“Yes,” Mary Rose said, and she was tempted to smile, but she didn’t.
“You are feeling all right, Mary Rose?”
He sounded like the man she’d known all her life, the man who had been her friend, so long ago, it seemed now. “Yes, just a bit sore. The fever is gone.”
Then he became what she’d expected, even though he tried to keep his voice calm, cajoling, just slightly scolding, as if she were a child. “You should never have jumped into that stream. You were swept away from me before I could do anything. I was very worried about you. I searched and searched, but I couldn’t find you. I was very frightened for you, Mary Rose. When I rode back, Primrose was gone, so I knew you were safe. You should never have jumped into that water.”
She said, very clearly, “I would jump into that stream again, without hesitation, if you were threatening me.”
He felt anger leap up, flame hot. He wanted to shake her, tell her that she shouldn’t go against him, but he couldn’t. He looked at the child, who was now even closer to Mary Rose than a minute before. He said formally, “Would you like me to escort you to Vallance Manor?”
Tysen thought she couldn’t become any more pale, but she did, and now she was utterly without color. Meggie squeezed even closer.
Mary Rose shook her head.
Erickson said, “Your aunt and uncle and, of course, Donnatella, are quite worried about you. They’re hurt that you felt you could not even come home, that you had to escape to this place.”
“What about my mother?”
“No one has told her anything. Your uncle doesn’t want to distress her.”
“How could I go into Vallance Manor when I saw your horse in front? After what you tried to do to me, do you honestly believe I would take the chance of walking into a house where you seemed perfectly at home? Into a house where, perhaps, you would feel free to abuse me again?”
“Abuse? Again? Nonsense. There was no abuse, Mary Rose. You are disremembering everything. You know I would not harm a single curly hair on your head. I asked you to marry me. I was a perfect gentleman. You put me off, you played the clever, elusive female. What was I to think? I was merely going to try to convince you that I wanted you, prove my sincerity to you, that’s all, but you decided to punish me, and you jumped into the water. I could not believe you did that. But now things are different. As soon as you are well again, we will wed. All you have to do now is accept me, and I will take you home.”
Mary Rose closed her eyes a moment. Something wasn’t right here. She opened her eyes and studied his face, but he looked just as he had a moment ago, all confident, a man clearly in charge, a very determined man. She said slowly, “Does my uncle wish me to marry you?”
“Yes.”
“But that makes no sense. Donnatella wants you. Why does he not prefer you to wed Donnatella?”
“I have told him that I do not love Donnatella. I have told him clearly that I must have you.”
“Will my uncle allow you to force me if I return home?”
The little girl was looking at him like he was a monster, even though she obviously didn’t understand exactly what was happening here. The vicar, curse his eyes, looked faintly bored, but Erickson wasn’t fooled.
“Forget your damned uncle. He has nothing to do with this. Forget this nonsense about forcing you. My mother is very fond of you, Mary Rose.”
“Your mother, Erickson, refers to me as the Upstart Bastard in a very penetrating voice to anyone within hearing distance.”
“She has changed, I promise you.”
She spoke clearly, with no fear or hesitation. “Please, leave go, Erickson. We used to be friends. I wish we could be friends again. But nothing more. I do not wish to marry you. I am not being coy. I am playing no game with you. I have no wish to wed with anyone. I will not let you take me home. I do not trust my uncle, and that is a pity. Good-bye, Erickson.”
He stiffened, saw that the little girl was very nearly ready to crawl on top of Mary Rose to protect her from him. It was too much. He threw back his head and heard his own laughter ring out in the room.
“Good,” Tysen said. “A man who is laughing isn’t thinking of mayhem.”
Erickson said over his shoulder as he strode out of the bedchamber, “This isn’t over, Mary Rose.” He nearly knocked Pouder flat. “Good God, man, watch where the devil you are walking!”
“The cravats,” Pouder said. “I must see to his lordship’s cravats. I nearly have the hang of folding them properly now. I am his varlet-in-training.”
Erickson stared at the old man he’d nearly knocked over. He’d known him ever since he was too small even to remember. “You’re a varlet, Pouder? Oh, I see. Yes, see to the cravats,” he said, and went slowly down the stairs to the grand entrance hall of Kildrummy Castle.
What the bloody hell was he to do now?
14