Page 25 of The Bastard Heir
Prudence gave Carolina a barely perceptible nod in Castillo’s direction, as if she were giving her approval of him. It made him almost feel guilty that this was a ploy.
“Well, now, that all depends.” Prudence’s words were so unexpected that they all paused and took note of her. She waited until she had everyone’s attention before continuing. “No one doubts for a minute that our sweet Caro will be a capable and talented physician, but there is a question about her actually getting the chance to prove herself.”
Samuel huffed out a breath and focused his attention on folding and refolding the napkin in his lap. Carolina went still next to Castillo. Prudence just smiled, bringing her cup of tea to her lips, waiting for someone to take the bait.
Tanner had been looking from one person to another as if trying to figure out the missing piece to the puzzle and finally asked, “What do you mean? I thought she was starting her medical training in September?”
Castillo almost smiled in admiration at how the woman had brought the subject to a head. Instead, he took a bite of ham to hold it in.
“That is the plan, yes, but her parents have decided that it’s best if she marries before school. She’ll attend pending the state of her nuptials.” Prudence explained.
Tanner looked from Prudence to Carolina—who hadn’t moved a muscle since her aunt had begun talking—to Samuel. “Is this true, Samuel? Will she not be attending if she’s not married?”
To his credit, Samuel looked suitably conflicted about the whole thing. “Her mother and I have spoken at length about this issue. We feel that it’s best for her to marry sooner rather than later.”
Carolina shifted then, a small movement Castillo probably wouldn’t have noticed had he not been so attuned to her. She was uncomfortable. Without thinking, he reached over and clasped the hand in her lap with his own. She stiffened in surprise, but after a moment, she squeezed his fingers.
“Can she not attend and look for a husband at the same time? Or do you have someone in mind already?” Tanner asked.
“We have a couple of options.” Samuel shrugged. “You don’t understand, Tanner. You have sons, not daughters. We have to make sure she’s taken care of. Her mother and I are getting older. What if we have difficulty finding a husband for her after she graduates?”
“Oh, Father.” Carolina stood, flinging her napkin down on the table. “You really don’t think I can take care of myself, do you?” Before her father could answer, she hurried from the room.
“Samuel, this is hardly appropriate conversation for the dining table,” Prudence admonished, rushing after her niece and leaving the men to an awkward silence.
Finally, Tanner broke the quiet. “My apologies if I overstepped, Samuel. After my conversation with her last night, I was…well, I was surprised.”
Samuel waved him off, leaning back in his chair with a heavy sigh. “I understand. I feel the same way. Of course I want her to become a physician. Other girls wanted gowns and parties and holidays, but she only ever wanted to work with me. Her mother is convinced that we have to see her settled first, and I can’t disagree with that. It makes sense. She’d be married and her future secure. She’d be free to do what she wants.”
Castillo had kept quiet all this time because it was none of his business. He didn’t want to be involved. It irritated him that her father, the one person who had supported her in her apprenticeship, would allow her future to be decided so impulsively. He found himself questioning him. “Would she be free? What if her husband doesn’t approve?”
Tanner shot him a critical glance, but Samuel nodded. “It is my belief that we can find someone who would approve and support her.”
Castillo doubted that. Mr. Bonham’s commentary last night had been a look into the attitudes of the men of Carolina’s social circle. He didn’t say anything further. This wasn’t something he could involve himself with, no matter how much he’d enjoyed kissing her. He had to find Derringer and end this quest for vengeance, once and for all. She’d only be a distraction. Maybe the more he kept telling himself that, the more he’d believe it.
***
After Caroline had left breakfast, Aunt Prudie had talked to her and calmed her down, reaffirming her belief that they’d figure out a solution to the marriage problem. Caroline believed they’d try, but there was no guarantee her mother wasn’t set on whichever suitor she’d alluded to in her letter.
What made it worse was the guilt Caroline felt the entire time they’d talked. She’d been so tempted to share her secret with her aunt, but she’d held back, mainly because she wasn’t even certain she could go through with it. She didn’t want marriage forced on her, but she couldn’t in good conscience hold Castillo to their deal. After their talk yesterday, she now fully understood what was at stake for him. She’d feel horrible if her predicament was the only thing standing in the way of his justice.
Last night she’d stayed up late, conflicted about their plan. She’d been on the balcony outside her room when she’d seen him ride out. She might’ve even questioned that it was him, except she’d acquainted herself with the sight of his broad shoulders. He’d gone out to search of Derringer. She was certain of it. And this morning he’d come into the dining room with an abrasion on his cheekbone, just below his eye. No one had mentioned it, but Caroline was almost certain he’d obtained it last night doing whatever it was he’d been doing. It only made her feel guiltier for keeping him from his mission.
She couldn’t stop thinking of what awful thing had happened to him last night to put that abrasion there. How much dangerhad he truly faced? Had he come close to dying? She shouldn’t care more than she’d care about anyone else who was in danger. But this was Castillo, and instead of simple, understandable concern, she felt a deep and lingering fear. It was absurd to feel frightened for him, because she barely knew him. It was absurd to allow this affection for him to become anything more than it already had, but she couldn’t seem to stop it.
After her talk with Aunt Prudie, Caroline had tried to rejoin the activities planned for the day, but she’d been too worried to enjoy herself. She needed to talk to Castillo privately and end this ridiculous charade. Then this whole thing would be behind her, and the weight of this awful guilt would leave her. She’d be able to avoid him for the rest of the week and pretend that he didn’t make her feel anything. Retiring to bed soon after dinner, she allowed Mary to help her change into her night rail and wrapper. But instead of going to bed she waited for Castillo to go to his room.
After an hour had passed, she walked out to the balcony and thought she saw a light flicker from the room she’d deduced was his. There was no light coming through his window when she got to it, but the door was open to allow in the cool night air. The pale curtains fluttered in the gentle breeze.
For some inexplicable reason, her heart was pounding. Maybe it was from fear of getting caught in his room. The more likely answer was that her body remembered that kiss from last night. He hadn’t mentioned it all day and had been a little reserved, which led her to think he regretted it. She didn’t plan on mentioning it, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t replayed itself over and over in her mind while she waited for him.
“Castillo?” She kept her voice low as she pushed the door open a little farther. A thin beam of moonlight spilled across his empty bed. The sheets were rumpled, and the blanket was folded back to the foot of the bed, as if someone had just been lying in it.
“Carolina?”
The sound of his voice was so close that she gasped when she turned and saw him standing behind the door. His gun was in one hand and the sheet from his bed was in the other, pressed against his male parts, but that was the only bit of him that was covered. His chest, stomach and most of his legs were nude. “Castillo?” It was the only thing she could think to say as her verbal skills had deserted her.
Neither of them moved.
