by Vella, Wendy
He heard a loud bark of laughter then and made his way silently by the door it came from and out the old wooden one ahead of him. Cold air slapped him in the face, jolting his senses to attention.
Taking the steps, he saw some outbuildings and headed in that direction. He would take a horse and have someone return it when he reached his next destination.
The wind was cool and pushed against him as he slowly made his way to the stables. The breath wheezed from his body by the time he reached them. Two days ago, he’d been strong and healthy. Not so now.
The scents of horse, hay, and manure greeted him. Familiar scents, unlike those inside that house. Family, love and happiness, and food, plenty of food. Things so foreign to him they could be words from another language.
“Hello, Rory.”
A man stepped out from a stall. Tall, he had dark hair and green eyes and had to be related to Kate. Stepping forward, he held out a hand.
“I’m Cambridge Sinclair, the best of the lot, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
The smile was easy, as was the charm with it. Rory knew a confident man when he was facing him.
“Good day. I need to find my dog and borrow a horse, as I am to leave.”
“Nasty day for travel, it has to be noted, and seeing as I was in the rescue party that hauled you up the side of that cliff and saw the state you were in, I’d recommend you don’t go anywhere.”
“I’ll send the horse back as soon as I’m able.”
“You’re much better to go back inside with me. There is a tea tray being prepared as we speak. Josiah, one of the men who helped herd us into halfway decent humans whilst we were doing our best to self-destruct during our adolescent years, is a god at baking. He’s been perfecting a new recipe for fruitcake. It’s full of spices and a wee touch of rum. He soaks the fruit in it, I’m led to believe.”
“I need to leave.”
“Of course, if that is your wish, but the problem for me is this, Rory. I have this ridiculous need for those I love to be happy. Seeing you has made Max doubly so—”
“I want nothing to do with him.”
“Understand that… really I do.” Before he could stop him, Cambridge Sinclair had wrapped his fingers around Rory’s arm, turned him, and was heading back out the barn doors. “Have siblings, six of them to be exact, cousins and in-laws also. Have me gnashing my teeth upon occasion but wouldn’t be without them.”
“You don’t understand—”
“Very likely, as there’s a great deal smoldering between you and Max beneath the surface. But the predicament I’m in is that I’m a happily-ever-after kind of man. There’s a need in me—it’s a fault for sure, ask any of my family—and I have an optimism that can be annoying. I’m big enough to admit it, Rory.”
The man was scrambling his wits with all this talk.
“I want to leave,” he gritted out as his vision started to waver.
“It’s stronger at Christmas and with the wedding upon us,” Cambridge Sinclair continued as if Rory had not spoken. “Then there’s the fair at the castle.”
“Fair?” He couldn’t seem to shake his hand free. The man was walking and taking Rory with him.
“Wonderful thing. Usually it’s held on the village green. For some obscure reason, our forefathers thought it was best hosted in the winter. This year James is having it at his little house.”
“James?”
“Oh, aye, you’ve yet to meet him, your bro— Oh well, there’s time for that. He also helped carry you up the cliffs yesterday. He’s the Duke of Raven and lives up there in that bloody monstrosity of a castle, and also my brother-in-law. Married to my sister Eden.”
He looked up dutifully and saw the turrets and flags. Saw the castle and felt something shiver down his spine, which he couldn’t put down to the cold.
“Family, Rory, it’s what makes us who we are. But you’ll not go saying I said that to anyone, because I’ll deny it… vehemently.”
“Is there any chance you’ll shut up and release me?”
“None at all. If you fight me, I’ll fight you back.”
Suddenly gone was the joviality, and in its place was intent. Deadly intent. Rory knew he meant every word he’d spoken.
“Why do you care if I stay or go?”
“Max is important to us, and you are to him, therefore you need to stay and talk to him.”
“And I have no say in the matter?”
Cambridge Sinclair exhaled slowly.
“I know good men, am surrounded by them actually—again, I’ll lie vehemently if you say that to anyone—but Max, well, he’s a special type. Our silent, sturdy oak tree in a field of willows. Solid and reliable, he would lay down his life for any one of us.”
“But not his own family,” Rory growled before he could stop himself. They were now close to the house, but the distance seemed vast to him. It was like he was wading through deep water, each step taking an age. He’d been a fool to believe he could ride today. He would have made it to the end of the drive if he’d been lucky.
“That’s for you and him to discuss, but I’ll tell you something, Rory.”
“It’s not like I’ve been able to shut you up so far.”
Cambridge laughed. “You’ll get used to me.
“I won’t have time.”
“I don’t know your family or what happened. Max is very closemouthed about it, but to my mind there must have been a reason for him to leave you, because the man I know would never do such a thing willingly.”
“As you stated, you know nothing of the details,” Rory said as they walked inside. He kept his words low and even, but it was a challenge. Exhaustion dogged his every step.
“Come now, you’re cold and shivering. Prepare to be scolded—and to meet some more of the family.”
“I will return to my room.”
