Chapter 8
“I hope everything is to your liking, Julian,” Rosalind said as she stood in the doorway to his bedchamber. “We weren’t expecting you here today, but Mrs. Rivers got it ready as soon as she could.”
“And you don’t have to worry about that. I did come without a specific date in mind.” Julian opened the large double windows and stepped out onto the balcony. “I didn’t think it would be this long a journey, though. William certainly got you in the middle of nowhere, hasn’t he?”
“But you have to admit that it’s a beautiful view out there. Especially when you can see the loch below.”
Julian leaned out and surveyed his surroundings. He had to admit that it was gorgeous. The Highlands were a magnificent sight, even if they were isolated and nowhere near the cities. He would prefer something on the outskirts of Edinburgh, but this was nice enough.
“I can understand why Theo likes it so much.” He turned back to Rosalind. “I’m glad you both are doing well. Theo looks like he’s enjoying himself.”
“I’m glad he is. He’s been very eager about it all, including the new horses.”
“Horses?”
“Cor—I mean, Lord Ravensmuir—let us have a couple of horses without any payment. Said it would help us settle in more. He gives Theo regular riding lessons as well as our stable head manager.”
Julian was surprised at this. He hadn’t thought that anyone would come by to trouble the widow and child if it was made clear they were in mourning and didn’t want any visitors, and yet Ravensmuir had completely ignored it.
Then again, if he was a friend of William’s, he probably didn’t care about it in the first place. Rosalind and Theo were not to be disturbed. They had been through a lot, and Julian didn’t want them to be bothered by anyone.
“Well, I hope he doesn’t mind if you just had the stable lads giving him the riding lessons, then? I’m sure he’s got more important things to get on with this.”
Rosalind smiled. “I don’t mind. And Lord Ravensmuir has been very kind. Theo really likes him.”
Julian sighed. “I suppose it doesn’t matter too much. But I would like to get to know my nephew more. To bond further with him. We could go for a walk or something, or explore the loch.”
“The loch?”
“If he’s with someone, surely he’ll be confident enough to do it then. And I would like to see what he’s found. It’s a gorgeous place, from what I saw on the way up here.”
Rosalind looked interested in this. “I suppose that could work. He does like going for walks. And he will want to show off his spyglass.”
“Then I’m more than happy to do that with him.”
“But are you sure that it won’t be a bother for you, Julian? You have been traveling a long way, and I know you’re going to be tired…”
Julian held up a hand to urge her to stop talking.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve been sitting down for most of the journey, and even stretching my legs along the way haven’t helped. I’ll be happy to go on a walk long to get things working again.”
Rosalind bit her lip. “If you’re sure? You could rest for a few days before you do anything for us.”
“And there’s no time like the present. I’ll rest tonight, and then Theo and I will head out to the moors together. We’ll have a great time.” Julian chuckled. “You worry so much. He’s tougher than you think, Rosalind.”
“I know…”
“So, how about it?”
Rosalind sighed and smiled. “All right. I’ll make sure that lunch is packed for you two, and you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Perfect. Anyway, why don’t you head to bed yourself? You’re exhausted, and it’s almost midnight.”
“Is it?” Rosalind looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. Then she yawned loudly. “Oh, forgive me! I didn’t realize. I should’ve let you go to bed earlier than this.”
“Don’t worry about it, my dear. It was good to see you and my nephew again. And to see that this place is good for the pair of you.”
“It certainly is.” Rosalind turned away. “Goodnight, Julian. And I’m glad you’re here.”
Julian waited until the door closed, and then he went over to the drinks cabinet, where he poured himself a large brandy.
This he carried over to the balcony, which he perched on as he sipped.
The moon was out, not a cloud in the sky, and there was a silvery-white sheen across the scene before him.
It was lovely, Julian had to admit that.
It was just a shame that Rosalind and Theo weren’t going to enjoy it for much longer.
With them still around, Julian couldn’t do anything.
As Theo was the viscount, it meant that Julian, the uncle, was simply a guest in a house that should be his.
The little brat had all of what he wanted, and it was excruciating to know that William had decided to pass it all to his son instead of his brother.
That was the ultimate betrayal and embarrassment in Julian’s eyes.
How could William think that his viscountcy was safe in the hands of a seven-year-old?
He didn’t know anything about it, and having Rosalind as his guardian was ridiculous.
Rosalind was knowledgeable and shrewd, but she wouldn’t have any idea of estate matters.
