The Bachelor's Bride (The Thompsons of Locust Street #1) - Holly Bush Page 0,77

the Crown and still retains many of the staff loyal to our family. Word has been sent to trusted men in London and Edinburgh about this attack. They will tell the authorities what has happened, and I believe it will only strengthen our case.”

“Are we safe, do you think?” Elspeth whispered.

“For the time being, yes, but we always should be on our guard.”

Elspeth folded and unfolded her linen napkin. She straightened the spoon where it lay on the table and moved her glass of cold tea an inch or two. “I will always be on my guard, Muireall,” she whispered. “Always.”

Her sister nodded and looked at her closely. “I imagine so. Are you ready to talk about what happened?”

“I may never be ready.”

“That is fine. Or not. You must decide what you wish to reveal and what will go with you to your grave.” Muireall stood, gathered the ledger, and went to the door of Elspeth’s room.

“He put his mouth on me,” she said.

Muireall stopped, her hand on the doorknob. She did not turn. “Did he?”

Elspeth looked at her sister’s back. “He grabbed my breast and pulled and twisted it,” she said quietly.

“I saw the bruises on you when we tended you.”

“He put my hand on him.” She cleared her throat. “On his crotch. On his member. He called it his cock and said I would learn to like it.”

Muireall’s shoulders rose and fell on a breath. “Bastard.”

“He did not . . . I removed my petticoats in case I had to run. He did not unclothe me . . . or touch my . . .” She calmed herself. She wanted to allay fears. She knew her family was concerned. She believed they both wanted to know and wished to never be told. “I was not raped,” she whispered.

Muireall rested her head against the door. “Thank the Lord. I am glad you told me. None of us has said that word, but we were all worried for you, and for your recovery.”

“My debt is to you, Muireall. I defended myself with the dagger you gave me. I killed a man,” she said, and her sister turned to look at her. “I focused on that blade when I thought all was lost and that I would be . . . abused, if not killed. I thought about what you said. That MacTavish women before me had defended themselves and their families. It gave me strength. The thought of you and Aunt Murdoch and Kirsty and Payden and James, and Robbie and Mrs. McClintok, and MacAvoy too. I thought of Mother and Father. I thought of Mr. Pendergast. I thought of all of you when I stuck that blade home.”

“It is a miracle that you lived, Elspeth. We are all thankful for that above all. The horrors you lived through? I am in awe of you. How very brave you were. Mother and Father would be so proud. Now get some rest, Sister.”

Elspeth watched the door close. She stood slowly, walked to the window, and lifted the sash. The air was close and warm and made her think of picnics long ago when she was young. She could hear a neighbor calling to children and the rattle of a buggy as it made its way down the street. She was alive!

Alexander knocked on the door of the Thompson residence just after noontime on Sunday, imagining the family was long returned from church. He stopped by often but had not seen Elspeth since the day she called out to him. She was keeping to her rooms and had not wanted any visitors for more than two weeks. Only her sisters, aunt, and Mrs. McClintok entered her room. He was missing her desperately as he rubbed his knuckles over his chest, trying to lessen the physical pain he felt with her absence.

“Ah, Mr. Pendergast,” Mrs. McClintok said when she opened the door. “You are just in time for dinner.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

She shook her head, and he followed her down the hallway to the dining room. “Mr. Pendergast is here, Miss Thompson. I told him that dinner was just being served.”

“Come in, Mr. Pendergast,” Muireall said. “We’ll make a place for you.”

“Sit down, Pendergast,” James said when Alexander began to protest. “Mrs. McClintok has roasted chicken for us, and there are her famous dumplings too.”

Alexander sat down and unfolded his napkin. As he did, everyone’s attention turned to the door of the dining room, where Elspeth stood. He, Payden, and James immediately