Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (reading an ebook TXT) 📕

on the shredded cushion below her hand her fingers were still. He tiptoed out of the apartment, banged the door behind him, and ran down the stairs. In Gloucester Road he hailed a taxi.

Judy put the two mugs down on the table and pushed the packet of sugar toward Tim. "You know, I never expected you to spend so long over this. I really am grateful. "

He took two spoonfuls, scattering crystals over the table, and stirred them slowly into the black coffee as, far away below, the street door banged. Footsteps began climbing the flights of stairs toward the studio.

"I'm sorry I can't see the whole project through. " Tim smiled at her. "Perhaps, if I'm honest, I spent longer than necessary. I wasn't looking forward to spending this evening on my own. Caroline is packing and washing her hair and convincing her mama she is not going to join a guru and never be seen again. I'm meeting her at the airport tomorrow afternoon. "

Judy glanced at him. There was a touch of humorous sympathy in her eyes. "We could split a take-out dinner if you like—" She looked up in surprise at the sudden knocking on the studio door.

Tim climbed to his feet. "You're on, " he said. "Chinese or what?" He pulled open the door and stepped back abruptly as Sam thrust his way past him into the room.

Judy jumped to her feet at the sight of him.

"Sam?" Her voice was frightened. "What are you doing here?"

Sam had stopped dead as the door swung back against the wall. He looked swiftly from Judy to Tim and back, then he smiled. "So. " He took a deep breath. "You two?"

"Get out, Sam. " Judy put her hands on her hips. "I don't know what the hell you're doing here, but get out. Do you hear me? If you don't, I'll call the police again!" Her voice was unnaturally shrill. "You are not welcome in my studio. "

"Come on, Sam. " Tim took a step toward him. "You heard what Judy said. Just leave quietly, there's a good fellow. "

Sam laughed. "There's a good fellow, " he mimicked mockingly. "Oh, no, my friend, not this time. This time I think we have some scores to settle, some scores that go back a very long way. " As he stepped menacingly toward Tim, Judy turned and dived into the bedroom. She grabbed the phone, but Sam was immediately behind her and with a quick jerk he had torn the wire from the wall.

"No more police, Judith, my dear, " he breathed. "I think we can manage very well without them this time. "

Judy went white. "You're crazy, Sam, " she shouted. "Crazy!"

Behind Sam, Tim had appeared in the doorway, and for a moment none of them moved. Then Sam threw down the end of the wire. "It was you I came to see, Judith. I seem to remember we had an unfinished piece of business to settle. Each time I leave Joanna I have this urge to come here, it seems. To visit another whore. All women are whores. Even my mother, or she would never have had another child. A whore to my father!" He took a deep breath, controlling himself with an effort. "You should be flattered that I share my brother's taste in beautiful women. As you do, of course. " He turned to Tim. "I'm almost glad you are here, so I can deal with you once and for all. My wife's eldest daughter, remember... ?" His eyes were suddenly blazing with emotion.

Judy backed away from them as Tim eyed him warily. "Forget it, Sam, " Tim said coldly. "Forget it. It's all in your imagination. "

"Is it?" Sam took another step toward him. "Joanna doesn't think so. " He laughed.

"If you've been near Jo again—" Tim suddenly squared his shoulders. Though of much lighter build than Sam, he topped him by several inches. "If you've touched her, I'll kill you, so help me God!"

"Of course I've touched her. " Sam sneered. "Did you think I would leave her alone? She admitted everything, you know. How she had cheated me. How she slept with you. I beat her for it, did she tell you? And if I beat her, what more should I do to the lousy bastard who seduced her!" He was only feet from Tim now.

Tim backed away hastily. "Sam, for God's sake, calm down. Let's talk about this. "

"Not this time. I sat back and let it happen long ago. I pretended I didn't know. I watched people snigger and laugh behind their hands and call me cuckold. I could do nothing about her fornication with the king, but you—you are a different matter. I was never entirely sure. She was too clever for me in the past, but now things are different. Now I am in control. And now I know the truth. " He picked up the brass candlestick from the low chest near him and held it up menacingly. "You are going to pay for what you did, de Clare!"

"No!" Judy screamed as he lifted his arm.

Tim, his face white, dodged back toward the bedroom doorway. As he did so his foot caught on the Persian rug that covered the polished boards. He staggered for a moment, then he slid sideways, crashing against the edge of the door.

Sam laughed. "Now I have you, de Clare! On your knees like your paramour!" He raised the candlestick high above his head as Judy launched herself at him, catching his arm. As they wrestled for a moment Tim slipped slowly onto his hands and knees, then on down to the floor. There was an ugly bleeding gash from the door latch on his temple.

Abruptly Sam let his arm fall. He stood staring down at Tim.

"Tim?" Judy threw herself down on her knees beside him. "Tim, are you all right?" She raised a white face toward Sam. "He's unconscious. "

For a moment