Page 31 of Never Kiss a Scot
“Joanna is sweet. She’s always been that way. But she can have a temper when pressed.” Rafe chuckled. “Be wary of that. Push her too far and you will pay.”
“Aye. I’ve seen her get a wee bit riled.” He thought of the night of the ball and how she’d struck him, but that anger had been justly deserved. He’d pushed her, hurt her. He vowed he would never do such a thing again.
“As long as you care for her and treat her with respect and honor, I’ll be happy to welcome you to the family. I cannot say Ashton will be as understanding, but between our father and yours, you can imagine why he is so protective of her.”
“I can,” Brock agreed solemnly. The dirt upon his father’s grave was still fresh, and the memories of those years of pain at his father’s hands would take far longer to heal. He never wanted to be like that man. Never wanted to strike down those he loved with fists or cruel words.
“What of your father? Joanna hasn’t spoken much about him.”
“He was kind enough, I suppose,” Rafe said. “But he didn’t care about us the way he should have. He gambled away our fortunes, broke our mother’s heart, and left Ashton with the responsibility to rebuild our family and fortune. This burden on my brother makes him distant and controlling.”
“I had wondered why he was that way,” Brock mused, but he could see it now. Joanna’s eldest brother kept a hold on anything that was within his power to control because it made him feel safe. He didn’t need to control Joanna. Brock would protect her now, the way a husband should.
“We should get to bed,” Rafe said. “You’ll need to leave early.”
“Aye,” Brock sighed and finished his whiskey before he headed for his bedroll. He was asleep long before the candles burned low and were extinguished.
It wasclose to midnight when Ashton woke from slumber by his mother’s frantic pounding on the door. He kissed his wife’s forehead and grabbed his dressing gown from his chair and wrapped it around his body. When he cracked open the door, he found her looming before him like a specter, holding a candle aloft, illuminating her white cap over her hair.
“I’m so sorry, Ashton, but I must speak to you.”
“It’s all right, Mother. What’s the matter?” He raked a hand through his hair, getting it out of his eyes as he stepped into the hall with her.
“Joanna wasn’t feeling well two nights ago. She went to bed, and her maid told me she wished to stay in bed all of yesterday. I went to look in on her tonight but when I did, her room was empty.”
Ashton’s blood ran cold. “Empty?”
“Yes. I woke her maid, and after threatening to let her go, I learned the truth.”
Ashton’s heart stuttered in fear. Surely his enemy, Hugo Waverly, wouldn’t go after Joanna. But of course he would. Nothing was beneath that man.
“She’s run away with Lord Kincade,” his mother hissed. “They are fleeing to Gretna Green as we speak, and they have at least a two-day head start.”
Ashton wouldn’t say he felt any relief at this news, only that his fears shifted from one ill fate to another.
“Are you sure she ran away with Kincade?”
“I’m certain. I went straight to his room after I spoke with Julia. He is gone as well. His brother, Brodie, said Lord Kincade had a cold the last two days, but it was a ruse. Lord Kincade’s room is empty like hers. Ash, you must go after them!”
“I will.” He opened his bedroom door again and glanced back at his mother. “I’ll ride with the League as soon as they are ready.” He slid back into his room and started to dress by the light of the dying fire.
Rosalind stirred as he was donning his boots. “Ashton? What’s the matter?” She brushed her hair back from her face. His heart turned over in his chest at the beautiful sight of his new wife. He didn’t want to worry her, but they had vowed to have no more secrets between them.
“Joanna has run away with your brother.”
“Brock?” She shoved the bedclothes back and started to climb out of bed. “Oh dear…”
“Stay in bed.” He came over and cupped her face in his hands so he could steal a lingering kiss.
“But shouldn’t I come with you? He is my brother, after all.”
Ashton shook his head. “I need to know you are safe here. Hugo is still plotting moves against us, and I need you here, where I trust you will be safe. Also, I cannot be entirely certain Hugo doesn’t have his hand in this.”
Rosalind blanched. “You wouldn’t think Brock would—?”
Ashton shook his head. “No. Hugo is as much his enemy as ours. But I’ve wondered of late as to why no man has been interested in Joanna, and I’m beginning to see Hugo’s hand at play there. I wonder if in some way he might have driven her into your brother’s arms. And if he did, then it was not with the best of intentions.”
“I still think I should come.”
