“But Winston.”All light was gone.The fight for words was a lost battle, but she forced four more.“Winston will kill her.”
Nurse Rhodes’s words came from some far-off place, growing more distant by the second.“God will keep her, Mrs.Davis.He has not forgotten nor forsaken either of you.Rest well.”
Rest well?Impossible.Sleep would come.Constanza couldn’t fight it.But the world would never be well again.Shewould never be well again.Winston and Ursula had won.Their revenge was only just beginning.Death would be kinder than this knowing Eleonora would soon be lost.
And it was all Constanza’s fault.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“EEEP!”LILY’S FRIGHTENED SQUEAL CAMEfrom outside Nora’s bedroom door.
Nora abandoned changing her linens and retrieved her gun from the drawer.She would not make the mistake again of assuming her own home safe.She flung open the door, ready to defend Lily.
The poor girl stood pressed against the wall and stared, horror-stricken, at Tristan.A dead mouse hung from the mouth of the all-too-pleased beast.At least he’d fully killed the thing.Nora would take a dead mouse over a living one any day.She set her gun on the dresser next to the door before Lily could notice its presence.There was no sense in scaring the girl more.
Tristan dropped the corpse at Nora’s feet and gave a “you’re welcome” trill.
Well, shehadsaid they needed a mouser.She scratched Tristan behind the ear, then dropped a handkerchief over his hunting trophy.
“I’m sorry, miss.I was coming to inform you that you have a caller downstairs, and then—” She waved at the scene before her with the feather duster.
Tristan took it as an invitation to play and jumped at it.
“No!Bad kitty!”Lily thrust the duster toward the ceiling and stuck her foot out to shoo Tristan away when it appeared he planned to climb her skirts to reach it.
Nora scooped Tristan into her arms and stroked his back soothingly.“You said I have a caller?”
Regaining her composure, Lily nodded.“She says she’s new to the courtyard and is making her introductions.”
Of course they would get a sociable neighbor.Maybe Nora could introduce the woman to Mrs.Jerden so they could keep each other entertained and leave Nora alone.Don’t be so disagreeable.You are a member of this neighborhood, and this neighborhood welcomes and watches out for one another.Nora closed her door, then set Tristan back down.Socializing might not be her favorite thing, but it would not hurt her to be more congenial.
“Show her to the parlor, please.”She should probably offer refreshments, even if breakfast had only been two hours ago and it meant her guest would stay longer than a quick hello.“Then make a fresh pot of coffee and find the tin of cookies Lydia left behind.”
“And the mouse?”By Lily’s expression, she thought touching the corpse was a reprehensible idea.
“I’ll place it in the guestroom chamber pot so you can dispose of it properly.”
“Oh, thank you, miss.”
Lily disappeared downstairs while Nora used her soiled handkerchief to deal with the nuisance.Afterward, she mentally prepared herself for inconsequential conversation.It was a toss of the coin which she would dislike more, the woman to carry the conversation with little input from Nora or for Nora to have to force the conversation along.Lord, help me to be the hostess You desire, because sometimes I really wonder why You love people and why I must be forced to do so as well.
Nora paused at the parlor’s entrance.Mrs.Reed stared out the front window in a bright purple gown.Shewas Nora’s new neighbor?Was this God pushing Nora toward a future of music?Between composing with Ezekiel and now this, was it wrong to hope so?
“Mrs.Reed, I did not expect you.”
The woman pivoted, eyes round and an excited smile making herwrinkles more pronounced.“Why, Miss Davis, I am so pleased we are neighbors!”She approached with extended arms like she expected Nora to hug her.
Nora dropped into a deep curtsy to stop that nonsense.Not everyone liked to be so friendly with a practical stranger.“Welcome to my humble home.Please have a seat.Lily will bring refreshments shortly.”
Thankfully, Mrs.Reed didn’t act affronted as she lowered her arms and took a seat before the fireplace.“I do hope you are still considering my offer of lessons.We could start right now.Where is your piano?”
“We don’t have one.”
“How dreadful.”
Though Nora agreed, lessons were out of the question at present.“I assume you’ve leased the house on the corner?”
“Yes.It’s a mite large for a lone woman and her brother, but the price and location were right for training aspiring singers.With my connections and direction, you’ll have a life on the stage in no time.”
