Aislynn didn’t wait for an invitation as she walked over and sat down across from the woman. “Might I speak plainly?”
She waved a hand.
“I am here because I learned some particularly distressing information about Cordell, and I was hoping you might shed some light on his character.”
The lady’s dark brow lifted. “And ye think I am the one who keeps all his secrets?”
“Yes, I do. It was evident the last time I was here that you two were close.”
“And ye want to know if we are lovers.” She snorted.
“No, actually,” Aislynn countered, and the lady seemed surprised by her frank response. “Cordell told me that he chooses to abstain from certain… intimacies because he does not wish to find himself in a delicate situation.”
“He told you that?”
“Indeed. He also said that his mother’s violent death caused his uncle to set up a private asylum at his estate for a time.”
Mary surprised her by laughing. “Miss Sims, if ye believe that I have anything else to add to Cord’s list o’ attributes, I am afraid ye are sadly mistaken.”
“Am I?” Aislynn had been thinking about what The Wolf had insinuated and since the lady’s limp arm had been on her mind all day, now she dared to ask the question that was uppermost in her mind. “Forgive my intrusion, but can you tell me how you came by your injury?”
For the first time since Aislynn’s arrival, some of Mary’s uncertainties became visible. “I was attacked.”
“Did you know your attacker?”
Mary’s face darkened. “If ye are trying to insinuate Cord is responsible?—”
“I do not need to,” Aislynn returned softly. “I can see the truth on your face.” She closed her eyes to regain the equilibrium that was shockingly disturbed. “He deserves to know the truth. He said there was a period of time that he cannot remember?—”
“What purpose would it serve but to upset him and possibly finish what his father started? Perhaps for good this time?” Mary snapped. She got up and paced toward the mantle. “It is best if he believes he saved me.”
“I do not think so. He is the sort of man who would not appreciate the lies.”
“Ye know nothing!” Mary spat in agitation. She cradled her arm against her as if she could use it as a shield to ward off Aislynn’s verbal attack. “Ye would not ask me to tell him what occurred if ye had witnessed the blank stare in his dark eyes. It broke my heart to see him suffering like that. I did not understand the cause, but I did not want to add to his misery.”
Aislynn got to her feet as well, finding it easier to face off with Mary when they were on even ground. “You are making a mistake. If you care about Cordell, you will tell him what happened so that he can understand the missing pieces of his memory and deal with the consequences. Having those open holes will not allow him to heal.”
With a mutinous lift of her chin, Mary’s eyes flashed. “I will not. And ye will keep yer silence too if ye know what is good for ye.”
“Or what?” Aislynn was convinced she had the puzzle figured out. “You will silence me like you did all those other women who dared to stand in the way of your love for him?”
Mary jerked as if she’d been struck. And then she burst into laughter. It was not the reaction Aislynn had been expecting. “Ye have quite the imagination, Miss Sims. It is no wonder Cord is so infatuated with ye. I feel ye are the closest he’s ever come to breaking that ridiculous vow of celibacy.”
Aislynn’s cheeks immediately became hot.
“Come on. I could use a drink and ye look as though ye could too.” She threw her good arm around Aislynn’s shoulders and steered her toward another room in the brothel. “Ye’re right in that I love Cord but as one might champion a brother or good friend. I have no romantic designs on him because he is not really my preference.” As her gaze traveled up and down Aislynn’s form, it finally became clear to her that she had made a terrible error in judgement.
“Oh. I see.”
“Indeed. And as to me not wanting to tell him he is guilty for my attack, I care about him enough not to dredge up old memories that might affect his future happiness with someone like ye. That is something ye can understand, is it not?”
Reluctantly, Aislynn found herself agreeing to that logic. “Yes. I suppose it is. But I still do not think it is right to keep the truth from him.”
“Perhaps not, but I do not yet feel inclined to break his heart. And it would, rest assured of that.” She looked pointedly at her and then said, “Then let us have a nice chat and get to know one another better so that when Cord arrives ye’ll have an ally in yer corner to combat his anger at finding ye here.”
Aislynn blinked. “You think he will be angry that I came here?”
“Without protection?” Mary winked. “It is a Cordell Steele certainty.”
