Less Than a Treason

by Mary Birk

  “Things seldom are. But what Juliette wanted me to explain was that his reaction was probably colored by having been through a very similar situation before. A situation that deeply affected him and that I’m fairly certain he hasn’t told you about.”

  Confusion swam in Anne’s brain. “He has? I mean, I know he’s obviously been with other women before, but he told me none of them had been serious.”

  “This was a woman he loved very much. Still loves very much. In fact, next to you, she’s the most important woman in his life.”

  Anne frowned. “Who?”

  The Earl smiled a sad, brief smile. “Juliette. His mother. My countess.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s a long, complicated story that can be summed up in a few sentences. A young woman marries a man, who though not old, was considerably older than she was. A man who believed he’d been waiting all his life for this one particular woman to come along and share a life he’d planned for years. He was, perhaps,” the Earl smiled again, “a bit rigid, very religious, and expected his young wife to know he loved her with his whole being even if he didn’t show it very well. A rift developed, feelings were hurt, barriers erected, and one day, she left me.”

  “The Countess?” Anne couldn’t mask her shock. How had Terrence never mentioned this? “But she adores you.”

  “Now, perhaps. At least I hope so. But I’d driven her to it.” He leaned back in the chair, his face grim, as if he was back in the moment of his story. “She took our two youngest children with her when she left.”

  “But not Terrence or Rick?”

  “No, she took Rick. Rick and Pippa. We had only three children when Juliette left.”

  “Why not Terrence?”

  “He was my heir. He’d just turned eight and was to go away to school in the fall. So we agreed he’d stay with me. A mistake, as it turned out.”

  “Why?”

  “I think it broke Terrence’s heart when she left. He went from being a happy little boy to being a solemn, sad little man, responsible for everything and everyone, and determined to do everything perfectly.”

  Anne nodded, not able to think of anything to say, and the Earl went on.

  “He missed his mother. I think he felt she’d abandoned him, that she loved the other children more. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it at the time, as I was going through my own hell.”

  Anne wanted to run inside, hold Michael close to her, and promise him she’d never leave.

  “Then fall came and I sent Terrence away to a school where everything was new and strange and he knew no one. I would guess he felt doubly abandoned.”

  Tears pricked Anne’s eyes, thinking of that small boy that was to grow up to be her husband. She’d lost her own father to death when she wasn’t much older than Terrence had been, but she’d known he hadn’t chosen to leave her, and she hadn’t been sent away from home.

  “But the Countess must have visited him?”

  The Earl shook his head. “That part of the story I’ll leave to Juliette if she ever decides to share it with you. But the short answer is no. For a variety of reasons, he neither saw nor heard from her after she left. Not for two years.”

  “Oh, no.” Anne was half crying, feeling her husband’s pain as if it were her own.

  The Earl handed her his handkerchief. “I cry thinking about it as well. The story gets worse. I didn’t realize it until later, but of course our little scandal penetrated the ranks of Terrence’s new school, and he was tormented by some of the other boys. As I understand it, the taunts focused on saying vile things about his mother. Children can be unbelievably cruel.”

  Anne didn’t understand. “But lots of people’s parents separate or divorce, even then, surely.”

  “True, though not so much at the school we sent Terrence to, as it was Catholic. What fueled their taunts was that Juliette left me for another man, a man who had his own scandal attached to his name.”

  “Oh.”

  He shrugged. “We didn’t make the television news.”

  Anne gave a crooked smile. “Lucky you.”

  “Maybe so. Unfortunately, we did feature quite prominently in the gossip columns. I’m sure Terrence’s classmates heard about it at home, and brought the news back with them to school.”

  “But she came back?”

  “She did. Two years later. And that was almost worse for Terrence. Juliette was eight months pregnant with the other man’s child when she returned. Needless to say, school became even more unbearable for Terrence when his classmates got that bit of juicy news. He never told me what was going on, so I didn’t find out until he’d almost gotten thrown out of school for fighting. Not just him, but his friends. You’ve met them. John and Peter.”

