“We know you are innocent, Rory.” Max was speaking.
“But you did not believe me before.”
“No, and you cannot expect that of me. I know nothing of you, only that you are my brother. I know you are a good man, but not what you’ve been forced to do to survive.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you,” Wolf said, stepping closer. “All I could feel was anger, as Kate had been shot. It was wrong of me to blame you, Rory.”
“Sh-she is well.”
“She is tired and sore, but near to fully recovered.”
“We must explain what you witnessed, Rory,” Max said.
“Mrs. Radcliff told me some of it, but it is not easy to contemplate or believe.”
“We can help you with that if you’ll let us,” Wolf said. “Come back to the castle, to your family.”
“I think it best I leave.”
“No!” Kate hurried forward. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“I told you to stay in the carriage!” Wolf thundered.
“You brought her with you?” Rory demanded. “She was near to death just hours ago. What were you thinking?”
“Clearly you don’t know my sister,” Wolf drawled.
“Are you mad, woman? What the hell are you doing out here in the cold when you were shot. Get back in that carriage at once!” He stood before her now, angry, lion eyes flashing.
“I will not.”
“You bloody well will.”
Before she could retreat, Rory had picked her up and was carrying her back to the carriage.
“It was foolish to leave the castle. You are weak and hurting.”
“As are you, put me down!”
He did, inside the carriage.
“Go back to your family, Kate. Let them care for you.”
“Don’t go.” Kate reached for his hand. “Please.”
“Kate.” Her name was wrenched from him. “Don’t do this. I’m no good for you. I must go. This is not my life, and I was fooling myself to believe it was. You were injured and nearly killed because of me.” He closed his eyes briefly. “I could not have lived with that.”
“It was not your fault.”
“Family is not for me, Kate. I am not part of yours.”
“But you are! They are your family too.”
The anguished look in his eyes gave her confidence to speak her heart.
“I love you, Rory.”
“No!”
