“Simply that your father never deserted your mother. He wanted her to live with him in England. But she refused. Said she got embarrassed at a silly party and packed you up and left for Scotland. He came up here to get both of you back, but she refused, felt she didn’t fit in his world. She wanted to reconcile, wanted to return to England, but never felt she could.
“Then when he came to get you, it was too late. She never got the chance to apologize in person, but she did send him a letter before he died.”
“That doesn’t explain why he was a bastard to me,” Graeme said.
“No, it doesn’t. But being hurt can make you do terrible things.” Didn’t all of this prove precisely how damaging love could be? She wanted to be certain she protected herself from such hurt. “Right now, we have a lovely marriage, full of passion and adventure. But were we to add emotion to the mix, everything might fall apart.”
Abruptly Graeme stood from the bed. “I need some air.” He pulled on the clothes that he had earlier discarded on the floor. “Get some sleep, Vanessa. We still have a few hours left of the trip.”
* * *
None of what she’d told him changed anything. His father had still been a bastard. But why had his mother never said anything to him? He made his way to the dining car and found an empty table. He ordered brandy, then looked out the window. Darkness was thick, and he saw nothing but the occasional outline of a tree as the train moved south.
The server brought him a decanter of brandy and a glass, and Graeme had poured and downed one before the man could even depart the train car. He was pouring his second when something, or rather someone, caught his attention. Three tables ahead sat someone with very familiar hair. He grabbed his glass and made his way up to the table.
“Dougal, what the devil are you doing here?” he demanded.
“I made a mistake, Graeme.” The boy looked out the window, his young features lined with anguish.
Graeme sat opposite him. He didn’t ask questions. He just sat and waited. He poured a measure of the liquor into Dougal’s glass.
The boy readily accepted the drink and took a hearty gulp, so much so that it made his eyes water. “I’ve been an utter fool. Just like you said. Trusted the wrong damn people.” He took another sip, then leveled his gaze on his brother. “I’m sorry for what I did to Vanessa.” He dropped his head onto his hand, his fingers forking through his shaggy mane. “I don’t even know how to explain it,” Dougal said, his voice heavy with anguish. “The Raven confused me, threatened my family. But when I think about how I could have killed Vanessa, it makes me sick.”
Graeme nodded. This was the apology he’d been waiting for. Not so much for himself, but for his brother to finally realize what he’d done, what he could have done. Pride swelled in Graeme knowing that his brother was man enough to admit he’d made a mistake.
“You were right about The Raven. He’s evil, a terrible man.” Dougal shook his head. “But you don’t know the worst of it. He’s been blackmailing me, threatening to tell you everything. He said you’d have me executed for trying to hurt Vanessa. He said something terrible will happen to Mother.” His eyes widened. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“The Raven is a powerful man, and he’s quite skilled at manipulating people. It doesn’t surprise me that he’d try to go after someone in my family,” Graeme said. “He went after Niall too. He’s a dangerous man, and once he’s focused on you, it’s hard to break free of him.”
“I cannot believe Niall is dead,” Dougal said.
“How do you know that?” Graeme asked.
“I was there. I saw everything. How you tried to save him, and I heard how The Raven has taken Niall’s family.” He pounded his fist on the table. “I can’t believe what a fool I was.”
“It was a difficult lesson to learn,” Graeme said.
“Graeme, can I ask you a question?”
Graeme inclined his head.
“Why have you never allowed me to attend school in England? The way you were educated?” Dougal asked.
“It wasn’t my choice. I tried to convince Mother that it was a good idea. In case something happened to me, you’d be prepared to take the title. But she wouldn’t agree. She didn’t want you to have anything to do with England,” Graeme said.
“So you would have sent me?” Dougal asked.
Graeme nodded. “I had a spot secured in your name.” Graeme frowned. “Is that why you’re here now, on the train? You want to go to school?”
“No, I want to help. Come to London and help you and Vanessa catch The Raven and rescue Niall’s family.” He pounded his fist on the table again. “Anything. I’ve destroyed so much.”
“First of all, you were a complete arse. I’ll give you that. But you haven’t destroyed anything. We’ll catch him, and we’ll save Niall’s family,” Graeme said.
“But you don’t know the worst of it, Graeme,” Dougal said.
“What?”
“I gave him the Stone of Destiny.”
