Page 76 of The Rogue's Runaway Bride
As soon as the child bustled out of the room, Mrs. Johnstone gently set her teacup on the table. “I take it Jon is not home at the moment.”
“The man is up with the sun and out until dark most days,” Ellie said, pouring tea for each of them. “He is dedicated to his enterprises.”
“I suppose that’s to be expected,” Belle said.
“Perhaps too dedicated,” Ellie observed as Mrs. Johnstone flashed a look of agreement. “He’s done everything he could to follow in his father’s footsteps.”
“Indeed,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “I’ve often wondered if he might have been less, how shall I say it, willing to mold himself into his father’s image if he’d remained the second son.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow. He is the oldest child.” Belle said as the words swirled in her thoughts. “Isn’t he?”
Ellie slowly shook her head. Her mouth pulled into a somber line. “Jon was not his parents’ firstborn child. He and Macie had an older brother.” She seemed to pull in a steadying breath. “He didn’t tell you?”
“No,” Belle said. “I assumed he was the eldest son and his father’s heir.”
“I suspect it is a painful subject for him,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “There was a family tragedy, you see. Jon was quite young at the time, only about seven or so. Finn shared with me that no one in the family speaks of the accident.”
“How very sad,” Belle managed as emotion welled in her throat. “Will you tell me what happened?”
Mrs. Johnstone nodded. “One day, many years ago, Jonathan and his family were at the family’s country home. He and his older brother had been climbing a tree which overlooked a stream. There’d been quite a bit of rain, and the creek was swollen. A limb cracked, and Jon fell into the water. Edward didn’t hesitate to go after him. He managed to save Jon, but the poor lad was overcome by the current. He was swept away.”
For a moment, Belle felt as though an invisible hand had squeezed her heart. “How awful.”
“Macie once told me she has a hazy memory of her eldest brother,” Ellie added. “She was quite young at the time, perhaps Carrie’s age.”
“She mentioned that to me as well,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “Macie believes the loss of his oldest son changed her father. He threw himself into his enterprises. And as ye might imagine, he expected Jon to do the same.”
“Jon has certainly followed in his father’s footsteps,” Ellie observed. “Macie suspects he has shouldered a sense of guilt over the accident, even though he was a child and had done nothing to cause it.”
“His mum—my, she is a lovely woman—tried her best to comfort him,” Mrs. Johnstone added. “Even through her own pain, she did what she could to ease his mind. Maggie once told me Jon had always been a conscientious lad, but after theaccident, he felt a need to do whatever it took to meet his father’s expectations. He dreaded the thought of letting him down.”
Belle’s heart sank. Jon had endured such horrible sadness at such a young age. He’d been so very young when he’d suffered the painful loss.
Suddenly, the rhythmic thuds of a man’s boots along the length of the corridor drifted into the room. Belle felt the sudden stillness as they all heard the sound.
“I asked Jon to meet us here. I presume he has arrived,” Mrs. Johnstone said while taking her weighted parasol in hand. She met Belle’s gaze. “But one can never be too cautious.”
He strode into the room with Heathy at his heels. Both man and dog appeared to hesitate as they spotted Mrs. Johnstone’s defensive posture. “Well, I must say, that’s not the greeting I’d expected.”
“In these times, it is precisely the greeting ye should expect,” Mrs. Johnstone said. The quiet steel in her voice unleashed a fresh wave of tension in Belle’s chest. What had the woman learned that had prompted her visit?
Jon strolled toward the chairs where they sat. “I believe I’ve had nightmares like this—an alliance forming, with Ellie Blake as their leader.”
Ellie laughed softly. “When Macie returns, I shall see if she would like to assume that role.”
“For the time being, I suspect she will have her hands busy with other matters,” Jon replied. “She’s expecting her babe not long after they return.”
Ellie gave a little shrug. “Knowing Macie as I do, I doubt that will stop her.”
“Ye may be right,” Mrs. Gilroy said with a little shrug as she rejoined them.
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Jon said with a shrug. He settled into a chair near the fireplace and stretched out his long legs. “By the way, Miss Blake, I understand you had a fine time shopping.”
“Miss Blake, is it?” Ellie chuckled. “Regarding your comment, I did have a grand time, indeed. There was something quite liberating about shopping for someone else. And with someone else’s money. What could be more enjoyable?”
Mrs. Johnstone took a sip of her tea. “Now that we’ve enjoyed an exchange of pleasantries, I suppose I should tell you why I’ve come today.”
Jon’s brow furrowed. “What in blazes is going on?”
