“I do love her, my lord.”
Glenrothes nodded stiffly.“That might be all that is saving you.But I also can’t help but wonder if there was something more to what happened between the two of you two years ago.A fight, Blossom said.I had dismissed the matter because of her most disdainful dismissal of the event, but now...?Now I also wonder if something happened that should have prompted a more brotherly intervention on her behalf.”
The words were calmly said, the threat vague and coolly delivered, but he was very aware that Glenrothes was at that moment angrier than Aylesbury had ever seen him.That beneath that calm, a man lurked with what might be murderous intent if the wrong word were said.
He tread carefully.“I was ever a gentleman, I promise you.”
Not a lie exactly, but certainly not the whole truth when gentlemanly intentions went astray.
“What was it then?”
“You must understand, Fiona’s youth and inexperience never escaped me, not for a moment.I was ever aware of her innocence.”He ran a hand through his hair.“But I want you to also understand how incredibly difficult it sometimes was not to...”
Glenrothes shifted, his anger succumbing to discomfort.“I don’t think I like where this is going.”
“And I would prefer not to travel this road either,” Aylesbury admitted.“But I feel I must.I can’t have you imagining the worst and envisioning my head on the proverbial platter.”
The earl closed his eyes for a moment as if begging for strength.When that proved insufficient for him, Glenrothes rose, crossed to the sideboard, and poured himself a glass of what Aylesbury knew was the best Scotch whiskey to be had.“I might need this to brace myself for what I’m about to hear you say.”
Aylesbury chuckled.“I might need one just to say it.”
Glenrothes snorted but did pour a second glass before topping off his own.Joining the earl at the sideboard, Aylesbury took the glass and a welcoming sip.
There was a reason they called it Dutch courage.It gave a man the balls to do things he’d rather not.
Tosaythings he’d rather not.
Fiona’s brother remained standing near the sideboard, so he did not resume his seat, though he did think to remove himself from the earl’s arm’s length...just in case.
“All right then, go ahead.”
It took a deep, fortifying breath and another longer sip of the whisky before he could speak.“That night of the ball at Haddington’s, I was out in the gardens ruminating upon my failure to secure a mistress for Aylesbury once again.”
“Ruminating?”
“I was fairly deep in my cups by that point,” Aylesbury clarified.“In truth, I was also avoiding Fiona.She had been...pestering me.Pardon me, I hate to use that word, but she had moved beyond subtle hints—but shewaspestering me for a dance that night.A waltz specifically, but I could not waltz with her.”
“Why...?”The earl paused as understanding struck, and he grunted.“So that’s how it was.”
“That’s how it was,” He nodded, tipping back his glass.“I shouldn’t have been drinking as much as I was, all things considered.You fellows do stock the finest whisky, though.So I can perhaps blame you to some degree for what happened when Fiona found me out there in the garden as I was—as I said—fairly deep in my cups.”
