Moon Cutters by Janet Woods

Author:Janet Woods
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780727883353
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Twelve

It had taken the bullet but an instant to punch a ragged tear in Miranda’s sleeve. It had emerged further along the fabric and had lodged in a cushion on the hall seat in an eruption of feathers.

Lucy’s shocked screech echoed through the house.

Fletcher relaxed. ‘It’s all right, Lucy; she’s not injured. It’s just a faint and your sister is already showing signs of coming round. I’ll bring her up to her room.’ He nodded to a wide-eyed maid. ‘Ask Mrs Pridie to attend to Miss Jarvis.’

The servant aimed an uneasy glance at Sir James, who said calmly, ‘It was an accident; the girl distracted me and the gun went off. Get about your work now.’

‘Yes, sir.’ She scurried off, as if eager to escape the reach of Sir James’s trigger finger as well as relate the goings-on to the rest of the servants.

Lucy exclaimed, ‘Oh! Thank goodness,’ and she burst into tears as she followed Fletcher and his burden up the stairs.

The room that had once belonged to Fletcher’s mother had a fragrance peculiar to females, of perfume and powder and the more floral scents used in the pastille burner.

He lowered his dainty burden to the bed and gazed at the portrait of himself hanging there. He couldn’t imagine being so young and smooth-faced. He couldn’t recall much about his mother either – couldn’t remember ever being close to her. He only remembered snatches of his infancy, and her indifference had kept him at bay.

To make up for it, there had been a nursemaid when he was very young, a woman who’d held him to her breast and tenderly kissed away his hurt. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath and the familiar, spicy and poignant smell of her seemed to infuse him for just a second before it eluded him again. One day she hadn’t been there any more and he’d felt lonely without her.

Miranda made a startled little noise and scrambled upright. ‘Are you all right, Fletcher? You’re not hurt?’ She gazed around the room, bewildered, and her eyes fell on Lucy. ‘I remember now.’

Lucy scolded her. ‘You gave me such a scare, Miranda. What on earth did you hope to achieve?’

‘It was an instinctive moment of decision.’

‘It certainly was. Mr Taunt looks as though he’s capable of defending himself, though.’ Lucy gave a bit of a giggle, though her eyes were still damp. ‘You’ve certainly given everybody something to talk about. I bet Sir James is lathered up with guilt in case he’s killed you.’

Fletcher chuckled. His uncle didn’t know what guilt was, let alone give in to it. All the same, he liked this younger sister of Miranda’s. ‘So much for my family reunion.’

‘It was enthralling – so passionate and sincere that it brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed every moment. You bear a strong resemblance to Sir James, Mr Fletcher.’

He hoped the resemblance was physical rather than stemming from nature. ‘So I’m given to understand, Miss Lucy.’

Mrs Pridie came in, carrying two glasses of milk.

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