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hrjSomething must be done about Antuniet; Barbara could no longer avoid that conclusion. She had no love for Antuniet herself and owed her nothing, but her cousin was entangled in something with the potential to cast a larger shadow. Barbara had set men to spy on her for weeks; now it was time to act. But someone else, it seemed, was there before her...
* * *
“What is it?” she barked at the chaos in the entry hall. Ponivin had arrived at the same moment she had, but the butler—exchanging quick glances with her—deferred to her command. Bertrut was near to hysterics in the doorway from the front parlor. The servants were alternating between outrage and terror. The new arrivals were two of her hired shadows, dripping rain all over the carpets and laying down a large burden that looked terrifyingly like a body. “Report!” Barbara barked again, this time directed at them. Behind her, Barbara could hear Margerit gasping in fear.
“They broke into the workshop—staged a carriage accident to cover the noise and came in through the back, I think. We didn’t know until we heard the screaming.”
“Antuniet!” Margerit cried and dodged around her to kneel by the motionless bundle and peel back the cloak wrapped around the bloodied figure. But the face revealed was younger and unfamiliar.
* * *
“What is it?” she barked at the chaos in the entry hall. Ponivin had arrived at the same moment she had, but the butler—exchanging quick glances with her—deferred to her command. Bertrut was near to hysterics in the doorway from the front parlor. The servants were alternating between outrage and terror. The new arrivals were two of her hired shadows, dripping rain all over the carpets and laying down a large burden that looked terrifyingly like a body. “Report!” Barbara barked again, this time directed at them. Behind her, Barbara could hear Margerit gasping in fear.
“They broke into the workshop—staged a carriage accident to cover the noise and came in through the back, I think. We didn’t know until we heard the screaming.”
“Antuniet!” Margerit cried and dodged around her to kneel by the motionless bundle and peel back the cloak wrapped around the bloodied figure. But the face revealed was younger and unfamiliar.
