Chapter 24
A knock at the door made Cormac stiffen. Hamish jumped up and hurried to the door, opening it to Bea as she slipped into the room. She was gasping for breath, her face streaked with sweat, as she staggered over to a chair and slumped into it.
“I thought I was being followed,” she panted. “I had to run all the way back.”
“But you’re safe now,” Cormac said as Hamish poured a glass of water and handed her a cloth. “What did you manage?”
“Rosalind saw me in the garden. I know she did.” Bea wiped her face with the cloth before taking a deep gulp of water. “And I know she saw me put the note under the bench by the wall. I heard someone leaving the house as I slipped out.”
That was something. Cormac hadn’t been sure how to get Rosalind out of the house and away from the servants spying on her, but Bea had assured him she knew what to do. Whatever bond she had with her mistress was strong, and she seemed to know the next move. Cormac wanted to make the most of it.
“And do you think she’ll meet me?” he asked.
“You’re going to have to. If you’re there at midnight, then she’ll turn up.” Bea gulped down some more water, coughing as she drank it too quickly. She slapped her chest to get some air into her lungs. “It’s been a while since she’s gone on a midnight walk, but if she has an incentive…”
Cormac hoped this would work. Bea had told him about Rosalind’s walks in the middle of the night.
Often, when she couldn’t sleep, she went for a walk to the chapel at the end of the street.
Apparently, it was quiet and isolated, and nobody would bother her.
No one would care that there was someone wandering among the gravestones and sitting in the church. People did it all the time.
Hopefully, Rosalind would be able to get away from her watchful keepers so they could talk. Cormac needed her to.
“Thank you, Bea.” He stood and reached for his coat. “Hamish and I will make sure that she gets there.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Bea shot to her feet. “I want to see her. I wasn’t able to talk to her, and—”
“All right, you can come. But stick with Hamish while I talk to Rosalind alone.” Cormac nodded at Hamish. “I’m sure my factor will be able to take care of you properly.”
“Absolutely,” Hamish said stoutly, moving to stand beside Bea.
Cormac noticed that his friend gently touched Bea’s fingers, and they held on long enough to give each other a squeeze. He bit back a smile as he headed toward the door. At least Hamish had something to look forward to.
Now he needed to get that for himself, even if it meant risking everything.
Ellingham had promised to make sure Rosalind and Theo paid for him saying anything to them, but Cormac had to take that chance, especially when the news about Ellingham’s debts and William’s death were still ongoing.
Cormac couldn’t have her married before she knew everything.
It didn’t take long to get to the chapel, which was bathed in shadow and looked ominous. Cormac could feel a shiver go up his spine as they made their way up the path. There were plenty of places for people to hide, and he half-expected someone to jump out and scare them.
They couldn’t be seen here, or be overheard. They had to be quick.
There was someone in the shadows of the chapel door. Cormac slowed, his hand going to the dagger he’d slipped into his belt. If it was Ellingham, how was he going to explain this? He couldn’t afford to turn back now.
But Bea gasped and hurried past him as the figure stepped out of the shadows.
“Rosalind!”
He watched as Rosalind pushed the hood back from her head, relief on her face and she hugged her friend. They touched their foreheads to each other, almost like a solidarity movement, and then Rosalind looked at Cormac. She gave him a small smile.
“I was hoping you would turn up.”
“Bea thought it would be the best way to see you.”
“She was right.” Rosalind squeezed Bea’s hand. “She knows me so well. But we have to be quick. I don’t have anyone sleeping outside my room, but I’m sure there’s someone patrolling the corridors. I don’t want to risk anyone finding me missing.”
“Of course.”
Cormac nodded at Bea, who hurried to Hamish’s side. They were going to wait out of sight and watch the road to make sure they weren’t disturbed. Rosalind would be safe for a short time.
But they still didn’t have too long.
As Hamish and Bea moved away, Rosalind stepped toward him. Cormac didn’t even hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, feeling some tension ease as she embraced him back, her face buried against his neck.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, stepping back. “Knowing you’re here makes me feel better.”
“You’re in danger, Rosalind.”
Cormac had planned what he was going to say, but now it was going to come out in a rush. Rosalind didn’t seem surprised, though, by his outburst.
“I had a feeling that was the case,” she said quietly. “I overheard Julian and Sir Crispin talking about me tonight as if I was a bargaining chip. Apparently, Julian is threatening to ruin Sir Crispin over his debts if he doesn’t marry me.”
“I didn’t think he was doing it for his own heart’s desires.”
Her mouth twitched. Cormac looked around. Even though he trusted Hamish, he was still nervous. He drew Rosalind away from the path, moving around the side of the chapel.
“There was something I wanted to tell you,” he said, leaning against the wall of the building. “I couldn’t do it with proof, but now that proof has been lost, and I fear it might be too late.”
“What is it?” Rosalind frowned. “Is it something about Julian?”
