If I ever have to leave Effie behind,, it will undo me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Leo had no intention of dealing with anyone aside from Tyler and Effie for as long as the Whitmores were roaming his castle. He ducked into the library when no one else was around and pulled out the plans he had been working on for the change of seasons.
This isnae the time to plant, but to harvest. Let’s get through this arrangement first, get the council out of me hair, and then we can see about all of this.
The library door opened, and Violet stepped inside. She said nothing as she crossed the room, scanning the plans Leo had spread out in front of him.
“Och, ye’re nae still thinkin’ about attackin’ the territories to the south.” She traced a line down the page with the tip of her finger. “Ye always had to be the mad Laird, ye ken that.”
“I’m nae going to do anything right now, so ye can keep yer thoughts to yerself.”
Violet shrugged and leaned against the table. “I’m lookin’ for yer beloved, but I cannae find her anywhere. Nae the courtyard or the garden.”
“Wherever she is, I hope she’s keepin’ her dullard father busy and away from me.”
“Aye, but I cannae find Effie either.” Violet was watching him, studying his face for a reaction.
“Effie was in the garden this mornin'.” Leo paused, debating whether to give her the rest of the information. “She followed Beatrice in there.”
“Are ye all right with that? With the two of them becomin’ so close?”
Leo folded up the plans and put them away, ignoring the question even as she repeated it to his back.
Violet, please. What do ye want from me?
“I cannae stop it from happenin',” he finally answered, his voice low. He could barely hear himself speaking. “It’s too late. Effie’s nae goin' to keep her distance just because I ordered her to.”
“The Laird who can command men and armies into battle cannae tell a child what to do.”
Leo rounded on her. Violet stared back at him, unwavering.
We are too much alike.And Effie is too much like both of us.
“What do ye suggest I do?” he bit out. “Lock the lass in her chambers? Beat her if she goes anywhere near Beatrice?”
“I’m nae here to argue with ye, Leo,” Violet said evenly.
“Nay, of course ye’re nae. Why are ye here, then? Why are ye botherin’ me when I have work to do?”
Violet flinched at the wordwork. He could see that she wanted to say something smart about him hiding in the library rather than having to talk to Beatrice’s family, but she left it alone.
“I was just lookin’ for Beatrice and Effie and was wonderin’ if ye kent where they were.”
“Go busy yerself with tryin’ to find them,” Leo groused. “Leave me be.”
Violet sighed and raised her hands in surrender, before starting back towards the door.
At least Violet was an adult. If his betrothal to Beatrice ended, she could understand what had happened.
How would I explain anything like that to a child?
Leo could not. The only reliable way to drive away these fears would be to make sure the betrothal to Beatrice did not end, that the marriage happened as planned, and that it lasted…forever, however much that word pained him.
To hell with Patrick Whitmore, Allistair MacSween and all others who might oppose Leo and Beatrice. They should make their own way.
He lowered himself into one of the nearby dark leather chairs and rested his elbows on his knees. The night before, James had said more than a few things that hit him squarely in the chest.
