Still worse, what would Quinn do andsay?
Would he silence her so that she could not tell anyone else of their father’s crime? It was too easy to imagine that a son and heir would not want the truth of her mother’s death to come tolight.
“Annelise,” Rolfe said. “Quinn is ourguest.”
“Guest?”
“Yes. I invited him to visit.” He crossed the room and gripped her shoulders. “Annelise, I know how you feel, just as I know your feelings are unjustified. It is time you learned the truth.” His voice echoed with the force of his conviction, and Annelise could not help but glance into hiseyes.
He was so convinced that he was right, that she had nothing tofear.
“You are wrong about Quinn,” he insisted. “Trustme.”
Annelise returned to the window, watching her brother. “You summoned him without tellingme.”
“Would you have approved?” Rolfe’s thumbs traced soothing patterns on Annelise’s shoulders when she did not reply. “A discussion with Tulley at Beauvoir confirmed what I had suspected since you confessed your tale—Quinn and your father argued over the abuse of yourmother.”
Annelise spun to face Rolfe. Could this be true? Clearly he believed it tobe.
“Quinn sought to defend her until Jerome threatened to cast Quinn out. Tulley intervened, for Quinn was young, and took the boy under his own protection. He never imagined that your mother would bear anotherchild.”
A lump rose in Annelise’s throat. “But how could Quinn abandon her there? He had to know that my father would raise his hand against her again. What kind of man, or even boy, would leave his motherundefended?”
“Perhaps you should ask him thatyourself.”
Annelise’s mouth worked for a moment. “I cannot dothis.”
Rolfe pulled her into his embrace, and Annelise did not resist. She closed her eyes and leaned against his chest as his fingers slid into herhair.
“Where is my fearless bride now?” Rolfe teasedsoftly.
Annelise shook her head. “I am afraid,” she admitted in a small voice. “What if he has charmed you? What if he wishes only to silence the truth about my father’s crime once and for all? What if it is all a ruse?” She could not bear to think of having her happiness threatened, much less the welfare of her child—or her husband, or hismother.
“What if I am right and you have another brother to relyupon?”
Annelise pulled away from Rolfe’s warmth and met his gaze. “I was the only witness and you are the only one in whom I have confided thetale.”
Rolfe cupped her face in his hands. “There is nothing to fear, Annelise. You wanted proof that our son is not doomed to repeat your father’s crimes. That proof awaits you in thegarden.”
“But whatif—”
“Do not imagine that I would let anything befall you now, wife of mine,” he saidfiercely.
Despite herself, Annelise smiled at the reminder of his pledge to protect her. She straightened and looked toward thewindow.
Rolfe was right. It was time she confronted her fears and put the past torest.
She took her husband’s hand. “Will you come withme?”
Rolfe closed his hand over hers. “Do not imagine that I would be anywhereelse.”
* * *
The knightin the garden spun around at the crunch of Annelise’s footsteps on the gravel. His boots were splattered with mud, as were his chausses and his cloak. He looked as if he had ridden in haste, without care for hisgarb.
Was that because Rolfe had summonedhim?
Did he want to make amends so badly asthis?
