Chapter Twenty-Five
Victoria quietly closed the door to Graeme’s bedroom. Her head ached from stress and lack of sleep, but at least one of their worries was resolved.
“How is he?”
She turned to see Ainsley standing a few feet away. “Excuse me, my lady. I didn’t hear you.”
The girl’s full mouth quirked in a wry smile. “Please call me Ainsley. After all, we’ve been changing sheets and mopping damp brows together for the last three days.”
Victoria returned her smile. “I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”
Mrs. Taffy and Victoria had handled most of the nursing duties the first night, but then Grant had also come down with a heavy cold, as had four of the castle’s servants. Ainsley had surprised them all by pitching in, belying her image of a spoiled society miss.
Not that she’d been the cheeriest of nurses or particularly gentle. In fact, she’d snapped at poor Graeme when he was particularly difficult or refused to take his medicine. Luckily, her stern demeanor sometimes proved more effective than Victoria’s more gentle approach.
“I was happy to help,” Ainsley said. “Well, not happy, but it was better than sitting around bored in the middle of nowhere. Marginally better, anyway.”
The answer was pure Ainsley. “Then you’ll be happy to hear that the pass is finally clear of snow. I suspect Alec will appear sometime today. He’ll escort you back to Glasgow so you can pack for your visit with your relatives up north.”
“Oh, joy,” Ainsley said dryly. “So, I take it that Graeme continues to improve?”
“Yes. He’s still as weak as a half-drowned cat, but his fever is gone and he seems to be getting his appetite back.”
“That’s a relief. Things were quite tricky for a few days, weren’t they?”
“They certainly were.” Graeme’s cold had developed into a high fever. Combined with the broken leg, he’d been sick enough for Victoria to become truly alarmed. For three days and nights, she, Ainsley, and Nicholas had nursed him in shifts, while Royal and Taffy looked after the rest of the household.
“Did you tell Arnprior the good news?” Ainsley asked.
“He was there last night when Graeme’s fever broke and stayed with him until early this morning.”
Victoria had been almost as worried for Nicholas, who’d been terrified that his brother might die. There were few words of comfort she could offer to a man who already knew how random and cruel life could be. But when it was clear that Graeme was finally out of danger, Nicholas had pulled her into his arms, holding on to her as if he’d never let go. They’d clung to each other for a few minutes, letting their bodies speak to their emotions, before he’d briskly ordered her to get some rest. She’d been so tired, she hadn’t argued.
She and Nick had hardly spoken since they got back to Kinglas, and certainly not about their personal troubles. Their focus had been on taking care of Graeme and keeping the household from falling apart. Now everything rose before them again, unresolved.
“Do you want me to sit with Graeme?” Ainsley asked.
“Taffy just brought him some tea and toast, and one of the footmen is sitting with him for now.”
Ainsley linked her arm with Victoria’s. “Then let’s get you some breakfast. I’m afraid you also look like a half-drowned cat.”
Victoria smiled. “That bad?”
“Worse, not that Arnprior will mind. You could show up in a grain sack, and he’d still make sheep’s eyes at you.”
When Victoria threw her a speaking glance, Ainsley laughed. “So what are you going to do about his lordship? He’s clearly mad about you, even with your checkered past.”
“I truly don’t know. There are so many unresolved issues, and we haven’t had a chance to really talk.”
“You have the chance now. And I suggest you get on it, before . . .”
“Before someone shows up to arrest me?” Victoria finished wryly.
“That wouldn’t stop Arnprior. But you do need to get on it before events overtake you.” She paused outside the door to the breakfast room, looking serious. “Sometimes you think you have all the control in the world, and then something happens and . . . you realize you don’t.”
Victoria had learned that lesson. It sounded like Ainsley had too.
The breakfast room was a cozy retreat that overlooked the loch. Decorated in cheery shades of yellow and pale green, its furnishings were comfortable rather than formal. The family generally started the day together with a hearty breakfast there, but this morning the only person present was a footman.
“Good morning, Andrew,” Victoria said. “I’m happy to see you did not fall sick with that awful cold.”
“Och, I’m as strong as an ox, miss. Besides, Mrs. Taffy would like to kill me if I fell ill, what with half the household down.”
Then he gazed at Ainsley with an expression that could only be described as smitten. Most of the men in the household reacted the same way to her—except for Royal, who’d clearly left smitten somewhere on the road from Glasgow.
“Would ye like some fresh coffee, my lady?” Andrew asked.
