Chapter 20
Genevieve shivered as she closed the back door of Falkirk Manor. Despite her gloves, her fingers were numb from her ride out on the moors. The smell of tablets wafted through the air, and a small smile curved her mouth as she made her way into the kitchen.
Aunt Patience’s sister-in-law, Muireall Falkirk, was working alongside Mrs. Kincade, the cook, at the large table that occupied the center of the room. Both women greeted her with warm smiles, and Muireall wiped her hands on the apron she wore.
“Did ye enjoy your ride?”
“Very much. I think it will be snowing by early evening,” Genevieve said with a smile as Muireall moved to stand in front of her. With a small frown of worry, Muireall cupped Genevieve’s face.
“Why ye cheeks are as cold as icicles,” the woman said. “Go change, and I’ll bring us some hot tea into the parlor.”
“And maybe a tablet?” Genevieve asked with a hopeful look. Muireall laughed and shook her head.
“Nae, ye will have tae wait until dinner tonight. Duncan said something about bringing a friend home for dinner,” Muireall said with a wry twist of her lips.
“I imagine the two of them will spend the evening discussing horses. When I fell in love with my husband, I dinnae know horses were part of the bargain. But I love the mon, and as long as he doesn’t toss me aside for a stallion, I’ll nae begrudge him his pleasures. ”
The twinkle in Muireall’s eye made Genevieve smile as she turned and went upstairs to the small guest bedroom she was using. She didn’t take long changing, and before she went back downstairs, she stopped to stare at herself in the mirror.
Auburn hair pulled back in a severe bun at the nape of her neck, the only color in her face was the red splotches on her cheeks where the wind had lashed at her skin during her ride. But at least she didn’t look as woebegone as she had when she’d arrived at Falkirk Manor three weeks ago.
Wrinkling her nose at her reflection in the mirror, Genevieve turned and made her way downstairs. There was a fire blazing in the hearth, and Muireall smiled as she entered the parlor.
“Come have a spot of tea,” her aunt’s sister-in-law said from her seat close to the fire. Taking a seat across from her host, Genevieve sighed with delight as she sipped the hot brew.
“I don’t know what Mrs. Kincade puts in her tea when she brews it, but it always tastes heavenly.”
“She says she’ll share her secret with me one day when she’s too old to cook,” Muireall said with a mischievous smile. A moment later, her brow furrowed with a small frown.
“Genevieve…” Muireall hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “I received a letter from Patience yesterday. Everyone is worried about ye, and your mother has refused to say where ye are.”
“Did you tell Aunt Patience I was here?” Genevieve gasped in a horrified whisper.
“Nae, I would never do such a thing. I promised ye I wouldn’t. Unless your mother has told your father where ye are, Duncan, ye, and I are the only ones who know ye are staying here at the manor. But I dinnae like lying tae her or tae Julian.”
“All I need is a few more weeks, Muireall, please.” Genevieve leaned forward to grasp the older woman’s hand and squeezed it. “I promised Mama that I would spend Christmas at Callander Abbey, when everyone comes up from London for the holidays. I just need time to prepare myself.”
“And Theo?
“What about him?” she asked in a flat tone of voice.
“Patience said the mon is snarling worse than Julian when my brother is under the weather. If that is true, I do nae envy anyone in Theo’s path, because Julian can be as ill-tempered as a trapped badger.”
“Theo will be fine once he finds someone suitable to be Viscountess Selbourne.” Genevieve looked away from Muireall’s astute gaze and stared into the fire.
“Everyone in the family, including Theo, seems tae think he’s already found someone suitable, but Theo hasn’t been able tae find her.”
“Dear God,” she gasped in a soft voice. “He’s looking for me?”
“Did ye think the mon wouldn’t?” Muireall arched her eyebrows in incredulity as she directed a look at Genevieve that said the woman thought she was daft.
“I…I…,” she sighed and shook her head. “No, I knew he would, that’s why I asked to stay with you for a bit. I can’t believe he would think to look for me here, unless someone mentioned it.”
At her explanation, Muireall nodded her head in understanding and added more tea to her cup before taking a sip. Genevieve looked around the parlor, then smiled at Muireall.
“Falkirk Manor reminds me of Green Hill House. It’s warm and inviting.”
“I do love it,” Muireall said quietly as her gaze scanned the room.
