Killer Eyes

“If looks could kill.”
Jess hissed the words over her cocktail, her head inclining to a figure on the settee. Nora followed her line of sight, and was instantly struck by a pair of scorching familiar eyes. Miriam. She turned away quickly, heat flushing across her cheeks. Nora had known she’d be here of course, but still…
“Who is she?” Jess said, noticing her reaction.
“Oh, that’s Miriam Hall. She’s, well she was, Rupert’s finance.” Nora said, fiddling with the cherry in her glass. Jess raised a black eyebrow.
“Ah, so that’s the bitch.”
“Jess!” Nora took her arm and dragged the girl into a corner of the drawing room, as far away from Miriam and the other guests as possible.
“But I thought you said she was making your life hell.” Jess protested, “Nice people don’t do that! Bitches do.”
“Well, not exactly. A mild sort of hell.” Nora said, “Look it’s understandable…”
“Is it?” Jess said, flinging her arm out and splashing her drink on Nora’s dress.  “Alright, it has been known, when the eldest brother has died, for the younger one to take the newly bereaved finance as a wife. Fine. But usually when that happens, it’s because the younger brother likes said woman. It’s not a rule! Edward chose you. He married you. And there’s nothing she can do about it.”
“I suppose.” Nora nodded. She stirred her drink idly and took a sip. It smelt of almonds. That was odd.
Five minutes later Nora lay struggling to breathe on the carpet, Jess screaming for a doctor, whilst Miriam watched with her grey killer eyes. 

(c) Katherine Sankey