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.The changes you have brought to Seacliff have been incredible.Timothyis as well behaved as I ve ever seen him.Ash is coming out of his shell.I wouldlike this to be your room, I hope for as long as you like. I shall be perfectly happy to remain downstairs.I am not sure I will remainhere past our three-month agreement. It s Leo Van Horne, is it not? That snake. Why didn t you tell me it was he who found me on the cliff? Mr.Johnson interrupted us. Mister Duncan, the carriage is waiting to takeyou to the station. I sank down into the overstuffed chair by the bed. You re leaving? One moment, Johnson. He waited for the servant leave. I m going toManhattan to meet with Upshaw, now that he has my offering of Mother s dolls.I am confident I can close the deal without having to resort to extreme mea-sures. Like marrying Miss Upshaw? 113 M AX P I ERCE Don t act like a spoiled child.Marriage to her wouldn t change my feelingsfor you.An arrangement Such as the one Oscar Wilde had? Look at the trouble it caused him.I do notthink I would be interested in any arrangement of that kind.It is ridiculous. He frowned. You make this very difficult, Andrew.Unfortunately I don thave the time to discuss the nuances of my proposal with you. You assume I would move into this bedroom without concern. He lifted his eyebrows. Go on. Once settled, you most likely believe I would open that connecting door andallow you to satisfy whatever needs you may have. I see you ve figured my intentions are entirely selfish.Trust me, you wouldbe well compensated.But the difference That situation may have worked for Steven Charles, but not for me.I believein true love, Duncan Stewart, and my heart is not for sale. It worked well for my parents, and Albert. Another stupefying revelation had made itself known.However, I was morefurious that Duncan Stewart again took a business approach to every aspect oflife. Is that why the room where your father and Albert died is locked? What? The room is sealed and apparently has been for some time, per your direc-tion.Is it a museum to their arrangement ? Duncan called for Fellowes at the top of his lungs to no response.This infuri-ated him more. Damn it all, I don t have time for your priggish suspicions, butI shall resolve this matter at once.You stay here. I m coming with you, I& The words trailed off. You need to believe that I didn t murder my father, is that it? What is in thatroom, eh? The dark secrets to the unhappiness in this house, perhaps? PerhapsSteven is down there as well? The eyes were darker than night.I had pressedtoo hard.Mrs.Johnson appeared in the doorway as I was struggling to get out of theenormous chair. I heard ye yellin all the way in the kitchen.Fellowes left thehouse, Mister Duncan.He didn t say where he was going. Do you have a key to Albert s bedroom? Why no sir, only Fellowes has a key& and yourself, I thought. Duncan stormed out, leaving us.She turned back to me. Best to battendown the hatches, Andrew.I ve seen that look before.That temper s quick as asudden storm, and just as terrible. 114 T HE M AS TER OF S EACL I F FThe key in the pocket of Steven s coat must access the locked room.Thepieces of the puzzle were falling into place with stunning alacrity.I hobbledover and pulled it out of the pocket.Mrs.Johnson s eyes grew wide. Wherever did you get that? It s the key to the room downstairs isn t it? I knew& Tis Gwendolyn s. I grabbed a robe, trying not to notice Steven Charles monogram as I slippedit around me.With pain shooting through me, I managed to get to the bottomof the stairs.Mr.Johnson looked at his pocket watch and shook his head. We ve got to get him to the station, Mister Andrew.What in heaven s namehas him all worked up? I came down the hall behind Duncan who slammed into the door with his fullweight and growled with the animal rage that was in him.Another mistake, andI had caused it. Duncan, I didn t mean& By God I won t have them haunting me further! Damn them and damn theseoak doors. I was seeing the full extent the legacy of his father s death.It tormentedDuncan.On top of this was the suspicion of guilt brought on by myself.He hadnever spoken of it before now, and when it had been referenced, it was usuallyaccompanied by a quick shut down of all feelings.Those emotions had beenreleased with the fury of a volcanic eruption.The lock gave way, and with a splinter of wood, the door opened.I peeredaround Duncan s back.It was an ordinary room, as simple as its twin across the hall.In my mindperhaps I did expect to see everything frozen in