Diantha, large-eyed, slipped to her grandmother’s side.
“I’ve never harmed a lady in my life.”
Mrs. Quinn gasped at the insult and he released her. “I suggest that everyone dress for dinner. I have no intention of putting the meal back for the likes of you.”
Iona had watched the entire scene in silence. Now she stepped forward. “I shall accompany Gaira to Mrs. Menzies and issue an order that no female servant waits upon either of her ladyship’s brothers.”
She gave Diantha a withering glance. “Then Barclay and I shall attempt to curtail the damage you and your dreadful family have caused ours.”
Kieran rounded on his aunt. “By all means do what you can for the poor girl, but if you belittle my wife one more time, you can pack your bags as well.”
Barclay took his mother’s arm. “I say, that’s out-of-bounds!”
“What is out-of-bounds is the stream of insultsDiantha has suffered from all of you under her own roof.” He glared at everyone impersonally. “The matter is now closed.”
“Go get dressed, Granny. I have some things to attend to.” Diantha made her way toward her room. Her unsteady voice alarmed him, but he stared down the others until they retreated to their rooms.
Only Mrs. Helford remained, her habitual vigor extinguished. One hand clutched the door frame for support. “This is all my fault,” she whispered.
Kieran helped her into her room and onto a chaise. He sat down at her side. “How can you be to blame here?”
The old woman pressed her fingertips to her eyes. “Don’t you understand? I failed my daughter, and she failed hers.” A sob escaped her.
Kieran rather desperately wanted to go to Diantha, but he could not turn his back on her grandmother. He tried to think of comforting words. “I do not see any of you in your daughter’s nature.”
Tears slipped down the wrinkled cheeks and she sought her handkerchief. “No, you see her father.” To his relief, some color returned to her face. “Although he could be charming in public, my husband was a beast. Amalthea was our only child, and he alternately praised and intimidated her.
“I wanted to protect her but my husband beat me when I tried to interfere.” She pressed the laceedged square of white lawn to her lips. “I was too cowardly to protect my own child. Needless to say, Mally handled her children the same way her father treated her.”
Kieran patted her shoulder as she dried her eyes. “I’m sorry. You must have been terrified for years.”
“Did Diantha ever tell you she tried to run away before the wedding?”
Stunned, he shook his head. His wife disliked him that much?
Mrs. Helford sighed. “She bribed a servant to purchase a train ticket to Boston. When her father and brothers caught her, they found she’d forged her own references to teach French at an academy there.”
A weight settled in his gut. “What did they do to her?”
“Her mother took a dogwhip to her to force her to name her accomplice.” She shuddered. “When that failed to work, her parents locked her in her room and did not let her out alone until the day she married.”
Unable to bear immobility when he wanted to pound her family to a pulp with his bare fists, Kieran pushed himself off the chaise. “How could they do that to their own child?”
“She was never a child in their eyes, only a bargaining chip to be used to their best advantage.” Her mouth twisted. “I tried to make up for my sins by providing her with the affection they should have given her.”
Kieran paused before the old woman. “You succeeded in that much, ma’am, I assure you.”
She shrugged, a barely discernable lift of her shoulders. “I supported her marriage to you because I hoped it would take her far away from that house.” She lifted her gaze to his. “I hope I was right.”
Under the intensity of her silent plea, he retreated to the bellpull and tugged. “Do you feel wellenough to remain alone until your maid comes? I should go to Diantha.”
He left before she finished nodding yes.
A bitter smile twisted his lips as he strode through toward Diantha’s chamber. He hadn’t the least idea what to say to her.I know you don’t want me, but I’ll look after you anywaysounded as if he’d adopted a stray dog.
She deserved a true husband, one who did not have infidelity in his blood.
He realized he stood before her door and still did not know what he could say or do that would offer her comfort. He had to try, though.
