The Whispering Rocks (26 page)
“There must be something!” said Harriet, wringing her hands in her lap, visions of her father floating before her eyes, and visions of having to endure the most awful scandal imaginable. “Everwyone has a pwice! Ask them theirs!”
Sarah was smiling then. “Yes, Harriet, there is a price. We were going to say nothing, but if my father intends taking Mannerby away from Paul then I’m afraid that I’m liable to become exceedingly garrulous—exceedingly garrulous.”
She smiled benignly at the whey-faced girl. She was surprised at herself, surprised that she could battle so fiercely for what she wanted. And now she knew exactly what she wanted: Paul Ransome and Mannerby.
Sir Peter stared at his daughter. He knew that she was prepared to carry out her threat; he recognized in her suddenly a small echo of himself. “Sarah, is there somewhere I may speak with you alone?”
Paul nodded toward his study. “You may use the study if you wish.”
Sir Peter opened the door. “Come, Sarah, I think it’s time we talked.”
He closed the door behind them and looked steadily at her. “Is that your price then? Mannerby for your continuing silence on all this?”
“Yes.” She went to the window and looked out. The ash tree lay across the courtyard, its branches crushed and its leaves flapping. She turned to look at her father. “What did you know about Melissa Ransome? What was it you sought to blackmail Paul with?”
“He told you that, did he?”
“Yes. He thought it was the witchcraft and sorcery that you had discovered, but now it seems that was not so.”
He laughed. “You remember my little Liza?”
“Yes.”
“And where she worked before coming to me?”
“She was Jack Holland’s wife’s maid.”
“Exactly. My faithful little Liza is so trusting and honest. Something she knew worried her and so she told me, wanting to know what to do for the best. I advised her to say nothing more and to trust my judgment.”
“What did she tell you?” Sarah’s attention was complete.
“That the last person to be with Mrs. Holland before her death was none other than Melissa Ransome. Liza saw Melissa administer poison to the unfortunate lady. I wanted Mannerby. I had always wanted Mannerby, and so I sought to use what I knew in order to get it.”
She looked away from him in disgust. “That you should be my father—”
“Oh, yes, I am your father. My ways may not please you, but nothing can alter the fact that my blood flows in your veins. I am sorry your delicate breeding shrinks from the truth about me!” he snapped.
She said nothing. He thoughtfully picked up a heavy metal paperweight, turning it slowly in his hands. “And so now it’s you and Ransome, is it?”
“Yes.”
“And your price for silence is Mannerby?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll not get a penny from me. I’ll give nothing to help support Ransome.”
“I don’t want anything that is yours, Father. I don’t even want to see you again. The only thing in this world I have to thank you for is that you sent me here to Mannerby.”
He nodded. “Well, you can have Mannerby—and Paul Ransome.”
“In that case our continued silence is assured.”
“I’ll tell Ransome on my way out. Good-bye, Sarah.”
“Good-bye, Father.” She turned her back toward him and stared out of the window. The door closed and she did not look back once.
In a short while the men dragged the ash tree aside for the great coach to depart. The leaves rustled across the cobbles in the breeze, whirling and twisting, and the twigs scraped like fingers for the last time.
Mathilda came back from her walk as the coach swept out through the gates. She put her hand to her bonnet, the black ribbons fluttering, and Wellington barked noisily, rushing after the coach excitedly until it had outpaced his short legs.
Sarah raised her eyes toward the moor, to where Hob’s Tor shimmered in the sun. The rocks were so clear that she felt she could reach out and touch them.
Paul came into the study. “Sarah?”
She went to him, slipping her arms around his waist and kissing him.
He took her face in his hands. “Will you share Mannerby with me?”
“Oh yes, Paul,” she whispered.
He kissed her again.
Copyright © 2005 by Sandra Heath
Previously published as
Mannerby's Lady
Originally published by Signet (ISBN 9780451215604)
Electronically published in 2016 by Belgrave House/Regency
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.