Chapter Eight
His heart had yet to settle back into his chest. He had more siblings. Another brother and three sisters. Rory’s instant response had been joy. He and Maddie were not alone. And then reality had returned. His life was in France, away from Max, not here. These people were his, not Rory’s, and their life vastly different from his.
“Max and I have been trying to find you for some time now. We sent an investigator to France, but they could find no sign of either you or your sister.”
He saw something of Maddie in the Duke, and there again in Emily.
They were not alone.
“I want or need no family.”
And yet he and Maddie had wanted that more than anything once. Wanted to be loved and supported when they’d had only each other for survival.
“And yet you have it,” Emily said, coming closer. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “It is very nice to meet you, brother.”
He hated the weakness of longing as he smelled her soft scent.Another sister.
“I was once lost,” she whispered. “These people found me and gave me love and support. Gave me a reason to live. I would ask you to give us a chance now, Rory.”
“No.” He shook his head to confirm the words. “I cannot do as you ask. I must leave.”
“I find I like brothers very much,” Emily said with a gentle smile as she straightened. “I would dearly love another.”
“I cannot be that for you.”
He gripped Kate’s fingers harder. Her touch was an anchor that he needed, and that thought was enough to have him pulling his hand free. Rory relied on no one.
“Do you not want to be part of the family, then?” Kate asked him.
Her scent was in the air; he could pick it out among the others. What the hell was wrong with him? He cared nothing for people, and definitely not what a woman smelled like.
“I must go, I am weary.” He pushed upright with the last of his strength and made for the door without looking back.
“We are a family with a great capacity for love.”
“Go away, Kate.” He walked down the hallway and into the room he’d slept in, and she followed. “I want to be alone.” Of course she ignored him, as he’d known she would.
“Why do you not want to be part of them? When I found these people, I could not believe how lucky I was to have them as my family. It was like a warm blanket settling around my shoulders.”
“I don’t need a blanket, nor do I want one. You have been cosseted from birth, I have not—”
“You know nothing about me.”
He made himself turn to face her rather than fall onto the bed as his body urged him to do. She wore pale gold today and had a thick shawl of blue around her shoulders. Her hair was pulled loosely back in a knot, and a thick gold ribbon was tied around her head. Young, sweet, and beautiful enough that he wanted to hold her. He felt it again, that heavy weight in his chest. He stepped closer.
Rory knew instinctively that Kate Sinclair presented a great deal of trouble for him. He had to push her away. Stepping closer, the toes of his boots touched her slippers. She was nervous but didn’t back away. Foolish woman.
“I know you’ve slept in a bed from the day you were born and had food on your table. I know you never had to fight for the basic things a person needs in their life. You were always warm and loved, Kate. Just as I know you do not know what it is like to live on the streets when you could not go home.”
“Rory—”
“I know you’ve never stolen or hurt someone deliberately,” he continued, cutting off her words.
Her lovely eyes widened with sorrow and pity. Rory hated pity from anyone.
“I’m a bad person, Miss Sinclair, very bad, so stop trying to be nice to me. Stop trying to be my friend. I don’t want one, and definitely don’t want you, unless it’s to meet my needs.”
Her hand shot out so fast he didn’t see it, but he felt the sting from it on his cheek.
