Tears ran down Jessica’s cheeks. Her bewildered expression had nothing to do with having a fragile mind. She must wonder what she’d done to deserve this mistreatment. All those she’d trusted were false-hearted scoundrels. All those except Blent.
“What do you hope to achieve by shooting Miss Draper?” Blent said calmly, though the pain behind his eyes told a different story. “Why risk your life? Until now, you’ve committed no crime.”
“You cannot hope to take her place,” Finlay added. “There are too many witnesses here, witnesses who will give a true account of events.”
From the firm set of her jaw and the devilish look in Maud’s eyes, Sophia knew it would be impossible to reason with the woman.
“You don’t understand,” Maud snapped. She firmed her grip on the pistol, causing Jessica to whimper. “People step over me like I’m something foul in the street. My husband married me for money. My father refused to acknowledge me, giving all his praise to his pretty young daughter. What about me? He made me empty the pots and scrub the grate, sleep in the dusty attic. Look at us!” She tightened her grip on Jessica’s neck, forcing her head back. “We have the same eyes, the same golden hair and slight frame.”
But they did not have the same blood flowing through their veins.
Sophia knew it with absolute certainty.
“You believe Clarence Draper was your father?” Sophia began, ready to undermine Maud’s argument. “And you confronted him with your suspicions?”
“My mother told me my father was a wealthy gentleman from Godstow.”
“Did your mother not work at The Trout Inn in her younger days?”
Maud nodded. “And she said Clarence Draper was often seen creeping about the yard late at night.”
Another fact concocted by the serving wench to embellish the tale. Perhaps the woman saw the similarity between the children and thought to spin a yarn.
“Remind me how old you are, Maud.”
“Twenty-seven. Two years older than Jessica. I’m the bastard daughter your father despised. The likeness is uncanny.”
Everyone in the room listened intently to the conversation.
“And when you confronted my father, what did he say?” Sophia knew the answer. Her father despised gossips and did not want to draw undue attention to his family. The reason for which Sophia would soon reveal.
Maud grunted. “He denied ever knowing my mother. He said if I mentioned it again, he would send me off without a reference. Clarence Draper would dismiss his own daughter to protect his precious reputation.”
“And his reaction angered you.”
“Had he welcomed me with open arms, none of this would have happened. But he carried on pretending I didn’t exist.” Maud ground her teeth at Jessica. Jealousy distorted her features, twisting them into something ugly and abhorrent. “Not like this pretty creature who had everyone pandering to her whims.”
“And so you sought to rob Jessica of everything she treasured—her sanity, her memory, her hopes for the future. I doubt it proved difficult to lure Mr Archer into bed.”
Jessica glared at the unprincipled fool. “Should I meet my end tonight, Mr Archer, know
that I didn’t love you, not like I love Mr Blent.”
Tears sprang to Sophia’s eyes. Jessica could still have a bright future if they escaped with their lives tonight. The thought would give Sophia the strength to overcome Maud.
“And yet Bartholomew risked everything to come back to England,” Maud said. “But don’t fool yourself, deary. He didn’t come back for love. He wants to kill me and marry you, all because his business partner stole and lied and left him in desperate need of funds.”
Life provided countless opportunities to learn lessons. Yet after being tricked by a dishonest rogue, Mr Archer continued in the same selfish vein.
“This is ridiculous,” Mr Archer blurted. “Put the pistol down, Maud, else you’ve no chance of escaping the noose.”
Mr Archer had conveniently forgotten about his crimes.
“Me!” Maud exclaimed. “You should be shot for the way you’ve treated me. You abandoned me in India, paid that fool Kamara to poison my tea. Oh, perhaps I should mention you came to England for an alibi.”
Mr Archer ground his teeth. “Be quiet, witch. No wonder your father abandoned you. You’ve the morals of a sewer rat.”
Maud’s eyes widened. The pistol in her hand shook as her entire body trembled with rage. With the hammer cocked, one slip of the finger and Jessica would meet a grisly end.