Worse, to her way of thinking, they did not care for animals and thought all Scots saw faeries behind every bush. The Duddings made light of any belief in myth, legend, andmagic.
Ophelia would be miserable in such afamily.
They were worse than Uncle Irwin. At least there were animals at Kettle House. Her uncle’s hounds, her aunt’s terrier, and the kitchencats.
She could not become a Duddingwife.
She’d rather scrub floors and eatdust.
Shedidhave to dosomething.
Too bad, she didn’t knowwhat.
Worse, the look on her aunt’s face said she had anidea…
And if she’d learned anything through her difficult times, it was to ‘know your enemy.’ Or, in this case, while her aunt certainly wasn’t a foe, she knew she’d be wise to discover the older woman’splans.
“Aunt Sarah.” Ophelia smoothed her skirts, hoped her voice stayed steady. “You’ve already soothed things with Uncle Irwin. For this night, anyway. Yet…” She dug for courage. “I can see that you have more to say. Something to do withme.”
Her aunt smiled. “I was young once. The truth is I see something of myself in your wild heart. I was no match for your mother and her unbounded passions, but I did have spirit. Long ago,before…”
She glanced aside, her eyes glistening in the room’s dimness. When she looked back at Ophelia her face was earnest again. Clasping her hands together, she cleared herthroat.
“My dear,” she began. “I have no wish to constrain you. There is a brightness about you that shouldn’t be dimmed. Or perhaps we should liken your impetuousness to the wind?” She reached to smooth back Ophelia’s hair. “A brisk wind can refresh us, but too much can sweep us away, blowing us to who knowswhere.”
“I see.” Ophelia did. “This is a warning? You’re here to reprimandme.”
“Not at all. I have a proposition for you. One that I believe will benefit usboth.”
Ophelia waited, not sure sheagreed.
“However much I sympathize with your spirit, such boldness draws talk, and none of it is ever good.” She skimmed her gaze over Ophelia, assessing her. “You are attractive with your dark hair and blue eyes. Indeed, you’ve grown even more beautiful than your mother. But a wayward reputation weighs more than fetching looks. A roguish man will always be admired, even by his foes. A woman who challengesmores?”
“No one here knows my past.” Ophelia’s stomach knotted. “Oban is on the far side of Scotland. I left those memories there. I have no wish to retrievethem.”
“And you needn’t.” Her aunt reached out to squeeze her arm. “You are not the first woman so betrayed and you will not be the last. That is not what Imeant.
“The truth is however innocent your jaunts about the city, folk notice and draw their own conclusions.” She paused, released Ophelia’s arm. “Women who behave boldly land in the gutter. There is no kind way to say it, and sadly, it istrue.”
“That’s hardlyfair.”
“Life rarelyis.”
“I’ve gone out in search of ghosts.” Ophelia wouldn’t deny her passion. “Everyone knows I am interested in such phenomena. Many people are. Aberdeen is an ancient city, filled with haunted places. I enjoy visiting them. Sometimes I see and hear things, andso-”
“Do you not understand?” Her aunt leaned toward her. “There can be thousands of tales and legends in this city. But there is only one Kettle House and it is owned by youruncle.”
Ophelia blinked. “He is ashamed ofme.”
“No, he wants the best foryou.”
“He wants me gone.” Ophelia’s heart beat faster, her palmsdampening.
“I have distressed you.” Her aunt’s face clouded. “My dear girl, I only wish to help you. To see you find the happiness you so deserve. A better life than slipping around this house, trying to avoid the stern eye of youruncle.
“I learned to live with him,” she added, her expression clearing. “You needn’t doso.”
“What are you saying?” Ophelia curled her fingers in the smooth silk of her ruined shawl. She was sure her aunt meant well, but she was also certain that whatever happened, it would not bepleasant.
