Serpents in the Garden by Anna Belfrage Read Free Book Online Page B

point in trying to talk to him – at least not now.
    “You know,” Alex said instead, “about how best to turn a heel, or if it makes sense to use butternuts to dye homespun.” And somewhere along the way, she intended to interrogate Jenny as to the true state of the Ian-Jenny marriage, although it didn’t exactly take a genius to conclude things were far from peachy.
    “In that case, maybe I should take both lads back with me,” Ian said. Adam nodded eagerly, clearly not all that keen on visiting Forest Spring if Ian wasn’t there.
    “You do that.” Alex swept the surrounding woods and looked back at him with a frown. “Is she alone?”
    “Nay, Patrick’s there, repairing a fence.” Ian’s brows pulled together for an instant. “And you? Should you be walking alone?”
    In reply, Alex pointed to where Angus was standing to the side, almost invisible in his immobility.
    “Ah.” Ian gave Angus a nod. The tall young man mumbled a greeting, but remained where he was, cradling the loaded musket.
    “It’s like having your own private ghost,” Alex said in an undertone. “And I’m not quite sure how much good he would be should it come to the crunch.”
    “Wee Angus is a good shot,” Ian replied, just as low. “He’ll see you safe.”
    “Yeah, because otherwise Matthew will use his guts for garters.” She gave Ian a little wave and set off at a brisk pace, Angus trotting after.
    By the time Alex reached the turnoff to Forest Spring, she had almost forgotten that she had Angus with her. Walking several yards behind her, he moved like a wind through the shrubs that bordered the bridle path. Alex concentrated on her surroundings rather than on her elusive bodyguard, noting that yet another part of the forest had been cleared and fenced, in preparation for more cows.
    Just as Alex emerged from the path, she saw Patrick appear in the dairy doorway and hurry off in the direction of the fields. Alex made a face at his disappearing back. She was going to be very glad when Patrick’s term of bondage was up next year, hoping he’d leave as soon as possible. Capable and quiet, but with dark eyes that saw and noted everything, he gave her the creeps. Also, unlike Angus, it was evident Patrick resented his servant status, and at times she’d catch him looking at her elder sons – in particular Ian – with a cold gleam to his eyes and a sneer on his lips.
    Forest Spring was built on a much smaller scale than Graham’s Garden. The main house was a weathered cabin, the heavy logs having aged into a silvered brown. There was a small stable and a separate dairy situated beside the spring that gave the small homestead its name. A cat was lying on the door stoop, a couple of hens were scratching at the ground, and Jenny was nowhere to be seen.
    Alex found her in the dairy, her back to the door as she packed the diced cheese curd into the wooden pans. When Alex called her name, Jenny jumped, wheeling round so fast she almost dropped the pan she was holding. Hmm… Alex pursed her mouth at Jenny’s bright red face.
    “Mother Alex!” Jenny’s shoulders slumped. “What a surprise! I didn’t hear you, and to suddenly have someone calling my name like that, it unnerved me. For a moment there, you even sounded like my mother.”
    Alex seriously doubted that. Elizabeth Leslie had spoken with a nasal tone to her voice, far from any noise Alex ever produced. Still, she made a vague confirming sound, and followed Jenny into the main house. Something wasn’t right.
    Alex studied her daughter-in-law while she bustled about the kitchen. Jenny’s generally impeccable exterior looked unravelled, and whenever Alex met her eyes, the younger woman ducked her head to hide cheeks that went an uncharacteristic shade of pink.
    Had it been one of her own children, or even Naomi, Alex would simply have asked and waited until she got an answer, but her and Jenny’s relationship had never reached that element of familiarity, to a