“This is marvelous!” Barbara squeaked. “Finally, this glorious diamond has been returned to its rightful owner.”
“Isn’t your brother its rightful owner?” Charles muttered.
“What?” Barbara stopped, the glee slipping from her face like water. She tilted her head to one side—dark curls cascading at an angle and hanging over her shoulder like Spanish moss from on oak tree.
Charles cleared his throat. “Isn’t His Grace the diamond’s owner? Did you not steal this from him? I believe that’s one part of the reason that he came here in the first place.”
Barbara glared at Charles, her eyes so filled with contempt that they seemed to glow through the misty night like mean candles.
“That’s what you told me. Am I mistaken?” Charles continued.
“I thought you loved me.” Barbara spat, her back stiffening with rage.
“I do.”
“I thought you loathed my brother.”
“I don’t loathe him. I don’t loathe anyone—except maybe my own brother. Your brother, the Duke, annoys me. I don’t understand him and his madness. I find him to be bothersome, but I don’t hate him. He was very kind to me and treated me with respect—even when I didn’t deserve it. That’s more than I can say for any ‘sane’ man. I think he deserves to have his property returned to him.”
“It’s Father’s diamond.”
Charles sighed, fearing that Barbara was retreating into the murky world of her own pitiable madness again.
“I know he’s dead.” Barbara snapped. “Don’t look at me like that and issue forth your bovine sighs. I am aware that my father is dead. My mother is, too.”
“As heir to the Fallbridge duchy, His Grace is the owner of that gem. And, if I recall, your father had entrusted the Duke with its care long ago.”
“If you can call hiding the diamond in the hollow head of Julian’s puppet ‘entrusting.’”
“The stone should be returned to the Duke. We don’t need it.”
“Don’t we?” Barbara laughed. “On what are we to live? Our pure love? Ha! You are a fool.”
“Why not? Why can’t we live on love like honest people. I’m able-bodied. So are you. Why can’t we both work for our bread?”
“Because I’m a lady!”
“You ceased being a lady long ago, Barbara. Let’s be honest.”
“You didn’t seem to mind that when you…”
Charles interrupted. “We can live comfortably. We don’t need much.”
“Comfortable people never triumph!”
“Over what do you wish to triumph?” Charles asked frustratedly.
“Over those who’ve wronged me.”
“Who?” Charles said, taking a deep breath. “Arthur?” He shook his head. “Dead! Who else? Nellie? Dead!”
“They’re nothing to me.”
“Who then?” Charles asked angrily. “Your brother? Sure, he’s barmy, but he’s kind. He’s rescued your son and given him a chance at a happy life in his ancestral home. Colin will one day be the Duke of Fallbridge and all of your family’s wealth will befall him. His Grace will give your son what you couldn’t—a name and his rightful fortune. You’ll punish him for that?”
“I’m not so concerned about Julian.” Barbara muttered.
“Who then?” Charles asked again. “Ulrika? Do you really think you can silence her? She’s stronger than we are. So are Iolanthe Evangeline and Marie Laveau. Neither of us stands a chance against them. Why ruin yourself further in a pointless battle?”
“I’m terribly saddened that you have so little faith in me. Now—with this diamond in my hand—I have the means to triumph over all of them and make them pay for their crimes! And should I fail, I’ll die knowing that I, at least, made them suffer.”
“What of your crimes? Will you pay for them?”
“Haven’t I already?” Barbara shouted—her voice echoing through the empty streets. “I began paying the day that Dr. Halifax cut that screaming child from my body! Halifax—he’s another one…”
“You’re consumed by it. Revenge! Don’t you realize what you’ll be missing? Have you no regrets?”
“The only regret I have is that I cannot make all men suffer as they’ve made me suffer.”
“All men?” Charles snorted. “And, me?”
“You, too, yes.” Barbara smirked. “Perhaps, in fact, I should start with you.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-420? If so, you can read them here.
1 comment:
Very good chapter, buddy.
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