His Aunt Aileen raised him from the age of seven as her own, a third rambunctious boy in their already bustling household.
Aunt Aileen and Uncle Rory may have treated him like their own child, but the sin he committed against their family was too grievous to accept their forgiveness, even if they had granted it. Callum wouldn’t forgive himself.
“I go where business takes me,” he grumbled, refusing to acknowledge his cousin’s glare. “I’m always careful.”
“I’ve read the reports from the French.” Callum flinched at the heat in James’ voice. “It’s not like working in Europe. You’re not just fighting the earth, you’ll be fighting disease, armed rebels…” He drove his hand through his hair. “Cal, you’ll make us rich, but at what cost?”
The carriage wheel caught a deep rut, and the vessel shuddered. “Ye dinnae want to stay in Britain, do ye?”
For a long moment, the only sound was the steady clatter of the wheels over the road, the thrum of hoofbeats.
When James spoke, his voice was low. “I can’t live here forever. Britain will never be safe for men like me.”
How would it feel to have the constant threat of discovery lifted? If he didn’t have to look over his shoulder, question whom he could trust?
“If we’re successful in Panama, ye’ll never have to worry again. I’ll make sure of it. We can start over in France, but it willnae be cheap.”
If he secured the contract with the Americans to build the canal, he’d have more than enough to pay off his uncle’s debts. He could relocate business operations to Le Havre; the French were far more accepting of James’s lifestyle, but it would cost a bloody fortune to make the right connections, build the infrastructure they needed… Not to mention moving his aunt to a new city in comfort. She’d already lost her oldest son, then her husband…
“I’d rather have you, Cal.” James let the words sit for a moment, and when Callum didn’t respond, he pressed on. “There is plenty of money to be made that won’t cost your life.”
Callum leaned back against the squab and nodded at James. He’d let his cousin think he’d won the argument, at least for the night.
James eyed him warily. “I see you’re capitulating enough to make me think I’ve won, but I’m onto you, and I have another item of business.” He leaned forward once more. “What are you doing with Violet Waverly?”
His pulse kicked into gear, beating at a pace to match the horses ahead of the carriage. “I’m helping her,” he mumbled.
“By ruining her?”
“I didnae want ye involved.”
James heaved a sigh. “Of course, you must protect me.” Callum opened his mouth to retort, but James lifted a hand. “Are you going to hurt her?”
He recoiled. “No, of course no’.” Although he remembered her expression when he rejected her offer of a dance, even when every piece of him craved the chance to touch her again. He’d beenmoments from taking her lips in that chapel, to prove that she was safe with him. She needed to know he’d allow no one to hurt her—
“But you are going to humiliate her publicly?”
Callum ground his back teeth. “She’s going to humiliateme. I’ll ask for her, but she’ll refuse me.”
“What will Valebrook think when he catches you with her?”
Valebrook was a father figure to Violet, but the earl would see reason. “I’m being honorable. Besides, once he signs this contract—” He motioned towards the leather folio on the seat beside him, “—he willnae be able to back out.”
James crossed his arms over his chest like a petulant child. “I don’t like it. This isn’t like you.”
“What, ruining a woman?”
“Yes, but also letting a woman get between you and business.”
“That’s no’ what’s happening—”
“Perhaps we’ve been going about this all wrong. If you married her, we’d be connected to the posh set for life.”
Callum came up short. “No—I’m no’ marrying anyone.”
“Right, so there’s no one at home waiting for you.” Callum caught the flash of James’s eyes as he rolled them. “Do you have any idea how excited Mam would be if you brought home a wife?”
“Not as excited as she’d be if you did.”
