Read Online Anna Jacobs by Mistress of Marymoor - Free Book Online Page A

into the hearth, laughing as it shattered.
    The small parlour was as shabby as the rest of the house, its furnishings threadbare and none too clean. The place was all he had left now, hardly more than a cottage, not worthy of an Elkin. But Marymoor, ah, that house was a proper gentleman’s residence, well suited to his new station in life. With it behind him, he would be able to find a rich wife. He grinned, a mere baring of the teeth. He had started to mend his fortune already, with his man’s help, but was tired of that game and the risks involved.
    Seth returned at that moment. “He’s gone.”
    “We’ll follow as soon as we can get ready.”
    “Is the old lady to come too?”
    “She must. For all her faults my mother is a lady of good family and will command the respect of the neighbours over there.”
    He went upstairs to tell her the news, taking the steps two at a time, his whole body filled with exultation. He flung open the door of her chamber without knocking to find her still a-bed, with her maid in attendance and fussing over her. Both women squeaked in shock at his sudden appearance.
    “The old devil’s dead at last!” he announced.
    Mrs Elkin’s expression brightened and she sat up quickly. “Did the lawyer send for you?”
    “I’m not waiting for the lawyer. I have my own ways of finding out what’s going on over there. We need to set off immediately. That clod Pascoe is in charge at the moment and I’m not letting him steal any of my inheritance. He’s been living off the fat of the land at Marymoor for long enough now. As soon as the funeral’s over, he’s out.”
    “I’m sure he wouldn’t—”
    “We can be sure of nothing where he’s concerned, except that he’s my enemy. Tell your woman to pack. We leave in an hour, sooner if we can.”
    Harriet looked at her son in dismay. “But Anthony, I’m not well enough for a journey. I’ve not left my bed for a sennight!”
    He glared at her. “If you’re not ready to leave when I say, I’ll carry you out to the carriage myself, dressed or not! I need you there,” he gave her a sneering smile, “to mourn with me.”
    With a whimper she fell back and when he’d gone, looked at her maid, tears in her eyes. “We must do as he says, Denise.”
    “But you’re not well.”
    “Maybe I shall be better away from this dampness.” She cast a resigned look round the shabby bedroom, where she spent most of her time now.
     The maid’s mouth set tight in disapproval. In her opinion the only thing that would help her mistress was to get away from her son. He’d brought them to this penury by gambling away what was left of his inheritance, and Denise set the ruin of Mrs Elkin’s health squarely at his door. He might have started to mend his fortunes lately, though how he had managed that they couldn’t work out, because he’d never been a lucky gambler, but he’d done little to make his mother’s life more comfortable with the new money. All of it had been spent on his own clothes and who knew what other depraved pleasures? For he went away regularly, and always with an eager look on his face.
    When she thought of how the old carriage would jolt her mistress’s poor aching bones on the rough road across the moors, Denise could have wept. And where would she be if her mistress died? In dire trouble, that was sure, because she hadn’t been paid her wages for many a month and a reference from him would be worth nothing—less than nothing, given his reputation.
    But they set off in just over the hour he had specified, knowing better than to upset him.
    * * * *
    When Deborah went out of the bedroom, she found Jem still lounging in the corridor outside. “Matthew’s going to get some sleep,” she told him.
    “Aye. Needs it, too.”
    She lowered her voice. “He suggested you could send a message to my mother and arrange for her to join me—us—here.” She liked the straight way he looked at her, the alertness in his bearing. Like