CHAPTER TWENTY
For a moment, he was afraid that Kate would appear as bruised and battered as Bridget had been. Jeffreys had claimed she was unharmed. Had explained the ‘misunderstanding’ that had caused his men to take Kate away. But he needed to see her. Needed to know she was unharmed.
When she entered the room, she moved right into his arms. “Sean, I’m sorry you had to worry. I am fine, I assure you. There was just a silly mistake.”
Sean was not in the mood to hear any justification for the treatment of his sister or his wife. He crushed her to his chest even as he castigated her. “How dare you defend the enemy?”
“He did me no harm. I’m not defending him, I’m telling you not to do anything foolish on my account.”
“What about my sister? They have terrorized her again.”
“I don’t think so--she gave the young man a bit more than a rap on the ribs--she stuck him.” She paused, comprehension dawning in her eyes. “What do you mean, terrorized her again?”
He cursed his own careless tongue. “You don’t understand.”
She stood away from him, her arms crossed and her expression forbidding. “Then make me. Tell me what it is about Bridget’s madness that you—and Jamie Jeffreys—have not yet told me. She wasn’t ill, was she?”
He didn’t want to tell her. “My sister is none of your concern.”
“No?” For a moment he thought she would accept the truth, and then she said softly, “She is if the child I might conceive could be tainted with madness.”
Tainted? His sister? He wouldn’t let her believe that. “Bridget was as sane as any woman until she was twelve.”
She waited for a moment, as if she thought he might go on, and then she prompted him. “So at twelve she just went mad? Overnight? I know it wasn’t an illness.”
“No.” He ground his teeth. “Something happened.”
She would not relent for a moment, although she seemed to realize that she was dragging up old, painful things. “What?”
“Jeffreys, that upstart Sassenach, had his men kidnap her.”
Appalled, she asked, “Kidnap her? As they did to me today?”
“Bridget was not so lucky as you, to be offered tea and protection.” He closed his eyes. She would have it all out of him, and then what?
“What do you mean?” She knew. He could hear it in her voice. Why would she make him say it?
“They did not treat her kindly—they thought her a threat to the boy. Fools.”
“What did they do?”
“She wouldn’t say.” He opened his eyes to glare at her. If she wanted the whole truth, she would have it. He hoped she choked on it, as he did. “She didn’t say anything the first few weeks she was back. But I can guess, can’t you? She came back bloodied and bruised and with the light out of her eyes like it would never come back. But at least she wasn’t hanged.”
“Surely he didn’t mean to hang her, a child of twelve? For what?”
“For trying to murder his boy. He would have, but the magistrate refused when the boy testified they’d only been playing, she’d not meant to hurt him. But Jeffreys didn’t believe the boy.”
“No.” She shook her head. “He doesn’t believe it now. But to hurt a child?”
“He claimed not to have known it was happening until too late. He claimed to have punished the men responsible, even though they had just been trying to defend his son from the wild Irish lass.”
“Perhaps he spoke truthfully.”
“A man doesn’t defend himself with the part of himself they used on her, Kate. He uses it to love a woman, or to hurt her. But never for his own defense.”
She didn’t argue with him about that, though her eyes were full of pain. “If you had brought the matter to the authorities…”
“So the world would know why my sister went mad? Isn’t it enough that I didn’t kill him?”
“You’d have hung.”
“I don’t mind a rope at my own throat.” There were days, in the beginning, when he wished he had. But what would have happened to Bridget then? “The first words she spoke were to ask me not to tell anyone.”
“How did she come to be there at the castle with the boy? Shouldn’t she have been in lessons with a governess at the very least?”
“Her governess had gone the week before. I hadn’t been able to pay her for six months.”
“And you?”
He knew he shouldn’t blame her. He’d made his choices and he’d thought them wise at the time. But still he said, “I was busy meeting the whims of a well-dowered lady.”
The whims of a well-dowered lady. Her. He had been courting her. No wonder he’d climbed into her bed that night. She felt guilt wash over her that she had put him through the ridiculous trials she had. She had made him play games when he had people to protect. “I’m sorry. How is she?”
“Angry that she could not protect you.”
“She said the fairies had meant her to have the book they argued over.” Kate knew it would be painful, but she had to ask one more question. “Did she push him?”
He looked at her a moment before answering, but she could see that he had grappled with the question himself. “He says no. She says no. But no one asked them before they averted her, beat her--and worse.”
“Was she-touched-before that?”
“She was a little wild, as any girls might be without a mother’s gentle hand.” He rejected her suggestion. “But she was gentle and never harmed a soul.”
“Do you think he only threatened her life because he was afraid of what you would say about him?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know.”
“It wasn’t your concern.” He turned away from her, as if he couldn’t bear the sight of her. “Let’s go home.”
Kate wanted to hit him. To scream at him. It wasn’t her concern? If he had told her, she would never have invited the Jeffreys to dinner. Would never have allowed Bridget to take her to the castle, not even for a peaceful picnic. “You should have told me.”
He turned back. “Why would you have spit his fine English tea in his face then?”
