“How are things at Whittington?” Justin asked quietly.
Case dropped his hand and turned to him. “Everything is well.” He looked back at Jillian. “Your servants get along quite famously with Edward.”
“I miss them all,” she said fondly. “I never got to thank you for taking them all to Whittington.”
“I was happy to do it, Jilly.”
“It is truly wonderful to see you again,” she said, squeezing his hand. She glanced over at Justin. “Why don’t you and Case go into the village and fetch a hen from the butcher. I’ll prepare a special meal for tonight’s dinner.”
“You? Cook?” Case dissolved into laughter, and she glared at him.
“On second thought, I may let you starve.”
He laughed and moved in Justin’s direction. “I can’t resist the opportunity to sample her cooking. Shall we go? Good God, I’ve never been to a butcher’s in all my life,” he added as they made for the door.
Justin grinned and slapped him on the back. “Come on, then. There is a first time for everything.”
Jillian watched them depart on foot and suppressed a giggle at Case’s morbid expression. She, too, had been in shock during the first weeks of her new station. There had been no one to do or get things but herself.
Humming softly, she made her way down the path to the ocean. There was time for a brief walk and a breath of fresh air before Justin returned. He chided her about going out alone, but now she felt a sense of relief at Case’s news. A lightness she hadn’t felt for months quickened her steps, and she resisted the urge to dance along the rocky cliffside.
A sudden burst of inspiration struck her, and she began gathering flowers, arranging them into a neat bouquet in her arms. They would go wonderfully as a centerpiece for the dinner table this evening.
She took her time, picking the blossoms and holding them to her nose. The heady scent filled her nostrils, and she sighed in contentment. As she stood up, after picking the last flower, she felt a twinge in her back. She straightened and rubbed it with her free hand. It was time to go back to the cottage anyway, and she would rest there until it was time to prepare dinner.
Just as she turned to head back up the path, an arm snaked around her throat and gripped her violently. The flowers scattered wildly as her hands went up to claw at the arm that was choking her. She struggled frantically against a hard chest.
“I told you I would find you, bitch.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Jillian brought her elbow back and connected with Lucas’s midsection. He let out a grunt and loosened his hold just enough for her to wrench herself free. She ran for the house, but he was on her in a matter of seconds, knocking her to the ground. As she fell, her arms went instinctively around her stomach in an effort to protect her child.
She looked up to see him towering over her, hatred radiating from every pore of his body.
“I knew you were his whore,” he spat. “And now you carry his bastard. No matter. You will die for all the grief you have caused me.”
“Why, Lucas?” She was desperate to stall. If only she could give Justin and Case enough time to return. “You could have had me declared dead. Why go to this extreme?”
“My petition was denied,” he screamed. “Whittington’s cousin is behind this, I know it!”
“Then divorce me,” she pleaded. “Case said you’ve another woman in mind to marry.”
“The chit’s father won’t agree to the match unless you are dead. They frown ondivorce. You’ve been a bane to my existence from the beginning, and now I shall finally have my revenge.”
He advanced menacingly towards her and she scooted frantically over the ground, trying to gain her footing. As she rose, she felt his hands close around her neck.
###
Justin and Case walked out of the small shop where the butcher housed his business and Case grimaced once more. “What an awful place! I’m not sure I have the stomach for dinner after that spectacle.”
Justin laughed. “You sound disdainful, little brother. We should get back. Jillian will want to start preparing the meal.”
“You go on without me,” Case said. “I want to have a look around the village for a gift for Jillian and the baby. It’s not too soon to start spoiling my niece or nephew.”
“Just don’t linger overlong or Jillian will never let you hear the end of it.” He started on the short walk back to the cottage as Case disappeared into one of the shops.
As he let himself into the house, he looked around the empty front room. “Jillian?” he called. He headed into the kitchen, but she wasn’t there either. He smiled. She had probably taken full advantage of his absence and taken a walk to the ocean.
