Must Have Been The Moonlight by Melody Thomas

Author:Melody Thomas
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2004-09-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Brianna’s life as she’d known it was over.

Her character lay in tatters, the pall like a shadow weighing down her shoulders. Hearing raised voices outside, she slipped into a wrapper and, still damp from her bath, she walked to the open doors to her balcony. The argument was coming from Christopher and Alexandra’s bedroom across the terrace.

“Maybe I should go down there,” she said.

“And maybe you best be stayin’ out of sight, mum.” Gracie waddled about the bedroom, picking up Brianna’s clothes. “The whole household went into hiding since your brother brought ye home. ’Tis a shame, it is.”

Brianna tied the wrapper at her waist. “I can take care of us, Gracie.”

“And maybe I’m not thinking about myself, mum. Even if I won’t be receivin’ another invitation to the consulate.”

Brianna turned back into her room, walked to her dresser and found a comb.

“You’ve a kind heart, mum. Most of the time. When you’re not on one of your tangents.” Gracie wagged the sandal in her hand. “But there’s no accountin’ for the truth that you’re young and have a lot to learn in life. No one is going to be forgiving of you this time.”

“Don’t you think I’m aware of that?”

She was to blame for the discord between Alex and Christopher, having publicly embarrassed her brother and Lady Alexandra. Brianna knew enough about the machinations of society to recognize that she was in trouble.

“Oh, my poor wee dove.” Gracie seemed to sense her distress, and took Brianna into her arms. “What a fix you’ve gotten yourself into now. Major Fallon will do the right deed by ye, mum. He’ll not leave you to be picked clean by the vultures. Your brother will see to that.”

“Really, Gracie,” Brianna attempted to dissuade her faithful servant from killing her with such an optimistic outlook of her future. “I swear, I’m going to perish just considering his goodwill.”

It had taken an insufferably long time to get from Michael’s apartment to the house this morning. The silence between her and Christopher had been the worst to endure. He’d barely spoken, except to confirm that Omar was truly dead, stabbed through the heart with Michael’s knife. He’d not questioned whether she lied about being Michael’s alibi, and Brianna had not divulged it. When they got to the house, Christopher had sent for his solicitor. Brianna didn’t have to ask him why.

She knew she hadn’t been thinking rationally that morning when she stepped forward and gave Michael an alibi. Terrified for his safety, she’d acted impulsively, the thought that he might be guilty never occurring to her. Christopher hadn’t seen what Omar had done to Colonel Baker. Hadn’t seen the devastation to the caravan or listened to the screams of people dying. She only knew that Michael was not like Omar.

By now, Michael had no doubt rethought his proposal to her. If it could be called that. Wisdom would force him to see that he was a peer of the realm, for goodness sakes. What could

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