Why had she not feared him even as his fingers encircled her throat? As she lay there at his mercy? He hadn’t even been able to look at her once he’d realised. Once he had given in to everything which had swept over him and turned him into a simpering boy.
And even then, Mrs Hardwicke, you did not recoil...
Liam strode over to the window and leaned his forehead against the cool glass. Outside, the world still lay in slumber, with the sun’s first rays creeping over the horizon and casting a purplish hue over the landscape. So peaceful, so beautiful, this land of his. This place he had tried to escape, but which continued to refuse him release.
It was as if every frosted blade of grass and leaf, every shimmer of glorious autumn delight, had been created solely to taunt him. He had seen a thousand sunrises, a hundred landscapes more breathtaking than this, and yetthis—this was what he could not forget, no matter how hard he tried. How far he ran. This land was in his bones, in his blood, like ichor.
He should never have returned. That much was clear.
Last night had almost cost him so much more than he’d already given. If he allowed it—if he did not find a way to exorcise this place from himself soon—he might not be so fortunate. The last shred of his sanity, and any hope of redemption would be lost forever.
On that grim, unwelcome thought, Liam strode back over to his bed and rang the bell. He would dress, clean up, have breakfast and get to work within the hour. There was no more time to waste.
Thornhallow would not claim him as it had Hal, his mother and even his father.
Of that, he would make certain.
Chapter Five
Setting himself down at his desk with a heavy sigh, Liam cradled his head in his hands for a moment. The dilemma he currently faced should not, in actual fact, be one at all. He should not be devoting so much time or energy to this, having so many other more pressing and important matters to attend to. Yet he could not prevent his thoughts from returning ceaselessly to his maddening housekeeper.
Two choices now lay before him. Keep her on or dismiss her.
And yet so much more was factoring into this deceptively simple predicament. Not only did the papers Leonards had forwarded demonstrate that the woman was hiding something, but she had disobeyed his orders, behaved in a most unbecoming and unforgivable manner, and, well...
Been right to do so.
She had won over his entire staff. Brought light back into the house.
And last night...
He was grateful for what she had done, but he also feared the temptation. Of the comfort and closeness she offered. He feared the instinctual response he’d had to her from the first. It would be so much easier just to be rid of her, before anything irreversible could happen. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have just cause. Perhaps the papers were a godsend after all. There was so much more left for him to do, to finish, so he could be free. The very last thing he needed was to be distracted. Worried about whatever it was his housekeeper seemed to be running from. Abouther, full stop.
For there was no doubt she was running. The proof was here, lying before him on the desk.
Distractedly, he shuffled through the packet of papers Leonards had sent. No wonder she had taken the position here. She was desperate. Perhaps she had known Leonards was, too. Enough to look no further into all this. And with no master present at Thornhallow there would be fewer questions.
Yes...that must be it. Mustn’t it?
Then why couldn’t he resolve himself to send her away? He had to decide, and quickly. She’d be here at any moment. He’d asked Thomas to send her along when he’d met him in the library a short while ago.
That was another thing. He had gone there expecting to find the room destroyed, expecting to have to put it to rights himself. Instead he’d found Thomas, Sam and Gregory installing new chairs—the only trace of the carnage he’d wrought. No one would have been able to surmise what had passed there only hours before.
‘Mrs Hardwicke said you wished for a change, my lord,’Gregory had said, slightly confused.
Which meant the enterprising Mrs Hardwicke had seen to it that the room was cleared and tidy before allowing anyone in. Then she had invented some paltry, trivial excuse to justify the need for a change of furniture, and request for help. Liam had had no doubt, looking at Thomas, that he knew nothing of the previous night’s events. Something which he appreciated. He wouldn’t have been able to deal with the old butler’s pity and concern; he’d suffered enough of that already.
Perhaps she was merely protecting herself...
By assisting him, she had put herself in a rather compromising position, should anyone chance to discover the details. Yet even as he thought it, he knew it was not even remotely true.Howhe knew, that was what troubled him. He had afeelingabout her. Many, in fact. None of which were remotely acceptable for a man in his position.
So be rid of her...
Easy though that may be, it was not in Liam’s nature to be so callous. He owed her the benefit of the doubt, at least.
Yes. Ask her the meaning of all this. Then make a decision. A fair, objective, considered decision, based on facts, not emotion.
A compromise Liam was quite sure was the best solution, even if he half suspected his emotions would always get in the way when it concerned a certain housekeeper.