“Your husband was scared of him.”
“I was aware of that. He flinched whenever Julian was around, but he said it was just something that happened to him.”
Cormac shook his head. “He was really scared of Julian. He’s been trying to hurt William for years.”
“What?”
He let everything spill out. About the letter that would’ve told them everything, the records of what Ellingham had done, and how that letter never reached Cormac despite being specifically for him.
He also explained how he believed Ellingham was trying to get control of Theo’s estate and keep her silent with a marriage that he could dictate.
He wanted to tell her what he believed, that William had been murdered, but he knew it was a more serious accusation, and he couldn’t prove it. He had to keep that back until he was certain.
Rosalind was silent after he finished, leaning against the wall beside him and staring out into the graveyard.
The shadows fell across her face, but Cormac could see the outline of her features, the way they stood out in the shadows.
He wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel that delicate skin under his touch.
But he held back. This was more important than wanting to touch her again.
“So Julian’s been doing all of this for his own gain,” Rosalind said finally.
“After the way he behaved once he arrived at Corrieden, I can see that. He was pushing his own opinions onto me, saying what I should and shouldn’t do.
Not to mention there was an atmosphere around everything, and the mood was subdued and tense. ”
“William made sure I hired the right staff for Corrieden, and he must’ve left them instructions of their own. They would likely know the situation.”
“It would explain why Julian dismissed all of our original staff in our townhouse. I don’t recognize anyone there anymore, and I barely have time with Theo anymore. He’s schooled practically all day by Mabel, and Julian’s planning on putting him into public school for the new term.”
“What does Theo say to that?”
She smiled bitterly.
“You know what his thoughts are on that. He’s refusing to go. I don’t want him to go, either, especially if it’s the school Julian and William went to. I’ve not heard good things about it. But Julian is not listening to us. It’s his way or his way.”
“He’s controlling the narrative now.”
“Just so. And dismissing Bea when she was the only one who could look after Theo and make him feel happy was the last straw. Now he has people who don’t care what happens to him around him.”
“And you weren’t nervous about coming out here and leaving him behind?”
She shook her head.
“Mabel is taking her job very seriously. She’s not to let Theo out of her sight, so she sleeps in the nursery as well. While it means I can’t smuggle him out, it does mean that I know he’ll be safe. In a way.”
Cormac wanted to say something, to assure her things were going to be fine, but he didn’t know what he could say. He was still nervous knowing that things were precarious between them. Even the embrace they shared didn’t necessarily mean anything.
He wanted to tell her how he felt, but it was not the time. How could he put that on her now?
“I can’t sit by, Cormac.”
He straightened up at her words. “What?”
“I won’t sit by and let this happen to us.” Pushing off the wall, Rosalind turned to face him. Even in the dark, he saw her determined look. “I’m inside the house, closer than you can ever be. I can’t see Julian allowing you willingly into the house, even if you’re my guest.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I can get to anything in his desk. I know where the key is kept, and I can access whatever I can.”
Cormac stared at her. “But if you’re being watched, how are you going to do that?”
Rosalind grinned. “William acquired that house after we married. There are ways of getting around it without anyone noticing. Julian doesn’t know them.”
“You mean secret doors and passages?”
“Exactly. And one of them comes out into the study.” Rosalind’s eyes were sparkling now. “I can get whatever I can from his desk, and then I’ll leave them at the bench for Bea to take away and deliver to you.”
Cormac wanted to say it was not a good idea. Even with the secret doors that Ellingham might not know about, it was still dangerous. If he found out what Rosalind was up to, he could do more than isolate her.
“I can’t…”
“Cormac, I’m not about to sit around twiddling my thumbs.
I’ve been told what to do for a long time, and I’m having no more.
Especially when my son is involved.” She lifted her chin defiantly.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help. Anything that will get Julian to back off and break my impending marriage. ”
He couldn’t help but admire her even more for that. She was not someone who would shrink away from trouble. This was a mother protecting her son.
He fell more in love with her for that.
“All right,” he said finally. “But just to assure you, that I’m not going anywhere. Whatever it takes, I’m going to be there for you and Theo. I’m not leaving you to that man. You have my word.”
She gave him a sad smile. “You’re very loyal, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Keeping an eye on a dead friend’s family as you are when you don’t need to.”
Cormac blinked. Did she still think that? He stepped toward her, reaching up and brushing his fingers across her chin. Her eyes widened, and he heard her sharp intake of breath.
“This isn’t about duty, Rosalind,” he whispered. “It was, at the beginning, but it was never just about that.”
“What… what do you mean?”
The words were on the tip of his tongue. What he truly wanted to say to her. And with how close he was, he could just lower his head…
“Cormac!”
The hiss from behind him made Cormac jump away, bumping his shoulder into the wall. Hamish appeared around the corner, holding his lantern to show his grim expression.
“Someone’s coming,” he whispered. “We need to go. Quickly!”