A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller Page B

strychnine or other poison?”
    â€œNo.” He shook his head emphatically. “I have small children in my home. I would not have risked keeping that sort of thing anywhere around them. Richard told me he hadn’t bought any, either.”
    He didn’t tell the court that he had been so afraid that Diantha might do something to herself on one of her bad days that he had made certain there was nothing about the house which she could use to hasten her death. He had even hidden his guns away in the barn and had removed all but the dullest knives from the house.
    Judge Carver seemed to have lost interest in his testimony. The next question was so trivial he wondered why the judge even bothered to ask.
    â€œWhat was your wife’s age?”
    â€œShe turned thirty November first of last year.”
    â€œDescribe your wife for the court.”
    â€œHer hair was brown, her height was five foot and two inches, and her eyes were green . . .” He hesitated. Those words seemed so inadequate to describe someone like Diantha—a woman he had loved with all his heart. “And she was the most beautiful woman I have ever known.”
    The judge scribbled something on a piece of paper. “You may go back to your seat. We’ll take a short break.”

    During the break, Ingrid saw Mr. Hunter standing outside beneath a large tree, talking earnestly to Agnes, who had obviously been wounded by the things he had been forced to reveal about her mother. Her heart broke for him and his daughter.
    â€œWhy do they do this to him?” she asked Hazel.
    â€œDiantha’s mother and her aunt Almeida, who came over right after her death, were in the room when Dr. Allard mentioned the possibility of poison. Neither of them have let up since. Evidently, Diantha had told them how unhappy she was, and at least one of them brought Millicent in on it. Diantha and Millicent were friends.”
    â€œI did not know,” Ingrid said.
    â€œIt does seem odd. They weren’t exactly thick. Diantha had too many young children for them to spend a lot of time together, but she was closer to Millicent than anyone else.”
    At that moment, Millicent arose and started out the door. She seemed surprised to see Ingrid.
    â€œSo that’s where you got to,” she said. “I need you back at my house at once.”
    Ingrid was taken aback. “You make me leave.”
    â€œI changed my mind. It will take time to find someone to replace you. In the meantime, I have no one to do your chores.”
    â€œShe’s fine just where she is,” Hazel said.
    Millicent sniffed. “You don’t need a servant. You could never afford to pay one in a million years, no matter how wretched the servant might be.”
    â€œYou might be surprised what I can afford,” Hazel said.
    â€œCome along, Ingrid,” Millicent commanded. “I’ll take you home now. There are dishes to wash.”
    Ingrid pressed her back against the log wall. “No.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œI stay with Hazel.”
    â€œHmm.” Millicent pursed her lips and cocked her head. “I wonder how Hazel will feel about that when George stops ordering the medicine he keeps in stock for her heart condition.”
    â€œHe would not do that,” Ingrid said.
    Millicent’s mouth curved in a knowing little smile. “George will do anything I tell him to.”
    â€œYou have heart problem?” Ingrid asked Hazel.
    â€œNothing to worry about,” Hazel said. “Besides, I can order it my ownself—ain’t like I never kept a store before. I was only having George order it to give him some business.” She glared at Millicent. “The man needs all the business he can get if he’s gonna buy this one here all the fancy doodads she wants.”
    â€œI hope you’re prepared to order everything else you need for the rest of your life once I tell George you stole my