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She loved hearing the waves rolling and swirling, the smell of the sea air, and even the occasional whiff of fish coming from the fishermen on the docks. The waste did stink, but Victoria had been accustomed to it for years. You couldn’t expect to live in a fishing town and not smell fish.
At least it was calming her down. It was why she was out here now, getting away from having to set eyes on the people who dared to cross the threshold into their house.
The Earl of Blackmore had some nerve coming here. After what his son did to her brother, he knew better than to approach them for anything. He should have been thanking his lucky stars that his son didn’t go to the gallows for his crimes.
So why would he want to torment them further by coming to their home?
Six years on, and Victoria was still angry over the death of her brother. She missed him dearly. Richard had been everything to her. Victoria had adored him, even when he was being a brat. And he had been taken away so viciously. All over a lady in society. Such a stupid thing to argue about, and it had cost Richard his life.
Nothing was going to bring him back and having Blackmore arriving at their home in his carriage like nothing had happened between them was sickening. Her parents should have turned him away and told him never to come back. Why on earth had they agreed to see him?
They might want to see him, but Victoria wasn’t about to. She had slipped out as soon as her parents left the room, thinking that she would be following them. It might have been embarrassing for them that their daughter had disappeared so suddenly, but Victoria didn’t care. They knew her feelings about the Mowbray family. She wasn’t about to change because they were giving in.
It felt like a betrayal to Richard to forgive the Earl for raising a killer.
In the distance, Victoria heard the chiming of the church bells. She had been in her favourite spot on the cliffs for over an hour. Maybe it was time to head home. She couldn’t see Blackmore staying for very long.
Once she was back, Victoria would try to find out what was happening. Her parents had to be out of their minds. The last time Blackmore was discussed, her father said he would never entertain his old friend again for defending his son over a heinous act.
What were they up to? Victoria didn’t like it.
She got up, dusting herself off, and started away from the cliffs, leaving the thundering noise of the waves behind. Her father wasn’t going to be impressed that she was on the cliffs again, especially when it could get dangerous, but Victoria didn’t care. She had stopped caring what her parents said.
Although she was grateful that the riding officer hadn’t come upon her this time. The man just couldn’t seem to leave her alone. Every time he was out here, he would question her about her presence and tell her that she should be going home. He kept pestering her, and Victoria found it tiresome. Didn’t he have better things to do, like attempt to catch the people who smuggled contraband into the area?
Then again, considering the gruesome way the last riding officer had been dealt with, maybe he was just trying to get out of it by attempting to be a gentleman and escorting ladies around. Victoria didn’t want him around her. Riding officers were not viewed kindly at all, and she wasn’t about to associate with the man. Even if he wanted to associate with her.
It didn’t take long for Victoria to get back to the house, making her way up the slope to the front gates. From what she could see, there was no carriage out in front of the house, nor was there a carriage in the stables. It looked like Blackmore was gone.
Thank goodness for that.
Victoria entered the house, putting her bonnet and coat away in the closet. There was no sign of the butler, and none of the footmen were present. It was rather strange to find the foyer empty. Maybe that was a good thing that nobody was around.
If she was lucky, she would be able to get up to her room and hide there until dinner. Perhaps she should ask for a tray to be brought up, so she didn’t have to face her parents. That was going to be hard to ask for, especially if her parents refused, but she could try.
As much as she wanted to know what was going on, Victoria didn’t want to deal with the anger flaring even brighter.
“Victoria!”
Victoria paused at the bottom of the stairs, inwardly groaning. No getting away now. She turned and faced her mother, who was coming out of the drawing room, her skirts swishing around her long legs. Cecily Hayward, Viscountess Selkirk, always seemed to stride everywhere like she was in a hurry. She frowned at her daughter.
“Where do you think you’re going? And where on earth have you been?”
“I went for a walk, Mother.”
“You embarrassed us in front of Lord Blackmore.”
Victoria scowled.
“Mother, you told me that Lord Blackmore was not to step foot across the threshold of our house ever again. I was angry when he was standing here like he deserved to be here, and I thought it was best to leave before I lost my temper.” She turned away. “You wouldn’t want me to embarrass you like that, would you?”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to my bedchamber.”
Lady Selkirk shook her head.
“You’re to come with me. Your father and I have something to say to you.”