Cambridge ignored his words and opened the door he’d heard laughter behind, then nudged him through it. People, lots of people, were seated in the room. He knew her, Kate, and him, his brother. But the others were strangers. There was color and laughter, and he smelled gingerbread, which had his mouth watering.
Kate and another woman sat together, tying red satin ribbon into balls of twigs and hawthorn. A fire roared in the hearth, and he wanted to hold out his hands to warm his fingers, but instead kept them clenched at his sides.
“I see you have the same bullheaded nature as your brother.” These words were from a pretty dark-haired woman who had been stringing popcorn. “I am Essex Huntington, your sister-in-law, and it is indeed foolish of you to leave your bed, and by the look of you the house.” She rose on her toes and pressed her hand to his forehead. Rory’s eyes met Kate’s briefly, then flicked away.
He’d kissed her, then thrown harsh, cruel words at her to force her away. Shame was the only word for what he now felt over his actions. Especially when all she’d done was try to help him. Hell, she’d saved his life.
“He was just in the gardens, Essie, don’t scold him.”
Rory looked at Cambridge; he winked.
“The gardens, you say? In these conditions, and in your weakened state, Rory? You’re frozen through.”
He couldn’t bow as it was likely he’d topple over, so he nodded. Yes, she was married to Max, but her bad taste in men was no reason for him to be rude to her.
“He is upright, therefore he is capable of walking about the place, but is now tired and cold and likely in need of a slice of gingerbread,” Cambridge added in a hopeful tone.
“He is capable, is he? Look at that pale face and sweaty forehead,” Essex said. Rory was then subjected to dual looks from the siblings. No one behind them spoke, all just watching and listening. Max had yet to step forward, but that was only a matter of time, Rory was sure.
“He does look peaky.” Another man arrived, this one equally as tall, but not a sibling was Rory’s guess. Brown hair and eyes.
“I am not peaky,” Rory gritted out.
“Do men even get peaky?” someone said from behind them. “It hardly seems manly.”
“He is a fool for leaving the bed, but as I know his type, I can at least understand it. Max is an idiot when he is sick or injured too.”
“Oh, now I protest,” drawled his brother from somewhere in the room beyond the wall of three now before him.
“Forgive my manners. I’m James, and my sister-in-law is a bossy woman but in these kinds of matters only.” His smile was gentle. “Will you allow me to help you to a seat?”
James was the Duke of Raven, Rory remembered that much from his one-sided conversation with Cambridge.
“I need no help and will return to the room, your Grace.”
“Excellent, but you can have a rest before you do. Sit in the comfortable chair while they are allowing you to.” His arm was taken and a hand pressed into his spine—his sister-in-law’s—and then he was moving slowly forward.
What was with these people always forcing him in a direction he had no wish to take?
“Can he have mulled wine, Ess?” These words came from Cambridge.
“Only a small amount.”
“And gingerbread?”
“Very well, but not too much. Josiah, a blanket at once, if you please!”
“I have one here, Mrs. Huntington.” Another man entered through the door.
“You have yet to meet Josiah and Bertie. They live here at Oak’s Knoll and once cared for us. Now they loll about the place doing little.”
Cambridge said these words, and Rory just knew he’d made it his life work to annoy those closest to him.
“I have never lolled a day in my life, and I’ll thank you to mind your tongue, Mr. Sinclair.”
“I have. Lolling is a favorite pastime of mine.”
Rory was ushered into a wide, comfortable seat, just managing to swallow the sigh of relief to be off his feet as he settled on the soft cushions. However, now he was seated and the people who’d been standing in front of him had moved, he could see everyone else in the room.
His brother stood with a young boy leaning on his legs, the only child present. Together, they came forward.
Rory knew who the boy was, because he looked like Max. He didn’t want to meet the child but could do nothing to stop that from happening.
“This is your nephew, Luke.”
He didn’t want any connection to this man, but looking into the boy’s eyes, so like Maddie’s, he felt something shift and soften inside him.
“Hello,” he managed to get out around the lump in his throat.
“This is your uncle Rory,” Max added.
“Hello, Uncle Rory.” The boy moved closer, resting a hand on his knee to look at him closely. “I like uncles.”
“Ah… that’s n-nice?” he said, because while he wanted nothing to do with the boy’s father, he wouldn’t be rude to the child.
He would, however, walk away and not look back. Looking around the room, he knew his nephew had no need of him, as clearly this was a large family. Rory wanted no part of that. He did things alone. He’d once had Maddie, but no longer; now it was just him—and he liked it that way, he reminded himself.
Chapter Seven
“How do you feel?” Kate heard Max ask as she brought the mulled wine to Rory, along with a large wedge of gingerbread. Placing it on a tray Max had moved closer, she resisted touching him to see if his temperature had risen.
“I am well.”
Now that was a lie. He looked like a ghost. A pale, disturbing one. Weak and scared, Rory was hurting but would never allow anyone to see those feelings. She could almost feel his pain, which was unsettling.
Just looking at him made her breathless. The collar on his coat was turned up, and even though it was warm in here, he had it buttoned to the chin. His tawny hair was windblown, and she could see the hurt etched deep in his eyes. He’d been running away from them when Cam intercepted him, she had no doubt about that.
