She heard those words and nausea rose up in her.She fought to keep it down, fought to regain control before she said, “Y-Yes.He…he died.And I panicked.I knew what would happen if I was found out.I knew what it would bring down on me and…on me.He had this wild horse, this animal he was so excited to break.”
“Firebrand,” Callum breathed.
She nodded.“So I rolled him into the stall with Firebrand so it would look like he’d drunkenly come into the horse’s space and been trampled.And I went inside and snuck up the back stair and went back to bed and…and waited.”
“And no one knew?No one saw?”Bernadette asked.
“I thought no one knew,” Valaria whispered.“But…”
She held up the note that had started her confession.The one that left her feeling wrung out, but also…relieved.She had born this for so long and even though her world would collapse now, at least she was no longer living in a lie.
“Someone knew,” Theo said.“And waited until now to reveal themselves to you.”
“I don’t know why or what they might want.”She threw up her hands, feeling the surrender of it all.“I have enough money to keep myself comfortable, but I am by no means rich in my widowhood.”
“ButIam,” Callum said softly.“And Lady Pittsgreen caught us together and has likely begun the whispers about us.The fact that we will marry when your mourning period is over is already being spoken of, I’m sure.”
“And suddenly blackmail has value,” Valaria whispered, bending her head.“Oh Callum.I’m so sorry.”
He said nothing, but looked at the others.“I would like a moment alone with Valaria.Please.”
Valaria stared at him, heart throbbing so loudly she was certain everyone in the room could hear it.She glanced toward her friends and saw that Flora and Bernadette were waiting for her to verify that she wished to be alone with Callum.And she adored them for it, even if she feared what they now thought of her.
“It’s fine,” she said softly.
Flora sighed and turned toward Bernadette and Theo.“Come.It’s a fine day and I think we could all use some air.”
She moved toward the parlor door with the other two behind her.As she passed Valaria, she gently touched her hand, and Valaria could almost feel her friend’s strength and love pour into her.Bernadette kissed her cheek and she felt the same.Even Theo held her stare for a moment, that warmth and kindness he had shown earlier still bright on his handsome face.He also squeezed Callum’s arm as he left the room, shutting the door behind them.
Shutting her in alone with Callum.A man who loved her…or had loved her.A man who had also loved the man she killed.And she had no idea what he would do or say…what she would lose…now that her secret was out.
* * *
After he was left alone with Valaria, Callum stood silent for what felt like an eternity as he tried to wrap his mind around the words she had just said.Those horrible words, and her terrible, broken expression as she said them.It made no sense.And yet it made all the sense in the world at the same time.Her confession explained everything.
“I understand if you want to end this engagement, if you can call it that,” Valaria said at last.“I will take the blame for it if you do.I should because all this is my fault.”
“That is what you think?”he said.“That I believe what happened is your fault?”
“I killed him,” she whispered, and that choked sound returned to her voice and stabbed him through the heart.“How can it be anyone’s fault but mine?”
He moved toward her, slowly now, gently because he never wanted to give her a reason to fear him.The very idea she’d ever had to fear anyone still felt like poison in his veins.She stiffened, but didn’t draw away as he took her hands.
“It’s Silas’s fault,” he said, slowly and succinctly.“Look at me, Valaria.Look into my eyes and hear what I’m saying to you.Everything that happened that night is Silas’s fault.”
Her lower lip began to tremble and she bent her head, leaning forward to rest against his chest.He folded his arms around her, reveling in the warmth of her, the fact that she was alive and here with him after all she’d endured.
That she almost hadn’t been was so devastating he could scarcely grasp it.
“I know you loved him,” she whispered.“I know losing him was very difficult for you.And if you hate me for taking him, I understand.”
He cupped her chin and tilted her face toward his.He met her eyes and held, hating the hesitation he found there.The terror.God, he hoped that one day he would prove to her that he was not Silas.That he was someone she could depend upon, someone who would always be on her side.
“I cared about the man I thought he was,” he said.“The man he never was.Ihatewho he truly was.Hate him down to the core of me.”
Her lips parted.“Callum.”
“It is true.If I had known what he was doing to you, I would have killed him myself to protect you, Valaria.I’m sorry you were so alone in facing that monster.And I am so happy that you defended yourself that horrible night.That youlived.”His voice broke as the emotions rushed up in him.He tucked her back into his arms and held her closer.“That you are here.It’s all that matters.”
