The Bareknuckle Groom - Holly Bush Page 0,39

before turning back to them both. “My parents died on the passage here on the steamer we took from Port Charlotte in Scotland in 1855. They were most likely murdered.”

Aunt Louisa gasped. “Oh dear! How dreadful!”

“I’m guessing you know something of my family’s history,” Mrs. Pendergast said to Lucinda.

She nodded. “Not much, and I’m not sure of its accuracy, considering the source. I’ve been told you were the victim of violence prior to your marriage.”

“I’m certain that is not all that you heard.” Mrs. Pendergast smiled. “You’re being diplomatic, I think. I’m going to tell you both some of the history of the Thompson family that we do not share widely.”

“You have no worries from either of us, Mrs. Pendergast,” Aunt said. “Confidences are respected.”

“I expected they were. You see, my father was the ninth Earl of Taviston. A Scottish title,” she said. “Our family and properties were threatened by a man who felt the earldom should have been his. Father meant to get us to safety for a year or two until his case could be proven, as this man had produced false documents that, even though they were false, still had to be examined.”

“Mr. Thompson is the earl?” Aunt Louisa asked.

“No. He’s actually our cousin. His parents died when he was but an infant, and he was raised by my mother and father. Payden is the tenth earl.”

“But you refer to him as your brother,” Lucinda said.

Elspeth smiled. “He is my brother.”

“And that has something to do with why you were a victim of violence?”

“I was kidnapped and held to be exchanged for Payden.”

“Oh, dear Lord,” Aunt Louisa said. “You must have been terrified!”

“I was, but I knew my duty, and I knew the Thompsons would never give up Payden, the true Earl of Taviston. I would either be rescued or die. I managed to kill a man,” she said and took a deep breath, “and injure another before James and Alexander came for me. I was determined to give them any advantage I could, even . . . even if it meant . . . whatever it meant, I would do it.”

Lucinda could not help but admire her. Even with her blushes and shyness and soft voice, she was very much a woman who had steel in her spine. “I am in awe of your courage, Mrs. Pendergast.”

“Trust me, I was frightened out of my wits,” she said and then shrugged. “But duty was ingrained in us from early childhood. And James views his duty as physical; he protects his family. The boxing is just an extension of how he sees himself. He is most intimidating in the ring and when challenged to defend us, and his bouts are part of a mystique, I think, that he is unbeatable. That he is the impenetrable wall that surrounds us.”

“So when your husband suggested that he begin to prepare for when he would not be able to win every match with a new endeavor, he understood them to think that he was no longer that wall of protection surrounding his sisters and brother,” Lucinda said.

“That is exactly how I think James has interpreted it. He’s angry and hurt and, I think, afraid to think about the next chapter of his life. MacAvoy told him a few weeks ago that he was going to take on more side work when he’s not at the mill in preparation for when James would not be boxing as much.”

“He would feel betrayed,” Lucinda said softly.

“Yes, I believe he would.”

“When is his next match?”

“Friday. This Friday. Alexander and MacAvoy are going.”

“Perhaps I can arrange to speak to him before then,” Lucinda said and glanced at her aunt, now watching her closely.

“I don’t know if it would be helpful or not, but I wish you would. You are not family, not involved in boxing, but he seems, well, connected to you somehow,” Mrs. Pendergast said.

“We have had a few occasions for conversation. I find him refreshingly honest.”

“And ridiculously handsome,” Aunt said with a laugh.

“He is that!” Mrs. Pendergast said as Susannah joined them, apparently done with her reading.

“Have Giselle pack your trunk for a few days,” her father said as they sat down to dinner that evening. “I’d like you to come as well, Louisa. She’ll need a female chaperone. Unless, of course, you intend to ignore your duty to spend your time with that Delgado fellow and leave your niece at sixes and sevens.”

“What are you talking about, Henri? There are no travel plans