“Please.” Ainsley went to the sideboard and piled toast, fruit, eggs, and ham onto her plate.
It wasn’t considered ladylike to display a robust appetite, but Ainsley clearly didn’t care. Victoria considered it an endearing trait.
“Speaking of men and what to do with them,” Victoria said after the footman departed, “have you and Royal talked at all?”
Ainsley scowled. “Why would I discuss anything with that idiot?”
“Because he kidnapped you, and you were alone with him in a carriage for hours? Unlike Miss Peyton and Miss MacBride, you were not chaperoned by Angus.”
Ainsley crunched into her toast, taking her time to chew before she finally answered. “I don’t care if my reputation is ruined. I’m not marrying Royal Kendrick.”
“Dearest, I don’t mean to pry—”
“Then please don’t.”
“But I’m going to,” Victoria said firmly. “Why are you so unconcerned about your reputation? The damage could be severe.”
Ainsley patted her mouth with a serviette before meeting Victoria’s gaze. Her expression was surprisingly bleak.
“Because it’s preferable to the alternative, which is having to marry the Marquess of Cringlewood.”
“All right,” Victoria replied. “But ruining your reputation seems rather drastic. After all, you might wish to marry someone else one day.”
“Trust me, I won’t.” Ainsley’s grim determination brooked no argument.
Victoria put down her teacup. “I’m not familiar with Lord Cringlewood. Clearly he is not very nice.”
“Nice? The man’s an utter pig,” she said darkly. “Actually, I think I’d rather marry a pig than him.”
“Why don’t you simply refuse him, then?”
“Because of my blasted parents. Papa was thick as thieves with Cringlewood’s father, and they arranged this long ago. Cringlewood wants to get his hands on my money—and on me.” Her quiet voice sent chills down Victoria’s spine.
“Is that why you’re in Scotland, to get away from the marquess?”
“That’s just a side benefit. My father sent me up here for punishment, thinking a winter in the Highlands will be enough to bring me to my senses.” She snorted. “How little he knows me. Even if I froze to death it would be preferable.”
“I’m so sorry, Ainsley. I truly wish there was something I could do.” Victoria sighed. “Of course, I’m not in a position to help anyone at the moment.”
Ainsley waved a hand. “I’ll be fine. And I’m sure Arnprior will protect you. That man never takes no for an answer when it comes to safeguarding his family.”
“Are you talking about me?” Nicholas asked as he strode into the room.
“You have no idea,” said Ainsley with a wry smile.
“Yes, we were talking about how stubborn you are,” Victoria said.
“I suppose I am—when I want something.” He paused to drop a kiss on her head before going to the sideboard to get some breakfast.
The kiss sent a flush of heat up Victoria’s neck to her face.
“I do believe I’ve had more than enough to eat,” Ainsley said. “Please tell Andrew to bring coffee up to my room.”
“You don’t have to run off,” Victoria said.
“Actually, I think I do.” Ainsley pushed back her chair and hurried from the room, dodging Andrew, who was coming in with the coffeepot.
“That was odd,” Nicholas said.
“I’d better go check on her.”
He pressed a gentle hand to her shoulder. “Stay right there. Andrew, please ask Mrs. Taffy to check on Lady Ainsley. She can also bring up her coffee.”
“Right away, m’lord.”
Victoria sighed. “I do think I should go see her.” Ainsley rarely showed emotion, but the discussion about Cringlewood had clearly upset her.
“In a bit,” Nicholas said, taking his seat at the head of the table. “First, we’re going to have a talk.”
“Are we?”
He gave her an exasperated look. “You cannot avoid me forever, Victoria.”
“We’ve all been busy, in case you failed to notice. By the way, how is Grant this morning? He must be relieved about Graeme.”
“He’s fine. Everyone is fine, so please stop fretting about them and try worrying about me for once.”
“I always worry about you,” she said before she could stop herself.
Nicholas gave her a slight smile over his cup. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
He’d managed to shave this morning and was impeccably garbed in breeches, boots, and a dark blue tailcoat. Still, he looked a bit haggard and slightly grim.
“You’re worn down,” she said. “Which is why we shouldn’t be discussing complicated issues right now.”
“I hardly see how we can avoid them, when several of those issues will likely show up on our doorstep sooner rather than later.”
“Such as a constable with a warrant for my arrest?” Just thinking about that possibility made her stomach lurch.
“I think it likely, so we should get married as soon as possible. Today, in fact. I can send a note to the vicar right after breakfast.”
