Leah took in a steadying breath.
May I help ye get the stick out of your arse?she longed to say, but swallowed the caustic words.
Fox reached for the whisky decanter.
Leah moved before she consciously thought, placing her hand atop his, stopping him from lifting the bottle any further.
He glared at her, but his blue eyes held no real rancor.
No. They were desperate.
What could put such a terror in his gaze?
Fear trickled down each notch of her spine.
What was it Fox had said about Madeline?
A letter would suffice for me to release her.
She glanced at the missive, sitting ominously beside the decanter.
“What happened?” she whispered, voice suddenly breathless, her heart thumping in time to the wind pounding the windows.
Fox abruptly removed his hand from under hers and threaded his fingers into his hair, standing up and nearly upending his chair in the process.
Leah reached for him again, but he moved away, arching his back and blinking at the ceiling, hands still cradling his head. He swayed on his feet, his bad leg sagging.
“Fox?” Leah reached for him again, holding him upright, one arm around his waist and fisted into his waistcoat. “What. Happened?”
He looked down at her.
“Tell me.” She shook him slightly. “At some point, if we wish tae find happiness together, you and I, we need tae start trusting one another with bits of ourselves. This would be a good place tae start.”
“It was all too good to be true,” he finally said, hands falling to his sides. Enigmatic words that only heightened Leah’s worry.
“What was too good?” Her eyes darted back to the letter. “Is this about Madeline? Are these mysterious people going to take her from us?”
Fox stepped back, out of her hold, shaking his head.
“It’s like Coorg all over again,” he muttered. “Been so focused on the most obvious threat directly in front of me . . . I forgot to look to the side. And now, another saber strike has caught me unaware.” He mimed a slicing motion, cutting from his scarred ear to his chest.
“Who has hurt you? What threatens—”
“No questions,” he said, words slurring. “Can’t tell you. I told you that when we married.”
Leah nearly huffed in frustration. “I ken ye thought ye married a plain and silent woman, but I will always struggle hold my tongue, particularly when events impact yourself or Madeline.”
He raked her up and down with his eyes and then teetered, grabbing onto the back of his chair to keep himself upright.
“Plainand silent,” he repeated her words. “Yes . . . well . . . you have broken your promises onallaccounts then.”
Leah winced but kept her head high.
Enough. This dance of theirs had gone on long enough.
“I care too deeply for Madeline,”as well as your own sorry carcass, she declined to add, “to act otherwise. ’Tis impossible tae remain silent, Fox.”
He snorted. “I wasn’t referring to yoursilence, madam wife.”
