Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
For a moment, I saw the boy and not the man, and a niggle of guilt worked its way past my guard. I forced another memory to the forefront of my mind. Of him shoving my feelings aside. Of him protecting Father over me. It took me a minute, but I worked off the invisible fist around my throat. I was grateful how unaffected I sounded as I remarked, “Congratulations on planting your seed. Let’s hope it’s a boy.” The Cavendish viscountcy was still one of the peerages that could only be inherited by a male heir.
Sebastian’s face tightened with distaste. “Sometimes I cannot believe the man before me is the same person as my little brother.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same about you.”
He had the audacity to wince. “Theo … I know I’ve made mistakes with you—”
“Let’s not go over old news. I don’t care about it anymore.”
“If that were true, you’d forgive Father. You’d forgive me.”
“Why forgive when I can just forget?”
“You are a swine,” Sebastian spat. “And I hate that I’ve had to leave my pregnant wife back in London to chase after you like you’re an errant child.”
“Then go home to your poor wife.”
“Unfortunately, I promised Father I would bring you back.”
“You’ll have to break that promise, Sebastian. Because I’d rather have every inch of my body pierced with acupuncture needles dipped in the juice of Carolina Reaper peppers while lying in a bare white room with Grease’s “Summer Lovin’” pumping continuously through the stereo than go back to London with you.”
My brother gave a long-suffering sigh. “I can see you’re in a mood this evening, so I will return in the morning. I’m staying at the Gloaming in the village, and I’m not leaving until you come home with me.”
A few minutes later, Sebastian was gone and my heart rate still hadn’t slowed.
My fingers drummed the armrest as I took another few minutes to gather my thoughts. Then I practically jumped out of the chair and marched from the room.
There was a possibility she’d finished work for the day, but it was worth checking. I searched upstairs first but no sign. It was only on the first floor that I had any luck when I saw a housekeeper’s cart disappearing into the staff elevator.
“Wait!” I called out.
A hand stopped the door from closing, but to my disappointment, it wasn’t Sarah who stepped out of the lift.
This young woman with rich dark hair gave me a flirtatious smile. Was she new? “Can I help you, sir?”
“Uh, yes. I’m looking for your colleague. Sarah McCulloch.”
“Oh.” She seemed bemused by my interest in Sarah. “She no longer works here.”
Stupefied by this, I rasped, “What?”
The housekeeper shrugged. “Sarah quit.”
“When?”
The girl blanched at my angry tone and even I was surprised by how irritated I sounded. Even more so how strangely furious I was that Sarah had left without a word.
“Last week was her final week.”
“Where is she?”
“Oh. I’m not … I don’t think I can tell you that, sir.”
Digging into my pocket, I pulled out my wallet and then a hundred quid and offered it to her. “Now can you tell me?”
She stared greedily at the money and then glanced past me.
I looked over my shoulder to see another housekeeper strolling down the hall. Turning back to her, I ushered, “Make up your mind.”
The housekeeper quickly snatched the money from my hand and stuffed it into her pocket. “I overheard her telling Mrs. Hutchinson she was staying at a cottage in Gairloch. She called it Haven’s View Cottage.”
Satisfaction eased my indignation, and I gave her a nod before turning on my heel. It seemed I had some Google Mapping and packing to do.
Four
SARAH
Gairloch, Scottish Highlands
The first time I walked down Gairloch Beach, I fell in love. It was a warm spring day back then, the sand perfectly soft and golden, the waters near shore a vivid turquoise because of the warm Gulf Stream that hit this part of the coast. There was only Grandpa and me on the beach, and I thought this was what peace, true peace, felt like.
I suppose that’s what I was looking for when I bought my wee cottage up on the cliff overlooking Loch Gairloch.
When I arrived at the cottage, I was still raw from my goodbye with Jared and I cried myself to sleep that night. The next morning, however, I woke up determined to embrace my new home and the words I hoped to find there. After cleaning up a bit, I went grocery shopping and even drove farther north to shop in a village that held a weekly market. It was surprisingly busy. Upon my return, I got stuck into my new book.
The cottage was a two-bedroom midcentury bungalow, and it had spectacular views from its large windows. I set up my desk in the living room, facing the view. Unsurprisingly, I got swept up in Juno’s world in the coastal city of Dundee. It felt good. I felt like I’d made the right decision coming here.