Could it really be true he was the one meant for her? Her response to him was certainly different from what it had been to any before him. His kisses too—she’d wanted those. But was he the one?
“I will be leaving here soon.” Rory said the words directly to Max.
“That’s a shame, when we have just found you.” Cam ignored the tension that was thick between the brothers. Her cousin liked to make people feel at ease and often did this by teasing them.
Kate retrieved a small cushion from the chair she’d been sitting in. “Lift your arm and place this under it, it will relieve the pressure.”
He looked surprised she was helping him, and who could blame him after what they’d shared in that room. What he’d said to her had been crude and mean, but she’d understood the place it had come from. Seeing Max had upset him. Then there was the small matter of someone shooting him and leaving him to die. He was off-balance and trying to push everyone away.
“How is the pain?” Essex asked, coming forward.
“I am well.” The words were clipped and cold enough to be covered in the ice that was on the ground outside.
“Very well, but I will give you something soon to help with that and to continue fighting the infection.”
Essie pushed his jacket and the nightshirt aside. He tried to stop her, reaching for her hands, but she was stronger. This gentle sibling was a lioness when dealing with a patient. Kate had watched and learned from her, and it was said she had many of her traits. Each one, she would be proud of.
“The bandages are still clean, so you have not reopened the wound, which is good and will stop another scolding from me.”
Kate took the seat next to Rory, for some reason needing to be close. He stirred something inside her. He was battling hard to show no emotion, and yet surely he felt something. How could he not when faced with a brother he had not seen in many years?
Max too could hide, but exposure to the Sinclairs had softened him. His eyes could not quite hide the longing when he looked at Rory.
“Don’t badger the man,” Cambridge said, winking as he moved to stand before Rory again. “Right, now I’m going to introduce you to this rabble. A few are missing, but it’s better to ease into this family or you’ll go mad trying to work out who belongs to whom.”
“There is no need. I am to leave here soon, so—”
“Max you know, and his wife, Essie, my sister, plus your guardian angel, Kate,” Cam said, ignoring Rory. “There are seven of us Sinclairs all named after the places we were conceived in.” He added those words so only Rory could hear.
“You’re not serious?”
“Perfectly. The eldest and most pompous of us is Devonshire, but he is up at the castle with his family at the moment. He helped carry you here. Next is Essex, then me, the most important member, as I’ve already explained.”
This comment produced loud scoffing from the others in the room, Kate included. She was part of this now… this wonderful, loud, boisterous family. Part of their secrets too.
“Eden is there.” He waved to where the Duchess of Raven sat with her husband standing behind her. “Supposedly she is the beauty of the family, and the only one of us with gray eyes. James, you have met. He’s the Duke of Raven and lives in that monstrosity above us. That is Wolf, Kate’s brother.”
Rory moved only his eyes as he took in the people Cambridge introduced.
“And I’ve saved the best for last. This is my wife, Emily.”
There was little doubting Cam’s love as he introduced her. Like the others in this family, he loved with his entire being.
“There are more, as I have explained. Wolf’s wife, Rose, and Alice, their sister, and her fiancé, Nicholas, are up at Raven Castle. My younger siblings also, and James’s sister Samantha, plus nieces and nephews. We did not want to overwhelm you. It seems by the look in your eyes we’ve failed. I forget sometimes how much we can be.”
“I am not overwhelmed,” Rory said slowly.
“I’m often overwhelmed, and I’m part of them
.”
James walked forward again.
“Surely not now?” Cam added. “The man can barely keep his eyes open.”
“If not now, when? We all know he was trying to leave,” James said.
“Now,” Max added, and the tension in the room climbed. “He will leave without a goodbye; this may stop that from happening.”
“I don’t understand.” Rory started to rise. “What is it you speak of?”
“Sit, Rory…, please,” Max added.
Kate watched as he lowered himself back into the seat. His fingers dug into the armrests as he looked from James to Max.
“He is wounded and weak,” Kate protested.
“I am never weak,” Rory stated.
“There is no easy way for me to say these words, so I shall simply do so. I am your brother,” James said. “We share a father. Emily is your sister, as are my two other sisters, Samantha and Rose, who you shall meet later.”
No one spoke, and Kate was sure the others held their breath as she did.
“You lie!” The fingers dug deeper into the armrest.
“No, Rory. It is the truth,” Max said. “Mother had an affair with James’s father, the then Duke of Raven. I found this out a few years ago.”
“We are brothers,” James said gently, “and we,” he pointed to Max then back to himself, “have been searching for you for some time.”
“I have no wish to be found. Nor do I need family.” Rory looked ready to run.
“And yet,” James replied, “you have it.”
Kate could do nothing to stop her hand resting on top of the one Rory had clenched on the chair. She didn’t know if he realized he parted his fingers and hers slipped between. He then trapped them there. Her eyes caught and held Eden’s. Her cousin’s smile was gentle and knowing.
“And you will come and spend Christmas Day with us. If you are to leave, I would have at least one with the brother I have just found.”
“I am not one for family gatherings, your Grace, and need to get back to France.”
