The Charmer by C.J. Archer

Author:C.J. Archer
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-03-01T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Susanna saw Margaret arrive from her father's bedchamber window. She rode with purpose, bent low over the horse's neck, her skirts rippling around her legs. Susanna didn't rise to greet her, nor did she tell her father they had a visitor. Orlando had instructed her not to let anyone in the house while he was absent and had given the same instructions to the servants. Margaret would leave when no one answered.

A few minutes later, Bessie peeked around the door. "Mistress Cowdrey's here to see you."

"How pleasant," her father said from his bed where he was propped against pillows. Susanna had thought he was asleep.

She gave him a smile then picked up her embroidery basket and followed Bessie out to the landing. "Mr. Holt said no visitors. Not until he returns."

"Aye, but it's Mistress Cowdrey. Surely he meant only men."

A shiver chilled Susanna's spine. She put her basket down but picked up the small knife she used for snipping threads. She tucked it up her sleeve. "Just in case," she said to a wide-eyed Bessie.

"Oh, m'lady, you don't think..." Bessie gave a small yelp then covered her mouth with her hand. "I'll tell her to go."

"No, it's all right. I'll talk to her." If she was the one trying to kill Susanna, then asking her to leave might only serve to enrage her and put the servants at risk.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the great hall just as Margaret emerged from the parlor adjoining it. She had her arms folded and her cloak draped over them, hiding her hands. Susanna kept her distance. Bessie remained at her back. "You may go," Susanna said to her maid.

Bessie didn’t move.

"Margaret," Susanna said, smoothly. "This is a surprise. What brings you to Stoneleigh?"

Margaret's eyes were unblinking, yellow-green orbs. "My brother."

"Is everything all right? He's not unwell, is he?"

"Don't play the simpleton with me," she hissed.

The hairs on the back of Susanna's neck rose. Behind her, Bessie drew in a sharp breath. "Bessie, go." To Margaret, she said, "State your business then leave."

Margaret's upper lip lifted in a sneer. "It feels good, doesn't it?"

"What does?"

"Being mistress in your own house. You're even luckier than most. You are both master and mistress here at Stoneleigh." Her mouth flattened, her eyes sharpened as her gaze bored into Susanna. "Yet you want to take over Cowdrey Farm too."

"Uh, no. I don't. I'm not going to marry your brother, if that's your fear. I don't love him."

"Love? Ha! Did you love Phillip? Or your first husband?"

"I was...drawn to them. Foolishly, as it turned out. They were not the best of husbands."

Margaret spluttered out a laugh but it was harsh and cruel. "Perhaps if you'd been a better wife he would have treated you with more kindness. Phillip was a true gentleman." Her nostrils flared and the sheen of unshed tears covered her eyes. "He was a good man and you ruined him with your willfulness and your disregard for his needs. I told him so.

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