Free The Solemn Bell by Allyson Jeleyne

that she could experience a real, lasting love affair. There was a reason everyone eventually left her. She was a burdensome child, holding them all back. They had to cut her loose to make their way in the world. She had to stay behind.
    Angelica crawled across the floor, fumbling for her only pillow. The slate tiles bit into her knees as she clumsily navigated around the worktable. She put her hand out, like an infant reaching for its mama in the dark. At last, she found the pillow, and began the slow crawl back to her pallet.
    Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence.  
    A man’s voice.  
    Could it be Captain Neill?
    Angelica sprinted toward the stairs, forgetting all about her hatred for the man who’d deceived her. She took the steps two at a time, only stumbling once before reaching the servants’ corridor. Grinning like a madwoman, she pushed the panel aside, and dashed into the room.
    “Captain Neill?” she called, breathlessly to the empty space.
    She knew she hadn’t imagined the voice. Perhaps he took the opportunity to look around her house—it had been dark before, and he had been unwell. Likely, he was curious to see the rooms upstairs, and to investigate the phantom sounds they’d heard.
    Still clutching her pillow, Angelica left the drawing room for the hall. She felt cold air in the high-ceilinged foyer, and knew someone had recently opened her front door. More cautiously this time, she climbed the elegant, carved staircase to the upper floor. It creaked and groaned, but was as sturdy as the days of her childhood. Once upon a time, her father’s family had been very wealthy. They’d built this house with the best materials and most talented craftsmen. Quality lasted forever, and Angelica supposed the staircase would stand long after she was gone.
    At the landing, she paused to listen. She couldn’t quite make out what it was, but heard some commotion coming from Freddie’s room. All these years, she’d kept his bedroom closed off to prevent intruders from disturbing his space. But, after swearing Lucifer himself had been stomping around up there, Angelica had gone in search of the disturbance—a clapping shutter knocked off its hinges, blown back and forth in the storm. She’d laughed about it. She couldn’t wait to tell Captain Neill how silly they’d been.
    She had accidentally left the door ajar.  
    Now, someone really was in there.
    Angelica tipped her ear to the gap in the doorway. There was a man, but he was not alone. There was also a woman. Two lusty lovers used her dead brother’s bed for their illicit lovemaking. She heard the bedsprings rocking, and the headboard slapping the wall. The girl moaned like a whore—like Angelica had moaned for Captain Neill. The young man shouted and grunted, bare flesh making vulgar sounds as he squirmed against her.
    Without thinking, Angelica kicked open the door. She flew into Freddie’s room in a rage, pillow raised above her head to strike at the unwitting intruders.
    “Get out!” she cried, swinging at them. “Get out of my house!”
    The lovers struggled to untangle themselves, all the while, Angelica beat them with all her strength. The girl fled the bed first, screaming. Angelica knocked her down, smacking her again and again with the pillow as the poor girl writhed on the floor in terror.
    Someone lost control of their bladder. Angelica smelled the hot urine, and laughed in the face of the terrified girl. “Get out of my house! Get out! Get out! Whore! Slattern!”
    She let the girl get away. Angelica turned her black rage on the young man, who struggled to pull up his trousers. Every time he tried to run, he fell. Exhausted, she allowed him to drag himself to his feet.
    For the first time, he must have got a good look at her. “Blimey!”  
    Angelica sucked in air, her lungs bellowing from exertion. “What are you looking at?”
    “Them eyes.”
    She laughed, maniacally. “They’re Satan’s own! Now, get out of here.”
    He