Chapter Fifteen
Alastair wrapped an arm around Beth after he pulled her from the car. He looked up at the mansion he had called home his whole life. It was a place he used to feel some semblance of safety.
The family had enemies, so his life wasn’t without danger. It went with the business. Although his family tried to stay as lawful as possible, there were plenty of things that had to be done that brought danger into their lives.
He just never expected it from his family in his own home. That reason alone made it so much worse.
“Let’s get you up to our room.”
“Can’t I go and see Angus first?”
“I’ll take you, but no chess game today. I want you to rest.”
“But I feel all better. How long are you going to make me rest?” she asked.
He pressed his lips against her forehead. “As long as it takes. I can’t have you sick, baby.”
“It’s not my fault I got a virus.”
He tried to smile. “I know. Come on. I want you in the house.”
Alastair went to knock on Angus’s bedroom open door when he noticed Freya rubbing his father’s shoulders. He squeezed Beth’s waist to keep her quiet.
He’d seen it many times before, but looking closer, he saw more than affection in her face.
He guessed since she’d been here since he was born, and she helped raise his brothers, the two had a closeness, an intimacy that he hadn’t seen before. Now he wondered if they hadn’t had an affair going all these years.
He cleared his throat, making them both turn.
“You’re back,” Angus said. “Come in. I want to see your Beth.”
Beth walked over with a smile and hugged Angus. “I missed you.”
Alastair saw Beth tense but couldn’t figure out why. He’d seen it happen before but hadn’t thought to ask until now.
“Oh, I missed you, too. We’ve got some work to catch up on,” Angus said.
Alastair rolled his eyes. He knew his father wasn’t an idiot. Angus knew they both beat him, and he probably suspected they let him win on occasion, but it was his excuse to see them more.
“Hello, Freya,” Alastair said.
The woman smiled as she stood behind Angus with her hands on his shoulders. “Hello, you two. Elizabeth is looking better. The vacation did you both good.”
“I think so, too. I still want her to lie down, but she’ll be back to see you later, Dad.”
“Yes. I will see you soon.”
He led Beth out of the room and into theirs, then locked the door before pulling her over to the bed. He sat, pulled her in between his legs, and gripped her hips.
“Baby, why did you tense in my father’s room? I’ve seen you do it a few times.”
She bit her lips and played with the fabric of his shirt. “It’s silly.”
“No, it’s not. Tell me.”
“I just get the feeling that Freya is jealous of me or something.”
“What has she done to make you think that?”
“When I started taking Angus on walks, it was just the two of us most of the time, and it was fun. He showed me the plants and flowers he knew. Did you know he loves orchids?”
“I did not.”
“I think you should consider putting a greenhouse for him. Have everything at his level and space to maneuver in so he can navigate it easily by himself.”
“I think that’s a brilliant idea. We’ll make some plans up to see what you think will work, and then we’ll find a place close to the house for it.”
“I think he’d love that. The stroke made him wheelchair-bound, but he can normally move the rest of his body. It would give him something else to look forward to.”
He pulled her head down and kissed her. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Maybe about as much as I love you,” she said and grinned.
“Go back to the story about Freya.”
“Now, remember, it’s just a feeling I get. But now Freya comes on all our walks, and she talks about all the good times she and Angus have had and how long they’ve lived together. It’s like she’d trying to show me he loves her more. I can tell it makes your dad mad sometimes.”
It hit Alastair that he’d seen the same thing, but it had been pushed from his mind as her just being a woman. But he had seen signs of her jealousy in the past. She just hid it well behind a sweet face and disposition. It would be something to investigate.
“Always go with your gut, baby. I think you’re right.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ve seen the same behavior over the years and just pushed it off as irrelevant. I’m going to watch more closely. You need to tell me when you see the behavior again.”
“I will. I’ll try to reassure her, too.”
“Just be yourself. She’ll get over it.”
“Would you rather come to sit in my office? You can lie on the sofa while I work.”
“You know you can leave me alone.” She smiled.
“I know. I just don’t want you out of my sight until I know your one hundred percent healed.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll get a pillow and blanket.”
“I’ll keep them in the office for you from now on. I like being able to see you.”
He watched her walk away and quickly texted Graham about his suspicions. She was back before he got the reply.
“I’m ready.”