The Cornish Heiress Read Online Free PDF

had
been beaten so soundly by the giant deaf-mute that he was in bed for several
weeks He had no recourse because he had already made himself so obnoxious to
everyone in the house that with one voice they would have perjured themselves
about the cause of his injuries.
    That had ended any open contest and any marital relationship
between Edward and Megaera. Unfortunately Edward was clever and Megaera was
innocent. Edward had his revenge. Over the next five years he had encouraged
his father-in-law’s weaknesses. Lord Bolliet sank deeper and deeper into
alcoholism. Megaera did what she could, but it was impossible to watch her
father day and night, and she could not bear to set a keeper over him; in spite
of everything she loved him. That, and not recognizing Edward’s part in her
father’s decay, was a serious mistake. Somehow, over the years, Edward had
forced or deceived Lord Bolliet into mortgaging his properties. By the time
Megaera discovered what was going on, the debt was very large compared to the
value of the lands. Over the next two years she had paid the interest and a bit
of the principal by selling her mother’s jewels. There was no need to set a
watch on her father to be sure he signed no more papers. No banker or even
usurer would lend a penny more on the Bolliet estates. Megaera pared expenses
to the bone, but there was no way to pay off the debt out of income. She
watched her resources dwindle with helpless terror. There would soon come a time
when she and her father would be thrust penniless out of their home.
    Naturally enough, the first restriction on expenses was the
allowance that had been paid Edward. Nor could he take anything from the house
to sell or pawn. All the servants watched him eagerly, and he knew Megaera
would either set John on him again or would go further and endure the scandal
of accusing her husband of stealing, for the advantage of being rid of him. The
only reason his presence was suffered at all was that he had not destroyed Lord
Bolliet’s notes of hand, as he had promised he would when Megaera married him.
If he were pushed out, he threatened, he would present those to be paid—and he
had arranged them to look like legal debts rather than gambling losses.
    Ever inventive, Edward discovered a new way to turn a
dishonest penny. He made contact with a group of smugglers. This was not
difficult, as he had been an avid customer for duty-free brandy for some time.
Edward himself drank only socially and seldom enough to interfere with the
devious workings of his brain; however, he had fed his father-in-law’s desire
for oblivion until the profit in it ended. Now he offered to arrange direct
deliveries to the houses of the gentry for a split in the profit.
    Although Edward did not know it, Black Bart was not a man who
could be overawed by his new “partner’s” exalted connection. Edward collected
the price of the wine and brandy Black Bart delivered, and the split was not
honest. It took a little time for Black Bart to discover this. He had his own
blind spots. Most of his men and the local farmers were so afraid of him that
they would not dream of cheating him. It was several months before he realized
that Edward did not share the caution of his other employees. When he did
discover it, his action was direct. He shot Edward dead.
    In fact, Bart was glad of the excuse Edward had offered. He
had been considering getting rid of his partner for a week or two. Once Edward
had established the delivery route, he was really unnecessary to the scheme.
Unfortunately for Black Bart, he and Edward had very similar things in mind; Edward,
however, acted less directly. Feeling that Black Bart was unnecessary now that
he knew the “French” smuggler, Edward had betrayed the group to the Customs
officers. Only a few hours after his own death a raid on the barn, in which the
smugglers had gathered to divide and distribute the cargo Pierre had delivered,
gave Edward a posthumous revenge.
    The