(Back to Mary's POV)
It was half pas seven in the morning. William, Braden and Brielle were out releasing the horses into the pastures and preparing to sell a couple of them to James Wilkins' father, an elderly man who had come from England to live with his son in New Brunswick. Having heard of William's skill in horse breeding, he decided to stop by and take a look some of the mares William was selling, as well as to see Belial, the prize stallion of New Brunswick, who was only available as a stud and even that was expensive.
I was upstairs in the master bedchamber resting when a knock on the door shook me from my state of relaxation. Thinking it was William or one of the children I said, "Come in."
"Lady Tavington.."
My mouth opened and a look of horror spread across my face.
"What are you doing here Alastor?" I whispered. "How did you get in?"
"The door wasn't locked, and I heard William talking about you to a couple of men."
"Does William know you're up here?"
"No, he does not."
"Then he'll kill you if he finds you up here."
"Please, Lady Tavington, I need to speak with you."
"Why?"
"I want to reconcile with my sons."
"Then why do you need me?"
"William won't listen to me."
"Well of course not!"
"But he'll listen to you."
"Alastor, why should I do this for you?"
"I don't have a just reason as to why you should help me. But I have no one else.."
Suddenly, Alastor froze and his face became pale as footsteps sounded downstairs, along with William's voice as he gave Braden and Brielle permission to go riding.
"What do I do?" Alastor asked fearfully.
"Nothing, it's too late."
"But surely"
Too late. William's footsteps sounded upstairs and in an instant he stood in the doorway, his face distorted in fury.
"What are you doing here?" He asked Alastor in an eerily calm voice.
"William I"
"Get out of my bedchamber."
"Will"
William grabbed his pistol from on top of his chest of drawers and cocked it. Alastor froze.
"Don't shoot him William." I said calmly.
William turned to me, lowering the pistol.
"You don't want to have to explain to our son and daughter what you're doing carrying a dead body into the woods."
William looked at me with disbelieving eyes.
"He didn't do anything to me William."
William placed the pistol back on top of the chest of drawers and heaved a heavy sigh, his eyes still nearly white with anger. He walked up to Alastor, grabbed him by the shoulders and said, "Go into the study to the left of our room, close the door, don't make a sound, don't touch anything, and don't come out until I personally let you out. I need to speak with my wife alone."
Alastor nodded wordlessly and left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Why did you let him in?" William asked in a dangerous tone.
"I didn't know it was him. He came into the house on his own and when he knocked on the door to the master bedchamber, I thought it was you."
"The nerve of that bastard. What the bloody hell does he think he's doing?"
"He wants forgiveness William."
"And are you advising that I give it to him?"
"I'm not advising anything."
"Well what are we going to do? I can't take him back to town today; I don't feel like staying overnight in an inn before I have to, and besides, I can't leave you here alone."
"I guess he'll just have to stay here."
"For how long? And what of Braden and Brielle?"
"They don't have to know anything, and he can leave early tomorrow morning."
William closed his eyes and sighed in agitation.
"Very well, he'll stay." He said in a flat tone. "But the children are not to know who he is."
"As you wish." I replied with a nod.
"However, before I speak with Alastor, how are you feeling?"
"Tired, but it's nothing new. I'll be fine."
William gave me a quick nod and left the room.