Her teacup clattered back into its saucer. “Um, what?”
“If you’re the Countess of Arnprior, you cannot be hauled off willy-nilly before the courts. I’ll be better able to protect you.”
She gaped at him as he forked up a bite of ham, looking as calm as if they were discussing the weather. “That’s rather a dramatic solution, don’t you think?”
He swallowed before replying. “It’s a bit of a rush, I admit. But it’s not like I didn’t intend to marry you anyway, sweetheart.”
His casual attitude began to annoy her. “My lord, as I pointed out on our journey here, that was not my impression after your meeting with Mr. Fletcher.”
“And as I pointed out to you that same day, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. I was startled.”
He’d been more than startled, but she had no desire to rehash that unpleasant scene. “Well, it’s not a good enough reason to get married.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Keeping you out of prison is not a good enough reason? It seems like a damn good one to me.”
“I do not agree.”
“Oh, really?”
Actually, it was a good reason. Just not good enough, given all the other obstacles standing between them. “Yes, really.”
“Do you need more? Fine. We need you. I need you. The Kendricks are bloody lost without you. After the last few days, I would think that’s more than evident.”
It was not exactly the romantic declaration of love she foolishly longed to hear. “What you needed was nursing and housekeeping help.”
He blew out an exasperated sigh. “All right, Victoria. Then why don’t you tell me exactly what it is you want from me?”
Might was well let it rip, old girl.
After all, what did she have to lose? “I want you to love me.”
His face went absolutely blank, as if her words had knocked his wits right out of his skull. She swallowed, already feeling like a fool.
But then he gave her a rueful smile. “Of course I love you, my sweet lass. Please forgive me if I failed to make that clear. You know I’m rather thickheaded when it comes to this sort of thing.”
Though not a Shakespearean declaration by any means, it considerably eased her anxiety. “I’m not a mind reader. You could have told me,” she said a bit grumpily.
“I know. And I’ve been a brute, but I promise to be on my best behavior from now on.” When he made a cross over his heart, she couldn’t help but laugh. Reluctantly, of course.
“That’s very kind of you, sir, but . . .”
“Another but?”
“You said some things the other night in Glasgow. About being able to trust each other.”
“Are you asking me if I trust you?”
“You said you’d already had one untrustworthy wife and didn’t want another.” Victoria didn’t think she’d ever forget how horrible those words had made her feel.
He frowned. “I don’t recall comparing you to my first wife.”
“You strongly implied it.”
He tapped his fingertips on the table for a few seconds. “I didn’t mean to. And as long as you don’t lie to me ever again, it won’t be a problem.” He flashed her an encouraging smile, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world to say.
Victoria was tempted to throw her scone at his head. How could he truly love her and yet say something so stupid? “So this was all my fault?”
“I didn’t say that. You’re simply misunderstanding me. Or,” he hastily amended, after catching the look on her face, “we’re misunderstanding each other.”
“That, sir, is an understatement.” She shoved her chair back. “And let me just say that your declaration of love was exceedingly unimaginative and lacking in . . . in everything.”
“What in blazes does that mean?”
To tell the truth, Victoria wasn’t sure what it meant. But her instincts had been absolutely right. They were both too tired to have a coherent discussion about their future.
“You know exactly what it means,” she said.
Nicholas all but leapt to his feet. “Victoria, I forbid you to flounce out of the room. We are going to stay and finish this discussion.”
“I never flounce.” Of course, though, she proceeded to do just that.
However, her dramatic exit was ruined when the door opened and Alec barreled in, nearly running her over.
“Hold on,” he said, grabbing her shoulders. “What’s the rush?” He narrowed his gaze on Nicholas. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
“Nothing?” Nicholas echoed.
“Well, Lord Arnprior was just proposing to me,” she said.
Alec’s gaze shifted between them. “It obviously went as well as all the other proposals.”
“Gilbride, talk some sense into your cousin,” Nicholas said. “If she marries me, I can protect her.”
She glared at him. “As I told you, that’s not a good enough reason.”
“Sounds like a good one to me,” Alec said.
Victoria bristled.
“All right, don’t bite my head off,” Alec added, forestalling her snippy response. “At least not until I have some coffee. I was up before dawn.”
Her cousin took her arm and steered her back to the table.
Victoria sank into her chair with a weary sigh. She was so tired of fighting—fighting with Angus, fighting to stay out of prison—even fighting the man she loved. She felt like she’d spent the last few months of her life in battle.
