“But why? We weren’t shot,” Megan said, her brows furrowed.
“Garrett believes we were placed in danger because we were with him.” Abbie paused, since speaking about this caused her heart to ache afresh. “We are returning home as planned. It is left to Garrett to decide what is more important to him. And I have told him to make a choice, once and for all. I ask we please not speak about this anymore. I never should have come here.” Her voice shook on the last sentence.
“But I am very glad you did.” They whirled about to see Oliver standing in the doorway. “Forgive my interruption, and my overhearing what you said. May I come in?”
Abbie nodded. Lord, she was not in the mood for more discussion on this subject, and certainly not with Garrett’s father.
“I wanted to say what a breath of fresh air you and Megan have been. My joy at finding both of you knows no bounds. Regardless of what may happen, I wish us to stay in touch. Megan may come for visits whenever she pleases. Both of you always have a home here, and a family who cares for you very much.”
Blast it all, why did these men have to be so generous and charming? “Thank you.”
“To have the family expand at last is gratifying indeed. Bastian has confirmed that Sabrina is indeed with child.” Oliver beamed.
“How wonderful!” Megan clapped her hands together with delight.
“I’m pleased for the family. Rest assured I will never keep Megan from you all,” Abbie said.
“I cannot persuade you to stay?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then I will not press you on the matter.”
Thank God.
“What about the puppy?” Megan asked.
“As soon as your mother informed me of your considerate proposal, I made inquires. It appears that there is a sheep farmer in Sussex who has a half-grown collie who is not adjusting well to herding. They have no need for a pet, so I made an offer to buy him. Not exactly a puppy as such, but I believe he would be grateful for a loving home.”
Megan’s lower lip quivered. “You will give him to Garrett? Tell him the puppy’s name is Laddie?”
Another stab of pain radiated from Abbie’s heart. Megan was coming to care for Garrett. Oh, what had she done? To bring her daughter here, introduce her to her father and his family, only to take her away?
“I will,” Oliver replied. “I will say he is a gift from you, Megan. He will be touched. I won’t tell him of it until I have the puppy in my possession. It will be a surprise.”
Megan stood and rushed to Oliver’s arms. He was as surprised as Abbie by the unexpected show of affection. “Thank you, Grandpapa,” she whispered.
Oliver met Abbie’s gaze, and his eyes glistened with emotion. Abbie’s own eyes filled with tears. “My dear girl. You are entirely welcome.” He hugged her tight, closing his eyes, no doubt basking in the fact that Megan had called him Grandpapa.
“The puppy can keep him company while he recovers,” Megan murmured.
Oliver smoothed Megan’s hair. “Yes.”
“May I see my…my…Garrett, before we leave?” Megan asked.
“Let us see him, by all means.” Oliver took Megan’s hand and led her from the room. Abbie waited several moments, then silently followed Oliver and Megan. Standing outside the door, she had a clear view of Garrett’s room, but remained hidden. Eavesdropping was not a prudent thing to do, but she wished to see their interaction.
“I’ve come to say goodbye,” Megan said softly. “I am so very glad the fever broke.”
Abbie couldn’t see Garrett’s face, but he took Megan’s hand and squeezed it. “Look…after…your mother,” he said, his voice weak and raspy.
Hot tears gathered at the corners of Abbie’s eyes at Garrett’s emotionally spoken words.
“You will come and see us, as soon as you are recovered?” Megan asked hopefully.
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
“I…promise.”
“Megan rode for help after you were shot,” Oliver interjected.
Garrett kissed Megan’s hand. “My brave…girl.”
A few tears trailed down Abbie’s cheeks. Megan was finally warming to her father and it touched her heart.
“Please get well. Please. Goodbye.” With a warm smile, Megan patted Garrett’s hand before releasing it.
