The Heart's Companion - By Holly Newman Page 0,80

Agatha dies and leaves you all her money—which, of course, you shall leave to me. "

"Aunt Serena," Jane said. "Why do you need more money?"

Her aunt turned a dazzling smile on her. "I don’t! But you see, Elsbeth was always the pampered baby of the family, just like Simon was the favored twin. It was so unfair! No one ever thought of me. So I thought of myself. I married the best, and I wasn’t about to let Elsbeth do better. I really can’t let anyone do better, you know. Not even Millicent. But she’s so featherbrained, she’d not have anything if it weren’t for me. And so you see, that is why you must get married, so Elsbeth will come to live with me. You have to. Or else I should be forced to kill you."

The bald words stunned the company. Conisbrough laid a comforting hand on Lady Elsbeth’s shoulder. She reached up to cover it with her own. Lady Serena’s eyes flared and she snarled. "No!" she screamed. "You shall not have her!" She lunged toward her sister.

Jane threw herself between them, knocking Lady Serena aside. Her aunt shifted her attack upon her, her fingers raking her face. Jane was able to hold her aunt’s hands back until they slipped away and Serena’s fingers closed upon the heavy chain about her neck. With a cry of glee she twisted it cruelly. Jane started to choke.

As she pulled on the chain with one hand, Lady Serena’s other hand dove deep into her reticule. When her hand emerged, her fingers were closed around a small pocket pistol, which she pointed at Jane’s head. "Back!" she snarled to the converging gentlemen. "I can pull this trigger faster than you can jump me," she said with relish. "Maybe I should, anyway. "

She pulled Jane back against her. Jane struggled to breathe, to stay conscious.

"Serena, my dear, my angel," cajoled Mr. Burry, sweat standing out on his brow. He licked his upper lip. "Let the chit go."

Serena’s grip tightened as she dragged Jane backward toward the large Gothic window. "No, you fat, pompous baby. "

"Angel!" protested Mr. Burry.

Serena snarled and edged farther away. Conisbrough and Royce, moving slowly, tracked her from either side of the room.

"Serena!" pleaded Lady Elsbeth. There was a flurry of movement from outside. Lady Elsbeth blinked in surprise, then quickly recovered, her attention back on her sister. "Serena, let Jane go. It is me you want not her."

"I’ll see you all in hell, in the unloved hell I live in."

"Serena, I love you. I have always loved you," cried Lady Elsbeth. "You’re my sister!"

On the other side of the window, right behind Serena, stood Jeremy and Sir Helmsdon. They drew their arms back, poised to throw large rocks through the glass.

"I say, what?" protested Burry, seeing them behind Serena.

"Burry!" screamed Elsbeth.

But Serena had already been warned. She spun around, dragging Jane with her as the first rock came. Her hand flew up to protect her face, letting go of Jane, who collapsed on the floor. It was all the opening Royce needed. He dove for Serena’s gun hand, slamming it above her head. His momentum carried them backward, through the jagged edges of the shattered window. They landed in the grass amid a welter of broken glass.

It was late in the afternoon. A sheet of gray clouds blanketed the sky and a fine mist had begun to fall. The lovely Gothic window was boarded up, the parlor empty and dark. Servants moved silently through the house, lighting candles and lamps. Still a gloom pervaded Penwick; a gloom that was as much in the spirits of its inhabitants as in the dark shadows of impending night.

Jane and the gentlemen guests were ensconced in the library. Few words were spoken between them and those few were murmured; the clock in the corner was louder, a steady beat punctuated by its half hour and hour chime. A cheery blaze burned in the hearth, but they did not seem to notice. They sat scattered about the room, lost in private thought or in the pretense of reading.

They all looked up immediately when they heard the muted sounds of conversation from the hall. They heard the front door open, then close. The men rose from their seats, and they all stared expectantly at the library door. They were rewarded when moments later the door opened to admit Lady Elsbeth.

Her face was white and haggard. She moved like a wraith into the room. Quickly Lord