A New Fear (14 page)

Ruth smiled up at him sweetly. “I can make myself cry whenever I want to, and I shall cry constantly on the witness stand. I will tell them how good my father was to you and how you repaid his kindness by poisoning him. I will tell the judge you killed Jason because he discovered the truth.”

She wiped the tears away and her eyes were dry instantly.

She would do it, too, Nicholas thought. If I do not do exactly as she wishes, she will have me hanged. How could he get away from her?

“What is your decision?” she asked. “Do you choose to die or do you choose to marry me?”

As Ruth waited for his answer, an idea began to form in his mind.

A powerful idea.

An evil idea.

Chapter 27

“W
hat is your decision?” Ruth repeated coldly.

Die! Nicholas screamed to himself. I would rather die than marry you!

But he did not let his emotions show. He kept his face still, his eyes blank.

Ruth had played her game. She had deceived him, tricked him. She was not the pitiful, shy girl he thought she was.

But Nicholas could play her game, too. Only he had plans to change the rules until they suited him.

Nicholas stared down at Jason’s body, as if considering his options. Then he met Ruth’s gaze and smiled. “I will marry you.”

But then I will kill you and take your money, he silently added. And with your money I will marry Rosalyn and buy her everything she deserves.

*   *   *

Ruth made all the wedding arrangements. Two days later she and Nicholas stood in the parlor with the minister.

She told the minister she was still grieving over the loss of her father and wanted a quiet ceremony. The minister’s wife and Mrs. Baker were the only witnesses.

The minister began to read the marriage vows. Ruth repeated the vows after the minister in a strong, clear voice.

Nicholas smiled at her blandly. You think you have won, Ruth, Nicholas thought. I cannot wait to see the surprise on your face when you realize how short “till death do us part” really is.

The minister turned to Nicholas. Nicholas repeated the vows, keeping his voice neutral. He did not want Ruth to suspect what he had planned for her.

Then the minister asked Nicholas to present Ruth with a token of his love. Ruth told him she did not want a ring. She wanted the amulet.

Nicholas hated the thought of Rosalyn’s most prized possession hanging around Ruth’s neck. Touching her cold skin.

She will only wear the amulet a short time, he reminded himself. I will reclaim it when I kill her. Rosalyn will never know I used it to gain our legacy.

He took a deep breath and draped the silver chain around Ruth’s neck.

“You may now kiss the bride,” the minister said jovially.

Nicholas leaned toward Ruth. Then he jerked back.

Something was wrong with her face. The skin seemed to
move
.

Maggots. Nicholas realized tiny white maggots were swarming in and out of her nose and mouth. Crawling everywhere.

Ruth reached out for him and pulled his head down to hers.

Chapter 28

R
uth smiled, and her teeth turned black with decay. They fell to the floor with little
ping
sounds.

The flesh ripped away from her face in chunks. He could see her cheekbones and part of her skull. One of her eyes dangled from a bloody string.

Ruth puckered her lips.

I cannot kiss her, Nicholas thought. I cannot.

The vision faded. Ruth’s appearance returned to normal.

“Kiss me, Nicholas.” She said it sweetly. But Nicholas knew it was an order.

Just get through the ceremony. You will be through with her tonight, Nicholas told himself. She will be dead tonight.

Nicholas quickly brushed his lips over hers. Ruth’s lips were cold—like the rest of her.

But they will be colder before tomorrow morning, Nicholas thought. And I will never again have to kiss them.

“I suppose you will let people know of your marriage,” the minister said after he wished them well.

“Yes, we will,” Ruth assured him. “I know we should have waited, but it was my father’s last request that we marry.”

Nicholas took her hand, forcing himself to play his role. “Yes,” he added. “And we both felt it was important to honor his dying wish.”

The minister nodded approvingly. “I am sure you two want to be alone,” he said. He ushered his wife and Mrs. Baker to the door.

Nicholas felt relieved when they had all given their best wishes and he could shut the door behind him.

He turned to Ruth. “I brought a bottle of champagne up from your father’s wine cellar. I thought we could make a toast.”

“Oh, Nicky! That is wonderful!” Ruth gushed. “I will change my clothes and be right back.” She hurried across the room to the stairs.

Nicky. I hate that name, Nicholas thought as he made his way to the kitchen. I hate the way Ruth is smiling and acting like a silly little girl.

She knows I saw her grind the poker into Jason’s throat. She knows I saw the horrible way she killed Betsy. Why is she bothering to pretend?

He glanced out the kitchen window. It was going to storm soon, he noticed.

Nicholas grabbed two glasses. He pulled a packet of rat poison out of his pocket and emptied it into one of them. Then he filled the glass with champagne and stirred until the poison dissolved.

The clerk at the feed store in Waynesbridge had assured him the packet was more than enough to handle all his rodent problems.

If the poison could kill all the rats in a barn, it could kill Ruth.

Nicholas filled his own glass, picked up Ruth’s, and carried them to the study. Then he settled himself in one of the leather chairs to wait for Ruth.

