Page 75 of The Burning Passion of a Fiery Lady
I approached from the rear, smashing the rock into his skull, with all my might.
He fell onto his knees, looking for all the world as if he was praying, before collapsing entirely. I knew that he was dead, or close to death. I had achieved my aim. I threw the rock into the woods and jumped back on my horse, leaving him to his fate.”
His face was pale now and covered in a thin sheen of sweat.
“I never thought that I could do such a thing,” he said, staring at her entreatingly. “That I could commit murder. But circumstances drove me to it, Susannah. He had to go. He had to be permanently out of your life. I knew that he would never let you go, even though he treated you so abominably. Death was the only option for such a rake. And it is not as if he did not deserve it, is it?”
His gaze intensified as if he was really asking her the question. But before she could open her mouth, he was talking again, in a feverish way now, his words tripping over each other in his haste.
“Fate decreed it,” he said quickly. “I only did what I had to, for the both of us. So that we could be together, at long last, as the crone told me we must. I had fought for you, and I had won. It was to be the start of a whole new world, for both of us.”
He frowned, then. Gazing at her almost with contempt.
“I waited the appropriate amount of time,” he said slowly. “I let you play the grieving widow. I knew that other men were circling you like vultures, but I bided my time.” He took a deep breath. “But then, you rejected me. The thought of it still makes me so very angry …”
She saw that his fists had tightened, gripping the arms of the chair he was sitting in, turning white.
“I simply could not believe it, after all that I had done for you,” he growled. “I had killed, for you, so that we could be together.” He paused. “I let the horses out of your stables, in spite. It was a childish, kneejerk reaction. I regretted it after the fact; especially since it seemed to bring you and the horse master closer together.”
His lips thinned in fury. He took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I was not to be defeated, after all that I had already done. After all that I had invested … I resolved to be patient and resume my watch. To think of another plan. To get rid of this new threat that I had not seen coming.” He paused. “The answer was obvious, as was the means. A rock had worked on your husband and would work again on this new man. He seemed as good as dead when I dragged him to the field. But I had not counted on the fact that he was so strong and would survive.”
He was almost frantic now, leaning towards her again, that fanatical gleam in his eyes.
“He violated you,” he said in a low voice. “The rake violated you! I saw when he took you to that barn, at the back of the stables …”
Susannah slowly stood up. She had heard enough now. Her loathing and disgust for the man could not be contained for a second longer.
“He did notviolateme,” she said, in a contemptuous tone. “I lay with him willingly. He made love to me, and I made love to him. It was the most wonderful experience of my life.” She paused. “I love Jasper Stone, body and soul. Just as he loves me.”
Leonard looked stunned. He rose to his feet as well, gazing at her as if she had just told him that the sun was no longer rising in the east.
“What?” His eyes were wide, almost frantic. “What are you saying?”
Susannah stepped back. Suddenly, she turned her head to a door at the side of the room.
“I am done,” she said, in a loud voice. “Have you heard enough?”
Leonard’s face was thunderous. He took a menacing step towards her.
“For the love of God,” he snarled. “What have you done?”
But the next minute, the door was opened. Before Leonard Green could react, three military officers rushed into the room. Two secured him quickly by the arms as the third stood in front of him, addressing him.
“Leonard Green,” said the officer, in a calm voice. “In the name of His Majesty the King, I am arresting you for the murder of Gilbert Drake, and the attempted murder of Jasper Stone. We have heard your confession to the crimes.”
“No!” screamed Leonard, twisting in their arms, desperately trying to escape. “No! I did it all forher! I did it all for love!” He stared at Susannah, his face crumpling. “How could you have done this to me? After I have loved you for so long? When we were so close, to being together, at long last?”
Susannah’s face was white with fury. “Love?” she spat. “You dare to call this twisted obsession with melove?I spurn your idea of love, Leonard Green. It is an evil, monstrous thing! Murder is never justified in the name of love.” She took a deep, ragged breath. “You know, I thought I hated you … but now, I just find I pity you. You have wasted your life, and now you must pay for the crimes you have committed …”
“Susannah …” His voice was pleading, gazing at her, imploringly.
She turned away, walking towards the fire, her heart thumping wildly.
“Goodbye, Leonard,” she said slowly, staring into the flames.
She heard them dragging him, protesting, out of the parlour. Her heart thumped harder, but she did not turn around to witness it. She suddenly felt so drained that it was all she could do to stop herself slumping onto the floor.