“Things have been a bit tricky around here the last few days, I gather,” Alec said, fetching a cup from the sideboard.
“Yes, but we’re out of the woods now, I think,” Nicholas said.
“Except when it comes to Fletcher,” Alec said.
Victoria sat up straight. “Have you heard something?”
“I’ll get to that in a moment. First, tell me how Ainsley is.”
“She’s fine.” Victoria gave him a brief version of events without mentioning Lord Cringlewood. “She has no wish to marry Royal and is quite unconcerned about any damage to her reputation. Ainsley doesn’t care if anyone gossips about her.”
Alec shook his head. “The girl is a complete mystery to me. In any event, I think we’re going to be fine, since you and Arnprior managed to make it up here.” He looked at Nicholas. “And you owe me a considerable debt, old son. Dealing with a pair of extremely irate fathers is not my idea of a jolly good time. Braden had the excellent sense to make himself scarce when they showed up, leaving me to face the heavy artillery alone.”
“Oh, dear,” Victoria said. “What did you say to them?”
“Not much, since they were yelling at me. Fortunately, my splendid wife showed up in the nick, and Edie yelled back just as loudly. She assured Mr. Peyton and Mr. MacBride that there was no cause for alarm, and that their precious daughters were properly chaperoned at all times.”
“That’s true,” Victoria said. “Angus traveled in the carriage with them.”
“That must have been fun,” Alec said wryly.
“They all ended up hating one another by the time they arrived.”
Her cousin snorted.
“And the girls’ families are truly not pressing for marriage?” Nicholas asked.
“Mr. MacBride was horrified at the idea of his daughter marrying a hellion like Graeme,” Alec said.
“He’s a vicar. It’s understandable.”
“And Mr. Peyton was equally horrified at the notion of his daughter marrying a penniless younger son.”
“Grant’s not penniless—but never mind.”
Victoria breathed a relieved sigh. “Since the girls no longer wish to marry the twins—and vice versa, I might add—I’d say we did it. Huzzah.”
“Yes, we appear to have weathered the storm, thanks mostly to you,” Nicholas said, smiling at Victoria as he lifted his cup in salute.
Alec grimaced. “There’s still the little matter of Mr. Fletcher.”
“We’ll deal with that when we return the ladies to Glasgow,” the earl said.
“I’m afraid not. Fletcher arrived in Arrochar yesterday, and I suspect he’ll be popping up on your doorstep any minute.”
Victoria felt as if someone had just punched her in the stomach. “Are you sure?”
Alec nodded. “I’d been camped out at the inn the last few days waiting for the pass to clear. Fletcher came waltzing in last night. We exchanged a few choice words, but he remains undeterred. I managed to get a march on him this morning, so I could get here first to warn you.”
“How the hell did the bastard know where we’d gone?” Nicholas snapped.
“He showed up at Kendrick House shortly after you and Victoria left. Braden tried to deal with him, but the man was quite demented in his rage.” He grimaced. “He wasn’t exactly sane with me last night, either.”
“Is Braden all right?” Victoria asked.
“He’s fine, but he inadvertently revealed where you’d gone. Fletcher made some nasty threats and then stomped off. You also need to know that he has Glasgow constables with him, and some sort of legal documentation.”
Victoria pressed her palms flat on the table, quelling the urge to be sick. “Did you actually see the papers?”
“No. The idiot wouldn’t show it to me, which means it’s very likely not an arrest warrant.” He gave Victoria an encouraging smile. “That’s a good thing, pet.”
She tried to smile back but couldn’t manage it.
Nick shoved his chair back and stood. “All right, I’ve had enough of this damn nonsense. I don’t care if that bastard’s got a bloody regiment of Hussars with him. He’s not laying a finger on Victoria.” He stalked out of the room without a look back.
Alec came around to her side of the table and crouched down beside her. “I know it’s worrisome, but Arnprior and I will take care of it. We’ll keep you safe.”
She sucked in several deep breaths. “His lordship is right. This needs to end.”
Alec frowned. “What are you saying?”
“I need to tell the truth about what Thomas Fletcher tried to do to me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m tired of lying, as if I’m the one who did something wrong. If it damages my reputation, so be it. I’m not running away and I’m not hiding anymore.”
He seemed to think about that for a few moments before he rose and took her hand. “All right, Victoria. Whatever happens, we’ll be there with you. Fletcher doesn’t stand a chance against our united front.”
As they hurried after Nicholas, Victoria sent up a silent prayer that her cousin would be proven right.