Page 99 of Tempting the Highland Spy
She drew back. The lamp cast a glow over the unmoving form crumpled near her feet.
Lady Sybil.
Dear God, what was happening?
Behind her, the door opened.
A woman strolled in. Slowly. Almost leisurely.
Lady Edythe.
Light gleamed off the long stiletto in her right hand.
“I see you’ve discovered my aunt. Such a shame the two of you quarreled. No one ever imagined you’d be capable of murder.”
“What…what are you talking about?”
Lady Edythe stared down at the body. “I don’t know if you had a chance to notice, but she’s been stabbed. The dagger strike pierced her heart, poor dear.” She laughed softly. “Of course, as you can imagine, I amutterlybereft. I assure you, my grief knows no bounds.”
“My God—you killed her.”
“Yes.” The word dripped like poison from Lady Edythe’s tongue. “The crone was far more trouble than she was worth. But she did serve her purpose tonight. Her accusation was a brilliant touch, if I do say so myself.”
“You engineered that—you made her believe I was guilty.”
“Ah, you are the clever one.”
“Why would you do such a thing?”
“It wasn’t planned,” Lady Edythe said coolly. “Not at first, at least. When we arrived here, neither of us imagined I’d be forced to plunge my dagger into her chest.”
“Forced? Have you gone mad?”
“Oh, such a stickler for details. All right. I’ll admit it. That was a bit of an exaggeration. I wasn’tforced, not in the conventional sense. Actually, I rather enjoyed it. A bit of suggestion, and Sybil performed precisely as I’d expected.”
“But why…why would you kill her?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Lady Edythe heaved a theatrical sigh. “Someone needed to die. She seemed the most reasonable choice. After all, who else would you have motive to kill?”
“Youhavegone mad. I had no reason to kill her.”
Lady Edythe’s rouged lips pursed. “That’s where you’re wrong, dear. You can be sure the staff heard her accusations. I can only imagine they had a grand time with that juicy bit of gossip—a well-to-do lady, pilfering jewels at every turn. In a fit of pique, you killed her—the woman who’d ruined you.”
“No one would believe such a thing.”
Lady Edythe shrugged. “You’d be surprised what the authorities will believe. The servants’ quarters are filled with witnesses to the scene at supper. They won’t dare counter the master of the house’s explanation of events.”
Swallowing hard against her fear, Grace struggled to stay calm. This shrew intended to kill her, just as she’d murdered Sybil. Her blood running cold as ice water, Grace discreetly slid her hand into the hidden pocket of her skirt. She’d made a point to carry the fan Mrs. Carmichael had provided her throughout this assignment. Thank God.
But where was Harrison? Surely he’d noticed she had not returned.
And Mrs. Carmichael—the woman didn’t miss a thing. By now, she would’ve realized something had gone awry.
Unless something was wrong.
Devastatingly wrong.
Terror welled within her, threatening to overtake her. To overwhelm her.