“I didn’t know, Sean. He did not hurt me. He thought she meant to kill me and he just wanted to see me safely away from you while you were in such a foul temper. He was merely being overprotective.”
“Of my wife.”
She felt the fury sweep through her. How dare he speak of her as if he wanted her. “Why should you care? You’ve already decided you don’t want me. Haven’t you?”
“Come home, Kate.” He didn’t answer that question. “You’re more fortunate than Bridget—this time. But I don’t know if that will be true if you stay here any longer. Or don’t you trust me anymore? Don’t you trust my mad sister?”
It was a terrible thing to admit her own breach of faith. She could not bring herself to land the blow, so she said instead, “He knows that you have initiated the divorce, the news does not take long to travel. I’m certain they know in Boston—perhaps even Ros has heard in California.”
“None of their business.”
“Not even of mine, so the law says.”
“Doesn’t go down well, to have no say in your own life, now, does it?”
“No.”
“You’re my wife.”
“For how much longer? Perhaps I’m tired of being a wife only when you find it convenient.”
“Perhaps I should keep you.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“I would if I thought it would save my people. Since I don’t I think I’d rather turn you free and let you bedevil your own countrymen.”
The truth of his words were shining from his eyes and she could not doubt it any longer. Feeling the heart blow in her chest, she struggled not to let him see she couldn’t breathe.
She stood and stalked out without a word. She almost slammed a door, but stopped, suddenly filled with a clear, deep relief. It was over. She turned and made herself look at hi
m. “Bridget says I’m to have a son—if I do, you’ll stay away from him.”
“He’ll be—” he started to protest.
She shook her head fiercely. “If you don’t stay away, I’ll swear he’s Niall’s.”
He shrugged. “The odds are slim that we would have created any child in this short time.”
“Nevertheless, since you don’t want me, you can’t have me. Ever. Nor any child I might have. If you are seen to set foot anywhere on our property, I will convince my brother and the duke to order you shot.”
For several days he expected Kate to return. He didn’t know why he would expect her to do such a thing. He himself wouldn’t have forgiven himself for what he’d said to her. But all he’d received was a terse note, telling him that she would be gone from Ireland as planned, would not put any obstacle to the divorce in his way, thanking him for his hospitality. He supposed it was irony, but he burned the note in the fireplace as soon as he’d read it, so he had no way to re-read the words again and reassure himself of that.
Bridget had been furious with him when he told her what he’d done. At first he thought she worried that he had left her vulnerable at the Jeffreys. But she had soon made clear that she accepted the explanation of why Jamie had interfered. She’d even seemed to think he’d had justification for his beliefs, but he didn’t ask her why. He didn’t want to know.
Just as he didn’t want to know that his sister believed she could see into the future. Believed that his wife’s ship would go down and that she must not be on it. He had turned back to his books, spent his days at the greenhouse, taken a quick cold supper in his rooms. Anything to avoid listening to the nonsense.
At least Niall and Connor were not back from Dublin yet and he did not have to deal with their angry reproaches, or his cousin’s jealous jibes. Would Niall have handled things differently? Would Kate have listened to him? Trusted him? After all, she certainly knew him better than she knew her own husband.
He’d have to speak to Bridget, he resolved. Explain that he and Kate were not meant to be. She’d understand if he explained it that way. But such explanations would be difficult to deliver until she had decided to forgive him. He hadn’t seen Bridget for two days. He expected she was mad at him for sending Kate away.
He realized he had not seen her maid either. “Douglas.”
The man appeared magically and quietly as always. “Fetch my sister, please. I need to speak with her.”
He knew it was an easier order to give than to carry out. His sister could be anywhere. But he did not suspect that she had left the abbey grounds. Until her maid was found bound in her room.
Douglas brought him the news, and the maid, still rubbing her wrists in relief at being untied. “Where is my sister?” He had wanted to tell her that with Kate gone, she was safe from ever having to see Jeffreys or hear his name again. But now he wondered if she was as mad as Jeffreys had said. Why else would she tie up a poor defenseless girl?
“She followed your lady, my lord.”
Followed Kate? His blood ran cold. “Followed her where?” To Jeffreys? Had she decided to wreak revenge upon the family? Why now? Did she truly believe he and Kate belonged together that strongly? Did she blame Jamie for separating them? He shook his head, realizing he had not understood his sister for a very long time.
The maid’s freckles grew prominent on her pale face as she grew even more pale. “We was riding by the castle and just talking and then she got a look in her eyes clear in the middle of a sentence of mine and took off for home. I found her packing a bag and tried to stop her. So she tied me up so I couldn’t call for help right away.” She looked at him somewhat reproachfully. “She didn’t think it would take you two days to find me.”
Bridget had reacted to something the maid had said. “What did you tell her?”
“That your lady had gone with the Jeffreys, that they were all to sail on the same ship together to London, so your lady wouldn’t be lonely on her trip home.”
Sean’s heart sank even as he made preparations to follow. Bridget was certain the ship was to go down. She’d told him so more than once, but he’d ignored her. What did she think she could do to stop it sailing? Or did she have some more nefarious plan in mind?
