Forsaking the Prize (The Wild Randalls 2)

Leopold raised his hands. “Peace, my lady. You are not our prisoner but we still do not wish for you to leave, and for the same reasons I mentioned two days ago. You are alone at Walden Hall and the distance, and is

olation, does worry me. Edwin and Mercy are still at risk, and you could be, too.”

“But you believed me to be the culprit. To have done those evil things to frighten my own sister. A monster. They’re all whispering that I tried to drive Mercy away so I could have the young duke for myself. I’ll not stay here another moment and suffer further suspicion. You can be sure I will never come here again.”

Leopold Randall glanced at his brother, a scowl twisting his face. “I was led to believe that your behavior lately has been somewhat troubling. That you often go into the woods and lure rabbits to you with carrots and the like. The bulk of the so-called-gifts left for the duchess have been slaughtered rabbits. We determined Tobias was behind the letters, but that still means someone else is involved. You can see where a man might wonder if there was a connection between your behavior and recent unpleasant events.”

Blythe shook her head. “My son had a rabbit when he lived. I set it free, but I still see it, and its offspring, about sometimes.”

Leopold Randall frowned. “Near the woods?”

Blythe crossed her arms over her chest. “Near my son’s favorite place. We made up silly stories. I go there often to remember them.”

Her eyes filled with tears. She went there to pretend Adam was still alive, if only for a little while.

“Oh, Blythe,” Mercy whispered softly. “I thought you’d stopped.”

She stared at her sister. “You thought I’d stopped thinking of my son and the little time I had with him? How could you imagine, even for a moment, that I don’t wish for him every day?”

Blythe blinked back tears as the silence stretched. Everything had changed, grown dim, when Adam had passed away. Time hadn’t softened the loss.

Tobias Randall smacked his hands together loudly, and then made a show of rearranging his falling sheet. “Now that’s cleared up, can something be done about my clothing situation? This sheet is damn drafty and my feet are cold.”

Blythe bit her lower lip to rein in her emotions. Tobias Randall really was a ridiculous man but he appeared very good at drawing attention toward himself. To think, she’d been afraid of him when they had first met.

Leopold nodded. “That does settle it. Forgive me, Lady Venables, for placing too much faith in gossip. I did not have all the facts at hand. I should never have suspected you would harm the boy.” He turned and grabbed his brother’s arm roughly. “You and I need to have a very long conversation about decorum, young man. Get back to your bedchamber this instant.”

The sheet around Tobias Randall slipped as they gained the door, and Blythe saw more of his skin than a lady should. She also saw scars crisscrossing his upper torso. Blythe shuddered and glanced at her sister to see her reaction.

But it seemed Mercy hadn’t noticed. Her sister crossed the room, eyes downcast as she tugged the bag from Blythe’s fingers. “Forgive me,” she said softly. “Edwin and I would be lost without you. I don’t want you to go. Stay with us. Please.”

After considering, Blythe gave the bag up and her sister began pulling her possessions out again and put them away. But sadness trickled through her. The damage to their relationship was done. They were family and she did care that her sister and nephew were well, but she would never trust her again.

Mercy returned and stopped before her. “I should apologize for Mr. Randall, but I fear I will be saying I’m sorry all day and wear out my tongue. It was he who put the idea in Leopold’s brain about you going into the woods alone. I did not connect your actions with Adam and I am so sorry for that. I should not have forgotten you used to make up stories of the woods.” Mercy sighed. “I’m sure Leopold will do something painful to his brother for the misunderstanding, but this situation is as much my fault as Tobias’.”

“I’m sure Mr. Randall will mete out the required punishment. However, I may never be easy here again, Mercy.”

“I will restore your good name, I promise, and prove the whispers groundless.” When Mercy embraced her, Blythe suffered through the hug for several moments before she shrugged out of it.

“That may never be possible.” Blythe wiped her eyes as weariness tugged at her senses. She felt old, ancient and exhausted. However, she couldn’t rest until the whispers about her sanity had ceased.

Mercy’s fingers threaded through hers and squeezed. “Thank heavens we only had one brother. These Randall men are not above rough behavior. Quite different from our late husband’s in so many ways. I thought they would kill each other yesterday.”

Blythe had thought so, too, hence her decision to flee with the boy and spare him the horror of the fighting. “Leopold is very protective of you. A good trait for a future husband. Speaking of brothers, when is ours coming to Romsey Abbey to meet Mr. Randall? Have you written him?”

“Not yet. But I did receive a note this morning from him. Constantine has put me off again for the holidays, claiming he’s busy. I’m sure once I tell him of Leopold he will change his mind.”

Blythe nodded. Their brother supplied a ready stream of excuses against travel, blaming his three daughters’ delicate health most often for the delays. “He’ll come as soon as he learns. When is the wedding?”

“We haven’t set a date, but I’d like for Constantine to be here before the happy day. I’d like him to become acquainted with Leopold and Tobias, too. He’ll likely have a few things to say about me marrying again but he will see I’ve made the right choice.”

Constantine would rage when he found out Mercy was to remarry. While that was happening, Blythe planned to be elsewhere. “Are you going to tell him the truth about Edwin’s father?”

“I will.” Mercy’s fingers curled over Blythe’s arm and squeezed. “Do you mind very much? Neither of us had a say in the situation, but I would not change the past for all the world. I love Leopold so very dearly and, however unlikely it might seem, I have missed him these past years.”

Blythe shrugged, trying to dispel just how hurt she still was by the news. It didn’t change how she felt about Edwin, but it did make her feel on the outside of events. “Yesterday when we talked, Mr. Randall claimed to love you enough that he’d leave if it was in your best interests. However, if Tobias Randall isn’t the criminal threatening you and Edwin, then he’d better remain. Marriage will dispel the hint of scandal at having a bachelor in your household. At least he may be able to control his brother for the duration of his stay, too.”

“Tobias isn’t so bad.”