Perfect in My Sight (29 page)

CHAPTER
33

Sarah settled Christopher within his father
’
s room and left him at once, not wanting to draw attention to his presence there.
She loathed having to abandon him and knew he was likely to be frightened, but it
couldn
’
t be helped. Something in her gut told her he would be safer there than he would be
with her.

And if something should happen to her before she was able to speak with Peter, then
Christopher at least had the journal to give him as proof. She had left him with specific
instructions to give the diary to his father as soon as he came into the room, and
not to reveal himself until she returned for him or until he heard his father
’
s voice.

And thank God she left when she did, because no sooner had she closed Peter
’
s bedroom door than Ruth
’
s voice startled her in the corridor.

“
Sarah,
”
she said, in a tone that was warmer than Sarah had ever heard her use before.

Prickles bolted down her spine at the unnatural
sound of it, and the hair on her nape stood on end.

Swallowing, Sarah turned to face her cousin
’
s murderer—no, perhaps she hadn
’
t committed the deed with her own two hands, but it was obvious enough from her entries
that she
’
d had a deciding role in Mary
’
s death.

Sarah forced a smile.
“
Ruth,
”
she said in greeting, and her stomach knotted.

Ruth tilted her a sweet look that made gooseflesh erupt on her body.
“
Dear Sarah,
”
she said,
“
I know you
’
ve suffered much these last days... I only wished to extend my sympathies over your
friend
’
s death. This house has seen so much tragedy,
”
she lamented, and shook her head, with a genuine look of sorrow.

Sarah
’
s heart began to thump wildly and her hands trembled, but she kept her composure.
How could Ruth be so casual after all that she had committed? How could it not be
evident in her eyes? Did she have no conscience? No heart? Feel no shame? Did she
even recall the things she had written? The things she had done?

More than anything, she needed to draw Ruth away from Peter
’
s room, away from Christopher. Taking a deep breath, Sarah began to walk away from
the room, hoping Ruth would follow.

She did.

Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. She didn
’
t want her anywhere near Christopher.

“
Thank you,
”
Sarah said, and then asked,
“
Have you seen Peter, perchance?
”

Ruth caught up with her quick strides and walked beside her down the hall. Had Ruth
sought her out, then? And what did she want?

She was up to something, Sarah sensed.

“
I
’
m afraid not,
”
Ruth answered.

An uneasy silence fell between them.

Sarah picked up her pace, hurrying farther away from Christopher, toward Peter
’
s office. She prayed he would be there. Fear began to take shape within her breast,
a tangible lump that stole her breath away.

“
Actually,
”
Ruth disclosed then,
“
I was looking for you. I hoped you would have just a few moments this morning,
”
she said much too sweetly.

Sarah
’
s heart tripped.
“
Me? You were looking for me?
”

Ruth smiled.
“
Yes. I
’
m afraid we
’
ve not had the opportunity to get to know one another as perhaps we should, and it
seems to me my brother has grown quite fond of you. I thought it might be rather nice
for the two of us to chat a bit while Peter is out. Don
’
t you think so?
”

“
Peter is out?
”
Sarah
’
s heart sounded like thunder in her ears.
“
I thought you said you
’
d not seen him?
”
She halted at his office and peered within. Her heart lurched at finding it empty.
He wasn
’
t there. She turned to face Ruth, her stomach rolling.

Ruth gave her a sweet smile.
“
Well... I haven
’
t, you see, but I was told that he is off to a meeting this morning—business, I suppose.
He always did work entirely too much, that brother of mine,
”
she disclosed with a sigh.
“
That was part of the problem, I think, between him and Mary. Poor Mary,
”
she said, and added,
“
Cile always was quite insistent, I
’
m afraid.
”

Sarah nodded.
“
Cile?
”

Ruth smiled benevolently.
“
Yes, of course. The two of them have long been inseparable.
”

Was that why Mary had doubted Peter? Had Ruth filled her mind with half-truths and
innuendos?

“
Have you a few minutes, Sarah?
”
she persisted.

Sarah stared at Ruth without answering, uncertain how to respond. She reminded herself
that Ruth couldn
’
t possibly know about the journal so soon, that she
’
d discovered it—or could she?

She shuddered, and nodded, swallowing the knot that rose in her throat.
“
Certainly.
”

“
Wonderful!
”
Ruth exclaimed, and added, clapping her hands in an expression of delight,
“
I
’
ve taken the liberty of ordering some tea and biscuits to be served in the parlor.
”
She smiled brilliantly.
“
This shall be quite nice, I think, and long overdue!
”
And she turned to walk away, clearly expecting Sarah to follow.

