Tears of Gold Read Free

as if to protect herself from Jamie’s words. “How do you know this? ’Tisn’t true, is it, Jamie?”
    “Aye, ’tis true enough. Heard the shot o’ the pistol meself. ’Twas my doin’ too,” she added on a sob.
    Mara looked down at the grizzled head in disbelief. “ Your doing? Jamie, you’re not making sense.”
    “’Twas after I delivered the package that he shot himself. Seein’ the dress and locket must have driven him beyond all reason. I was down the street a bit when I heard it. Servants was runnin’ everywhere, and then coaches started pullin’ up, and I just stayed out o’ sight, but close enough in a crowd to hear them say the young lord had gone and shot himself dead.”
    “’Tisn’t my fault,” Mara whispered worriedly.
    Jamie looked up. “Who is goin’ to be blamed for this day’s deeds—well, I’ll not be so righteous as to say. Only, ’tis a good thing we be leavin’ London for Paris tomorrow. That much I will say,” Jamie said meaningfully, “for there be some who might not be so generous over this matter.”
    Mara returned her stare steadily, no sign of emotion apparent on her flawless features. “No sense in telling Brendan, is there?” Mara asked calmly, the only indication of nervousness the clasping and unclasping of her hands.
    As her lips began to tremble under the strain, Mara turned and walked over to the window. She drew aside the heavy curtain and stared out at the dusky twilight descending over the forested parks and fashionable squares of London. She hid her face from the room as she gazed at the twinkling lights beginning to appear all over the city.
    Dear God, what had possessed her to do this? What demons were trying to drive her toward her own destruction? If only she’d left well enough alone. But no, she’d had to toy with the affections of that young lord. Never before had she hated herself for the games she played. Always in the past she had felt justified. But this time it was different. It had ended in tragedy. If only she could go back and change what had happened. But it was too late to say she was sorry. Too late to beg for his forgiveness. He was dead, and it was her fault. That was the ugly truth she must accept and live with for the rest of her life.
    A spasm of remorse crossed her face, but no one saw it, nor would they have believed it. For Mara was adept at hiding her feelings.
    “No one will be remembering my name, Jamie. Mara O’Flynn’s part in this tragedy will soon be forgotten, replaced by some new piece of gossip. When we leave London, we will leave the past behind us. Your word, Jamie, that we never speak of it again,” Mara demanded as she turned to face the old woman.
    “I’d never be doin’ anything to hurt ye, Mara,” Jamie sighed. “’Tis forgotten.”
    ***
    “Mara…oh, God, Mara. Please let me love you,” the voice pleaded in anguished hopelessness. “She’s a temptress, a witch with laughing, golden eyes. Oh, Mara, you can’t be saying these things to me.
    “Irish bitch!” Julian screamed hoarsely as he writhed with fever in the bed. A strong hand pressed him back against the pillows, holding him firmly against the cool sheets. Sensing the comforting restraint, Julian opened his blue eyes and was lucid for a moment as he recognized the man leaning over him. He reached out his hand and with sudden strength grasped the other man’s shoulder in a hard grip.
    “She led me on out of malice. She did it on purpose. My God, Nick, the hate I saw in her eyes. If she’d had a knife, she would have stabbed me through the heart. Instead, she used words to wound me.” Julian’s glazed blue eyes met the man’s penetrating stare. “She laughed at me. Ridiculed my love. She said she’d hurt far wiser men than me. I wasn’t the only one she’d played the enchantress with, only to deceive in the end. But why? Why did she do it? What did I ever do to her, except to give her my heart?”
    Julian broke free and hid his