The baron probably thought me silent because Chris had fallen asleep, but I was confused.
Who did I want? Moments ago, it was Wycliff.
Why did I see Adam when I’d started to let myself like his cousin? How dare Adam be in my head, when things were finally clear?
Wycliff carried a loaf with thin slices of mutton piled atop.
He eased beside me. “I suppose I overdid it with the boy. Being a good cousin is a little new for me.”
I was nervous, struggling for what to say, and decided to joke. “Well, not everyone has an uncle like you and Adam. Doesn’t promote strong families.”
Wycliff groaned. His arm stiffened. “I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Adam?”
“Huh… No, my uncle. The man has wrought such evil.”
“Sorry. Your relationship with him is as bad as Adam’s? I won’t mention him.”
“Good. I don’t want this day ruined.”
I’d said the wrong thing. His face had become so tense.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, Ruth. I am. Adam made a mistake drawing you into his fight.”
“What?”
“You eloped in the middle of a violent disagreement between Adam and Uncle Soulden.”
I almost clasped Wycliff’s hand, but I clutched the bread. “I chose to go. We thought we had to be together.”
Wycliff shook his head. “Adam should’ve been strong enough to wait. He put a copied ledger in your trunk and dragged you off into the night like thieves.”
“Copied ledger? He didn’t. The returned trunk was empty except for the half registry. No jewelry, no books, just an old dress I can no longer wear.”
Wycliff rubbed his forehead. “Empty save the half a piece of paper and an old dress? It doesn’t matter. As your protector, I’ll always keep my business from you, from you and Chris.”
“That’s where you are wrong. I didn’t mind Adam including me in some of his doings. It was the secrets, the things he didn’t share that made me question everything.”
“That made you hate Adam. Will you hate me? I have secrets.”
“Time does no justice when you are hurting, when you need someone to blame. What happened to Adam and me wasn’t his fault.”
“Ruth, I thought about what you said to me in your father’s office. You’re right about me. I’m no different than Adam.”
“There was good in Adam. He died reaching for me.”
Wycliff looked down at Chris and picked grass from his frizzy locks. “I am sorry, Ruth.”
His raspy voice sounded broken and distant.
I put a hand to his shoulder.
There was tightness in his muscles. I forgot myself and put my whole palm to it.
He didn’t move, and he didn’t stop my fingers probing the tension in his arm.
