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to destroy it, but Rosie sent it without telling me. And
then we heard that she had willed you the cottage. The
bitterness in his voice increased.
So that s how it was posted after she died. Belinda
took in this information, then shook her head.
But that s not the letter I m talking about. I mean
the letter that was written to Capability Brown. About
designing a small garden in this village.
Jacob dropped his head onto his chest. His voice
was hoarse and a shiver caused his shoulders to
tremble.
Rosie found them.
Where? In my house?
Jacob shook his head. No. In my room.
Belinda s brow creased in puzzlement. How did
they get there?
Jacob slowly raised his head until he was looking
directly at Belinda. He spoke in a listless manner but
his eyes held her firmly in his gaze.
I got them from the old lady s house. She must
have found them. I searched one day while Rosie kept
her busy outside. I was looking for the garden plan. For
years there s been rumours that the plan existed but no
one knew where or which property had the remains of
the garden, but it was clear to me that it was your
aunt s. I knew she d got wind of it, and she used to ask
me questions about it. If the plan existed it had to be in
her cottage. I found the letters that proved I was right,
but not the plan. I m not certain even your aunt knew
where that was. Rosie didn t realise I d got the letters,
but I knew they would prove that it was your property
that Capability had designed the garden for. He
glanced around distractedly.
Rosie had them in her hand when she died & and I
ran. His voice grew husky. Ran and ran and ran. He
looked earnestly at Belinda. Rosie must have found
them in my room and was going to give them back to
you. What she didn t know was that I was waiting in
your cottage.
In my cottage? But & what were you doing there?
There was a short silence and then Jacob spoke
softly but distinctly.
I killed Rosemary. I took the ice pick and drove it
into her skull.
Belinda felt a terrible numbness invade her body.
You killed your sister? she breathed in horrified
disbelief.
Jacob nodded slowly.
Oh, Jacob, why?
A flush of colour tinged Jacob s gaunt cheeks.
You don t think I meant to kill Rosie, do you? He
gave a slight, odd laugh. I mean, how could you think
I d plan to kill my sister? I heard her in the kitchen, and
it seemed like the only thing to do. He looked at
Belinda earnestly.
I took up the ice-pick and when she leant out the
kitchen door, I & killed her.
But you said you didn t mean to kill Rosie.
Jacob leant forward across the table, his voice
gentle as though explaining to a backward child.
Of course not. I meant to kill you.
To Belinda it seemed as though her heart had
stopped beating. Instinctively she took a step
backwards towards the door.
Jacob edged around the table. He seemed like a
small boy attempting to explain a mindless diversion to
a disbelieving and sceptical adult.
You see, if you were dead, there was a chance for
me to buy the cottage. I thought first of marrying you,
so that as your husband I would own the land. He
stopped and frowned. But that would have meant
leaving Rosie, and I couldn t do that. Not after all she d
done for me. So I decided that if you were dead I could
buy your land when it came up for auction.
Belinda s hand closed over the door handle. Her
only thought was to escape, to get away from this
madman.
Jacob continued talking pedantically, as though
rehearsing a speech.
I went to your cottage to wait for you to come
home. I heard someone in the kitchen. I thought it was
you. But it was Rosie. And I & Jacob paused, tears
sprang into his eyes and he roughly wiped them away.
After I killed her, I ran. I told people I was in
Westbury on a job. I thought I d go mad.
Did you think you d go mad when you killed my
aunt?
Jacob stared at her in innocent disbelief.
Oh, no. I didn t kill her. She fell down the stairs. It
was an accident. You must believe me, I didn t kill her.
Just ask Rosie.
He gasped as the words left his mouth and he
whimpered his dead sister s name.
I don t believe you.
Belinda turned the handle and pulled the door open.
The rain swept over her like a curtain as she ran
into the intense storm.
A glance over her shoulder showed Jacob
silhouetted against the door as he gave chase.
His voice challenged the tormented elements.
I want that garden,. he shouted, his voice strident
and full of bitterness.
Hardly able to breathe, Belinda reached her gate
and pushed the heavy door open. It gave easily and
she felt herself fall and land heavily on the garden
path.
The key to the front door of the cottage flew from
her hand and disappeared into the mud and rotting
foliage.
Jacob s heavy footsteps crashed closer as she
hauled herself to her feet. Her only hope was to find a
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