“Isn't it, my love?” he asked, coming towards her, hands outstretched. “I thought I lost you forever to that brute.”
“Graham isn’t a brute. And he’s actually the exact reason I've come here.”
“He is? How so?”
“Well, while I’m very grateful for your loyal friendship in coming all the way to Scotland to make sure I was all right, I wanted you to know that I do still, intend to marry Mr. MacKinnon, that is, after we have a very long discussion about what has transpired between us. You see, I’m not a smart or as spiteful as I should be. I love Mr. MacKinnon, and I know it is a true love because I’m not willing to give up on it. But that said, I wanted to come here and tell you how much I appreciate your concern for me and my wellbeing.”
Jacob paused in his packing as Hope swallowed. Graham had hurt her deeply and while she didn’t intent to forgive him so easily for his deception, she had concluded that morning that she loved him and she truly believed that he loved her, despite everything. It wasn’t a great feeling, loving someone who had betrayed her, but it made marrying anyone she didn’t love seem impossible.
Graham had deceived her and even though she knew it was foolish, the optimist in her believed him when he told her his feelings for her were genuine and that he knew he had made a grave mistake.
Jacob turned to face her, his expression stony.
“You know he only wants you for your inheritance, my pearl. Ever since it was published in the papers that you would inherit your aunt’s entire estate, it’s all anyone in London has talked about. Everyone knows he’s using you.”
That stung, but Hope squared her shoulders.
“And you decided to come here strictly because you love me?” she asked, unconvinced. “You left me in my hour of need, Jacob, and while I’ve been more than understanding as to why, you didn’t believe that I would rush back to you, now that I’m some sort of heiress, did you?”
Jacob scowled.
“Now, see here—”
“And Graham doesn’t need my inheritance. He has a very successful business. Bee hives, actually.”
“Bee hives? What a plebeian pursuit.”
Hope took a deep breath and ignored him. He would never understand the work Graham did, and she would not waste her breath trying to explain it to him.
“So, you didn't come here to run away with me?”
Hope tried to look sorry.
“No.”
“Ah. Well, that does change things, I suppose.” He shifted back toward the door. The distinctive sound of a click reverberated through the room, and Hope’s heart sank before she even had a chance to realize what was going on.
“Jacob—”
“You see, I had hoped to convince you in person to reconsider our relationship. When that brute attacked me and forced me to leave, I had hoped that my words, written out in expertly written prose, would help convince you, to remind you of my love.”
“Jacob, there was never any love between us.”
“But now I see that I have no choice,” he continued, rotating around to face her. “This is for the best. You will realize that and will forgive me one day.”
“Forgive you for what?” She backed away as her skin prickled with a warning. “What do you intend to do?”
“To take you away, just as I told you before,” he said. “Far enough away where your MacKinnon can't find us, though I doubt he’ll go through the trouble. Once settled, we'll petition for your inheritance and live as we always hoped we would.”
A sinking feeling settled in her stomach. He was mad. Surely he didn’t believe that she would willing go with him?
“Jacob, there isn't a place anywhere on this green earth where you could keep me without me immediately running back here, I assure you that.”
Hope backed away with her hands behind her back. An oil lamp on the table behind her tipped slightly as she bumped into it, but she steadied it.
“Well, perhaps after our wedding you won’t feel that way,” he said, his eyes roaming over her body.
Hope's fingers grazed the glass oil lamp, and she clasped it in her hand.
