Chapter 20 #2
Cormac’s mouth fell open. Did she really think he did this as a paid debt? He wished he could reach out to touch her, but Rosalind was still out of reach. His body ached to touch her.
“That’s not how things are, Rosalind,” he insisted. “I never had a debt to William. What I said was true. I made a promise to look out for you and Theo, and I’m not going to back away because your brother-in-law has come along. I wouldn’t leave when you’re still in a precarious position.”
“But I’m not in any precarious position. I’m doing this for my son.”
“And what about yourself? Are you going to do it because you want to be married to a man who won’t treat you as you deserve?”
That was when she faltered, and she glanced away, absently tugging her hair across her scar again. Cormac didn’t like that she was covering herself up again. It was as if she was going backwards with her thoughts.
Vaulting the wall, he approached her and took her hand. She didn’t pull away, and Cormac realized she wasn’t wearing gloves. Her fingers were warm and smooth, and it sent tingles up his arm. He ran a thumb over her knuckles.
He wanted to tell her that he loved her, that he would never leave, and he was going to get her out of the predicament she was in. She needed to know the truth about Ellingham. She had to have some suspicions.
But his voice faded away when there was a sudden bark of another voice coming from Rosalind’s side.
“What do you think you’re doing, Ravensmuir?”
His heart sank. Ellingham was there, striding up the hill toward them, a look of thunder on his face.
He’d followed Rosalind up to their meeting spot. He must’ve had someone watching her. Cormac felt a chill, and he slowly let go of Rosalind’s hand.
“I didn’t think it was in you to stalk your sister-in-law, Ellingham,” he said coldly.
“It’s a good thing I did.” Julian glared at him. “If I hadn’t been made aware of her leaving, I wouldn’t be any the wiser.”
Rosalind looked incredulous. “You’ve had someone watching me?”
“Why wouldn’t I? Someone has to look after you, and I can’t be there all the time.” He turned his scowl to Cormac. “Is this how an earl behaves in Scotland, Ravensmuir? Shaming a woman before her wedding? Was that what you were planning on doing?”
Cormac reared back like he’d been hit in the face. Rosalind’s face paled, her eyes widening.
“I would never do that to anyone, least of all Rosalind,” Cormac growled.
“That’s Lady Ellingham to you. And soon she’ll be Lady Rosalind Vane.
That’s been organized, and you can’t change it.
” Ellingham sneered at him, looking Cormac up and down.
“If you were thinking of making everyone aware of what you were up to, you can think again. I’ll protect Rosalind’s reputation with everything I have. ”
“I bet you would,” Cormac said snidely.
Rosalind had stepped away from him, adjusting her cloak around her. She was also hiding the scars, and Cormac could see her withdrawing into herself. He wanted to reach out, to tell her the truth and that she shouldn’t have to hide, but Ellingham then moved to stand between the two of them.
“Go home, Rosalind,” he said over his shoulder. “Now.”
Rosalind looked like she wanted to say something, but her mouth closed and she turned away, giving Cormac one last look that he couldn’t identify. As she walked away, Ellingham stepped toward him, lowering his voice to a growl.
“Don’t even think about getting involved with them again,” he warned. “You keep your own business.”
“Even when you’re going to do more harm than good to your brother’s family?” Cormac shot back.
“I know what I’m doing.”
“I know what you want, and that’s not to look after their welfare. William knew that, which was why he entrusted me to look after her.”
“And you’re not doing that anymore.” Ellingham jabbed a finger in his chest, making Cormac sway a little.
“You will keep away. I don’t want to see you around.
And if you mention anything about your suspicions to anyone—and I mean, anyone—something will happen to the boy.
Or maybe even the mother, seeing as you seem to be sweet on her. ”
Cormac stared. “Are you threatening to hurt your sister-in-law and nephew if I say something?”
“Nobody will be able to prove it. It will simply be an accident.”
“Like the ‘accident’ that almost befell Theo when his horse went mad that day we went riding.”
Ellingham smirked, and Cormac felt his throat close up. He’d suspected that it had been foul play, and he’d been right. Ellingham had been trying to harm his nephew.
“How could you? He’s a child!”
“And he’s also got something that I want. I am going to get it.”
“You’d murder a child to get a title?”
Ellingham spread his hands, his mouth stretched in a smile but his eyes glittered dangerously.
“Anything to get what I want. He’ll just be…
collateral damage.” He turned away. “Don’t even think about saying anything about this to anyone.
I hear there are whispers about what I might be doing…
let’s just say Rosalind and Theo are going to be guessing who’s going to get hurt first. You don’t want their final days to be in pain, do you? ”
Cormac stared at him as the man walked away. He couldn’t believe that Ellingham’s mask had slipped and he’d admitted openly to wanting to get his family out of the way to get what he wanted.
Theo and Rosalind were in serious danger, but Cormac couldn’t prove it without the letter. And if he even tried, Rosalind and Theo would end up paying for his actions.
He didn’t think he could ever be as helpless as he felt right now.