Free Always Have Hope (Emerson Book 3) by Maureen Driscoll Page B

young woman and, from what James
had told her, quite intelligent. It had been Rose’s idea to move the family
into the dower house so they could rent out the manor for much needed income.
It was supporting the family now, along with some income from Colin’s writing.
Perhaps there would be enough money from Pierce’s estate to help them out. She
could not presume to move home, knowing how she must have disappointed them
through the years, but she would do what she could to help them.
    “I suppose we should begin,” said Win, her heart
pounding and her palms sweating. “I know you are most concerned about the
murder charges. I am, as well. And I hope I do not need to tell you I did not
murder Pierce.”
    “No, Win,” said Colin quietly. “You do not need to
say it. Though I have a feeling I’m going to wish I’d killed him before long.”
    “And that is my greatest fear – that you’ll do
something foolish to help me. I couldn’t bear it if any of you were harmed
because of me.”
    “But I failed you,” said Colin.
    “No, Colin. You cannot take any of this upon
yourself. None of you can. I will tell you my story only to help you
understand what has happened. But you cannot use it to excoriate yourselves.”
Win took a deep breath. All eyes were upon her. “As you know, father
arranged my marriage for money. Pierce paid off his debts, but also bought up
markers that father didn’t tell him about.”
    “Why wouldn’t he disclose all of his debts?” asked
Nick.
    “I do not know. Nor do I know to whom father owed
money or how much. But it had to be either illegal or immoral, because Pierce
told me if word got out, father would be ruined. And so would Colin and the
rest of you by extension.”
    Colin snorted. “Being born an Emerson pretty much
ruined us. The old earl and I got into the biggest fight of our lives when he
announced he was marrying you off. And I gave as good as I got. I guess that
was one thing the Guards was good for. I finally learned how to fight dirty.
I cannot believe Pierce thought he had any power over us.”
    “But he did,” said Win. “He controlled father. The
two of them could have made life extremely difficult for both you and Nick.”
    “Oh, my dear sweet girl,” said Colin. “I am so sorry
you stayed in your marriage for Nick and me. We would have gladly suffered any
hardship to get you away from him.”
    “Well, it…..it wasn’t just you,” said Win quietly.
    “Please do not say you suffered on my account,” said
Rose.
    “It was a mistake to speak of this.”
    “No, Win,” said James. “It wasn’t. You must continue.
When did he start beating you?”
    “He first struck me on our wedding trip,” she said
quietly, staring at her hands in her lap. This was so humiliating. But she
also wanted her family to know she had not turned her back on them willingly.
“I knew it was a possibility in any marriage. But the first real beating did
not occur until we returned to London.”
    “Why didn’t you come to us?” asked Nick. “I
understand why you couldn’t have returned home. But you would have been safe
with me. And Colin and I could have withstood any scandal.”
    “I tried to run away. I made the mistake of taking my
maid into my confidence but she betrayed me. Pierce flew into a rage. He told
me if I ever humiliated him by trying to leave again, he would…he would have
father marry Rose off when she was sixteen, to a man of his choosing. I could
only imagine the type of man that would be. I could not bear for it to
happen. I had to protect her at all cost.”
    “Oh, Win,” said Rose, choking back tears. “This is my
fault.”
    “No! Never! It was Pierce’s fault. But I had to make
the best of my new life. The hardest part was when he made me cut off contact
with all of you, other than what he deemed appropriate. A part of me died
inside when I lost you and I couldn’t even tell you why.”
    Rose went to her sister and carefully folded her