  She nodded. John Stirling and Peter MacTavish. Then what the Earl had said about Juliette registered. “And the baby?”

  “Dominique—Darby.”

  “Oh.”

  The Earl nodded. “We don’t talk about it. We’ve always just acted as if I were Darby’s biological father. As Juliette and I were still married when Darby was born, she is legally my child. Terrence knows, of course. His schoolmates made sure he understood, but the other two children were still very young. I don’t think any of our other children know even now, not even Darby. Eventually, our scandal blew over, as these things do after many years.”

  “I won’t say anything, of course.”

  “Thank you. The Countess and I were fairly certain Terrence wouldn’t have told you about this rather dark chapter in our lives, but we thought it might help you understand Terrence a little better. He was very badly hurt by what we did to his life. He loves his mother very much, but I don’t think he’s ever gotten over her leaving him and taking the other children with her. Right after she left, he asked me what he’d done wrong to make her not love him. I told him he’d done nothing, that she loved him, but I could see he didn’t believe me. He never mentioned her again until she came back.”

  “That’s terrible.” Anne didn’t even try to pretend she wasn’t crying. “Poor Terrence.”

  “Since the time she left, he’s never called her mum or mother, or anything like that. He’s reserved with her even now, but I don’t think it’s because he blames her. I think the wound is so deeply painful he just can’t risk anything touching it.”

  Anne nodded. “He calls her Countess.”

  “Always. Whether he’s talking to her or about her.”

  “It must be awful for Juliette as well.” Anne decided she would never call Juliette anything formal again, for fear of hurting her.

  “I can’t count how many times I’ve found her crying about Terrence. Nothing she does ever seems to break through his reserve, but I’m sure you can tell how much he cares for her. It’s as if he’s afraid he’ll say or do the wrong thing and lose her again.”

  Anne swallowed against the hard, painful lump that had risen in her throat. “Then with him and me, it was like it was all happening again. When Terrence was so sure the baby was Andrew’s, he told me that even though we loved each other, I had to leave him and marry Andrew so the child’s life wouldn’t be ruined.”

  “As we did his.”

  “His life isn’t ruined. And you and Juliette are happy now.”

  “We are.” He patted her leg in a fatherly gesture. “Terrence and I are very alike in many ways. We both believe we will only ever love one woman. I knew Juliette was that woman the first time I saw her. If Juliette hadn’t come back to me, I know with absolute certainty for me there would be no one else. I believe Terrence feels the same way about you.”

  “Thank you for telling me. I know it had to be hard.”

  The Earl quirked his lips up in a smile. “Juliette made me. She wants you to understand, and she can’t talk about it without dissolving into a beautiful French puddle.”

  Anne made her tone teasing, matching his. “Your beautiful French puddle.”

  “Yes. Mine.” He stood up,
put his hand on her shoulder. “May I escort you back to the house?”

  Anne shook her head. “I think I’ll stay outside for a while. I told Juliette I’d help her with refurbishing the gardens, and I want to look around some more.” She needed some time alone to absorb what she’d learned. So much of what she’d thought she understood about her relationship with Terrence had suddenly shifted like tectonic plates during an earthquake. No wonder this had all been so hard for him.

  “Until later, then.”

  Chapter 55

  REID WAS MORE disturbed by the interview with Miranda than he’d thought possible. He went to find DI Francis. He decided not to mention Miranda’s threat nor tell the other man about what had happened three years before.

  After reporting the gist of his interview, Reid hesitated, toying with the idea of not telling the Inspector about Lance’s relationship with Darryl. Why would it be relevant? If Lance’s father knew, then it wasn’t anything they would have been afraid would come out. He would mention it only if it became relevant. But Francis’s next words took care of the problem for him.

  “Apparently young Kensington and his friend are lovers.”

