(John's POV)

John waited. Would Neville say what he was thinking or keep it to himself.

"Who is that young girl?"

"One of my servants. Isabel Smith."

"How did she start working for you?"

"An unpaid debt her family owed."

"Is she more than a servant to you?"

"No. Why would you ask such a question?"

"No reason."

"She grew up as a merchant's daughter, not a servant. And as her lord, I have a duty to protect her."

"As your duty is to provide for and protect your servant, my duty is to ask questions."

"Of course."

John tried to focus his thoughts and stay alert. Had he already revealed too much? He should've allowed Elizabeth to change his bandages instead of Isabel. Neville had taken the opportunity to read his thoughts. Instead of staring at her face, he should've stared at the floor.

"Tell me, what is Isabel's relationship with the bailiff?"

"Relationship? There wasn't any."

"Has either one of them talked to you about the other?"

John had no choice but to answer. "Yes. The bailiff asked to marry Isabel, but she didn't want to marry him."

"And when was this?"

"About two weeks ago."

"Did Isabel tell you why she didn't want to marry the bailiff?"

"She didn't like the bailiff."

"She said that?"

"Yes."

"And what did you say?"

"That she didn't have to marry anyone she didn't want to marry."

"And how did the bailiff take the news?"

"He didn't say that much."

"But his reaction was.... angry?"

"Yes."

Sir Neville sighed and took a sip of his drink. "I want to speak with the bailiff's family members tomorrow. And to the servant girl, Isabel."

John's heart skipped. "Of course."

John laid still as a woman leaned over him. Her face moved in and out of view. She came closer and her face came into focus.

"Jane."

She smiled. 

"I thought you were-"

"Shh." Her smile grew wider as she touched his face, and then she laughed. With a cackle she lifted something in her hand. A knife. Raising her arm, she laughed louder.

John tried to raise his arm to block her blow, but his arms seemed to be made of iron. 

She brought the knife to his chest, still cackling. She was killing him.

John woke up with a gasp then sat up and looked around. He panted like he just ran a marathon. The only light came from the barely lit fire in the fireplace.

It was only another dream, another nightmare. She had been dead for three years now. Dead. But her face seemed so real.

She was gone. Except in his dreams.

He swung his legs off the side of the bed. He placed his head in his hands. The memory of her tormented him. His mind thought of a new face. Isabel Smith. So kind and gentle. 

He failed her. Neville will ask her question after question. The thing she had been afraid of.

A sound caught his attention. He lifted his head. He could hear Elizabeth snoring softly from the other side of the wall, but this sound sounded like feet walking on the floor. 

Neville was in the room next to his so he didn't have to sleep with the workers. Maybe Neville was awake?

He called out softly. "Who's there? Sir Neville?"

"It's just me." He could barely hear the voice. He didn't recognize it either.

"Who?"

"Olive, my lord."

"What are you doing here?" What did the bailiff's daughter want so late in the night?

"I... I couldn't sleep, and it seems like you can't either. We could comfort each other." 

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to do that. You should go before someone sees you here."

"Do I?" She said dramatically. "But I could-"

"You should go," he said loudly and firmly.

He has no choice but to wake up Elizabeth. He came out of his room. Olive stood two feet away, hugging herself. 

"Miss Elizabeth will take you back to your room." He stepped towards Elizabeth's room, but Olive caught his arm.

"No," she whispered. "Don't wake her." She grabbed his other arm and started pulling him back to his room.

John twisted out of her grasp. "Elizabeth!" Why did he, in his own home, be forced to put up with this nonsense?

"Lord Goodwin?" Elizabeth's sleepy voice came from her room.

"I need your help." 

Elizabeth came over to the. "What is it? I can't see a thing."

"Please walk Olive back down to her room." Olive began to cry.

"Olive?" Elizabeth's voice sounded confused. "What's wrong?"

A figure came out of Neville's room.

Olive pointed a finger at John. "Him. He was trying to take advantage of me"

Heat rushed to John's face. "That is a lie. How dare you say such a thing to Miss Elizabeth." And to Sir Neville.

"I'll tell everyone. You will be sorry."

"For not accepting your offer? What you are saying is a lie. Sir Neville, you are a witness?"

"I am." 

Elizabeth lit a candle. Olive glared at everyone then settled on Neville. "You must force him to marry me. He has ruined me."

"Sir Neville, I've never touched this girl."

"What proof do you have?" Neville said to Olive.

"My word. Isn't that enough proof?"

"I'm afraid it isn't."

"Do you even care about justice then? Why are you here?"

"To find out what happened with your father."

"You should ask Lord Goodwin. He's the one who found him. Shouldn't he be under your suspicion?"

"Everyone in the village is under suspicion. Now I suggest you obey your lord and go back to your room."

She spun around and stomped to the door, slamming it behind her,

"Sir, if you would allow me to speak." Elizabeth said to Neville.

"You may."

"Olive is just overwhelmed from her father's injuries. What she was saying is impossible. I sleep in the next room every night. If our lord had crept out to take advantage of Olive, don't you think I would've known? My word should convince you that Lord Goodwin is innocent."

"It doesn't convince me."

Her eyes grew wide in alarm.

Neville shook his head. "You are a hard sleeper Elizabeth. You didn't hear when Lord Goodwin was having a bad dream. And when Olive opened the door and walked in, you continued to sleep. But no one blames you for this."

"I am innocent, Sir Neville." 

Neville looked at him. "I know."

John waited for him to explain.

"There are several points that prove that Olive is lying. For one, she accused you of trying to take advantage of her tonight. Obviously a lie, since I heard you refuse. But I have another reason why I think she is lying, which I will keep to myself." He smiled at John. "Good night." He turned back to his room.

Elizabeth stared with her mouth open, and John decided not to think about Neville's last reason.