Black Rose

journals?”
    “Journals? Do you mean the journals written by my grandmother and my great-grandmother that were taken out of this house without my permission?”
    “Your permission was not required. I’m the oldest living Harper, and those journals are mine by right.”

    “We certainly disagree on that, but I can help you as to their location. They’re back where they belong—morally, legally, and ethically.”
    “I’ll have you arrested.”
    “Oh, please, try. Won’t that be fun?” The dangerous iceberg was back as she sat on the arm of a chair, crossed her legs casually. “Won’t you just relish having your name, the Harper family name, smeared all over the press, talked about all over the county?” Her eyes went hot, in direct contrast to the chill of her voice. “Because I’ll see that it is. I’ll grant every interview and discuss the whole unseemly mess over cocktails at every opportunity. Such things don’t concern me.”
    She paused, leaning down to take the cookie Lily was holding up to her. “Why, thank you, sugar-pie. But you?” she said to Clarise. “I don’t think you’ll enjoy being the butt of gossip and innuendo and jokes. Particularly when it’ll come to nothing. I have possession of what is my legal property.”
    She picked Lily up, set her on her knee, and gave the cookie back while the room remained silent but for Clarise’s outraged breaths. Roz decided it was one of the rare times she could actually, and accurately, describe a scene with the phrase her bosom heaved .
    It was glorious.
    “If you want to have the police question how I came to regain possession, I’ll be happy to tell them. And I hope you enjoy explaining to them how you had what belongs to Harper House, and therefore me, locked away in your desk. Along with several other expensive pieces that are catalogued as Harper House property.”
    “You’ll dirty the family name!” Her face dark with rage, Clarise stepped forward. “You have no right. You have no business digging into what is best left buried.”
    Calmly Roz passed the baby to Mitch, where Lily babbled and generously offered to share her mangled cookie. She heard Mitch’s murmured “Take her down, honey” as she got to her feet. “What are you afraid of? What did they do to her? Who was Amelia?”
    “Nothing but a tramp, a low-class whore who got no more than she deserved. I knew, the minute you were born, that blood would tell in you. I see it has.”
    “So I am from her,” Roz said quietly.
    “I’ll speak no more about it. It’s a crime and a sin that a woman like you is mistress of this house. You have no right here, and never did. You’re no-account, grasping, nothing but a blight on the family name. My grandmother would’ve set the dogs on you before she let your kind cross the threshold of Harper House.”
    “Okay, that’s about enough.” Before Roz could speak—and she had plenty to say—Harper was up and across the room. “You’re leaving, and you’re never coming through that door again.”
    “Don’t you back-talk me, boy.”
    “I’m not eight anymore, and you’re not welcome here. You think you can stand here and insult my mother? A woman with more class in one eyelash than you could cobble together out of every dried-up bone in your body? Now, I can show you the way out, or I can kick you out. Your choice.”
    “You’re just like her.”
    “That’s the first genuine thing you’ve said since you came in. This way, Cousin Rissy.”
    He took her arm and, though she tried to swat him away, led her out of the room.
    There was a beat of silence, then Hayley’s low whistle. “Go, Harper.”

TWENTY

    UPSTAIRS IN THE sitting room, Mitch lifted Roz’s feet into his lap, and began to rub. “Long day for you.”
    “Wasn’t it just.”
    “You got in some mighty swings, Slugger.”
    “I did, but Harper sure did bat clean-up and knock it out of the park.”
    “I know I’m in love when my girl can talk in baseball analogies.” He lifted her foot higher to kiss her ankle. “I’ll take my share of the journals with me. I should be able to get a start on them tonight.”
    “You’ve had a long day yourself. After the wedding’s soon enough.” She tipped her head back, closed her eyes as his thumb pressed into her arch. “Besides, if you go, you’ll stop rubbing my feet.”
    “I was hoping this would be a suitable bribe.”
    “You don’t need a bribe. I was hoping you’d stay.”
    “It so happens I