  Reid nodded. “Just figured it out myself today. You think it plays a part in this?”

  “I don’t know. Stone was gay, too.”

  “Yes, but Jeremy was in a long-term relationship. Also, he lived in Inverness. Lance and his friend both live in Glasgow. I don’t know of any connection between them and Jeremy, except that Jeremy was Lady Flora’s solicitor.”

  “You’ve looked at the will and the divorce papers. What was your impression, knowing the family the way you do?”

  “Frankly, I was surprised. I didn’t realize Flora and George were involved in that way again. They were discreet.”

  “I was a bit surprised myself that the three of them would stay at your house all together for the holidays.”

  “Actually, that’s not unusual. Flora and George had been divorced a long time, and they often spent time together with their children. My parents were friends with both George and Rafe. It had never been a problem before.”

  “May not seem strange to you, but to us every day folk, it’s strange.”

  Reid shrugged. “Apparently for good reason, if they were carrying on an affair here with Flora’s husband in the room next to her.”

  DI Francis looked at his notes. “They weren’t as ill-bred as to have been together in her room, next to where her husband was sleeping. They went to Greene’s room. I’m sure that makes all the difference for Kensington now he knows.”

  “Do you think Rafe knew before?”

  “I was just going to ask you the same thing.”

  “I’ve no idea. I didn’t notice anything myself. But of course, I’ve had other things on my mind. This was my son’s christening, and with Christmas and a house full of guests, there’s been little time for pondering my parents’ friends’ marriages.”

  There was a knock on the library door, and Jeanne stood there, the baby in her arms. “Sorry to interrupt, Terrence, but Michael’s ready to see the trains.”

  He smiled and got up, taking the baby, keeping his voice natural, and trying to push away the guilt that had descended upon him since his interview with Miranda.

  “As you can see, DI Francis, we’ve been busy.”

  *****

  Anne found her husband in the library with the baby over his shoulder, one hand holding the little body close. He smiled. “Nice socks.”

  “I left my shoes upstairs when I put on those boots which are now too dirty to walk in the house with. Oh, Terrence, the gardens here are so magnificent. And guess what? Your mother wants me to help renovate them.” She looked down at the baby, felt that familiar tug on her heart. “He’s okay?”

  “Yes, of course. Lock the door and come over here, gorgeous.”

  She raised her eyebrows, but padded over to the door and locked it, then went back to him.

  He took one of her hands in his free hand. “Let me see your fingernails.”

  “My fingernails? I was going through the plantings in the greenhouses, looking at root strength. They’re probably dirty.”

  “Good. I want them to have dirt under them. Scottish dirt.”

  “You want me to have dirty fingernails?”

  “You’re happiest that way. I want you happy.” He gently turned her hand so he could examine her nails, then kissed them. “Good. Definitely dirty.”

  “You’re being silly. Didn’t you notice the beautiful manicure I had when I came here?”

  “Of course I did. I didn’t like it.”

  “You didn’t like it?”

  “I like it when your nails have dirt under them.”

  “Give me that child. I think he needs his mother. His father is crazy.”

  He handed her the baby, kissing her as he did so. “I like everything a lot more when there’s you around.”

  “Took you long enough to realize it.” She tried to pull away from him, but quickly found herself in his lap, holding the baby in her own. He was kissing her neck and his hand was up her shirt.

  “I can be an idiot.” His mouth brushed over hers.

  “That’s true. Slow down a minute. I need to tell you something before I forget. Something I saw when I was outside.”

  “What, girl?” Her bra was suddenly unfastened and his hands roaming. He made it so hard to talk, especially because where she wanted his hands was far south of where they were.

  “Lance and Darryl. They were arguing. I’m not sure what it was about, but it looked serious.”

  He’d lifted her shirt up and was kissing her there. “Did you hear what they were saying?” His voice was muffled.

  She closed her eyes, let her head drop back. “No, nothing. But they were arguing. And they’ve been doing drugs while they’ve been here. I heard Krystal tell Rodney at the dance.”

