“How do ye know it was her?”
He gave a sad laugh. “When I was older, she confessed and apologized profusely for accidentally causing my mother’s death.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes as though weary to the bone. “Her husband, Mr. Edgar, inadvertently appeared to the gamekeeper, shocking him intoaccidentally shooting and killing Uncle Arthur—my unstable grandfather’s firstborn son whom he loved so much that he took his own life when he was told of the death—making my father, the youngest son, the fifth Duke of Ramthwaite.”
Harmony stared at Ross, trying to keep all the accidents straight in her mind. “How did your father die?”
“A fever was upon him when Miss Nettie unintentionally scared the physician caring for him out of the room, and a maid erred and gave my father too much laudanum.”
Harmony crossed herself. “Holy Mother of God. Are Miss Nettie and Mr. Edgar evil, then? Should we not call in a priest to be rid of them?”
“I could never do that. When I was a child, they watched over me. Kept me entertained. I would even go so far as to say that they loved me as if I were their own.” Ross shook his head. “They are not evil, my dear. Just a bit overzealous and clumsy at times, and they often end up causing more harm than good. That is why I asked them to stay away from you.”
“Are ye certain they didna accidentally kill yer wife?”
“No, that was Lotilda’s reaction to the spider—I was there.”
“But the cat caused yer auntie’s death—aye?”
He nodded. “Leopold always loved rubbing around people’s ankles—much to poor Aunt Clara’s surprise on the stairway. But mind you, Leopold was alive when he and Aunt Clara took their fatal tumble down the main stairs. As a spirit, I cannot recall a single incident he might have caused.” He lifted his teacup, frowned at its emptiness, then set it back down and stared at it a long while before lifting his gaze and locking eyes with her. “And now you know all about the Ramthwaite Curse.”
“Is that why ye bought me?” Perhaps she shouldn’t have phrased it so bluntly, but the words tumbled out before she could stop them. The rush of color creeping up his neck made her wonder if he had inherited his grandfather’s temper, butthen the pain in his eyes, the lost little boy needing to be loved, made his temper the least of her worries. “Forgive me—I meant no harm in the asking.”
“I did not buyyou, dearest Harmony. I felt it only fair to pay your father for the loss that your absence from the inn would surely cost him.” He gave her a faint smile that only made him appear sadder. “Your smile, your laughter, the undertone of happiness that is always in your voice—your vibrancy is why I asked him for your hand in marriage. No amount of money would ever be enough for that, because you, my lovely Scottish lass, are a priceless treasure.”
Tears stung her eyes, making her blink fast to hold them at bay. “No one has ever treated me to such lovely words before.”
He took her hand in his. “They are not just words, my dear—they are the truth from my heart.” The way he tenderly grazed his thumb back and forth across her fingers sent a surge of aching warmth through her. “And I have not come to your bed or invited you to mine because I did not wish you to believe you were no more than a mare bought for breeding stock.” He ducked his head, then lifted it again. “I pray you forgive me for the coarseness of my words, but I felt it warranted saying.”
“Ye are a good man, Ross.” She squeezed his hand. “I am glad ye happened into my father’s inn and found me.”
“Even with the curse?”
She tipped her chin to a proud angle. “I am a Scot. That wee curse canna last against the likes of me. But I would ask ye—if ye knew this place to be cursed, why do ye return here to live? Why not stay somewhere else?”
“It is not the place that is cursed, but my bloodline.” His jaw tightened as though he’d just tasted something very unsavory. “I have witnessed many an unfortunate incident in my travels and cannot help but think they only happened because of my presence. I even had a dream once where a dark specter came tome and said I could never escape the curse, no matter where I fled to, until I laid the unholy doom to rest.”
“And how would that be done?”
He shrugged. “I have no clue, my dear.” A nervous broodiness settled across him. “If you wish to leave, we can, Harmony, but I fear the curse will follow. It always seems to.”
“As I said, I am a proud Scot, and we dinna run from anything.” She nodded at their empty plates. “Call yer footmen back in so we might eat a bite before ye show me the grounds of this lovely place, aye?”
The tension appeared to leave his broad shoulders, and he visibly brightened. “Aye,” he repeated, trying to imitate her brogue.
“Needs work, English.” Then she laughed, her heart lighter and filled with hope. Tonight, either he would come to her bed or she would go to his. Of that, she was certain.
Chapter Five
The whisky burnedgoing down, but Ross welcomed the feeling as he stared at the door separating his bedroom from Harmony’s. Gads, how could he be so nervous? He’d enjoyed women in then past. Hell, he had even taken a virginal wife before. He blew out a deep breath, hoping to release the band of anxiousness tightening around his chest. His determination to relax failed because Harmony was like no other woman he had ever known. Another sip of the strong drink set his chest on fire, burning almost as hot as the yearning to step through that door, sweep his Scottish beauty up into his arms, and bring her to his bed.
He set the drink aside, went to the door, and stopped right before quietly knocking. Her mere presence had lightened his heart and calmed his troubled soul. He didn’t wish to do anything to endanger the way she smiled, the way she talked, or the lively sparkle in her eyes.
The door opened inward before he knocked, and there she stood, her eyes flaring wide with surprise. Her lush hair tumbled down around her shoulders, making him itch to run his fingers through those sumptuous tresses. She wet her lips, then offered him a nervous smile. Her sweet hesitancy almost made him groan.
“Hello, Ross,” she whispered as if she feared someone might overhear.
“Hello, Harmony,” he quietly responded before offering her his hand.
She took it and allowed him to ease her into the room and close the door behind her.
