Of course, she knew the stories of such women. Women who became dependent on drink or other sorts of libations to the point they didn’t care about anything else in the world. Further, it wasn’t surprising to learn that Lydon would’ve created a child with such a woman and that child would’ve grown into the man sitting across from her.
“I’m sorry,” was all she could say—to all of it.
Jagger’s eyes narrowed, as if he were privy to the inner workings of her mind. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
Her brow lifted. “Oh?”
“My ma is the loveliest woman you’d ever lay eyes on, if you were to see her.” His tone had gone on the defensive. “And her singing voice has been known to transfix the lowest scurvy scoundrel and reduce him to a puddle of yearning tears.”
Beatrix sensed abutembedded within his words.
She waited.
“But…” He tapped his temple. “Her mind is mostly off with the fairies.”
“Pardon?”
“My ma is simple.” He spoke the words plainly. “When she was born, the midwife said she’d been in the womb too long and there would be a need to watch in the coming years that it might’ve affected her noggin. She’d seen it happen before.” He lifted empty hands, helpless to the facts. “And time proved her right.”
“Simple?” Beatrix repeated. It wasn’t the fact of Jagger’s mother’s mental disability that she wasn’t able to comprehend, but rather the implications it presented.
“She’ll keep living with my grandad above the pub until he goes. Then she’ll stay with me.”
Beatrix’s stomach dropped to her feet, and she was speaking those implications aloud… “Lydon took advantage.”
Fury lit into flame within Jagger’s eyes. “She’s been singing nightly in Grandad’s tavern since she was a wee one. That was how Lydon first saw her—and had to have her. She was sixteen.”
Shock ripped through Beatrix. “He forced her?”
Jagger shook his head. “He didn’t need to. The waster has that ability to charm, doesn’t he? Anyway, she fell in love with him and began sneaking off, as happens.” He shrugged. “Then she came up with child—as also happens.”
“You,” confirmed Beatrix.
“Aye, me.”
“And Lydon abandoned her.”
It wasn’t a question.
The fury that blazed in Jagger’s eyes… Beatrix experienced a responding fury within.
And through that fury came a realization.
Never again would she lift a finger to help her father.
And the man before her—her brother—she felt a new understanding and respect for him. “You’ve made it your mission to ruin Lydon as thoroughly as he ruined your mother.”She saw how it drove him—that simmering fury. Which led to a question… “Are you going to keep collecting Lydon’s debt?”
Jagger showed no surprise at the question. He’d been thinking about it himself. “Maybe…maybe not.”
And she understood what it was she needed to say to this damaged, determined man… “You’ve made something of yourself, Blaze.” It was time they were on a first-name basis. “At some point, that will have to be its own revengeandreward. My advice?” He wasn’t asking, but she was giving it, anyway. “Take up a new hobby. Lydon is determined to waste his life. Don’t let him waste yours along with it.”
Blaze took in her words and gave no sign how they affected him. At last, he spoke. “Since we’re on the subject of advice and the unprovoked giving of it…”
Tension pulled through Beatrix. He was about to turn the conversation on her—and she wasn’t going to like it. “Yes?”
“From where I’m sitting, I’m seeing something, too.”
“Oh?”
