His Forbidden Bride Read Free

like to have one of
    them yourself, as a keepsake,' she suggested. 'That one, perhaps.'
    Her aunt almost recoiled. 'Wretched daub.' Her voice shook. 'I wouldn't have
    it in the house.'
    Zoe stared at her, appal ed at the anger, the bitterness in her tone. She said
    slowly, 'Aunt Megan—why—why do you hate her so much?'
    'What are you talking about? I—hate Gina—the perfect sister?' Her sudden
    laugh was shrill. 'What nonsense. No one was allowed to hate her. Not ever.
    Whatever she did, however great the sin, she was loved and forgiven
    always. By everyone.'
    'She's dead, Aunt Megan.' Against her will, Zoe's voice broke. 'If she ever
    hurt you, I'm sure it wasn't intentional. And, anyway, she can't do so again.'
    'You're wrong.' Mrs Arnold lifted her chin coldly. 'She never had the power to
    affect me in any way. Because I always saw her for what she was. That
    innocent, butter-wouldn't-melt façade never fooled me for a minute. And how
    right I was.'
    She stopped abruptly. 'But that's all in the past, and the future is what
    matters. Sel ing this cottage for a start.' She stood up. 'I suggest you hire a
    skip for al this rubbish— or take it to a car-boot sale. Whatever you decide,
    I want it cleared before the first viewers arrive. Starting with this.'
    She reached up and lugged the Mediterranean painting off its hook, tossing
    it contemptuously down onto the rug in front of the hearth. There was an
    ominous cracking sound.
    'The frame,' Zoe whispered. She went down on one knee, almost
    protectively. 'You've broken it.' She looked up, shaking her head. 'How could
    you?'
    Her aunt shrugged, a touch defensively. 'It was loose anyway. Cheap wood,
    and poorly made.'
    'Whatever.' Zoe was almost choking. 'You had no right—no right to touch it.'
    'This is my property. I shall do what I wish.' Her aunt reached for her bag.
    'And I want the rest removed, and al the holes in the plaster made good,'
    she added. 'I shal be back at the end of the week to make sure my
    instructions are being fol owed. Or I shall arrange a house clearance myself.'
    She swept out, and a moment later Zoe, still kneeling on the rug, heard the
    front door slam.
    To be fol owed almost immediately by the back door opening, and Adele
    calling to her.
    'Jeff’s looking after the kids,' she announced as she came in. 'I saw Madam
    leaving, and came to make sure you're al right.'
    Zoe shook her head. 'I feel as if I've been hit by a train,' she admitted. She
    swal owed. 'God, she was vile. I—I can't believe it.'
    'I'l put the kettle on,' said Adele. She paused. 'What happened to the
    picture?'
    'She threw it on the floor. It was completely crazy. I mean, I don't think it's
    necessarily the best thing my mother ever did, and it spent most of its life up
    in the attic until she moved here, but…' She paused, lost for words.
    'Wel , I've always liked it,' Adele said. 'Greece, isn't it? My sister gets
    concessionary rates, so we went to Crete last year, and Corfu the year
    before.'
    Zoe shrugged. 'It's somewhere in that region, I guess.' She gave it a
    doubtful look, then got to her feet, holding the damaged frame careful y, and
    placed the picture on the sofa. 'Only we've never been there. My father didn't
    like very hot weather.'
    'Wel , perhaps she copied a postcard or something that someone sent her,'
    Adele suggested as she fil ed the kettle in the kitchen.
    'Maybe.' Zoe frowned. 'It was one of those things I always meant to ask
    about, but never did.'
    'So, when are you being evicted?' Adele asked as they sat at the kitchen
    table, drinking their tea.
    'I have to be out by the end of the month,' Zoe admitted. 'And she means it.'
    'Hmm.' Adele was thoughtful for a moment. 'Do you think she real y is
    crazy?'
    'Not certifiably,' Zoe said wryly. 'Just total y irrational where my mother is
    concerned.'
    'Wel , maybe that's not entirely her fault,' Adele said meditatively. 'My gran
    remembers her as a child, and she said she was a nice-looking kid, and