He looked up, meaning to order Douglas to get a bag packed for him, and a horse readied. But the man was gone, no doubt not wanting to waste any time waiting for Sean to realize what he needed done.
He looked at the trembling maid. “You must be hungry. Go get something to eat.”
“I didn’t mean to let her get away—“
“I’m not sure anyone can save Bridget from herself. I’m sure you did your best.” And now he would do his. It had never been good enough in the past, but he hoped that this time would be different.
He wondered what Kate would have advised him to do? Perhaps he’d ask her, if he ever saw her again.
Jeffreys had been kind to her. Kinder that he need be, but she thought he took some pleasure in the realization that he was hurting Sean by taking her back to London.
She watched the familiar countryside roll away through the windows of the Jeffrey’s well sprung carriage and reflected that she had learned a lot about marriage in her fortnight as a truly married woman. Most of all was that a man who didn’t want to be a husband made the whole thing impossible.
She thought, once or twice, about renting a carriage to take her back, just so that she could make absolutely certain that this was what he wanted. Foolish thought.
If he’d wanted something else, he’d known well enough where she was. He could have come and told her. Besides, she owed Sarah a swift journey home. The maid had been plain in her joy when Kate had told her they were indeed sailing home as originally planned.
The port city was bustling, but Kate could not wait to board the ship. She had spoken to the captain, who had assured her that the ship was sound and he had been sailing for thirty years without a mishap.
She had been afraid he might be offended at her inquiry, but he reassured her that she was not the first passenger to seek a little extra reassurance. She wondered if she were the first who sought the reassurance because her of a prediction from the fairies. But this was Ireland, so she thought not.
“So, are you satisfied that we will make it to London in one piece?” Jamie Jeffreys walked her back to the carriage with a smile on his lips.
“Completely.” At first she thought it was thoughts of fairies and predictions which made the woman who caught her eye remind her of Bridget. But then the woman turned and her heart nearly stopped. It was Bridget. She glanced full at them, and then turned and disappeared.
Kate detached herself from Jamie Jeffreys and Sarah with a quick wave of her hand. “Excuse me, I just thought of an errand that needs to be run.” She made her way through the crowd, ignoring the startled questions of both Sarah and Jamie, which quickly faded away in the noise of the docks.
She followed the cloaked woman, fear churning in her gut. What was Bridget doing here? She had a dreadful feeling she knew. The girl didn’t want them to get on the ship. And she was used to playing “tricks” on the English. What trick would she play now?
At last she caught sight of the girl entering a rackety building. One very much like the shed Sean had put fire to. Her heart beating hard in her chest, she came up behind the girl and asked sharply, “Bridget, what are you doing?”
Bridget turned quickly, but did not appear to be too startled to see Kate. “Delaying you and poking the English in the eye all at once.”
“Don’t.” Kate eyed the neat bundle of faggots and hay that would be easily ignited by the tinder box and oil soaked rags in Bridget’s hands.
“I couldn’t stop Jamie’s men from taking you, but I’m not going to let you die on the Daisy’s Pride.” She glanced away for a moment. “And I’m not going to let him die, either.”
“I’m not going to die. Jamie’s not going to die. We’ve spoken to the captain. The ship is sound, the w
eather is fine.” Kate wondered how to reason with a madwoman. “You can’t see the future. No one can.”
“Jamie says that, too.” Bridget frowned, but she appeared more sad than angry. “No one believes—but I know.”
“How will this stop the ship?” Kate again tried reasoning. Perhaps if they spoke long enough—
“This cargo is meant for the ship, if it burns, they’ll have to delay a week or so, and you’ll take another ship and be safe.”
“How do you know?” Kate expected her to say the fairies, but instead Bridget said quite lucidly, “I asked one of the deck hands what could happen to delay the ship.”
“Come with me. I’ll send a note to Sean and stay with you until he comes to take you safely home.”
For a moment Bridget seemed ready to accept. Then she shook her head. “Jamie will still go on the ship.”
“I’ll convince him to take passage on another ship.”
“He won’t listen. He’s stubborn, just like Sean.”
Stubborn. Just like Bridget. “He will. He doesn’t want you to get hurt.”
A flash of pain spasmed across Bridget’s face. “He doesn’t know how to protect me, anymore than Sean does.”
“No. We have to protect ourselves. And them as well.” Kate was struck by the truth of what she said, although she had spoken out of desperation.
“How can we, when they’re so stubborn?”
“I can refuse to let Sean drive me away.” Kate said.
“You can.” Bridget smiled. “And I can kidnap Jamie.”
Kate didn’t think the kidnapping idea was any more sound that the fire, but she wasn’t going to say so now. “Good. Give me those, then and let’s go protect ourselves for a change.”
Bridget relented then, with a little exhalation of relief.
Kate took the fags and oil soaked rags, glad that she had averted a disaster. But just then they heard the sound of boots outside the doorway. Bridget slipped away like a wraith. Kate was not so fortunate.
Kate tried to slip by the burly man at the door, but he put his arm out to bar her way. “Halt lass, what have you there.”
A Very Romantic Christmas Page 38
