Page 111 of Wicked Rivals
“I know it is.” She leaned into him, embracing him once more before she bent down to pick up the letters. “You should take these. They are written in code, but my father sent me the cipher before he died. It should be in my chambers at Lennox House.” She pressed the packet of letters into his free hand.
Ashton accepted them, his smile fading. “Rosalind, if these letters implicate your father as a traitor to his people and I use them to out Waverly, you and your family will be social pariahs. They might even be investigated by the Crown. I don’t—”
She shook her head and pressed his lips shut with a fingertip. “Stopping a man like Waverly is more important. My family can weather the storm. Now, stop arguing with me.” She turned and went to the drawing room door. Her skirts swirled at her ankles, and she looked every inch the fiery Scottish lass he knew her to be.
MyScottish lass.
When she opened the door, it struck something hard. Someone grunted out a Gaelic curse.
“Brodie!” Rosalind chastised her brother, and Ashton coughed to cover a laugh when he watched all three of Rosalind’s brothers scrambling away from the door.
He couldn’t blame them for eavesdropping. He and his friends had done the same thing once with Godric and Emily.
Ashton followed her out into the hall. All of the Scotsmen were waiting, hands on weapons, albeit loosely. But there was still an undeniable tension in the room. Brock was the first to notice them, and he glared at Ashton.
“So, did you tell him off?” he demanded.
“Shouldn’t you already know?” she countered.
“We cannae hear a thing through those oak doors,” said Brodie. “Just a bunch of spirited mutters.”
Rosalind glanced at Ashton. “Then I should be the one to tell you. I’m going to marry Lord Lennox.”
“But he’s a damned woman beater!” Aiden shouted, raising his pistol at Ashton. “We should drown him in the loch!”
“Stop!” Rosalind snapped, stepping in front of him.
“Out of the way, woman,” said Aiden. “He’s filled your head with nonsense.”
“Heads have been filled with nonsense, but not mine. Lord Lennox has never raised a hand to any woman. My first husband may have taken me in out of pity, but he taught me strength. I would not throw that strength away by running into the arms of a man no better than our father.”
Rosalind’s words gave the trio pause for thought, as they looked at one another as if asking what they should do next.
“Are you sure, Rosalind?” Brock asked. “Does he not have some hold over you? If he’s forcing you in any way, we will drag him out of this house and dunk him in the loch.”
Still weakened from his bout with influenza, Ashton knew he could fight, but he doubted very much he could stand against three very angry older brothers, or even one of them. He now understood Godric’s hesitation whenever he spoke of these men. The eldest, Brock, was as tall as Ashton and with hands that could tear a tree trunk in half.
Rosalind leaned against Ashton, tucking her arm into his. “Yes. I’m sure. Our arrangement was a matter of honor before, but…” Her cheeks blossomed. “But I do love him. So much so it frightens me.”
Aiden stared at her. “But does he love you back?” Ashton knew he had but one moment to convince Rosalind’s brothers of his intentions.
“You have no reason to believe me, given what you were told by Waverly, but I love Rosalind with every breath in me. I would never force her to do anything she didn’t want to do.” He looked down into her face, startled by the love in her eyes. “She’severythingto me.”
Brodie tucked his pistol into his trousers. “This means you are returning to England, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does. But once Ashton and I have settled some business there, we shall return here to visit, if you’ll have us.” She dropped her head a little, and the smile about her lips wilted.
Rosalind’s brothers looked stricken at the news their sister was leaving them again, but Ashton had an idea.
He cleared his throat. “We should like you to attend the wedding. We shall set it for a week from now at my country estate in Hampshire. My home is yours so long as you’d like to stay.”
Brodie and Aiden started to protest, but Brock held up a hand, silencing them.
“We’ll come. And we thank you for your hospitality. We would like to attend the wedding and make sure you make our wee sister happy.”
The two younger brothers stared at Brock in shock.
He glared back at them. “Close your mouths. We are going. End of discussion.” His two younger brothers both stiffened their spines and nodded, as though agreeing to whatever silent command he’d just given them. “And you are more than welcome to come home, Rosalind, anytime. Even bring your Englishman if you wish.” Brock smirked at Ashton, but there was no venom in it.
