out?'
'I'd written the land agent at Iveley about visiting the property because I'd wanted you to see where I grew up. But apparently, you had not only been to Iveley Hall—you'd owned it for years. Since my father died.'
'Aye. I'd bought up his debts. Including the one against Iveley.'
'So you did plot revenge against my family. Care to tell me what it was over?'
'You dinna draw a conclusion?'
'I think…I think my father discovered you and my mother in bed together. I think you were the man with her that night at Iveley.'
'Inever touched her!' Ethan said vehemently. 'I did go to meet her, but I had misgivings and tried to leave.'
Maddy quirked a brow. 'Do you make it a habit to go to assignations and then not keep them? Like with the barmaids?'
'I had a strong feeling that I should no' touch Sylvie. I had a realization with the others. Everything's led me to you.'
'What happened that night, Ethan?'
He ran a hand over his drawn face. 'If I try to acquit myself, I only impugn your parents.'
'I have to hear this,' she insisted. 'I have to finally know what happened.'
His brows drew together, and the pain in his eyes staggered her. 'Then I'll tell you, though I doona relish it.' In his low tone, he described a night of lies and weakness and unimaginable malice.
When he revealed that her mother had accused him of rape, Maddy was rocked. When he told her Brymer had cut him, Maddy's tears began to fall unchecked.
Ethan had been falsely accused, beaten, and then disfigured—while Maddy had been sleeping soundly not far away.
Her father had allowed it, Brymer had enjoyed it, and her mother had sat back and done nothing, even when she'd known a young man was being tortured in their stables.
'Oh, God,' Maddy whispered as the full weight of his revelation sank in. 'Ethan, I am so sorry for what they did to you.'
'Doona dare apologize for them! This has nothing to do with you. Thinking otherwise was my mistake. And doona pity me—I had my retribution, as you well know. I bought up your father's loans and called them earlier than they would've been,' Ethan said, his voice harsh. 'And called them at the same time. I'm responsible for your losing your home.'
Wait, called themearlier ? 'Would it have happened eventually, or was it all you?' When Ethan clenched his jaw, refusing to answer, and she just stopped herself from sucking in a breath.
Oh, this must be a jest.She'd known there'd been debts, money struggles. She remembered her parents' fights, her mother always wanting more. Maddy probably would have ended up in La Marais without Ethan's interference.
'And your revenge on Brymer? Did you kill him?'
'Aye.'
She nodded, glad to hear it. The image of that man stringing up Ethan and eagerly taking a knife to him… Maddy shuddered.
'And Tully?' she asked nervously. She remembered he'd always been kind to her.
'I spared him.'
She exhaled a relieved breath, and not just for Tully—she was relieved to know Ethan could show mercy when it was warranted. 'But what about me? You returned for me only to hurt me further.'
'I tried to tell myself it was for revenge but realized early on that there was no way I could willfully hurt you. Take pleasure in knowing that my sinister plan for revenge came right back tae bite me on the arse.' He leaned forward, elbows to his knees. 'Maddy, I was fallin' for you from the beginning.'
'Are we even truly married?'
He raised his brows as if shocked she had doubts about that. 'Bloody hell, we are!'
'Was the night of the masquerade part of your plan?'
He shook his head. 'I dinna know who you were until the next morning.'
A thought struck her, and she narrowed her eyes. 'What about Le Daex? Did you have something to do with that?'
Ethan hesitated, then said, 'Aye. I dinna want you getting engaged before I could return for you.'
'Yet another lie? Any others I should know about? More secrets?'
'There are more secrets. Ten years' worth of bad things I've done. I will no' burden you with the details unless you insist, but know that I ultimately acted toward a greater good. And sometimes…sometimes I even did things you might have been proud of.'
She'd known he could be heroic if he chose—and that he could also be a scoundrel. She rubbed her temples.
'This has been too much,' he said at once, sounding alarmed. 'Does your head ache?'
'I'll be fine. I just want to get this over with. Is there anything else?' she asked more faintly, praying there wasn't.
He sighed. 'Aye. I can speak French.'
'Of course,' she muttered in a deadened tone.
'Maddy, I ken that I've wronged you, but do you think you can forgive what I've done tae you? I'm no' saying this minute. But in time?'
'After all these lies, how can I trust what you're saying now? Give me a reason to, Ethan. Iwant to.'
He ran his fingers through his hair. 'I doona know why you should trust me or forgive me, other than the fact that…that I'm in love with you,' he said gruffly. 'Tell me what tae do tae win you back, and it's done.'
It seemed a thousand emotions warred to overwhelm her. She still felt resentment at Ethan's deceit. Shame and disgust for her parents' actions burned in her.
And she was embarrassed by how badly she wished she knew none of this and could just go back to the life they'd made together.
But above all, she felt…weary.
'I want to get well, to get strong again before I make any decisions.' And one place called to her as no other did. 'Take me to Carillon.'
Maddy had ached for this place, yearning to return to the life she'd had at Carillon. But even after weeks of healing here, she was far from that existence.
She sat in front of her mirror, combing out her hair for bed, musing over her time here. The tension between her and Ethan had been grueling. He was standoffish. She felt awkward. They didn't seem to know what to do with each other.
Whenever she'd strolled the property, savoring all the new blooms and growth and regaining her strength, she'd felt him watching her, felt his palpable yearning. Once she'd been strong enough to ride her horse, he'd accompanied her, remaining silent beside her. If she'd stopped to gather flowers, he would dash over to help her down from the saddle. Each time, he held her longer as he gazed down at her, his eyes dark with emotion.
And this week, when he'd gotten word that Corrine had been found and was on her way to Carillon, Maddy had been so excited she'd hugged him. He hadn't seemed to be able to let her go, even when she pulled back. Finally he had, but he'd been stiff, looking pained.
It had turned out that Corrine had been knocked unconscious in the frantic struggle for Maddy, then carried away from the city by fleeing friends. But she was perfectly safe now and on her way here. The worry for her had been like a weight pressing on Maddy's chest—and now it was lifted.
With each day that passed, Maddy had formed a clearer picture of how she wanted her future to be. She needed to talk to Ethan about what she'd decided, but he seemed like he'd rather have his teeth pulled. Every time she approached him with a serious demeanor, he got an alarmed look about him and changed the subject, or left the room.
Her infallible Highlander seemed unsure, hesitant, and Maddy was just as much so, having no idea how to proceed with him.
She rose from her dresser with a sigh, then crawled into her large, empty bed, missing him like an ache
