Page 129 of The Devil of Clan Sinclair
“How fortunate I’m a patient man, even though my patience was wearing thin. I’d almost decided to lay siege to Drumvagen. But here you are, coming to me.”
Chapter 31
Virginia froze, then forced herself to turn.
Paul Henderson stood there, his face made even more attractive with his smile. Anyone looking at him would think he was a genial man, unless you looked in his eyes and realized there was no humor there.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I’ve come to rescue you.”
She frowned. “I don’t need to be rescued.”
“I think you do.”
Paul took a couple of steps toward her, which was when she realized there was nowhere to escape. The outcropping of rock was behind her. The sea was to her right. A tall embankment was to her left. He was between her and the grotto, and it didn’t look like he was going to give way.
“I’ve come to take you away from this place, Virginia. I’ve booked passage to America.”
She took a step back. “I’m not going anywhere with you and certainly not America.”
Even though they weren’t far from the house, she was still alone with him. She most definitely didn’t want to be alone with Paul Henderson.
“I planned this out carefully,” he said. “By the time we get to America, you’ll have changed your mind. You’ll be with child, and grateful to be my wife.”
“Your ladyship?”
She glanced beyond him to see Hannah standing there, halfway between Paul and the grotto entrance. Before Virginia could shout a warning to her maid, Paul was after her. With the back of his hand, he struck Hannah, knocking her to the sand. She was up in the next instant, and he hit her again, this time with his fist.
Virginia launched herself at Paul then, beating him on the back and screaming at him to stop.
He easily flicked her away as he struck Hannah once more. When the maid didn’t rise, Paul grabbed Virginia by the arm, swinging her around until her back was against his chest.
“How protective you are, Virginia,” he said, his breath rasping against her ear. “I can only hope you’ll feel the same for me and for our children.”
He dragged her closer to the base of the hill, bent down and opened a basket she hadn’t seen until now. Throwing her to the sand, he knelt atop her chest. She struggled but was no match for his strength. When she would have screamed, he pressed a rag over her mouth and nose. She tossed her head from side to side, but he easily held her as he unstoppered a brown bottle and poured the contents on the cloth. The sickening sweet odor made her stomach roll.
He released her and stood. She told herself to move, to run, but she was suddenly adrift in a pleasant and frightening lassitude.
The last thing she noted was regret—that she hadn’t been able to save Hannah or herself.
The flywheel of Macrath’s new ice machine laboriously turned, gaining speed.
Jack and Sam’s jubilation was vocal and well-deserved. They’d all put in long hours to get the design to work. The steam engine powering the flywheel was loud, and they’d thrown open the doors both in front and back. The noise, if not their celebration, was attracting Drumvagen’s staff.
Macrath would have gladly celebrated with them had he not had something else on his mind.
How did he ask a woman to marry him when he was afraid her answer would be no? Twice, he’d come up with an appeal, and twice rejected it.
Perhaps he should simply fall back on the truth. She couldn’t leave him. He couldn’t allow it. He’d send Hosking back to London. Everyone in Kinloch Village would know not to give her aid or provide transportation. In other words, kidnap her and keep her here against her will.
He had not yet resorted to that. But he might, if he couldn’t convince her otherwise.
Wasn’t love supposed to make the world a better place?
His world had narrowed, compressed to two people—Virginia and Alistair. He didn’t care about going to France or traveling to India. He didn’t want to leave Drumvagen. If he had to travel, he’d take them with him.
Wasn’t love supposed to make him happier?
