Page 18 of Under the Earl's Wicked Spell

Victoria wasn’t sure, but she knew it wouldn’t be pretty.

“If we’re in the same room, it’s going to be nothing short of a miracle. I certainly won’t be polite to keep the peace.” She took a deep breath. “If I can, I’m going to make sure he goes right back to America after the wedding.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to do that? His father and brother want him to stay.”

“Considering his reputation, I doubt anyone is going to warm back up to him. I certainly won’t.” Victoria nodded. “Yes, Rafe Mowbray is going back to where he came from as soon as he’s able. I won’t have him around me. Sebastien can’t make me.”

He could try, but then Victoria would remind him what he said. He wasn’t going to force her to accept Rafe, and if he changed his mind, he would be in just as much trouble. Victoria knew it would turn into further discord between their families, but she didn’t care. Everyone else was getting their wants and needs catered to with this wedding. Everyone except her.

So why wasn’t she allowed just one thing of not having her future brother-in-law in the same country?

***

“So,” Charlie said as he stepped out of the public house, “how much further do we have to go?”

“If we’re lucky, just a couple of hours,” Rafe replied, heading towards the stables. “If we carry on following the coastline, we’ll reach Robin Hood’s Bay and then Whitby is a few miles beyond that.”

“Good,” Charlie grunted, shaking his legs as he walked. “I’m getting saddle sore again.”

“You spend months in a saddle. How is this any different?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Charlie scowled. “Why couldn’t we get a boat that would take us right to Whitby? You said it was on the coast.”

“It is on the coast but several miles north of Southampton, plus we’d have to travel right around the far side of England.” Rafe shot him a wry smile. “It would have taken us longer.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Rafe chuckled. Charlie was grumbling about the travel, but he could see that his friend was delighted with what he was seeing. He had only heard brief mentions of England, and now he was really experiencing it. The way his eyes widened as he took everything in. And he couldn’t believe how picturesque everything was, like a painting.

Rafe wouldn’t have said that himself, but he wasn’t about to argue. His friend’s wonder was interesting.

And Charlie didn’t seem to have any problems with English people. Especially the ladies. As soon as they heard his gruff American accent, they practically flocked towards him, gushing over how he sounded. He was also dressed rather differently, so he did stand out with his larger-than-life presence. Rafe was fine being more discreet, but it was never easy whenever Charlie was around.

When they had been trackers, and he was one of the best. But in a crowd, he was like a beacon.

At least his friend didn’t seem to mind the attention from the ladies. He seemed to lap it up. No different from the American ladies who wanted to be around him whenever they were in town. Rafe didn’t know what appeal he had for the ladies, and he wasn’t about to think about it.

He was still trying to get used to the fact that he was back in England. It had been three days since they landed in Southampton, and Rafe was still reeling from the fact that he was here. Everything looked so familiar but also so different to what he remembered.

Especially as they reached the coast and started following the road near the cliffs. The smell of the salty sea reaching his nostrils, the wind brushing his face, and the distant roar of the waves made him want to cry. It had been one of his favourite things to do, to walk along the cliffs and soak up the scenery.

Maybe he could do that again. Preferably without anyone accosting him. Rafe didn’t see his presence being something most people wanted, even if it was temporary.

As soon as he had seen his father and watched Sebastien marry Lady Victoria Hayward, he was going back to America. From what Rafe could see, there wasn’t really anything for him to stay for. He would have fulfilled what his father wanted, and that was it.

As far as he knew, the only people who wanted him back in England were among his own family. Nobody else would be too happy, so there was no point in staying. If he did, he was going to withdraw from everyone. Find a place on the moors or up in the highlands where he could be just to himself. That was if Charlie didn’t convince him enough to go back. His friend would really struggle in England after a short while, he was sure of it.

It didn’t take long to saddle up their horses and head out, back along the coastal path. It was such a gorgeous day, the sun beating down on them and making the sea far below glisten. Rafe remembered, as a child, thinking that the sea was full of jewels at this time of year. As he peered out into the North Sea, he saw something dark bob up above the water and then disappear, followed by a few more. The seals seemed to be out having fun.

He remembered being fascinated by the seals. And they didn’t seem to be too bothered by people. When Rafe was ten, he and Sebastien had come upon some seals sunbathing on the beach. One of them had gotten up and lumbered over to them. It had then become interested in them, sniffing them all over before giving them a nudge with its nose. It was remarkable how tame their way, despite being wild animals. Their heads had been very wet and smooth, he recalled.

Maybe he could see the seals up close again. Remember happier times when he wasn’t accused of murder.

It was a shame he wouldn’t be able to stay here for the long-term; his favourite places to explore were going to be off-limits with the rumours still flying around. Even if his family and the Hayward family put this to rest, people were going to remember. It wasn’t something that couldn’t be swept away so easily.

This was going to be harder than he thought.

After a while, the sight of the neighbouring fishing town appeared in the distance. Charlie and Rafe stopped as they reached the top of the hill. Charlie leaned forward and peered at the area.

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