Abbie quickly made her way to her room before Megan and Oliver saw her hovering outside the door. Once inside, she covered her face with her hands. This was all too much. Unfortunately, she had the distinct feeling that Garrett would scurry behind the wall of the family curse and stay there, adamant in the belief he was doing “the right thing” in order to protect her and Megan. Blast his stubborn and beautiful hide! Yet the sadness in his eyes when she laid her ultimatum before him relayed that there may be a glimmer of hope. That, and his promise to visit after he recovered.
Oh, come and claim me as you should have years past. Come to me and tell me you love me. That you can’t live without me.
If he didn’t, Abbie understood her life going forward would be a bitter and bleak place. And it filled her with an aching pain that cut her in two.
* * * *
To hell with a long recovery. Garrett had no patience for lingering about in his sickbed, brooding over what nonsense he’d spouted while caught in a fever nightmare. By the next afternoon he was sitting upright in a chair taking a light meal. Dr. Faraday had placed his wounded arm in a proper sling, so he had to adjust to using only his right arm for most tasks. It proved to be difficult, considering he was left-handed.
By early that evening, he was perambulating about his room with assistance from Gordon, the tallest and strongest of the young footmen. The young man would act as valet until Garrett decided he was no longer needed. He asked Gordon not to shave him. He came out of his fevered state sporting heavy whiskers. He found he liked the look and decided to grow out the beard, but keep it neat and closely cropped.
Meanwhile, Garrett was determined to make it downstairs for breakfast the following day. His family had brought him up to speed on current events and on the plan to request an audience with Prince Albert, and Garrett was going to make damned sure that he stood with the rest of the family when they did.
His father had already sent a messenger to Buckingham Palace, where the royal couple was currently in residence. The note stated that there was a matter of personal importance concerning a member of the peerage, and that they also wished to discuss education reforms, a particular and favorite cause of the prince’s. They didn’t mention Sutherhorne by name in case word of their meeting were to make its way to the man. Riordan would make the presentation on education.
Gordon brought out black trousers, a white shirt, and a gray waistcoat. With his assistance, Garrett dressed, and, leaning on the young man, made it to the main dining room for breakfast. Weak as a bloody kitten, he pushed forward, even though cold perspiration covered his forehead. Once seated, Gordon placed coddled eggs, slices of bacon, and toast before him.
The rest of the family took their seats, except Sabrina—she was taking a tray in her room. He still couldn’t wrap his head around the news that Riordan would soon be a father. Good God, out of his head for five days and the world had turned upside-down. Garrett frowned. But nothing was more upsetting than Abbie and Megan departing. It left a gaping wound more painful than his blasted shoulder.
He ate as much as he could, even managed to cut his bacon with one hand and actually feed himself. The conversation stayed away from the personal and he was grateful, and he made an effort to join in. “Riordan, the board doesn’t mind you having another absence so soon after the last one?”
“A family emergency, they could hardly say no. Besides, I left my schoolroom in competent hands. Factor in that I may be making a presentation before the prince about the successes in Carrbury and how the board e
ndorsed it will more than excuse my frequent absences.” Riordan took a sip of tea, then smiled. “Sabrina and I will return to Carrbury directly after seeing the prince, and I doubt we will leave again until the end of the school term. Then we will return here and settle in for the birth.”
“Again, my congratulations,” Garrett murmured. He had all sincere hopes everything would go well.
“I know what you’re thinking, Uncle. Nothing will happen. The curse will not interfere in my life. I refuse to allow it,” Riordan said firmly. “And it has made me remember something of some import recently. Regardless of what you may think, the curse did give me pause once I developed feelings for Sabrina. Then I recalled that at age fourteen Aidan and I explored various dusty nooks in the attic. We found a locked trunk. Thinking that it might hold treasure, we broke into it. We found nothing but ledgers and other correspondence. Disappointed, Aidan left, but I stayed to read what was in those ancient papers.”
Everyone was riveted by the story. Riordan continued, “The Earl of Carnstone, circa early 1700s, sought out a Scottish sorceress. He begged her to remove the curse, as he had recently lost his second wife to illness. The supposed enchantress claimed that only a love bond by all the males of the family alive during a lunar year would break the curse.”
