Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 09] - Logic Of The Heart Read Online Free Page A

hands off," said Mrs. Henley, drawing and
levelling the pistol under his ribs, "before I decide to fire it."
    "Hey!" cried Pollinger, starting forward, alarmed.
    Trent looked down at the pistol, then looked up into the young
lady's steady grey eyes. His hands still raised and his own eyes very
wide, he muttered, "By God, but I believe you would."
    "Have you ever wondered how many people would attend your
obsequies?" she asked chattily. "Were I you, sir, I would lower my
hands very slowly. This is cocked and my brother tells me it has a
hair-trigger—whatever that may mean."
    Pollinger gave a little yelp and retreated.
    Trent's eyes narrowed. "Why, you little trollop," he breathed.
"With your reputation, you dare—"
    "Have a care, Junius!" cried Pollinger nervously. "Woman.
Pistol. Looks like a Boutet. Very touchy, y'know. Very."
    "Your friend is perfectly right," said Mrs. Henley. "I am sure
I do not know how long I can hold this thing, so—"
    "What the devil—"
    A tall young man exploded through the rear door and came down
the hall on the run. He wore work clothes and heavy hip boots, and a
Belcher neckerchief was tied carelessly about his throat. Very dark,
with thick curly hair and a fine physique, he was yet of much slighter
build than the pair who confronted Mrs. Henley. "Get away from my
sister, you filthy swine!" he roared, his grey eyes narrowed and
murderous.
    Mrs. Henley's gaze flashed to him. Junius Trent's hand flailed
downward and smacked the pistol to the side. It went off with a roar
that purely astounded the widow, who had really thought it to be
unloaded.
    Pollinger grabbed the newcomer's arm, swung him around, and
collected a tightly clenched fist in one eye. Staggering, he howled
curses.
    Trent wrenched the pistol from Mrs. Henley's grasp, whirled,
and brought the butt down hard on the back of the newcomer's dark head.
    Mrs. Henley whispered, "Andy!" as her brother crumpled to the
floor. Starting for him, she was caught by the wrist. "Coward!" she
flung at Trent.
    He laughed rather breathlessly. "I do not care to be shot at
when I come calling," he said, and jerking her to him, kissed her
ruthlessly.
    She made not the slightest attempt to struggle, but stayed
passively until he released her. Very white, she stared at him, a blaze
in her eyes that brought his slow smile back. "Gad, but you're a fiery
chit, well worth the taming," he murmured. "How the hell did you come
to marry a drunken sot like Henley?"
    "My husband," she said, her voice trembling with fury, "was a
disgraced and dishonoured man. But compared to you, sir, he was a
paragon of virtue!"
    Clutching his eye, Pollinger had bent over the fallen man and
now suggested, "Think we'd best be on our way, Junius."
    Trent bowed. "My compliments, Mrs. Henley. You will remember
why we came, I trust."
    "Certainly I shall not forget two brave men who forced their
way into this house, abused a lone woman, and struck down her brother
from behind. I hope you may be proud of what you have to report to your
master!"
    "You've a wicked tongue, lovely one," said Trent, frowningly.
"No man is my master. But be warned. Montclair wants you out of this
house and off his land. And it does not do to oppose him. As for this
young fool," he glanced contemptuously at his motionless victim. "Had
you not tried to murder me I might not have struck so hard. Blame
yourself, Mrs. Henley.
Au revoir
. I do not say
goodbye, you'll note. We will meet again."
    He sauntered from the house, shouldering Deemer aside as the
butler came panting up the front steps.
    The reaction making her shake violently, Mrs. Henley sank to
her knees beside her brother. "Andy," she sobbed, seeking a pulse.
    Deemer ran in. "Oh, my God! Please say he's not dead, Mrs.
Sue!"
    She looked up through a blur of tears. "No, thank G-God!
But—oh, Deemer, if he is badly hurt I will take a rifle to my lord
Montclair! That filthy, conniving lecher will rue the day he sent his
ugly cronies after us. I swear