Read Online Moonshadows by Mary Ann Artrip - Free Book Online

the spine of the album caught Janet’s eye. It was a picture of her father sitting astride a white horse. He was clutching an arm that reached out from behind him, encircling his waist. The back half of the picture had been ripped away making it impossible to see to whom the arm belonged.
    Janet glanced up at the group around the table. “There are no pictures of Isabella.”
    Their eyes flickered in each other’s direction. Janet detected an almost indiscernible shake of Lettie’s head.
    “No, Miss,” Lettie said simply.
    “Don’t worry, Lettie, I know now about Isabella.” Janet gave the group a tender smile. “Grandmother finally told me about her and Etienne.”
    “Yes, Miss,” Lettie said.
    Janet closed the book and pulled it to her chest. “I’m going back to bed for a while, and I suggest you all do the same.” She stood up. “You must be exhausted and there’s nothing we can do now. Later on I’ll call Miss Austin and tell her what’s happened, and let her know that I’ll be here until after the funeral.” She smiled at the solemn faces. “You’re all so sweet and I do appreciate everything you’ve done.” She shook her head. “I knew the demands of my grandparents, and believe me, you all went way beyond your call of duty. Go to bed now and rest.”
    Janet left the room, aware of the huddled heads still at the table behind her, and their whisperings.
     
    On Sunday Janet called Middlebrook. Miss Austin answered the phone and Janet gave her the news.
    “I’m sorry, Janet.” Her voice held a hint of frost. “When’s the funeral?”
    “Wednesday afternoon,” Janet said. “It’ll be private, only personal friends, and the household staff.”
    “Of course.” The voice remained chilled. “And the library will send flowers.”
    “That would be nice,” said Janet. “Thank you.”
    “I assume all the family have been called in. Are they very scattered?”
    “There is no family. Only me.”
    “How sad,” she said. “How utterly, utterly sad—that all this has to fall on you, I mean. Are there no other relatives, nobody to step in and help out so you can resume a portion of your responsibilities here?”
    Janet tamped down the urge to lash out at her callousness. “Right now, this is my responsibility—not the library,” she snapped. “And even if there were others, this is something I have to do, something I want to do.”
    “Very well,” Amanda Austin said, but Janet could hear an underlying, I’ll get you, my pretty .
    “Miss Austin, I’ll get back to work as soon as I can. But this is far more important than anything else in my life right now, and I intend to take as much time as I need. It’ll be without pay, of course.”
    “Oh, Janet,” Miss Austin said in a voice that sounded caught off guard. “I hope you didn’t think that I was pressing you to return to work. No dear, you take all the time you need. I have Chelsea and Hilda here, and we can do nicely. Don’t be in a rush to get back. You must stay right there and do your duty to the Lancaster name. After all, this is sort of a historical marker; the end of a dynasty.”
    “Well, not quite the end,” Janet said.
    “No?”
    “I’m still here.”
    A slight chuckle crossed the wire. “Frankly, Janet, I don’t see you in the role of a matriarch.”
    Janet had to agree, but couldn’t help but feel she had been insulted.
    “No matter,” the woman went on. “You take whatever time you need. We’ll manage.”
    “I shouldn’t be more than a few days,” Janet hurried to explain, wanting to terminate the conversation as quickly as possible. “Monday at the latest, I think.”
    “Monday will be fine.”
    “Thank you, Miss Aust—” She heard a click as the line cut off their connection. It was plain that Amanda Austin had little sympathy for any Lancaster misfortune. Understandable, Janet thought , for a witch .
    She still felt the need to talk, to make personal contact with someone who mattered to