Garrett could not believe this. “And you only thought to mention it now?”
“What did a love curse mean to a lad of fourteen? I had completely forgotten about the papers in the attic, until a few months ago,” Riordan replied. “It isn’t real, more of a plot from a fantasy novel.”
“What if it is real? Da, you thought you’d found true love with my mother, but she died regardless.” Garrett pointed to Julian. “By the time Julian met and married Fiona, I was born. Too young to form a love bond within a lunar year. Hence the curse was not broken. I sound mad, but perhaps this has merit.”
His family stared at him as if he were a patient at Bedlam. Frankly, he was tired of being thought of as the crackbrained member of the clan.
“Uncle, the time has come for us to dismiss the curse once and for all. Even if you believe it has some merit—and I agree there is proof it does—you cannot allow it to rule your life. If we all believed in it as fervently as you, none of us would have ever married. Grandfather married three times. Father married. I am married. Love means taking a chance.”
Garrett frowned at his nephew, his cheeks flushing with growing annoyance, but Riordan continued on. “For argument’s sake, let’s say this is true. If all of us accept love here at the table, it will come down to Aidan to break the curse before November. Highly unlikely, considering his state.” A look of sadness haunted Riordan’s features.
“I agree with Riordan,” Julian said. “Everything he said.”
“Riordan, could you find these papers again?” Oliver asked.
“I’ll go to the attic right now.”
“I’ll come with you, Son,” Julian stated.
“Good. In the meantime, Garrett, come with me to the nearby sitting room. I wish to have a private conversation.”
Bloody hell. Garrett stood, and Gordon rushed forward to take his arm. Being a blasted invalid was tedious. Once settled in the sitting room, his father closed the door. “Am I to be lectured, Da?”
“Not as such. But I wanted to relay to you, in private, about Abbie. She never left your side. In fact, she fought off Phillips when he’d mentioned amputation. She applied pressure on your wound for over two hours before Bastian arrived. Then she assisted with the procedure to repair the artery. Barely took a break to eat or sleep. Until…”
He was aware of some of it as he’d drifted in and out of consciousness. Started to believe most of it was a dream. “Until I blathered on nonsensically about the curse. I can hardly be held responsible for maniacal mutterings while caught in a fever nightmare.”
His father sat across from him. “Perhaps, but it affected Abbie regardless. Hell, the curse has affected all of us. When Gordon arrived at Riordan’s to inform us of the shooting. God above, I was desolate. Inconsolable. But Mary Tuttle was there for me. I hope”—his voice softened—“that she always will be. I am in love. I will not deny it. Not for any curse. Life is short, and how much time do I have left? Whatever remains, I aim to live life to the fullest, and love with my full heart. Can you say the same?”
His father’s emotional words cut clear to his soul. A ball of emotion lodged in his throat, making replying difficult. “I love Abbie,” he whispered. “I dismissed what we had because of the curse, relegated the past to a summer dalliance and nothing more. But I was deluding myself. She never left my mind or my heart. Not in all these years. I’ve been a damned fool.” Garrett shook his head sadly. “We have love and passion, but not trust. How can we have a future if she will not trust me?”
“You haven’t given her much reason. I think Abbie understands you were caught in a nightmare state, but it is patently obvious the curse haunts you still. I see a strong, courageous woman who deep down is vulnerable as far as you’re concerned. And you’re vulnerable as well.” His father smiled. “Trust is something you build together, with open communication. You must forego blaming the other. Share your feelings. Be a reliable and steady presence. If you do all this, the trust will build more rapidly.”
“I’ve made a muck of this, haven’t I?”
“No. And yes. But it can be repaired, if you accept love and reject the curse. I know that it scarred you, Son. It has scarred us all. Here is the fork in the road. Choose the right path. Abbie came all this way to see if love still existed. Now it is your turn to make the journey.”
