The Scottish Earl and the Scarred Widow

Chapter 1

“How much longer, Mama?” Theo asked, leaning toward the open window and sticking his head out. He wobbled and more of his body went through as he surveyed the scene with a gasp.

“Theo!” Rosalind grabbed him and pulled him back, slumping against the cushions with her son against her chest, her heart racing. “Don’t do that! You’ll fall out!”

“I wasn’t going to!” Theo pushed away from her and pouted. “I was safe!”

“Given you were halfway out the window, I beg to differ.” Rosalind sighed and put the little boy on the seat across from her. “You can see it without needing to lean out.”

“But it looks beautiful!” Theo protested. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Rosalind simply smiled, but she didn’t feel any joy behind it.

It was not something she could feel any happiness in, leaving what she knew as her home behind and traveling to Scotland, to the middle of the Highlands.

She’d heard a lot of stories of Scotland from her husband and how beautiful it was, but she couldn’t see it.

All she saw were mountains covered in green, lots of trees, and quite a bit of rolling fog.

She might see some beauty in it eventually, but not right now. It was all too much for her.

Absently, she scratched at her scars, feeling her fingers bump over the ridges.

It didn’t hurt anymore. She had lost sensation in that side of her face some time ago.

She was only conscious of it because everyone stared at her if they didn’t know about it.

She didn’t like being gawked at; it was embarrassing.

“Lady Ellingham?”

The young woman sitting beside Theo, her auburn hair pinned back from her face, regarded her with a worried expression. Rosalind gave her a slight smile.

“I’m fine, Bea. And given we’re practically alone, you don’t need to be so formal with me.”

“Forgive me, it’s a force of habit, that’s all.”

“Given this is something that is out of our control, I think everything’s going out the window for now.”

Her son’s governess gave her a sympathetic smile. She understood, all too well, what Rosalind was going through. She’d been at her side, looking after Theo, and she knew Rosalind was struggling.

It had been nearly a year since the accident that killed her husband and left Rosalind scarred, and the emotions and feelings about the accident itself had been swirling around inside her.

She had moments where she burst into tears at the pain and anguish of what had happened to her, and there were times when she was just numb.

Everything was a mess.

She needed to keep strong for Theo. But it was hard, especially when Theo didn’t quite comprehend that his father wasn’t coming back.

She was sure he understood when he started crying and said he wanted his father home, and then the next minute he would ask when he was returning. It broke Rosalind’s heart.

Now they were heading into the middle of Scotland to an estate that Rosalind had been vaguely aware of. William had spoken about it all the time, saying that it was a lovely place and just ideal if they wanted to have a few months away once Theo was older. They’d even discussed going this summer.

And now they were. Just not with her husband. William would never see his estate again, or his family. When the wheels on one side of the carriage had broken at the same time and sent them careering into the undergrowth, everything felt like it had stopped.

And William was gone. Rosalind could remember how his body had been, broken in the carriage beside her, and it plagued her dreams. She wanted to remember him how he was, but that was hard. It was why she often lay awake in bed at night, unable to sleep.

Even now, she could feel her eyes closing, wanting to rest before they got to the house. She leaned her head against the wall, watching the rolling hills go by. It was supposed to be beautiful, and yet she couldn’t see any beauty in it.

“Are there going to be wolves in the mountains?” Theo asked.

That got Rosalind’s attention. Bea raised her eyebrows at Theo, who was looking at them with wide eyes, eager to hear the answer.

“What did you say?” Bea said slowly. “Did you just ask if there were wolves in the Highlands?”

“Are there?” Theo sat up. “I’ve never seen a wolf before. Uncle Julian said we might see some out here.”

Rosalind rolled her eyes.

“I don’t think so. Wolves are not going to be anywhere near the estate as they’re solitary creatures. They wouldn’t want to come near us.”

“I think they’d be more scared of us than we would be of them,” Bea chimed in, touching Theo’s shoulder. “But I’m sure we’ll see a lot of different animals we’ve never seen before. I’ve heard there are stags in the Highlands.”

“Stags?” Theo’s eyes widened. “Will we see some?”

