The shop owner steps between us, as I was about to forget all my titles and go for her throat.
“Leave,” he says. “You’re no longer welcome, Miss Boyd. If the duke doesn’t expel you after such an absurd display, I’ll make sure everyone knows how prejudiced you are. Your disrespect toward the duchess is unforgivable.”
She stares at me for a moment longer before turning her back and leaving.
“I’m very sorry about that, Your Grace. Don’t pay attention to what she said.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I lie, because for the first time I understand that perhaps my children’s lives in Scotland won’tbe easy, just as they wouldn’t be if they lived in Rheadur and people knew they were children of a Westerner.
Adeela herself experienced this when her infamous father married an American. She suffered prejudice for years.
The man finishes wrapping the raspberries and hands them to me. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Your Grace?”
“No, Mr. Bell. Thank you very much for your kindness.”
I leave the store, still somewhat shaken and eager to return to the castle.
I get into the car and start driving, my mind filled with doubts about the future of the children we may have.
I’ve been driving for about ten minutes when I notice a car behind me. It seems to be speeding, which is madness, since the road is narrow and has no shoulder, and sheep can occasionally cross it. On the way in, I had to stop twice to let them pass.
I break into a cold sweat because the vehicle is getting closer and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. I try to tell myself that whoever is driving isn’t insane enough to cause a collision. There’s no way the driver doesn’t see me.
But when the first impact hits my rear bumper, pure terror takes over.
I look in the rearview mirror and see blonde hair that leaves me in no doubt as to who it is.
Elizabeth Boyd.
Why is she doing this? Nothing justifies such insanity.
I don’t have time to think it through. The next time I’m hit, the steering wheel slips from my hands, and the car skids down an embankment off the road.
In the next instant, my world turns upside down, and my final thought is of Rodrick and our child.
I don’t want to die.
Chapter 52
“Your Grace, I need you to come with me.”
The butler opened the door to my office in the castle and said that the local chief of police wanted to see me urgently. I told him to let the man in and didn’t think much of it. It isn’t the first time the police have come here when they know I’m in the duchy.
Issues related to land disputes are frequent, which is idiotic, considering that most residents now have their properties monitored by satellite. It’s perfectly possible to prove exactly where each piece of land begins and ends.
However, the tone with which the commissioner speaks to me now puts me completely on alert. Within seconds, I’m on my feet. “What’s happened?”
“The duchess was involved in an accident.”
“What? That’s impossible! Jazmina is at the castle.”
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but the duchess left about an hour ago,” the butler interrupts. “She wanted to surprise you.”
It feels as if an iron ball is twisting inside my stomach.
The word “accident” toys with my sanity.
“Where is she?” I ask the officer, almost lunging at him.