  “I know. What else did you hear?”

  “Nothing. But Lance was almost crying and Darryl wasn’t even bothered.”

  “Mmm. Stay away from them, all right?”

  His tongue was driving her crazy. She slid her free hand down inside the front of his pants and let her fingers encircle him.

  He groaned. “Better stop that, girl. I’m only human.”

  Her face felt soft and languid as she slowly let go of him. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back. I just need to put this baby down somewhere safe.”

  “Are you going to let me make love to you?”

  She was torn, but knew it was too early, and also that he didn’t know that. “Can’t we just . . .?”

  “No. You let me know when I’m forgiven enough, and I’ll make love to you properly.”

  “Who said you get to make the rules?” She got up and put the baby in his carrier, then slid back on to Terrence’s lap. She put his hand back on her breast, then put her hand back where it had been. “If you don’t go back to what you were doing, I’m locking my door forever.”

  “Well, if you put it that way, lassie.”

  DECEMBER 28 - MONDAY

  Chapter 56

  EARLY MONDAY morning, the dining room was filled with travelers getting ready to make their premature departure from Dunbaryn. George Greene had left the night before, taking Krystal home to her worried family. Dianne and Rick, and Pippa and her family had also gone home the night before. Rodney was going to drive Miranda home, and Lance and his friend would presumably drive Lance’s cute little sports car back to Glasgow.

  Anne glanced around as she filled her plate from the sideboard. Her mother and Jeanne and the children were driving to Edinburgh, after which they would fly to London where they would be staying with one of her mother’s friends who lived there. Terrence, in his efforts to get back on good terms with her family, had arranged for them to have a special tour of Edinburgh, and insisted on getting them rooms at his favorite hotel there. Anne hadn’t argued with him about that or about his offer to reimburse her family for their airfare to and fr
om Scotland.

  When she’d finished eating, Anne ducked into the kitchen to see Mrs. Paulson, who was, as always, busily handling a hundred tasks.

  “You’ll have some rest, I hope, with us all leaving?”

  “Yes, indeed. I’m taking the next week off to see my sister and her family in Dingwell. Then, don’t you worry, I’ll be down to Glasgow to help you get your kitchen and staff set up. I’ll be there on the sixth, so if you can manage to have someone set to start by that time, I’ll spend the week training them.”

  “Thanks so much. I have no idea even where to start.”

  “I’ve waited long enough for that man to get a regular household, and I’m that ready to see it happen. It feels good to have the man settled at last.”

  Back in the dining room, Anne went over to her husband. He had Michael in his arms and was talking to him seriously. Saying goodbye, she realized, when she got close enough to hear.

  “It will only be a couple of days, Terrence.”

  “Too long, but it can’t be helped. I have to attend the inquests in Inverness tomorrow morning.”

  “I know.” She leaned down to kiss him. “Meg and I better get on the road. Can you make sure Michael’s car seat is set up?”

  “Done, and the bags are in the car. You have your mobile?”

  “Yes, and Meg has one too. And the keys to your flat and the house. When we get there, I’ll call you.”

  “Or if you run into trouble along the way.”

  “I will.”

  “Pick out anything you like that you want moved from the flat to the house. Anything you don’t want, we’ll just leave there. You’ll have my clothes and things sent over as well?”

  “Of course.”

  “You’re sure about driving in this weather, girl? If you wait until tomorrow, I’ll drive with you.”

  “I want to get things started. I have so much to do at the house.”

  “That house has been sitting there for months. It can wait a couple of days.”

  “We’ll be fine. The snow has stopped, your car has four-wheel drive, and if we have any doubts, we’ll stop and get a hotel. We’ll check out the house and stay there if there are enough sheets and things for Meg and Michael and me. If not, we’ll stay in your flat tonight. You sure that’s okay?” She wondered if there was anything in the flat he wouldn’t want her to see.