddenly raised his head to look at Evan, his big eyes filled with crystal-like tears and a kind of innocence that’s unique to children.

“Reverend Bruce, my father praised you for being a brave person, can you teach me how to become a brave person?” At this time, he finally held tightly onto Evan’s cuffs like a child.

For a moment, Evan was at a loss for words. When he looked at this truly innocent child, he realised that all his previous despicable calculations were actually useless at this moment.

Evan stretched out his hand, his hand gently wiping the tears on his cheeks, finally spoke without the previous mildness in his words, “You’re a good boy, the duke is really concerned about you, he’s just not good at expressing it. You have to believe in his love for you. Mr John’s death is a tragedy for both you and his family. You say you don’t like him but, in my opinion, that’s just like a prank you’re playing on yourself. No matter what you feel is wrong with him, he has been with you for a long time. A heart of stone will always have a moment of softness. But, even so, you should not be so depressed.”

Evan raised Edward’s chin and he looked straight at little Edward who had been crying, “You’re the son of the duke, an honourable Lord, you have to be an example for the people of Delanlier. You should not be crying alone in a corner because out there, there are a lot of people who have lives that are a hundred times more miserable than yours. As a noble, you do not have the right to show weakness. Please remember this!”

Evan’s expression was not as gentle and as forgiving as usual. He looked at Edward almost sternly, speaking with a low but stern tone. For a while, Edward was so stunned that he forgot to cry and just stared at Evan with a blank look.

Seeing him like this, Evan smiled bitterly, “I’m at fault. You’re still young, you will definitely not understand these things well now. Lord Edward, you have to learn to be strong as soon as possible. The things that have happened have already happened. No matter what we do, we cannot go against God’s will, this is the Lord’s test. If you grow under the Lord’s glorious light, you don’t have to be afraid of any of these troubles.”

Evan hugged Edward gently, patting his back gently.

After a while, he heard Edward whisper, “I understand. I will definitely remember all your teachings.”

Evan laughed silently. Out of the corner of his eyes, he glanced at the door that just closed again, with a feeling of secret pleasure in his heart. Such a selfless and fraternal speech must have hit a soft spot in the duke’s heart. His plans were slowly being realised step by step.

After Evan finished comforting Edward, he read a passage from the Bible to Edward. Edward’s behaviour toward Evan had obviously become a lot closer. He almost snuggled up to Evan’s side, listening to him with a submissive look on his face that was full of attachment.

Evan sighed in his heart. The child lost his mother at the tender age of three and Duke Wilson was not a very good father, so he had an almost sensitive obsession for friendliness from strangers.

After he finally finished reading the Bible to Edward, Duke Wilson warmly invited him to stay for dinner. Edward also looked at him expectantly so Evan had no choice but to stay for dinner.

The dinner at the duke’s castle was very rich. Although Mrs Haydn’s craftsmanship is very good, she lacks this exquisiteness. Evan lamented in his heart while eating, when will he be able to live such a good life. God is so unfair.

After finishing dinner, Evan rejected the duke’s invitation to stay overnight and very resolutely left Cornwall Manor. Some things shouldn’t be overdone. He couldn’t be too eager.

Evan didn’t go back to his house but went to the church. Mrs Sanders was sick and had asked for leave so for the next few days, he would be busy dealing with everything happening in the church.

In fact, it was a coincidence that Mrs Sanders fainted at home on the afternoon of John’s death. After the diagnosis, Dr. Hester prescribed a lot of medicine for her and told her to rest in bed. The diagnosis was said to be stress caused by overworking and Evan received a lot of condemnation from Doctor Hester because of this, as if it was all his fault.

Evan had no way to defend himself so he had to pay more attention to the management of the church. At the same time, he also had someone inquire about news of Jimmy in London. He had a strange premonition that John’s death must have something to do with Jimmy’s sudden departure.

During this period, news of John’s death began to ferment again. The police station was surrounded by reporters every day. Everyone wanted to get first-hand information, the Lawrence couple also began to frequently visit Sheriff Chandler’s home, hoping for the slightest bit of news.

Sheriff Chandler was in the center of the storm, receiving complaints from all sides. He would sometimes go to Evan to complain, Evan also wanted to hear about some useful news. Unfortunately, they were all clichés and the police hadn’t found any useful clues. Evan was very disappointed.

That afternoon, Evan was sorting out the ledgers of the church. It’s been two weeks since they found out about the problem but he hasn’t had time to check into it. With the whole town of Delanlier being swept away by news of John’s murder, this matter had been forgotten.

At this moment, Doctor Hester suddenly came, this felt a little strange to Evan because Doctor Hester was not a particularly devout believer. He has never seen Doctor Hester in the church at all except when he came during worship.

“Reverend Bruce, something has happened.” Doctor Hester said anxiously.

Evan’s heart suddenly raised, “What’s wrong?”

“Sheriff Chandler arrested Alia.” Doctor Hester said, almost crying.

“What!” Evan was shocked. Although he didn’t like this maverick heroine a little, he also understood very well that Alia absolutely had no guts to kill.

“They said that Alia went to see John that night and they had an argument. Alia’s handkerchief was found in John’s house and they’ve identified Alia as a suspect. She’s been taken for interrogation. Oh my God! How can my little Alia bear such humiliation.” Doctor Hester said, almost in pain.

Evan frowned tightly. He knew about the fact that Alia didn’t want to marry John but it would be too absurd for her to kill him because of this.

“Why did Alia go to John’s house that night?” Evan asked in a deep voice.

Doctor Hester suddenly looked a little ashamed, “Well….she told me….She didn’t want to be engaged to John, so she went to him to negotiate….”

These words were quite difficult for the doctor to say, so his whole face was flushed when he finished speaking.

Evan looked at Doctor Hester’s performance, he had a little doubt in his heart about his judgement. It seems that this era was more conservative than he thought it was.

“If that’s the case, then what’s the use of you coming to me? I’m neither a police officer nor am I a detective. There’s nothing I can do if you tell me this.” Evan sighed softly and said, “Sheriff Chandler is a smart police detective. He will definitely find out if Alia is not at fault, don’t worry.”

Doctor Hester looked anxious after hearing this, “It was Alia who asked me to come to you. Yes, she told me that you can prove her innocence, that she didn’t intend to kill John.”

Evan frowned, “To tell you the truth, Alia did talk to me about her engagement before. She wanted me to speak to you about the engagement with John, that it was better to call it off. But, it doesn’t prove that she didn’t do such a terrible thing.”

Doctor Hester was disappointed. It seemed as if Doctor Hester aged a few years at that moment. He sat down on a chair and buried his face in his hands.

“It’s all my fault. It’s my fault for going on with the engagement without asking for Alia’s opinion. So, she was forced to do this.” His voice was filled with sadness.

Evan couldn’t help frowning, “Don’t blame yourself. For now, Sheriff Chandler does not have any concrete evidence to prove Alia’s guilt. Even if she went to see John that night, he can’t be sure that she killed John.”

Dr. Hester was even more distressed, “The evidence is enough for the court. John’s time of death was in the middle of the fireworks display and almost everyone in the town was there at that time. Only Alia and John didn’t go, they….they have now determined that Alia did it.”

Evan was surprised, “Why didn’t Alia go?”