time, covered in cobwebs likea chapter in Mr.Dickens novels.There was a hint of mustiness, but white mus-lin sheets covered all the furniture.Aside from that and the heavy drapes block-ing out the sun and the sea on two sides, there was no real indication of death,or that the room had been closed for eight years.Duncan s eyes were transfixedon the floor. Their bodies were right there.I can still see the revolver in Albert s hand. You found them? He shook his head. I was on my way back, and I blacked out along the path.I couldn t stop it. I tried to comfort him. It s all in the past, Duncan, let s open the curtains and allow some fresh airinto this room. I struggled with the drapes; after a moment they allowed sun-115 M AX P I ERCElight to flood the bedroom.I opened the window and welcomed the fresh seaair as it filled the room.When I turned back, Duncan had seated himself on thebed, and had buried his face in his hands.I looked down; the mark of tragedycould not be erased in the mid-afternoon light.The naked floor had two enor-mous stains that darkened the wood in the center.I put my hand on Duncan s shoulder and he looked up at me. The truth is I am responsible for their deaths.I m completely guilty ascharged.Everything I have ever truly loved has been taken from me.But I didnot shoot them, Andrew.You must believe me. I tried to understand if this was a confession. Mister Duncan, we have to leave for the station, Mr.Johnson called fromthe hallway.Duncan stood up and the cold composure I had so often seen was back.Heacted ready to face the world, but I had a glimpse at the deep wounds withinhis heart.Sweeping into the hall, he did not say goodbye.I heard his heavyfootsteps as he walked out the side door.This bedroom overlooked the walk-way and I hurried to the window to see him disappear around the corner to thecoach.This room was at the center of Duncan Stewart s pain.Had I done moredamage by forcing Duncan to confront his past? Perhaps Fellowes indeed pro-tected the son of the couple he worshipped by keeping the room sealed.Now the valet loitered before me, studying the dust on the wainscotingaround the door. I see you would not rest until you forced him to reopen thisroom. He looked down. Congratulations.Mister Charles never succeeded [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.The changes you have brought to Seacliff have been incredible.Timothyis as well behaved as I ve ever seen him.Ash is coming out of his shell.I wouldlike this to be your room, I hope for as long as you like. I shall be perfectly happy to remain downstairs.I am not sure I will remainhere past our three-month agreement. It s Leo Van Horne, is it not? That snake. Why didn t you tell me it was he who found me on the cliff? Mr.Johnson interrupted us. Mister Duncan, the carriage is waiting to takeyou to the station. I sank down into the overstuffed chair by the bed. You re leaving? One moment, Johnson. He waited for the servant leave. I m going toManhattan to meet with Upshaw, now that he has my offering of Mother s dolls.I am confident I can close the deal without having to resort to extreme mea-sures. Like marrying Miss Upshaw? 113 M AX P I ERCE Don t act like a spoiled child.Marriage to her wouldn t change my feelingsfor you.An arrangement Such as the one Oscar Wilde had? Look at the trouble it caused him.I do notthink I would be interested in any arrangement of that kind.It is ridiculous. He frowned. You make this very difficult, Andrew.Unfortunately I don thave the time to discuss the nuances of my proposal with you. You assume I would move into this bedroom without concern. He lifted his eyebrows. Go on. Once settled, you most likely believe I would open that connecting door andallow you to satisfy whatever needs you may have. I see you ve figured my intentions are entirely selfish.Trust me, you wouldbe well compensated.But the difference That situation may have worked for Steven Charles, but not for me.I believein true love, Duncan Stewart, and my heart is not for sale. It worked well for my parents, and Albert. Another stupefying revelation had made itself known.However, I was morefurious that Duncan Stewart again took a business approach to every aspect oflife. Is that why the room where your father and Albert died is locked? What? The room is sealed and apparently has been for some time, per your direc-tion.Is it a museum to their arrangement ? Duncan called for Fellowes at the top of his lungs to no response.This infuri-ated him more. Damn it all, I don t have time for your priggish suspicions, butI shall resolve this matter at once.You