Read The Usurper's Crown for Free Online Page A

Papa.
    “Thank you for your help, Mr. Avan,” said Ingrid, careful not to look back at him as she followed her parents and brothers. She realized absurdly that she did not know for certain if Avan was his Christian name, or his family name. One more small mystery of this long, strange night.
    As they neared the yard, Grace moaned and stirred in her father’s arms. When they were all inside the front room, Papa set her on her feet and Grace stood, swaying in place.
    “Take her upstairs, Mother,” said Papa softly.
    “I’ll do it.” Ingrid moved forward.
    “No, you will not.” Papa’s cold words stopped her in her tracks.
    Mama, her eyes already brimming with tears, took Grace’s elbow. Grace offered no resistance as she was led away, but Ingrid thought she saw her sister’s eyes flicker back, looking for her, pleading for help.
    Ingrid swallowed and faced her father and brother. They were both square men, fair-skinned and auburn-haired, as she was. Hard men, shaped by labor and by the expectation of hard work and hard weather for the rest of their lives. The stubble on Papa’s chin had gone gray, and his hands were thick with years of calluses.
    Ingrid stiffened her spine, ready for whatever might come. It was then she saw the eyes of her two littlest sisters and their young brother peeping through the door to the back kitchen.
    “Well there’s a fine thing,” she said. “All of you listening at doors when there’s work to be done. The kindling is not gathering itself, nor are the hens going to give up their eggs without asking.”
    “Out into the yard, all of you,” added Papa without taking his eyes off Ingrid.
    The door swung shut as the children retreated.
    “Now then, miss,” began Papa. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
    “I thought to see where Grace was trying to go,” replied Ingrid steadily, folding her hands in front herself like a child saying a lesson.
    “You thought!” snorted Leo. “You thought to humiliate us in front of all our neighbors. There won’t be a man on the boats not asking me when you and Grace can come out again.”
    “Such a trial for you,” snapped Ingrid. “I am so sorry that your sister’s illness has brought you to such grief.”
    Leo took a step forward. “If she were ill, I would grieve. But she is either shamming, or she is mad, and you had to make sure the whole of Eastbay knew it.”
    Ingrid did not even blink. “The whole of Eastbay does know it! What do we think we’re hiding in here? They’d help us if we let them, but no, we have to stay shut up in our house and deny our neighbors’ concern.”
    “That’s enough.” Papa dragged the words out through gritted teeth. “You will tell me which of you the man Avan has to answer for.”
    Ingrid said nothing. She had known the question would come, but now that hung in the air, anger sealed her mouth.
    Is that all you think of us? Of her? Is that what you think of any woman who smiles?
    “Answer your father.” Mama stood at the foot of the stairs. She wore her black hair pulled into a severe bun, and at the moment her bright blue eyes were dim with disappointment and resignation. She had been an Irish beauty once, Ingrid was sure of it. What had happened? In her heart, she believed she knew, but she had never been able to speak the words aloud.
    “Answer him!” Mama clenched her fists. “Or has the Devil taken your tongue as well?”
    Ingrid forced her chin up. She had only two choices now, she could either lie, or she could tell the ludicrous truth.
    “It was a ghost,” Ingrid said. “Grace is haunted.”
    Leo threw up his hands. “God in heaven!” he cried to the ceiling. “Are all the women in this family mad?”
    “You asked what happened, and I’ve told you,” answered Ingrid, calmly and firmly. “You can call me mad, or possessed, or any other name your stubborn mind can conjure up, Leonard Loftfield. It changes nothing, so, you may as well save your breath.”
    Hot, hard