“It’s possible. But let’s get us settled in the house first and then we’ll see what we can do.”

Rosalind was glad Bea was with them. She was scared of how she was going to cope without her trusted governess and confidant.

Bea had been with her since Theo was a toddler, just learning his first steps, and Rosalind couldn’t ask for a better friend.

She shouldn’t be making friends with the servants, but she didn’t care.

She needed anything right now, anything to give her comfort in the wake of her husband’s death.

“I wish Uncle Julian could come with us,” Theo said, sitting forward to stare out of the window again. Anything seemed to be intense fascination for a seven-year-old. “He would love it out here.”

“But Uncle Julian had to stay behind to sort everything out. He might come and visit us, but it won’t be for a while.” Bea stroked his head. “I’m sure he’ll come and see how his favorite nephew is eventually.”

That didn’t seem to make Theo any better, although he seemed to be more distracted by the scenery now. It had gotten his attention for most of the journey.

If only it had the same attraction to Rosalind. She felt sick at knowing this was her new life and she wouldn’t see her old home again.

If William was here, then things wouldn’t be so bad.

With Theo’s attention focused on the passing landscape, Bea moved to sit beside Rosalind.

“Do you think Lord Ellingham is going to come and visit?” she asked quietly. “I know he said he would…”

“I’m sure he will once he’s gotten all of the affairs in order,” Rosalind answered. “He promised me, and he doesn’t go back on his promises.”

“He’s been good to us, hasn’t he? He was there when nobody else was.”

Rosalind nodded. Julian had been a godsend, and she hadn’t realized how much she needed him until the aftermath. He’d stepped up and took care of the funeral for her, looked after the finances and made sure the creditors wanting their money back were paid off.

And there had been more than that coming to the house, determined to see what she looked like now. The accident had practically mutilated her face, and the doctor said she was lucky not to be blind after what happened.

Rosalind had wanted to hide away and take advantage of the mourning period until she could get her bearings, but that was difficult when she kept getting calling cards, and even people striding in without an invitation, just to look at her.

They didn’t even hide it. She was like a fair attraction, and she hated it.

Julian had been the one to get everyone out, to stop people from coming to the house.

Then, when Rosalind felt like she needed to be locked up due to her sanity close to snapping, he suggested that they headed up to William’s estate in the Highlands so they could get away and recover without the onlookers gawking at them.

They even left in the middle of the night so nobody would see her and Theo fleeing.

Now, almost a week later, they were soon to arrive at the estate, nestled away in the middle of the Scottish hills. William had spoken fondly of the place, where he went when he was a young man.

But Rosalind couldn’t understand why he would want to live somewhere that didn’t have any immediate neighbors. Rosalind had grown up in the countryside, but at least she could see her neighbors’ homes from the window. It didn’t make her as isolated as this.

And it was already pressing down on her. She could feel her chest already tightening from the knowledge that the three of them were going to be alone. There would be others, but at the same time…

“Rosalind?” Bea touched her arm, getting her back from her thoughts. “We’re here.”

“Are we?”

Looking out, Rosalind saw that she was right.

The house had suddenly materialized out of nowhere, appearing between the trees.

The white bricks shone in the wan sunlight, and the windows seemed to reflect the light.

It looked like it was on the side of the hill with a sudden drop not too far away.

A little ominous, and Rosalind felt her stomach drop.

This was too scary for her. Why would William pick such a place?

She couldn’t do anything about it now. This was their home.

There was no one in the sweeping driveway as they arrived, but the huge front doors opened as the carriage pulled up and two people stepped out.

A man and a woman, both tall and thin with graying dark hair.

They looked rather severe, dressed in black and ramrod straight.

Rosalind felt a trickle of nerves. She knew there would be servants, but she didn’t know any of them.

She had a sudden urge to get out and run away.

The carriage door opened, and the driver, a large, pot-bellied man with a bright smile, leaned in.

“Here we go, Lady Ellingham,” he said cheerfully. “Welcome to Corrieden.”

Rosalind hesitated. She didn’t want to get out, not when she knew nothing. But Theo and Bea were looking at her, waiting for her to react. She had to remain strong for them.