He nodded. “Thank you, Da. I needed to hear this. I will heed what you’ve said.”
A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” Oliver called out.
Dr. Faraday entered the room, wearing his long cloak and hat. “Forgive me for interrupting. I am about to take my leave and wished to say goodbye.”
Oliver took his hand and shook it warmly. “I cannot begin to thank you for all you have done. Be sure and send me a bill.”
“There will be no bill, my lord. I owe you for my career. Besides, once word spreads about London that I have saved the life of the son of the Earl of Carnstone, it will garner me more rich patients, and a rise in my standing.”
Oliver laughed.
Garrett stood, and the doctor came to stand before him and held out his hand. “Your recovery is going well, and it is payment enough to see you thriving. Next you are in London, be sure to call on me. Your father has the address. We will share a meal and come to know each other better.”
Garrett clasped his hand and shook it. “I will. I look forward to our next meeting. Thank you, Bastian, for your competent and compassionate care. Your patients are lucky indeed.”
Bastian gave him a broad smile. “Take care, Garrett, and I hope that all works out the way you wish.” He nodded toward Oliver. “My lord.”
Ah. It was obviously not lost on the doctor how quickly Abbie had made an exit. Bastian turned and departed, and Garrett slowly lowered himself into his chair. Hell, he still ached all over, but his heart pained him the worst. Abbie, how could you leave me? The answer was patently obvious. When it came to their hearts, both were wary. Be damned if he would blame her for any of this. How to convince her that he truly wished to place the curse behind him? About time he did.
“I have a gift for you, from Megan.” His father opened the door, talking in a low voice to one of the footmen. Moments later, his father emerged from the hallway holding a leash with a gangly collie at the other end. The dog’s tongue lolled as a canine smile spread across his furry face. He was rambunctious and pulling on the leash. “Meet Laddie.”
He stared at the dog, incredulous, then at his father. “Mine?”
“All Megan’s idea.” His father released the leash and the half-grown puppy ran toward him with an adorably awkward gait.
Garrett petted him. Damn it all, he was touched, completely choked up. “Laddie,” he whispered. The puppy woofed, then licked his hand. The beautiful collie possessed a longish, multicolored coat of gold and brown on top of white. “How on earth…”
“Found him in Sussex. A farmer was displeased with his herding skills—or lack thereof. It was fate. He will make a fine pet and a loyal companion.”
He would, Garrett could tell. He scratched Laddie’s ears and the puppy whimpered dolefully as if grateful for the contact. Megan’s idea. His daughter thought enough of him to suggest it. He leaned down and nuzzled the puppy’s soft neck as he blinked away the few tears welling in his eyes.
Accept love. Forego the curse.
Clinging to the past had done nothing but cause heartache and a lingering loneliness.
Well, he and Abbie had one thing going for them: they both preferred to talk things out and be honest. At least, since they’d reacquainted. None of this grand misunderstanding and sulking in silence bollocks. There was still much to discuss. First, to see that justice be done and ensure Sutherhorne receives it.
* * * *
Abbie wrapped her wool cloak about her as she stared out across the expanse of her small parcel of land. She’d been home for two days and the aching in her heart had not abated. All the way home and the night spent in the inn, she nearly turned back and headed to Wollstonecraft Hall, because a part of her longed to stay and fight. She also realized that she’d done all she could to prove not only did the love still exist, but the curse held no weight.
Garrett had admitted he may have been wrong to allow it to rule his life. He’d pledged to put it behind him, but in the end he had not. The words he’d shouted with such vehemence during his fevered state had struck her as if they were slices from a sharp blade. Logically, she understood he was hallucinating, but it had been convincing enough to have her lay an ultimatum before him. Perhaps he would stubbornly cling to the curse. As it stood now, her thin thread of trust had been shattered, along with her heart. Could both be repaired?
Scandal with a Sinful Scot Page 22