Chapter Thirteen
Faith walked around in the back gardens looking for Beth. The woman hadn’t come to breakfast, and she’d been unable to find her in her room or the house. Her stomach twisted at the raw pain in Beth’s face before the woman saw her and hid it.
She sat down beside her and gripped her hand. “I know we don’t know each other well yet, Beth, but I’d like to think we’re friends.”
Beth nodded.
“Please tell me what’s wrong.”
Beth exhaled and looked away. “I have to leave.”
“Leave where?”
“Here.”
“Why?”
“I overheard Alastair and a few other men in the family talk about the fact that Alastair should have been the one to marry you because you’re both the oldest, and he’s being the head of the family.”
“I’m married to his brother.”
“I know. But you have two other sisters. It would benefit both families to have him take one of them for his bride.”
“What about you?”
“I can’t be what he wants me to be,” Beth said.
“Which is?”
“They talked about keeping me as a mistress.”
Faith gasped. “What did Alastair say to that?”
“He just said that it happens in most mafia family marriages.”
“Oh, God. Where are you going to go?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“I can get some money for you.”
“I need to find the key to the storage garage he put my things into. I’ve got some money hidden away in a few things. It will be enough to get me away.”
“I hate to see you go, but I understand. I wouldn’t be able to be a mistress to anyone. I’ll help with whatever you need.”
Beth sighed. “I think the sooner I leave, the better. I was going to see if someone would be leaving for anything today, and I’d get a ride with them.”
“Are you going to say anything to Alastair?” Faith asked.
“I’ve written him a note. I can’t face him right now. He’ll try to talk me into staying, and when it comes to him, I’d cave, but then I’d end up miserable when he marries another woman.”
Faith hugged her. “I’m so sorry.”
“I am, too. I thought this would be my home, but now I know I’m not a part of the family. It was a ridiculous dream. I’m a nobody. He needs to make an alliance with another family, and I can’t see him with another woman or share him with her. Call me selfish, I don’t care.”
“You’re not. I’d feel the same way.” Faith’s eyes stung with tears at the grief on Beth’s face. “What about Angus?”
Beth sighed and looked away. “I wrote him a letter, too.”
“He’s going to be upset you’re leaving.”
“Maybe for a bit, but he’s got a real daughter now. He doesn’t need me.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“Will you come up with me while I pack? I’ll give you the letters to give to them. Is that okay?”
“I’ll do whatever you need me to.”
Beth looked around. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?”
Faith looked around the huge garden. “Yes, it is.”
She took Beth’s hand and followed her up another set of stairs and down a long hallway.
They both went through the bedroom looking for keys but didn’t find anything.
“They’ve got to be in his office.”
“Is he there now?” Faith asked.
“No, he talked about a meeting.”
“Then let’s go,” Faith said.
“What if it’s locked?”
“We’ll figure something else out.”
Beth nodded. “Let’s pack a bag first. I want to be able to go as soon as we find the key.”
Within five minutes, they had a large suitcase packed with everything she’d need. She didn’t take any expensive things, and Faith understood that. She could hock them for money, but it wouldn’t feel right.
Faith helped her take it downstairs. They both sighed in relief when the office door opened, and they rushed in. Beth went to his desk and started going through drawers. Faith looked up when she cried out.
“I’ve found them,” Beth said and held them up.
Faith relaxed. “Do you want me to go find out who’s leaving to give you a ride, or should we call a cab?”
“She won’t need that.”
Both women screamed and turned toward the door to see Alastair and Graham standing there. The looks on their faces made her anxiety rise.
Faith stood off to the side as Alastair and Beth faced off.
“Tony called me and told me our women were dragging a suitcase down the stairs and were in my office,” Alastair said. “I asked myself, now, why would she be doing that?”
Faith looked to see how Beth was doing. She didn’t see any fear on the woman’s face, just misery.
“Answer me,” Alastair barked.
“I can’t be what you want.”
“Which is?”
“Your mistress. I’m sorry. It would kill me to see you with another woman.”
Faith looked at Graham to see him staring at her with a scowl on his face.