Fate: Eventually, Everything Connects: Book two of three in The Demon Gorge Trilogy (sequel to Room of Death)

“Oh, my God, I remember that trial now. She was the girl convicted of killing her infant cousin so that she could inherit his property, of which she was the next heir. Did your father know these facts before he agreed to take her on as a servant here at your place?”

“Yes, he did,” she said with a faint voice.

“Oh, my goodness. That trial was in all the papers. I can’t understand how your father could endure the presence of such a mad killer under the same roof as you. I don’t know how he could even subject you to such danger. No wonder you never smile.”

“Oh, you have it wrong. My father believes that though she was convicted of the crime, she was not guilty,” said the young woman in a faint voice.

“You say this, Aurora, that your father believes this. From everything I read in the papers, the evidence that proved her guilt was overwhelming. There wasn’t a loophole in the trial whatsoever.”

“That’s so true. But you sit there agreeing to have Jack Dannells provide private service for my father and then turn around and find that poor girl who was only fourteen years old guilty of a crime which she could not think up much less plan. We know that Elise Austin is no felon,” said Aurora.

“I don’t know, Aurora. You and your father seem to have a boundless charity to the criminals.”