Page 35 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge (Safely in Scotland #3)

Harlow could understand why her mother was confused. For Harlow was tossing back and forth in conversation.

“Yes. I thought he cared for me. I was foolish to think a man would do anything without gaining something from it. I was simply a part of his plan. Nothing more.”

“But you love him?” Her mother seemed fixated on that one part of the story.

“Only because I can’t seem to make myself angry enough to stop. I’m sure in a few days I’ll manage to forget all about him.” Even as she said it, she doubted it would be true. She wanted to see him. She wanted to yell at him. She wanted to kiss him. My she was a paradox, if ever she’d known one.

“And you’re certain he doesn’t care for you?

From what Luke said the man went out of his way to assist you with your plan to…

” Her mother coughed and let out a breath.

“Well, I’m not exactly sure what transpired, but I’m to believe you were dressed up as a specter to force Edgar into confessing to his crimes… ”

“Aye—I mean, yes .” She placed her fingertips to her lips as if to check to make sure they belonged to her.

When had she taken to using Scottish words?

Perhaps when she’d allowed a Scot to claim her lips so thoroughly.

Clearing her throat, she attempted again.

“Yes. If I was able to scare him a fraction as much as the fear I felt waking up on the Zephyr, then I thought to feel better about the ordeal.”

“And do you? Feel better?” her mother asked.

That was a good question. One Harlow avoided answering for she didn’t know how. She thought revenge would ease the hurt. She thought leaving Reese behind would ease the pain. So far, neither proved true. Instead of sharing all of that, she focused on the one small truth she could grasp onto.

“It is good to be home,” she said instead, but even that didn’t feel entirely right. She loved their manor house in the country, but it seemed too quiet now.

She’d grown accustomed to hearing the waves crash against the rocky shore.

She often wondered if she was hearing the actual sound or echoes from past waves.

More than just hearing was the way the house itself seemed to hum in rhythm to the sea that touched its very foundation.

She felt as if she too had been shaken to her foundation.

And now she must find a way to move forward.

“I plan to marry next year. The first suitable man who proposes will be my husband. It is time.” She would give up on all the criteria she’d added to her original promise. So long as he wasn’t a lying agent for the Crown, or a nefarious sea captain, she would make the match.

When her mother didn’t speak, Harlow looked to see her staring at Harlow in surprise.

“What is it? It’s not so strange. I’ve planned to marry since my first Season.

I’ve just been too particular in the past. Actually, no it was not my doing.

The boys found fault in every man who came near me.

But this time, my brothers will have no say in the matter.

In fact, I don’t even want to speak to them about it. They have interfered long enough.”

Her mother laughed softly. “I wondered when you would see what they were about.”

“You knew they were toying with me?”

“I wouldn’t say they were toying with you, Harlow. They love you and they show how they care about you by protecting you. Though probably protecting you more than is needed. But they are men, dear. Men have no mind for nuance.” She waved a hand.

“If they truly wanted me to be happy, they would have guided me to a friend of theirs that was worthy, and I would already be married with a family. I wouldn’t be so very alone with no prospects.

I wouldn’t have already…” Harlow hated that her eyes seemed to have sprung tears yet again, and her throat squeaked with tightness.

For all the years she’d not cried it seemed to be catching up with her now.

“You wouldn’t already have given your heart to another?” At her mother’s correct assumption, Harlow could not keep the pieces together anymore. She broke down in loud, ugly sobs as her mother pulled her close.

When Harlow was able to speak, she nodded.

“Even if he had not used me to seek revenge, he doesn’t wish to marry.”

Her mother laughed and Harlow wasn’t used to her mother being unkind.

“I’m sorry,” her mother said only slightly gaining control of her mirth.

“It is just that every man says that. Your father didn’t wish to marry when he met me.

David didn’t wish to marry until he met Tabitha.

Your other brothers do not wish to marry, but I daresay, they will seek out a wife eventually.

It is the way of men at a certain age to fight it.

Don’t put much stock in such a declaration. ”

Harlow considered her mother’s words. It was true enough that Harlow had said she hadn’t wanted to marry someone because of a compromising situation, but she had fallen in love with Reese who had certainly compromised her in many different situations over the time she’d been at his home.