The sky grew dark as more thunderclouds rolled in. Then it started to pour.

“You look so serious, Nicky,” Ruth scolded. “What are you thinking about?”

Nicholas turned his head and found her standing in the doorway. She held a small wedding cake in her hands.

Lightning flashed, and the blue gems of the amulet around Ruth’s throat glittered.

Time to play the game, Nicholas told himself.

He forced a bright smile. “I was just thinking how fortunate it was that I came to Shadyside.”

Smiling, Ruth placed the cake on the desk. Then she circled behind his chair and rested her hands on his shoulders. “How sweet of you to realize so early in our marriage that you will be happy with me.”

Nicholas tilted his head back and forced himself to gaze into those dead black eyes of hers. “You were
right, Ruth. We are friends. We will be good company for each other.”

Nicholas stood. “Let’s have our toast.”

Be careful, he told himself. Ruth is smart. If she notices you acting strange, it is over. She can still tell the police you murdered Jason.

Nicholas handed a glass to Ruth, then picked up his own. His hands did not shake. Good.

“I have never had champagne before, Nicky,” Ruth exclaimed. “This is so much fun.”

“I am glad you are having your first drink with me,” Nicholas told her. Because then Ruth would not notice if the champagne tasted odd.

Nicholas raised his glass. “To our marriage!”

He started to take a sip.

“No!” Ruth cried.

He froze. “What is wrong?” he asked.

“We have to link arms. Then I drink out of your glass, and you drink out of mine. I read about it in a novel.” Ruth moved closer and wrapped her arm around his.

The glass with the poison was inches from Nicholas’s lips. His heart gave a little flutter in his chest. What could he do?

A knock sounded in the distance.

Saved! “I will answer it,” Nicholas said loudly.

They untangled their arms, and Nicholas set his glass on the desk.

Tonight will no doubt be the longest night of my life, he thought as he hurried to the door. He planned
to bury Ruth in the woods after he killed her. He had the hole all ready.

The knock sounded again.

Nicholas grabbed the handle and swung open the door.

He felt his heart drop. His throat went dry.

“Rosalyn,” he whispered hoarsely.

Chapter 29

N
icholas rushed onto the porch and shut the door behind him.

Rosalyn wrapped her arms around his neck, and he held her close.

Her clothes were drenched, but he could feel the warmth of her body against his. Warm. So warm.

Nothing like Ruth’s cold flesh. Nicholas shuddered, thinking about Ruth holding him in her arms.

Nicholas pressed his face into Rosalyn’s wet hair. The scent of roses filled his nostrils. He wanted to forget Ruth. Forget all the death he had witnessed.

He never wanted to let Rosalyn go. But he had to. He could not allow Rosalyn to see Ruth. Rosalyn would never understand. He would lose her forever.

Nicholas moved back a step and stared down into Rosalyn’s face, trying to memorize every detail. It felt
as if years had gone by since they said good-bye on the train platform in Shadow Cove.

Only a few days had passed. But so much had happened. Too much.

Lightning flashed. Nicholas could clearly see the worry in Rosalyn’s brown eyes. “Something is wrong,” she said quietly. “Tell me.”

“I want to tell you,” Nicholas answered. “But I cannot. Not here. You must go. Take a room in the hotel. I will come for you tonight. I promise.”

As soon as I kill my wife, he thought. Just as soon as I kill my wife.

Before Rosalyn could ask him a single question, Nicholas lowered his head and kissed her. Trying to show her how much he had missed her. How much he wanted to be with her. How much he loved her.

Then Nicholas gently pulled himself away from her. “You have to leave now.”

Rosalyn nodded. “I love you, Nicholas.”

The door behind Nicholas burst open. Light poured across the porch.

Ruth hurried up to Nicholas and grabbed his hand. “Oh, hello!” she cried to Rosalyn. “Are you one of Nicky’s friends?”

Nicholas knew Rosalyn was waiting for him to introduce her as his fiancée. But he felt frozen. Unable to speak.

“I am Rosalyn,” she answered finally.

Say something, Nicholas ordered himself. Anything. “Rosalyn needed directions to the hotel,” he blurted out. “She has to leave right away.”

“No!” Ruth protested, “Your friend must stay and join us for our toast. Since she was not in time for the wedding.”

Nicholas saw the blood drain from Rosalyn’s cheeks. Her face went chalk white.

“Impossible,” Nicholas said weakly. “Rosalyn really must go to—”

Ruth ignored him. She linked arms with Rosalyn and led her into the house. Nicholas followed behind them. “I am so silly,” Ruth chattered. “I did not introduce myself. I am Ruth. Mrs. Nicholas Fear.”

Ruth glanced back at Nicholas. “Get another glass,” she said, her black eyes expressionless.

“Rosalyn does not want to—” Nicholas began.

“No,” Rosalyn interrupted. She turned to face him. “I want to toast your happiness. You know how important your happiness is to me, Nicholas.”

Nicholas could hear the pain in Rosalyn’s voice as she fought to stay in control.