Julian did, and that was what he should be doing. If he wasn’t going to be the viscount, the least he could be is the legal guardian to Theo. Then by the time Theo was a grown man, he would’ve gotten himself into a position where he would have all the power.
He could have the power now if William had given him the position of legal guardian. Instead, he gave Julian a stipend and that was it. It felt like William didn’t want Julian to have anything.
It had been incredibly satisfying to deal with that jumped-up brother of his, who seemed to have everything handed to him on a plate. He had the title, the wife and child, and everything was secure. Now he was dead.
Julian was glad he’d been the one to sabotage the carriage. He’d been shown how to make it crash, and it had felt like an accomplishment to saw through most of the axle to make it unstable. Then he’d paid off the driver to go the long route home, along the more dangerous road with the steep slope.
To hear that William had been killed was like music to his ears.
It was a shame Theo hadn’t been in the carriage as well. That would’ve killed two birds with one stone, but at least he was easier to deal with than his father.
Julian sipped his brandy, watching the still water below, peeking through the trees. There had been a time when he’d contemplated marrying Rosalind himself. She was a beautiful woman, and she leaned on him for everything, relying on him for whatever she needed. That was how Julian wanted her.
But she loved her husband too much, and even if she was grief-stricken, she wouldn’t consider marrying her brother-in-law.
She was too shrewd for that; she would know something was wrong, especially as Julian had never shown any interest in her before.
Rosalind was the type of woman who married for love and not for convenience. It was what she believed.
So she had to go as well. Unfortunately, she hadn’t died in the crash.
That was frustrating, and Julian had been shocked that she’d even survived.
However, it hadn’t been a complete disaster.
She’d been hideously scarred in the crash, and now her beauty was ruined.
Nobody would see her as desirable, not even for convenience.
Not unless he organized it himself. That was something he was planning as well, just to get rid of her.
It was annoying that he hadn’t been able to kill off the entire family and make the title his by default.
But he could make the most of it this way.
Now they were out in the middle of the Highlands, the nearest neighbors at least a mile away and not visible, this might be ideal to get rid of the pair of them.
The servants didn’t know them well, so there wasn’t anyone too sentimental. Except for Bea Lowe, the pesky governess. She was constantly around Rosalind and Theo. Getting rid of her would be inevitable as well.
Just as long as he got what he wanted. He wasn’t going to be careless a second time when he was aiming for the title of Viscount Ellingham. It was what he should’ve had all along, except for the fact William wanted to pass it onto his son. Julian didn’t like that.
He wasn’t about to be usurped by a child. And Rosalind wasn’t about to get in the way of that.
His thoughts drifted to the Earl of Ravensmuir, and how familiar he seemed to be with the widow and child. It was like Theo was very taken with the Scottish earl from the way he jumped at him when they arrived. He was more keen to meet Ravensmuir than Julian.
Not that Julian minded, but he had hoped that nobody would come by and introduce themselves. From what Rosalind had said, Ravensmuir had been by several times since they moved in.
That was not good. Julian was going to have to think about how to manage that. It was going to be a tough one; from the way Ravensmuir looked at him, he suspected that something wasn’t right.
But Rosalind didn’t. She never did suspect anything. In some ways, she was incredibly stupid, and she wouldn’t think that her own brother-in-law would do something so horrific as murder his own brother.
As long as they had limited contact until it was cut off completely, then it should work in his favor.
A knock at the door got his attention, and Julian shifted off the balcony.
“Come in?”
The door opened, and his valet Medford entered. He was carrying rolls of maps in his arms.
“I’ve got what you wanted me to get from the study, my lord,” he said. “Where do you want them?”
“On the table over there, Medford.” Julian pointed at a large table near the window. “And then you can retire. I won’t be getting up until at least eight.”
“Very good, my lord.” Medford placed the maps down and bowed. “Goodnight, sir.”
“Night.”
His valet left, and Julian prowled over to the maps.
When he arrived, he’d asked Medford to find the maps of the area, to have a closer look at the estate his brother had bought.
In a place like Corrieden, there was going to be at least one place where an accident was likely to happen.
A seven-year-old boy was precocious and lively.
They were going to be unaware of what was around them, and just the slightest slip.
It would be a horrible accident after losing his father. Julian knew it could work. And he wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. Theo was not going to get in the way of him getting the viscount title that was rightfully his.
William was going to regret passing him over.