Page 66 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
“Yes, it is wonderful,” said Susannah slowly. “I am over the moon that his memory has come back, and it looks like he will soon be well.” She bit her lip. “But I thought that if he remembered his attacker and could confirm it was Leonard, that I might be able to do something. But Jasper insists that his word alone would not be enough. There is no proof, and there were no witnesses. There is no proof and no witnesses toanyof it.”
Amy nodded, her face grave. “Please forgive me, my dear, but I am going to play devil’s advocate, for the sake of argument.” She hesitated. “You say that Leonard is indeed responsible for all of it, that he is erratic and delusional in his love for you, but has he ever exhibited signs of violence in the past, when you knew him? Did you ever have the sense that he could act in such a way when you were once friends?”
Susannah sighed. “He was always a good friend. He was charming, considerate, and treated me with the utmost respect. That was why I gave him the benefit of the doubt, for a long time, and why I struggled so much with coming to this conclusion.”
Amy sipped her tea. “It would seem that he has led a double life, then. That he knows how to put on a face, saying all the right things, and behaving in the proper manner, to everyone, while secretly harbouring violence in his heart.” She paused. “It is rather like an actor in a play, is it not? Pretending to be someone else, to achieve a goal … but as soon as the play is over, the mask comes off.”
“Just so,” said Susannah, thoughtfully. “It is as if he has constructed a persona, learnt all the right ways to behave and speak, but inside, he is a different person entirely. It is just like a mask. Only sometimes, the mask slips …”
She frowned. Something was hovering on the edge of her mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp it.
“But you have never seen him be violent?” continued Amy. “You never witnessed him behaving in that way?”
Susannah shook her head. “Never.”
“Then it is averypolished performance,” said Amy thoughtfully. “He should be lead actor in a Shakespearean production!”
Susannah stared at her. It was true – Leonard had pretended to be an entirely different person to achieve his ends. It took a truly Machiavellian mind to plot and strategize in such a manner. To pretend to be a charming, normal person, while behind the scenes, he was a completely different person.
She had never understood how people could be so cunning. But hadn’t Gilbert been the same, now that she thought about it? He had pretended to be a charming man, deliriously in love with her, in order to win her affection. It was only when they had been married a while that the mask had finally slipped, and he had revealed who he truly was.
Her husband had worn a mask and been an actor in his own life, as well. She had never suspected … until it had been too late.
“Perhaps Leonard Green missed his calling,” she said, somewhat flippantly. “Perhaps he should have been a thespian … he might have channelled his other self into Macbeth or King Lear, and not been such a danger to the world.”
Amy laughed for a moment before pulling herself up. “Oh, my dear, I know how hard it is for you,” she said softly. “There will be a solution. We just have to keep thinking it through …”
Susannah forced a smile onto her face. “Yes. But that solution is still evading me.” She took a deep breath. “I think that I need a distraction. What has been happening in the household today, while I have been tending Jasper?”
Amy sighed. “I do not want to worry you with domestic matters …”
“Nonsense.” Susannah’s voice was firm. “It will do me good to think of something else for a little while. Is there an issue?”
“Very well.” Amy gazed at her. “I am afraid that Sara, the new scullery maid that I hired two weeks ago, has turned out to be a thief. Cook has reported that food items have been going missing from the kitchen over the last few days, but we were perplexed as to what was happening, and who was responsible for it.”
“Why did you not tell me?” Susannah looked stricken. “I could have helped …”
“We did not want to concern you,” said Amy quietly. “Anyway, the matter has been dealt with now. I assembled all the kitchen staff and told them I was aware that there was a thief among them, and that it would be better if he or she came forward, as everyone’s pay would be docked to make up for the loss.”
“And what happened?”
Amy smiled slightly. “Within an hour, Sara came to me in tears, confessing that she was responsible. I told her that we would have to dismiss her, but because of her confession, I would not give her a bad reference. I proceeded to lecture her for ten minutes on the evils of thievery until she was white and shaking with fright. I do not think she will ever do such a thing again.”
“Well done,” said Susannah, staring at her admiringly. “You do know how to handle things! To get her to confess …” she trailed off, frowning.
Amy stood up. “Anyway, there are no other serious matters to report. I have authorised payment to all the extra staff that have been hired to patrol The Willows. Do you want me to keep them on, for the foreseeable future?”
Susannah nodded. “Yes. While the threat is still so urgent, we need them.”
“Very well.” Amy picked up the tea tray. “I will leave you to your musings, my dear. But please, promise me, that you will not pace the floor for half the night, and get some rest?”
Susannah stood up, too. She turned to her friend, gazing at her thoughtfully.
“I do not think that I need to, now,” she said slowly. “I think that our talk over a cup of teahashelped me, Amy.” She took a deep, ragged breath. “I think that it has helped me in a way that I could never have envisaged.”
***
Susannah stared at Jasper, now. She needed to inform him what she had planned. It would take time for it to unfurl; she had to set a few things in motion.
