Page 69 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
He nodded, turning away. He had already forgotten all about her by the time she closed the door.
He stood in front of the mirror, gazing at his reflection for one last time. Yes, he looked very dapper. Susannah simply would not be able to resist him. And he was going to make very sure that today was the beginning of the rest of his life.Theirlives, together, at long last.
***
Susannah walked into the kitchen. She was so nervous that her hands were shaking. In half an hour, Leonard Green would be walking into the house.
The thought of seeing him again made her feel physically ill. She still didn’t know if she could control her hatred, so that it wasn’t plain to see in her face, but she knew that she had to try. She had to try very hard, indeed.
She took a deep breath, approaching the workbench. Cook was busy taking a tray of freshly baked scones out of the wood stove, sliding it onto the bench with a whack. The smell wafted towards her.
“They look good,” she said. “The cucumber sandwiches are ready, as well?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Cook, wiping sweat of her forehead with the back of her hand. “As are the sponge cake and the macaroons. As soon as your guest has arrived, I can send it up to the parlour.”
Susannah nodded. Everything was ready for the afternoon tea. She didn’t have to linger in here. But still, she hovered anxiously. It was as if when she entered the parlour she was finally committing to what she must do. To the plan that she had concocted, to deal with Leonard Green, once and for all.
Amy entered the kitchen, stopping short when she saw her, leaning against the bench.
“What are you doing here?” she said, her eyes wide. “You should be waiting for your guest in the parlour.”
“I know,” she replied. “But it is so comforting in here. Can I not stay for a little while longer?”
Amy walked up to her, steering her aside, so that they could speak privately without being overheard by the kitchen staff.
“You do not have to do this,” she whispered. “If you are having doubts about it, then we can stop him before he even enters the gates. I can tell the men on patrol to order his carriage to turn around and head back to Whitmere.”
Susannah stared at her. There was nothing she would like more than for him not to enter the property. For a moment, the thought tempted her. She could stop this before it even began. She could say that she had changed her mind, and no one would hold it against her. In fact, they would probably be as relieved as she would be.
But then she thought of all the trouble to make this happen. It wasn’t simply a matter that all of Cook’s goodies that she had just prepared for this afternoon tea, almost enough to feed an army, would go to waste. It was much, much more than that.
She had timed everything meticulously. It had been an almost military operation to organise it all. Things were in place, now; the wheels were in motion. Leonard Green would already have stepped into his carriage and be on his way here. She couldn’t back out of it, even if she wanted to.
She took a deep breath. “No, my dear. Leonard Green must come to afternoon tea as scheduled. You know that as well as I do.”
Amy blinked rapidly. “I know no such thing. I know that you are committed to this idea, but anything can be changed.” She took a deep breath. “He is a dangerous man, Susannah. He is liable to behave erratically, and he is unpredictable. It gives me grave concern to think of you alone in that parlour with the man …”
Susannah sighed deeply. “You know that it is necessary, to do what must be done. I will be fine, Amy. Everyone is aware of what is happening, and besides, you know the details of the plan …”
Amy bit her lip. “I know that you are insistent that you will have things under control. But Mr Stone is as concerned as I am. I know that he does not like the thought of you alone with that man any more than I do …”
Susannah sighed again. It was true that Jasper was deeply concerned. He had been against the idea from the start, saying that she was placing herself in jeopardy. He had eventually conceded that it was probably the only way to finally deal with the man, once and for all, but he still didn’t like it.
He had tried to think of another way over the long week since she had first mentioned it to him. One day, she had even had to restrain him from leaping out of bed and riding into Whitmere to challenge the man to a duel.
“Jasper knows it is the only way,” she said slowly. “If he can accept it, then you must too, my dear friend. I will be careful with him. I know, more than anyone, what he is capable of. I also know that I refuse to let him rule my life, anymore.”
“Very well,” Amy said with a sigh. But she didn’t look happy. Not in the least.
For one last moment, her eyes swept around the kitchen. It was comforting in here; warm and homely. She had often come in here for respite from her life, in the past. Sometimes, she would sit in the old rocking chair by the kitchen hearth, just letting the sounds of the space reverberate around her, taking comfort in the familiarity of it.
Susannah took a deep breath. She couldn’t linger any longer in the kitchen. She must get to the parlour, to wait, to receive her visitor.
It was almost time.
***
She hung back a little, as she gazed out of the parlour window, the edge of the lace curtain in her hand so that she could drop it immediately when she needed to. She didn’t want him to be aware that she was watching him when he arrived.
