Beaumont then went quickly up the stairs. He removed the knife fromBlanche’s relaxed grip and dropped it. Then he took her firmly in his onearm, despite the blood. “Did you kill him?” he said in a calm voice. “Goodfor you.”
Beth remembered Hal had been a professional soldier, no stranger togore. His matter-of-fact tone was just what was needed. The White Doveburst into body-shaking sobs.
Beth tightened her grip on the pistol and quickly looked back at hertarget, but both the bullies stood frozen. “She can’t have killed him,”Pig-eyes said. “She can’t have.”
“Whether she has or not,” Lucien said coldly, “your part is over.”
Robin scampered up from the basement with a length of rope and the menwere securely bound, hand and foot. When Robin explained he’d got the ropeby untying one of the maids, who’d promptly had hysterics, he was sentback with instructions to untie the other but keep the two women downthere until further notice.
Then Lucien carefully relieved Beth of the weapon she still clutched inher hand and uncocked it before taking her in his arms. “Are you unhurt,sweetheart?”
It felt wonderful to be safe. “Oh yes, Lucien, but it’s been horrible.The man is mad. Quite mad.” She was trembling with reaction and fightinghard not to burst into tears herself. His hand gently stroked herneck.
“Was, I suspect. I don’t think Blanche would mistake such a thing.” Heturned with Beth still cradled in his arms to look at the White Dove,protected by Mr. Beaumont’s one strong arm.
The two of them had made their way down the stairs and Blanche’s tearshad ceased, though they could still be seen on her cheeks. Her gown hadbeen rearranged to cover her and was fastened by what looked like a man’scravat pin.
“He is dead, Blanche?” Lucien asked.
“Oh yes,” she replied with a calm which was a clear indication ofshock. “I gutted him like a pig.”
“I wanted to kill him,” said Lucien in mock outrage.
“You’d have to stand in line,” said Hal.
“He was mine,” said Blanche with such a look in her eyes that the mengave up the flippant debate. “He was mine,” she repeated and then took adeep shuddering breath and assumed a light manner. “I have always wantedto doMacbeth,” she remarked. “I think I will next season.”
“God, Blanche . . .” Then Lucien just shook his head and went to pourfour glasses of brandy. Everyone drank them to steady their nerves. Bethreplaced Clarissa’s scarce-touched glass in her hand and once again said,“Drink.”
“She really killed him?” asked the girl faintly.
“I believe so.”
“I’m glad really, but ?”
“I know. Don’t think about it. We don’t need a scene, Clarissa.”
The girl finally took a shuddering sip from her glass.
“I always keep a knife down the side of the bed,” explained Blanche,who was a little more normal after the spirits, and consequently rathershaky. “I got into the habit quite early in life.” She knocked off thelast of her brandy. Her hand was visibly shaking. She looked down atherself and grimaced. “I must go and wash. The White Dove never wearscolors ... In the kitchen, I think.”
“No,” said Hal, looking at Blanche like a man seeing the Holy Grail.“Think of the poor maids. Go to one of the spare rooms and I’ll bring youwater. Just let me check on Deveril first. It’s always possible he stilllives.”
He went upstairs and returned in a few moments, considerably paler.“You are rather thorough, aren’t you?”
“He wanted to enjoy my hate in bed,” said Blanche flatly. “I obligedhim.”
Clearly this was enough to startle even a soldier, but then a blissfulsmile spread over Hal’s face and he tenderly escorted Blanche upstairs. Ina few moments he came down for the water.
“I gather Blanche has a new protector,” said Lucien dryly to his dazedfriend.
“Protection? She doesn’t need it,” Hal said with a smile. “Isn’t shemagnificent? Anyway, I’m going to marry her.” He shrugged and gave aslight smile. “Somehow. She isn’t taken with the notion at the moment. Imust admit, it’s not the best time to have offered. But think of themagnificent offspring that hellcat would produce.” He then hurried off onhis errand.
Beth started to laugh. Once started, she could not stop until thehysteria dissolved into painful tears. She clung to Lucien and he gentlydrew her down to sit on his lap.
She heard his awkward, concerned murmurs. “There, there. Don’t cry,love. You’re safe. I’ll never let anyone hurt you . ..”
“He ? he was going to have youkilled.”
