Violet sighed as if burdened by the weight of the tale she was sharing. “People sometimes cling to superstitions, especially in times of grief. It is a way to make sense of the incomprehensible. And the death of a young, healthy woman who was with child is the most incomprehensible of all.”
Keira pondered the tragic fate that had befallen Eleanor. The idea of a curse seemed absurd, yet she could understand how desperate circumstances could lead people to seek meaning and reason in the inexplicable.
“Some actually questioned Raphael’s involvement in all this,” Violet continued mysteriously.
“His involvement?” Keira echoed apprehensively.
“Aye.” Violet nodded. “There were those who didnae believe in the curse and thought it was just a way to cover Raphael’s guilt. They couldnae imagine that someone could sleep through such a tragedy without hearing a single thing. But the truth was, she fell down the stairs in the eastern wing, away from their bedchamber. He couldnae have heard, despite it bein’ night-time.”
Keira couldn’t imagine such grief. Not only losing his wife but also facing silent accusations that he had a hand in his wife’s death. It all sounded absolutely horrible. It did sound much like a curse, should anyone believe in such things.
“Did Raphael believe in this curse?” Keira asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
Violet shook her head. “Raphael is a pragmatic man. He believes in fate being what we make of it. He honors Eleanor’s memory but doesnae let superstitions dictate his life.”
Keira admired Raphael’s resilience in the face of tragedy. “That’s a strength I deeply admire.”
Violet smiled warmly. “Raphael is a remarkable man. His heart bears the weight of loss, yet he continues to live and care for those around him.”
With those words, she turned to Keira. “As far as that curse is concerned, I am nae one to be frightened by such stories. If it’s true, then so be it. I want to ken Raphael for who he is and stand by him, to be his partner, his confidante—his everything.”
A wave of jealousy surged through Keira, fierce and unexpected. She was upset for reasons she struggled to define even to herself. The conviction in Violet’s voice struck a chord, and she knew she had to leave.
“I… I think I’ve seen enough,” Keira stammered, her face flushing as she turned away from the mesmerizing portrait. “Thank you for the tour, Violet.”
Violet glanced at Keira, sensing the sudden change in the atmosphere. “Are ye all right?” she inquired, a note of concern in her voice.
“I’ll be fine, thank you for your concern,” Keira replied, forcing a smile. “I just need some air.”
With a polite nod, Keira hurried out of the gallery, leaving the haunting beauty of the portrait and Violet’s conviction behind.The corridors of the castle seemed to echo with her conflicted thoughts.
Why did I even come here?
She urged her feet to take her as far away from Violet as possible, but that treacherous little voice inside her had the answer.
You know why you came here, Keira. You know that very well. But now, you want more, and that changes everything…
14
Raphael had never been in such a situation before. He believed he had nothing to apologize for, nothing to atone for, yet his guilty conscience assured him it was otherwise.
He frowned to himself, raking his finger through his hair as he paced about his study like a caged tiger. It was certainly not a gentlemanly thing to do what he had done.
Then again, he had never claimed to be a gentleman in the first place. Keira had expressed her desire. All he had done was agree and offer a deal that suited them both. Then why the hell did he feel like he had done something wrong?
“Blast and damnation!” he exclaimed loudly. But this curse did little to abate his torment of emotion.
He realized that the only thing that might appease his guilty conscience would be to find Keira and either explain himself somehow, which he didn’t really want to do, or at least spend some time with her, showing her around the castle as a good host ought to do.
Ye just want to spend time with the lass.
Without wanting to become a slave to his thoughts for a single moment longer, he rushed out of his study and started to roam the castle in search of Keira. He strode purposefully through the dimly lit corridors of his ancient castle, his boots echoing off the cold stone floors. The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows that danced across centuries-old tapestries adorning the walls.
As he rounded a corner, nearing the front door in his effort to head out into the garden, he was met with an unexpected sight. Instead of finding Keira, he stumbled upon Violet. He had only now remembered that he had not even greeted her properly since her arrival that morning.
While Violet was undoubtedly a lovely and suitable match by societal standards, Raphael was quite content with things as they were. His mother’s insistence on this courtship weighed heavily on his mind, and that was just one of the reasons why he had not played the role of the good host.
“Ah, Lady Violet Banner.” He smiled cordially, although without any affection. He endeavored to maintain a polite but distant demeanor, keeping the prescribed social distance.
