‘It seems he does not tell you much,’ said Rowenna.
‘Does your husband tell you much? He bought you, didn’t he, in settlement of our brother’s debt?’
She bit her lip and wrung her hands. ‘Don’t, Cecily. You do not know Jasper. He sent men out looking for you all over the West in March on my account. He is good to me, and I love him with all my heart.’
Cecily’s mouth fell open. ‘No. That cannot be. My God, what have they done to you, Rowenna?’
‘You are with a Strachan. What have they done to you?’ she replied. ‘And you are with him. I never saw you look at a man like that before. It is plain as day you care for him.’
Suddenly, they both burst out laughing. ‘What a fine pair we are falling for a couple of brutes,’ said Cecily.
‘But they are handsome brutes. You have to own it,’ said Rowenna.
‘I never found Jasper handsome, and I told you that.’
‘Ah, ever the fastidious one. Jasper tells me that Peyton Strachan is a bastard.’
‘Aye, and I adore every inch of that bastard. He pleases me greatly – in bed and out.’
Rowenna gasped. ‘You haven’t?’
‘I have, many times,’ said Cecily smugly.
Rowenna shook her head. ‘This cannot be my sister before me. You were always so innocent?’
‘Well, my innocence is long gone. I have had a brutal education in the ways of men, and not by Peyton’s hand. I thank God for him coming upon me in my direst need.’
‘What happened? Why did you go, Cecily?’
‘I had to go because our father was going to marry me off to that old lecher, Wymon Carruthers. But I was already in love with a man I had been meeting on Crichton Moor, or at least, I thought I was.’
‘Was it Edmund Harclaw?’
‘Aye, but you must not tell anyone, not even Jasper. Swear it, Rowenna.’
‘You know I will keep your secrets, Cecily. Haven’t I always? What did this Edmund do to you?’
Cecily held back tears. ‘Oh, I’ve been such a fool. I ran away with a man I loved, hoping for a better life. But he turned out to be a liar and so very cruel. He tried to…he almost….oh, it is too awful to speak aloud. If it wasn’t for Peyton, I would be dishonoured or dead.’
‘And where is Edmund Harclaw now?’
‘It is best you don’t ask that. My life depends on it.’
‘Then I will not ask.’ Rowenna grabbed Cecily’s hand. ‘I know our brother was in league with the Warden’s son. Bran went raiding with him against the Glendennings and the Strachans, and he talked to Edmund about how beautiful you are. I think Edmund came looking for you.’
‘How could Bran do that?’
‘Because he is a fool,’ hissed Rowenna. ‘Jasper found out about it and banished our brother. Bran fled and is now in England, I think.’
‘Good, because I never want to see him again,’ said Cecily. ‘I will not miss his lying, conniving hide, and to be honest, I have scarcely thought of him these last weeks. I only thought of you and how much you must have been worrying. And what of our father?’
‘He throws away his life on drink and dishonour. I visit now and then but can scarcely look him in the eye, for I find him so contemptible. He would have happily sold us to the highest bidder. He constantly bemoans your loss.’
‘He mourns the loss of coin in his pocket from selling me to slimy old Wymon Carruthers.’
‘Aye. Morag does her best with him, but Fallstairs is sliding into absolute ruin.’
Cecily felt nothing. She had already left the past well behind her. ‘I did not know until recently that you had married Jasper,’ she said. ‘I feared for you when I heard.’
