She shrugged. “No one will suspect sweet little Adelaide.” She batted her eyelashes mockingly, then reverted to a cold, commanding tone. “Now start walking.”
“No.”
“What?” Adelaide took a threatening step, the gun aimed straight at his chest. “I have a gun. Start walking or I’ll shoot you right here.”
“Very well.” He spread his arms out. “Go ahead. Shoot me here. Rather close to the house, though. They’ll hear the shot and be here quickly. How do you plan to explain my body lying bleeding on the ground? You won’t be able to get away in time. Everyone will know.”
“I’ll throw the gun away and go into hysterics because I found you lying here.”
“Mm, it might work.” He tilted his head consideringly. “Sure it’s worth the risk? I understand gaol is not a pleasant place to live.”
Light flared in her eyes, and James thought she would fire. He tensed to jump. But at that moment something crashed through the shrubbery behind them, and a large, dark shape hurtled into the clearing. Demosthenes, teeth bared, flew straight toward Adelaide.
Adelaide heard the noise and whirled. James leapt forward, shouting, “No!”
He was too late. The gun roared, and Demosthenes went down. In the next instant, James grabbed Adelaide’s arm and grappled for the weapon. It went off again, firing harmlessly into the air.
In the distance he heard Claude’s bellow and Laura screaming his name. Adelaide raked her nails across his face, but James wrenched the gun away from her and hurled it into the fountain. He shoved Adelaide away, sending her staggering backward to land on the ground. He ran to Dem and dropped down on his knees beside the inert body.
Gently, he reached out to touch the dog’s bloody head. Behind him, Adelaide scrambled to her feet and picked up a rock, rushing at him. James flung himself aside, dodging the blow, and rolled to his feet.
“Adelaide!” Claude stumbled into the clear and came to a dead stop. “No!”
She paid him no attention but swung at James again. James grabbed her wrists, holding her off. Claude ran to them and wrapped his arms around Adelaide, pinning her arms to her side.
Laura raced into the clearing. “James!” She flung herself into his arms. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“I heard the shots, and I thought—” She broke off, her voice choking with tears, and hugged him again.
“I’m all right. It’s Dem—”
“Dem!” Laura released him and whirled around. “Oh, my God, Dem!” She ran to the dog, her tears flowing. “No, Dem, please.”
The dog’s tail gave a thump against the ground, and he opened his eyes, twisting his head up to look at Laura.
“Oh! Thank God, you’re alive. But all this blood . . .”
James knelt beside her, pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, and began to clean the wound. “I think the bullet just creased him.” He gave a shaky laugh.
Laura threw her arms around James again, smiling and crying all at once. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Shh, now. It’s all right.” He closed his arms around her. “It’s over now.”
Behind them, Adelaide snapped, “Let go of me. Let go this instant.”
Laura and James turned to see Adelaide twist out of Claude’s embrace. She faced her husband, her eyes stormy, but face cold and calm. “How dare you? He hurt me. I’m your wife. You should defend me.”
“Adelaide . . . I saw you.” Claude gaped at her. “What in the name of heaven are you doing?”
She tilted her head proudly, tugging her sleeves into place and smoothing down her hair. Her voice was crisp. “I am protecting my son’s future. It wouldn’t have been necessary if you had stepped up and acted like a man. Since you refused, I had to do it myself.”
“You had to do what? Kill my brother? Are you mad?”
“No, I’m not mad. Just not a coward like you. I dare anything!” With that, she turned and sprinted for the steps down to the road.
Her action took them by surprise, and for a moment everyone just stared.
“Adelaide!” Claude shouted and began to follow. “Adelaide, stop!”
She reached the top of the long tiers of stairs and started down them at a run. Her feet slipped on the stone and she wavered, arms windmilling, then tumbled out of sight.
“No!” Claude roared and broke into a run.
James and Laura followed, stopping abruptly at the top of the stairs. Adelaide sprawled across a landing halfway down, unmoving, her head bent at an unnatural angle. Her bright hair had come loose and spilled over the stairs into the shallow water at the edge. Claude knelt beside her body, his hands over his face, his body racked with sobs.