The Beast of Aros Castle by Heather Mccollum

Author:Heather Mccollum [Mccollum, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highland
Published: 2017-02-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

5 September 1522

Dearest Sister,

I write to inform you that our father, Lord Somerset, Edgar Ellington, drew his last breath on the eve of 11 July, the year of our Lord 1522. I have inherited the full estate of Somerset, including all the business holdings, tenants, manors, and domestic help. As we discussed prior to your journey to Aros, Aveline Sutton owes the Somerset estate a debt topping one hundred pounds. Although, I have come across a bit of information that might ease this debt. Therefore, it is necessary, due to this precarious information and my lawful right as the new Earl of Somerset to maintain my domestic help, Aveline Sutton is ordered to return to York with all due haste.

I offer my blessings and regards to you and your new husband, Torquil Maclean of Aros on Mull. May God keep you well.

Your brother, Vincent Ellington, third Earl of Somerset

Grace handed Ava the letter. “Bit of information? Like a bill of sale that shows Mother only spent half a pound on ribbons for you instead of one hundred pounds?” she scoffed and paced by the hearth in her small bedroom. “Does he really think dangling a bit of information before you will bring you running back to York?”

Ava held the letter between her thumb and finger pads. She didn’t want to touch the same spot where Vincent’s fingers had idled, somehow reaching her through the ink. “What am I to do?” Ava whispered.

Grace stopped and placed her arms along Ava’s shoulders. “Nothing. You are wed to the Beast of Aros. Tor isn’t going to let you go back to York.”

Ava looked up into Grace’s firm stare. “You think Vincent will come here?”

“Surely not before spring, and hopefully not at all. Not if he hasn’t a reason,” Grace said, but Ava could see the bubbling of panic in Grace’s eyes. Hadn’t Grace just asked her the same question that morning?

“But he doesn’t know I’m married,” Ava said. “And if he knew you were not, he’d summon you back to Somerset to marry off.” Or worse, keep her there as a plaything. From what the kitchen maids at Somerset had told Ava, he used every female in the residence that he could catch. And the ones he couldn’t catch became his obsession. “He’s obsessed with us, Grace. And obsessions don’t end until someone is dead.”

Dead? Ava’s breath caught in her chest as her heart fluttered with hope.

“We need to write him back,” Grace said. “But what do we say?”

Ava smiled slowly. “That I’m dead.”

“What?” Grace shook her head and stopped. Ava could almost see the plan illuminating in her friend’s head.

“One dead. One wed,” Ava rhymed.

“And no reason to come all the way to Mull,” Grace finished. “It’s perfect.”

They hurried to the small writing table near one of the thin open windows that let in light. A small box held parchment, quill, ink, and sand.

“It must be in your hand,” Ava said. “Tell him that you can send the death certificate once it is released.

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