“Well, whether Lord Breckenridge has changed his mind, he hasn’t asked for my hand.” At least not lately. At least not when he meant it. Harlow wiped at the new tears that escaped.

“If he did, would you accept?”

Harlow didn’t know the answer. Now that she’d had some time to think, she wasn’t sure Reese had feigned his feelings for her when he’d taken her to his bed. Or during all the times they’d spent talking in his gardens or the looks and laughter they shared while reading to one another.

Rather than get into that, Harlow merely shrugged. Perhaps the man did care about her, and this scheme to use her for revenge was something he couldn’t pass on when it presented itself.

Still, he’d put her in danger. How much could he care if he’d done that.

When the silence continued, her mother patted Harlow on the leg.

“Give it more time. You may find that you are capable of forgiving him for his thoughtlessness. If you can, you will be well-suited for marriage. For there is a lot of forgiveness to be given—and received—in a marriage. Men are rather mutton-headed at times. It’s best you know that going into the endeavor. ”

Harlow smiled at her mother and felt somewhat better.

Soon after her mother left, her brother knocked at the door.

“How are you?” Luke asked.

Harlow shrugged. “I’m in love with a man who used me as a pawn in his game of revenge. That is not a great thing to be.”

He frowned. “I think you might be wrong about that, Lo.”

“How so?”

“It’s just that as we were leaving, I saw him punch Lord Collins, laying him out right there in the drive.

I didn’t understand it at first, but having had some time to think about it and what he said when we were leaving.

Or rather tried to say, I think you might have it wrong.

I think all this mess with Merrick showing up was Lord Collins’s doing, not Breckenridge.

He looked truly terrified when Merrick grabbed you. ”

“Perhaps I was hasty in leaving without allowing him to explain?” she said it as a question, hoping someone would tell her what to do.

“It would not be the first time you’ve jumped to conclusions and run off without giving the innocent party a chance to defend their actions.”

“I know you are likely referring to the time you forgot to come look for me in the orchard, Luke Haverston, and I was not wrong in that matter.”

They laughed together for a moment but when silence fell, she ran a hand over her skirt.

“Perhaps I did rush out of there rather quickly. Without giving the man a chance to explain.”

“Perhaps,” Luke allowed. “There is one way to find out.”

*

“Your presence is requested for the noon meal, m’lord,” Finch said from the doorway of Reese’s study.

Reese frowned at the idea of eating. His poor stomach had taken a great amount of abuse from his efforts to rid the castle of every drop of whisky in the last three days. And his sour stomach was only second to his aching head.

“Rupert has drawn a bath.”

It didn’t take skills in deciphering coded messages to understand that his staff thought he smelled bad.

“Who has requested my presence?” Reese asked, knowing he was the only one in the castle besides the staff.

“Lady Breckenridge.”

Reese’s eyes squinted in the direction of his butler.

“My mother is still in residence? I thought she would have fled for London the moment her duties were completed.”

“Nay, m’lord. I believe she is concerned. As we all are.”

Belle barked as if to say she was also concerned. She had not moved from her post by his side except for a few trips out to see to nature’s call.

“Very well. I guess I shall bathe and dress for luncheon.” It wasn’t that he wished to do any of those things, but he couldn’t keep on as he had been. He would soon grow concerned himself.

Perhaps he would make a good showing at the meal so his mother could go on her way, and then Reese could visit Shay or Finn.

Some time away from Slains would do him well.

It was as if the castle held tight to the specter of Harlow.

Though she was not a ghost, pretend or otherwise, she haunted him still.

Reese felt some bit better as he came down from his room. His head and stomach still complained, but it was surely nothing a meal and some coffee would not quell.

His mother was already seated when he arrived.

“You look somewhat better,” she said.

“I feel better. Somewhat.”

“Do you?” she asked tilting her head.

“I’m working on it,” he admitted. “It will take some time to mend everything.” His heart had shattered and he wasn’t certain he still owned all the pieces needed to make it whole again.

“You miss her,” his mother stated as the meal was served.

Reese drank down half the cup of coffee before responding with a shrug.

“We knew it was only temporary.”

His mother set down her cutlery rather loudly and huffed.