Julian did an exaggerated survey of the clearing. “I will take your suggestion under advisement.”
I darted a look around, really seeing the place for the first time. The woods were dense with undergrowth, and even with the majority of leaves down, James would have no visual warning until the trail dumped into the clearing. I had to do something, other than pray for time to scream before Julian could gag me. As a direct assault was now out of the question, negotiation presented the next best option.
It was no small thing to rid the anger from my voice. “Why don’t you just release me? We’re both adults. Whatever you wish to discuss can be said without my being tied up.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What if I promise not to leave before you’re done speaking? I’ll even swear it on Brigid’s mantle.” There was hardly a more significant symbol for our kind.
A hint of warmth softened his features. “Nor attempt to attack me again?”
I assumed a most sincere expression. “I promise. No more attacks.” Until the root is back underground and I’m sure of a strike, I added wordlessly. At that time, Julian would be done speaking, and I would be free to go without the slightest compromise to my conscience.
He looked at me for a moment, then slowly shook his head. “Trust is a fragile creature, Selah, and what I had for you has been egregiously wounded. Perhaps I shall learn to trust you again someday, when your last betrayal is not so fresh in my mind.”
Good gracious, were we really going to dig up that horse as well?
Any trace of warmth disappeared from his face as his near black eyes bored into mine. “How long did you manage to keep my secret before spilling every word to Lord Fitzalan? A week?”
I released a weary sigh. The horse was out of the ground, maggots and all.
“You know very well why I told Henry about you. My only mistake in the matter was waiting so long. If he’d known from the start that you were goddess born, you never would have had the opportunity to play your games and manipulate me like you did—”
Julian held up a hand to interrupt. “Believe what you will, but from what I just witnessed, your capacity to betray is not limited to me. Tell me, Selah, does Lord Fitzalan know that you’ve run off with his secretary?”
“What do you mean? I didn’t run off with anyone.” At least not in the way Julian meant.
“Really?” he said, incredulous. “Is that why I found you at an inn together not two miles from Mr. Roth’s family estate? Or why you willingly threw yourself into his arms mere hours after Lord Fitzalan left for France?”
“Henry didn’t go to France, Julian. That was just a ruse to keep the duke off our trail.”
Julian snorted in disgust. “Everything you say is a lie. For the past two weeks, I’ve been paying a servant for information of your activities. He sent word after his Grace left last night.”
“I am well aware of your arrangement with the footman, though in this case I’m afraid you received bad information.”
“I don’t think so,” he scoffed. “Knowing that you would do something rash, I rode over to await your next move. At the time, I thought you foolhardy enough to follow Fitzalan to the Continent, but when you started on the road to Bristol, I realized you had a different destination in mind. Even then I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt until I saw you embracing Mr. Roth and your true intentions became clear.” He swept an arm toward the inn. “How long do you think you can hide out here without being discovered? Or do you plan to use the confusion of Nora’s disappearance to slink off even farther together? Perhaps back to your home in the Colonies?” Betrayal hung from his face. “That is a poor price for those who have loved you.”
Placing a hand on each hip, he dropped his head toward the ground. I just stared at the top of his three-cornered hat, too shocked for words. Since leaving London, Julian had concocted a story with less reality than a fairytale. For the most part, he’d seemed a rational man, though more on the scheming side than I preferred, and never did I think he would believe something so nonsensical.
When he looked up, the pain in his eyes caused my chest to constrict involuntarily. “Why did you scorn me, Selah? Was I not good enough for you?”
I shook my head. “You have it all wrong.”