stay here. I m coming with you, I& The words trailed off. You need to believe that I didn t murder my father, is that it? What is in thatroom, eh? The dark secrets to the unhappiness in this house, perhaps? PerhapsSteven is down there as well? The eyes were darker than night.I had pressedtoo hard.Mrs.Johnson appeared in the doorway as I was struggling to get out of theenormous chair. I heard ye yellin all the way in the kitchen.Fellowes left thehouse, Mister Duncan.He didn t say where he was going. Do you have a key to Albert s bedroom? Why no sir, only Fellowes has a key& and yourself, I thought. Duncan stormed out, leaving us.She turned back to me. Best to battendown the hatches, Andrew.I ve seen that look before.That temper s quick as asudden storm, and just as terrible. 114 T HE M AS TER OF S EACL I F FThe key in the pocket of Steven s coat must access the locked room.Thepieces of the puzzle were falling into place with stunning alacrity.I hobbledover and pulled it out of the pocket.Mrs.Johnson s eyes grew wide. Wherever did you get that? It s the key to the room downstairs isn t it? I knew& Tis Gwendolyn s. I grabbed a robe, trying not to notice Steven Charles monogram as I slippedit around me.With pain shooting through me, I managed to get to the bottomof the stairs.Mr.Johnson looked at his pocket watch and shook his head. We ve got to get him to the station, Mister Andrew.What in heaven s namehas him all worked up? I came down the hall behind Duncan who slammed into the door with his fullweight and growled with the animal rage that was in him.Another mistake, andI had caused it. Duncan, I didn t mean& By God I won t have them haunting me further! Damn them and damn theseoak doors. I was seeing the full extent the legacy of his father s death.It tormentedDuncan.On top of this was the suspicion of guilt brought on by myself.He hadnever spoken of it before now, and when it had been referenced, it was usuallyaccompanied by a quick shut down of all feelings.Those emotions had beenreleased with the fury of a volcanic eruption.The lock gave way, and with a splinter of wood, the door opened.I peeredaround Duncan s back.It was an ordinary room, as simple as its twin across the hall.In my mindperhaps I did expect to see everything frozen in time, covered in cobwebs likea chapter in Mr.Dickens novels.There was a hint of mustiness, but white mus-lin sheets covered all the furniture.Aside from that and the heavy drapes block-ing out the sun and the sea on two sides, there was no real indication of death,or that the room had been closed for eight years.Duncan s eyes were transfixedon the floor. Their bodies were right there.I can still see the revolver in Albert s hand. You found them? He shook his head. I was on my way back, and I blacked out along the path.I couldn t stop it. I tried to comfort him. It s all in the past, Duncan, let s open the curtains and allow some fresh airinto this room. I struggled with the drapes; after a moment they allowed sun-115 M AX P I ERCElight to flood the bedroom.I opened the window and welcomed the fresh seaair as it filled the room.When I turned back, Duncan had seated himself on thebed, and had buried his face in his hands.I looked down; the mark of tragedycould not be erased in the mid-afternoon light.The naked floor had two enor-mous stains that darkened the wood in the center.I put my hand on Duncan s shoulder and he looked up at me. The truth is I am responsible for their deaths.I m completely guilty ascharged.Everything I have ever truly loved has been taken from me.But I didnot shoot them, Andrew.You must believe me. I tried to understand if this was a confession. Mister Duncan, we have to leave for the station, Mr.Johnson called fromthe hallway.Duncan stood up and the cold composure I had so often seen was back.Heacted ready to face the world, but I had a glimpse at the deep wounds withinhis heart.Sweeping into the hall, he did not say goodbye.I heard his heavyfootsteps as he walked out the side door.This bedroom overlooked the walk-way and I hurried to the window to see him disappear around the corner to thecoach.This room was at the center of Duncan Stewart s pain.Had I done moredamage by forcing Duncan to confront his past? Perhaps Fellowes indeed pro-tected the son of the couple he worshipped by keeping the room sealed.Now the valet loitered before me, studying the dust on the wainscotingaround the door. I see you would not rest until you forced him to reopen thisroom. He looked down. Congratulations.Mister Charles never succeeded [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]