‘It doesn’t matter now, for he is dead. You saw to that.’
‘In defence of your virtue. You can’t still believe he was in love with you?’ he spat. ‘Tell me you do not grieve that bastard.’
‘No, I grieve the loss of my dreams, my hopes and a better future. Are you such a ruffian that you cannot understand that?’
He was silent for a while and then shrugged. ‘I suppose I can.’
Cecily bit her lip and said, ‘Thank you for rescuing me. I don’t think I would have enjoyed what Edmund was going to do to me.’
‘And do you know what that was?’ he said, his eyes probing hers.
‘Stop, please,’ she said, walking away from Peyton’s intensity to stand at the water’s edge.
‘I am sorry for what happened to you, lass, but I swear you will come to no harm by my hand.’
‘Forgive me if I don’t believe that.’
They both fell silent. Birds cawed and swept over the water as it licked the shingle. Cecily choked back tears. This man interrogating her was uncouth and fierce, but he had shown her more kindness and chivalry in his rough way than the man she had fallen hopelessly in love with.
‘You must think me the worst fool for agreeing to run away with Edmund.’
‘I’ve heard better plans, but you were naïve and no fool. You are clever enough to try to worm your way out of your predicament. You have courage to spare, fighting him off where many a lass would have succumbed. You must have been frightened out of your wits.’
Cecily locked her gaze to his. ‘I don’t remember fear – just rage,’ she said. She put her hand to her face. ‘Oh, that is terrible, isn’t it?’
‘No. Rage is why you are still breathing, or at least still a virgin.’
Cecily looked away, blushing and wrapping her arms around her body. Peyton chided himself. Must he be so blunt all the time with his rough words and stare so long at her beauty. The lass was clearly frightened of him.
‘’Forgive me for speaking so plainly,’ Peyton continued. ‘I don’t suppose you know much about men, being sheltered by your father.’
‘No. I don’t,’ she said, and it would have hurt him if she’d said otherwise, for Cecily was so fair and delicate, he could not bear to think about another man laying hands on her.
Peyton took a breath. ‘What of Jasper Glendenning?’ Even the man’s name caused anger to choke his throat.
Cecily gave him a wary look.
‘Go on. Tell me, lass.’
‘He came to Fallstairs demanding payment of a debt and talking about his dead wife and how he needed an heir. My father threw me at him. I think he intended us to be wed, especially after Wymon Carruthers took ill.’
‘Who is that?’
‘Some old lecher my father betrothed me to. But he caught an ague and was not such a good prospect.’
‘Good God, lass. How many suitors do you have?’
‘Do not say it like that. It is not my fault that I am bonnie.’
He laughed. ‘Aye, you are, even if you are not very humble about it.’
She blinked hard as if he had stung her. ‘Much good beauty or humility have done me. Look where I’ve ended up. Life gave me a choice between a brute, an old man and a lying Englishman. Perhaps I am prideful, but surely I do not deserve this harsh a punishment for it?’
‘So you were betrothed to a sick old man and then offered to Jasper Glendenning. I suppose you saw him as a much better choice.’
‘No, he wasn’t. I hated him. He was so fierce, and he kept staring at me with such anger.’
‘He looks at everyone like that. Believe me, lass, his glare is as vicious as his character.’