Sarah had to force her feet to move.

She took a deep breath and followed down the corridor.

Ruth was certainly up to something. She was behaving so strangely. She
’
d not once spoken to Sarah so cordially in all the time Sarah had been in Peter
’
s home.

Alarms sounded in her head, blaring in her ears.

The sweet scent of chamomile tea filled her lungs as she entered the parlor.

She froze in the doorway, not quite able to enter the room.

“
Oh, good!
”
Ruth said, and went directly to the small table where the teacups and biscuits were
laid out so neatly for them.
“
It
’
s already been served, I see. How proficient of Caitlin!
”
She turned to face Sarah.
“
Do come in,
”
she urged, seating herself upon the chair facing the door.

The curtains were open wide to University Place. Only a thin veil of lace shielded
them from view. Anyone might see them within this room. Sarah assured herself that
even a madwoman would not attempt murder in such a public place. She entered the room
at Ruth
’
s beckon, though hesitantly. Her stomach turning and her heart racing, she made her
way to the chair facing Ruth.

“
I must say, Sarah,
”
she said in an admonishing tone,
“
that I was quite taken aback to discover your ruse with Peter, and I cannot say as
I approve...
”
She rose from her chair once Sarah was seated, smiling softly.
“
However ... excuse me, but I think I shall close this door,
”
she said, changing the subject suddenly.

Sarah
’
s heart tripped. She rose from the chair at once.
“
Oh, no!
”
she exclaimed, but Ruth had already reached the doors and was closing them.

Ruth turned to face her.
“
Much better,
”
she said.
“
We don
’
t wish to spill our dirty laundry to the servants, now do we?
”

Sarah shook her head helplessly, feeling a bit out of control. Her thoughts began
to race.

Her gaze fell to the table, to the neat setting of cups and saucers laid out for them...
both cups empty as yet. Between their cups sat a steaming kettle of tea
, and the usual accompaniments... sugar... cream
... A small tray of biscuits sat to one side. The combined scents of tea and fresh
biscuits wafted to her nose, deliciously sweet...

Inviting.

Much too
...

“
Sit,
”
Ruth demanded of her, and waited for Sarah to comply.

Sarah did, frowning. She would be bloody damned if Ruth thought she was going to put
a single morsel of biscuit or a drop of tea to her lips.

She was hardly stupid.

But then
... Ruth didn
’
t know she
’
d discovered her journal.

In truth, Sarah might otherwise
have been completely oblivious
... had
she not stumbled upon the diary... but she had
...

Stay calm, she demanded of herself.

Stay calm.

She didn
’
t have to eat or drink.

Ruth couldn
’
t make her.

All she needed to do was stall until Peter arrived.

It wasn
’
t as though Ruth had dragged her away to some dark cellar; they were both seated in
the broad light of day and in hearing distance should Sarah feel the need to shout
for help.

And still Sarah
’
s heart hammered as she sat once more within the chair facing Peter
’
s sister.

“
There now,
”
Ruth said, smiling once more, and sat again as well. She didn
’
t move toward the tea at once, rather she sat back within the chair and studied Sarah
a moment.
“
You really are quite lovely,
”
she pointed out.
“
I can certainly see why Peter is enamored with you.
”
She shook her head and laughed softly.
“
It was the same with your lovely cousin, too. Mary was such a darling.
”

Sarah nodded, uncertain what to say.
“
She was,
”
she agreed, and peered out the window, hoping Peter would pass by, hoping somebody
would, anybody. She breathed a little easier when a young couple strolled slowly by,
and returned her attention to the table between them.

She stared at the kettle of tea. It was a beautiful porcelain set with tiny pink roses
painted over blue flowing ribbon. Steam drifted out from the delicate spout, fragrant
and sweet.

“
As I was saying,
”
Ruth continued.
“
I cannot say as I approve of your methods. I certainly wish you might have revealed
yourself from the first, though I do understand your silence. I might have done the
same,
”
she said.
“Perhaps
...
”

Sarah nodded and smiled. Her brows lifted. She took a deep breath and tilted her head,
not quite certain how to respond.

Ruth reached out and poured herself a cup of tea. She filled Sarah
’s cup afterward...
from the same kettle.