It had made me feel good to hear that my stepson felt as bonded to me as I did to him. Yet at the same time, I sincerely hoped that it was a fear that he would outgrow.
Just then, George began whining, a sound which I’d learned in the past three months would quickly turn to wails if I didn’t act quickly. He was beginning to cut teeth and had become quite the fussy baby at times.
“Poor George,” I crooned down at him sympathetically. “That mean old tooth will break through soon, I avow. It looks like we need to join your brother in the house and get you something to gnaw on.” I had just turned away, moving the baby to my hip as I walked, when I heard a noise behind me. Before I had a moment to think on it, I heard my name.
“Cecily.”
I knew that voice. I knew that grating, self-important tone all too well. It was one that I’d never expected to hear again, and I was so convinced that I had to be imagining it that I ignored my initial instinct to break into a run—he’d never expectthat—and turned around instead. The moment my eyes fell on him, every muscle in my body tensed and I would have fainted if not for the need to protect my son.
It was as though I’d seen the dead come back to life, for while I’d never seen the duke’s lifeless body, in my heart he had been as good as dead for some time now.
“You’ve forgotten your manners,” he remarked, his tone light but clearly reproving.
“Hello.”
“Tsk, tsk. Is that any way to greet your husband?”
“You’re not my husband,” I said, my voice loud and strong despite the tremor within it.
“Ah, yes, I’d heard you chose to remarry rather than to look for me.” He spoke casually, but I knew Wallace well and the look in his eyes told me that he did not appreciate what he considered to be my betrayal. “Does that amuse you?”
I realized then that I was smiling. The thought of Wallace feeling betrayed in spite of everything he’d done to mewasrather humorous. “What are you doing here, Wallace?”
He seemed taken aback by my directness, but it only lasted a moment. “Why, I’ve come for you and our son, of course. Itisa boy, is it not?”
I felt a frisson of fear crawl up my back, making my entire body go cold despite the blazing sun overhead. “I’m needed in the house. Good day.” I turned away from him and began to walk as fast as my feet would carry me, but I’d only gone a little ways when he darted in front of me, blocking my path.
“Come, now,” he urged, his voice gentle for a change. “Let me see him.”
I held the baby to my chest as I shook my head, my face pinched andtight. “I wouldn’t dream it. He is notyourson, Wallace.”
“Oh, but he is.” Though he still spoke softly, there was an underlying threat in his voice that couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. “Why, you have only to look at him. He looks just like me.”
This I could not deny. Though every day I tried to see more of myself in him, when George looked at me I saw Wallace looking back. But nothing, not even that would persuade me to hand him over to such a man as my former husband. “My husband will raise him to be a fine man. You needn’t be concerned for him.”
Wallace’s gray eyes narrowed into slits as he loomed over me. “It is not him I fear for, Cecily, but you. Tell me, did you think me dead? How long did you mourn me? Not the proper amount of time, obviously,” he sneered.
“In truth, I did not mourn you at all, Wallace.” I didn’t know where I’d gotten the strength to speak so freely, but once the words were out I felt a tumult of others like them waiting to spill forth. “Perhaps I mourned the life I used to know, but never you. Now, let me pass.”
“I don’t understand how you could say such things.” His words were mournful and meant to inspire pity, but I couldn’t find any for him. I knew all his tricks. I tried to sidestep him, but he seemed to anticipate it and moved once more to block my path. “I can’t believe you’d forsake your family. What about Hohenzollern?”
I felt a pang of sadness to hear him speak of the place that had once been my home, but I pushed it aside. “Hohenzollern is lost, Wallace. You should know that better than anyone!” My brow furrowed as I contemplated him. “Were you taken as a prisoner of war and released?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he chuckled. “A man of my station? I couldn’t risk being captured. Surely even you can see that.”
“I don’t understand,” I said slowly.
“For God’s sake, woman!” he snapped. “Are you daft? I didn’t join the fight, of course!”
“You ran?” I gasped. “But… but Susanna was counting on you! How could you—”
“Don’t be such a simpleton!” He waved my words away. “The best thing we can do now is go back and reclaim Hohenzollern in the name of our son. He might be as near as can be found to Susanna’s rightful heir. Most of Susanna’s kin were dragged off as brides to bastards and common soldiers, after all. And even if he isn’t, we can make a claim good enough to bring allies to our side. I’ll raise an army and—”
I shook my head, drowning out his words. “No. No, I have a life here now. I won’t have any part in your schemes.”
Suddenly, Wallace’s hand shot out and clamped down on my arm. I gasped at the grip, but I couldn’t shake him free. “I think you misunderstand me, wife. I don’t needyou. Now, while it would be ideal for you to realize thefolly of your ways and come with me, all I need is the boy. And don’t mistake me—Iwillhave him.”
With an anguished cry and a fresh burst of strength, I pulled away from him and broke into a run. Surprise must have slowed Wallace down a bit, but it wasn’t enough. Soon, he was upon me again, grabbing my braid to yank me back to him. I knew that I would do everything in my power to get away from him. He would not drag me back to a place best left forgotten, stuck as a puppet in his damnable plans.