“When Duncan first showed me the house, I thought the mon was an eejit. There was so much work to be done to make it habitable, but he promised me it would be ready before our wedding, and he kept his word, as he has with everything else he’s promised me over the past thirteen years. ”
A sudden cry of excitement echoed out of the study across the hall, and Muireall’s and Duncan’s ten-year-old daughter, Sorcha, ran out into the small entryway. Both Genevieve and Muireall jumped at the girl’s shout of exuberance, as she stopped in the parlor doorway for a moment.
“Dadaidh is home, and he’s brought a new horse. Do ye think tis for me, Mamaidh?” The girl asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. “It must be, because it has a red coat, just like I told him I wanted. And he’s brought someone with him.”
Sorcha didn’t wait for a reply as she bolted for the front door. Muireall shook her head in exasperation and set her cup down on the tea tray.
“That child is just like her father when it comes tae horses,” she sighed as she stood up. “I need tae greet Duncan’s guest and make certain Sorcha does nae get up on this new animal without a saddle.”
“I’ve had my fill of cold weather today,” Genevieve said with a smile. “I’ll stay here enjoying my tea and the fire.”
Muireall laughed and nodded, then left Genevieve alone in the parlor. Reaching for the teapot, Genevieve warmed her tea with the hot beverage from it. She blew across the top of the liquid before taking a sip.
Outside, she heard Sorcha’s excited voice, while she heard Muireall greet her husband and whomever Duncan had brought home. She took another sip of tea as voices echoed into the parlor. Genevieve turned her head as Sorcha danced her way into the room.
“Can I assume you have the new horse you asked for?” Genevieve said with a laugh. Sorcha bounded toward her and flung her arms around Genevieve’s neck.
“Aye, and she’s beautiful, Ginny. Ye must come see her.”
“I will later, I’m just getting warm after riding on the moors for longer than I should have.”
Low, masculine voices floated into the parlor as Muireall appeared in the doorway. Her expression troubled, she forced a smile as she stretched out her hand and wagged her fingers at her daughter.
“Come along, Sorcha. Genevieve has a visitor.”
Genevieve went rigid as she met Muireall’s helpless gaze.
As Sorcha skipped toward her mother, a familiar, tall figure appeared behind Muireall.
Dear God. Theo. Shock rippled through her, and the cup and saucer she held rattled as she fought not to drop the teacup.
How had he found her? She heard Sorcha pestering her father with one question after another as Theo entered the parlor and closed the door behind him.
The last time she’d seen him, his injuries had made her think he might have permanent damage to his face. But other than the lightest of bruising on his jaw, he was as handsome as ever. Fingers shaking, her teacup clattered against the wood tray as she set it down and sprang to her feet.
“How did you find me,” she choked out.
“I’m rather good at the work I do for the Crown, Genevieve. Did you think I wouldn’t be able to find you, just as you found me at that warehouse?” Theo’s reply was soft, but it held a steely note that alarmed her.
“I…no, I didn’t think you would find me.” As she answered him, he narrowed his gaze at her, the silence between them thick with tension.
“I told you once before that no matter where you are, I’ll have no choice but to follow,” Theo said softly, his blue-eyed gaze intense as he studied her. When she didn’t answer him, he released a quiet sigh. “You came for me—saved my life.”
“There were several of us who were looking for you,” she replied, trying to dismiss the impression that she’d thought to search for him on her own.
“To hear my father and your parents tell it, you were the one who was determined to find me that night. Why?”
“I don’t understand what you’re asking.”
“Why did you come after me, Genevieve, then run away, again?”
“I did not run away—”Theo’s eyebrows arched, then he narrowed his gaze, Genevieve swallowed hard and rephrased what she’d been about to say.
“I was not running away from you. I left because I knew everyone in the family would meddle, trying to convince me to marry you. Something we both know is impossible.”
“And going into the East End again? Jamie said you were going to go alone, until your parents stopped you,” Theo said in a soft voice, his words echoing with harsh disapproval. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you are the family’s future.” Genevieve tilted her chin up in defiance. “I told you going back into the East End meant you were signing your own death warrant the moment Freddie learned where you were. Something he almost succeeded in doing.”
“You know why I went back,” Theo said with a frown of annoyance.
“I’d already agreed not to go back into the East End.
I didn’t need your protection.” A snort of disgusted anger escaped Theo, and she glared at him.
“But you needed someone to help you. The moment I learned you were missing, I knew Freddie had found you. You would have been dead if I—everyone hadn’t gone searching for you. ”
“That’s not the real reason why you came for me, though,” Theo said as he took a step forward, then stopped when she retreated. “I want you to tell me the real reason.”