Page 65 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
“You can be a better help to me if you gain your strength,” she said, tartly. “You will be no use to anyone if you collapse again! Please, Jasper, you know that I speak the truth.” She paused. “You know how dangerous Leonard Green is now. If you were wandering the grounds, you are even more vulnerable, in your weakened state. And then, you would be no help in dealing with him, at all.”
He sighed heavily, collapsing into the pillows. For a moment, he looked like a sulky child, who had just been told that they were not getting any pudding for dessert.
Tenderly, she leant down, kissing him on the tip of his nose.
“Do not look like that,” she whispered softly. “As soon as you are well again, it will all be different. Do not try to rush it, my love. You are a strong man. You have survived a hit to the head that would have felled most other people, and your recovery has been astonishing. Please, for my sake, do not push it.”
His gaze softened. “If it pleases you … then I will do as you ask.” He paused. “But I am not happy about it in the least. The threat is real, and the sooner that man is dealt with, the better.”
She smiled slowly. “I agree with you. The sooner that man is dealt with, the better.” She took a deep breath. “And I think that I might just have figured out a way to deal with him, once and for all.”
***
The previous night, she had returned to her room, burning with fury about Leonard Green. She had known that she had to dosomethingto stop him; that she had to figure out a way to get him out of her life, once and for all. The need was urgent, and it was real. He was dangerous. It was as black and white as that.
For an hour, she had paced her room, turning it over and over in her mind. The fact that she knew he had killed Gilbert, or at least precipitated his death, in some way. That he had been spying on the property, and let out the horses in spite over her refusal to marry him. That he had lain in wait, again, and hit Jasper with a rock, leaving him to die.
She knew, without a shadow of a doubt that he had attempted to murder Jasper. The description that Jasper had given of the man who had attacked him was Leonard. She had enough proof in her own mind that he was responsible for all of it, but it was not enough to go to the constabulary.
How could she get her proof?
He had left nothing behind to tie him to any of the events. Nor were there any witnesses to any of it. No one had seen him on that hillside with Gilbert the night that he had died. No one had seen him loitering at the stables. No one had seen him take a rock and smash it into Jasper’s head, then drag him away from the scene.
She kept pacing, furiously thinking. She was sick and tired of being a passive victim of circumstance. One man had tried to control her life, and now another was trying to do the same.
She took a deep breath. Shemust become the master of her own destiny. She had to beat Leonard Green at his own game. But how?
Just when frustration was threatening to consume her, there was a soft knock on the door.
“Come in.” Her voice was clipped and distracted.
Amy entered, carrying a tray, with a pot of tea and two cups.
Susannah smiled at her vaguely. “You have brought tea. I suppose that I should replenish myself …”
Amy placed the tray down on a small table, turning to her.
“You need to sit down and rest,” said Amy, in a firm voice. “You are overwrought, Susannah. The events of the last days are wearing you down. You cannot be any help to Jasper in this state.”
Susannah sighed wearily. “Imustfind a solution to it all, Amy. The threat is real, and it is urgent. There simply is no time …”
Amy was already pouring from the teapot. “I find that a problem shared is a problem halved, my dear. Let us sit and share a cup, and talk, like we always do. You often find solutions to problems when we have done that, in the past.”
Susannah smiled faintly. “You know, that is true. I will sit willingly and talk to you, my dear friend.”
They settled at the table, Amy handing her a cup of the steaming tea, after adding lemon and sugar. It was just the way she liked it; her housekeeper had a knack of making it perfectly.
With a sigh of relief, she settled back, sipping the liquid gratefully. The warmth spread through her veins, relaxing her so much that she slumped a little in the chair.
“Now,” said Amy, putting down her own cup decisively. “You are convinced that Leonard Green is to blame for all that has occurred. Tell me why you believe so, from the start, as if we have not spoken of it previously at all.”
“He is erratic,” said Susannah, frowning deeply. “He has suddenly reappeared in my life, after my husband’s death, and said deeply disturbing things that have led me to believe that he was in some way involved in how Gilbert died.”
Amy nodded. “Go on.”
Susannah took a deep breath. “He is delusional, insisting that we are fated to be together. Straight after that, the horses were let out, and then Jasper was attacked.” She paused. “His memory has returned of that event, Amy. He described his attacker, and the description matches Leonard Green.”
Amy gasped. “His memory has only just returned?” She smiled, her face transforming with joy. “But that is wonderful news! It shows that he is recovering.”
