Page 105 of The Affairs of Ashmore Castle

‘I told you, I didn’t—’

‘You were seen talking to her beforehand as well. And at the haysel up at High Ashmore. And now I’m told she’s visiting you here, alone.’

‘She just calls in when she’s out and about, that’s all. She likes to see the animals, and play with Dolly.’ He thought for a moment before adding, ‘I think she’s lonely at home.’

‘You’re a damn fool! What d’you think you’re playing at, having an unmarried girl visit you alone? And a girl from that family, what’s more!’

‘There’s no harm in it. She’s just a child.’

‘Oh, to you, maybe, but not to the rest of the world. She’s a grown woman, Axe Brandom. Marriageable age. That’s what people see.’

‘But I haven’t done anything wrong,’ he protested.

‘Don’t you understand? If there’s a scandal, nobody will care about that. They won’t ask what you did or even whether you did anything. The scandal will be enough on its own. You’ll be chucked out. You’ll lose your job, and you’ll never get another one – they’ll see to that. No one will touch you. And don’t think any of us will help you, because if we did, we’d be damned along with you, and we’ve got our own families to think about. You’ve got to stop this, Axe, before it gets any worse. Make her stop coming here. And get rid of that pony.’

‘Who told you she comes here?’ he asked sulkily. Ruth telling him off had always made him feel six years old.

‘I was told, that’s all you need to know.’ She read his expression as contrition, and softened slightly. ‘Maybe there’s not too much harm done yet. Just don’t let her come here again. And don’t get seen talking to her anywhere. You should have got married long ago,’ she added, almost to herself. ‘Too blooming handsome for your own good.’

There was an awkward silence. Axe broke it by saying, ‘That kettle boiled yet?’

‘Let’s see,’ she said. She looked around her with dissatisfaction as they walked towards the house. ‘I don’t like you being so far away. See how you get yourself into trouble? I wish you’d never taken this job.’

‘It’s a good job. Much better wages.’

‘It’d need ’em, all alone up here like you are. What if you got ill?’

‘I’m never ill.’

‘What if you had an accident? Out in those woods of yours, what if a tree fell on you, and you lay there for days with no one coming? I worry about you.’

‘Aaron Cutmore lived up here alone just the same, and I never knowed you worry about him.’

‘Aaron Cutmore’s not my brother,’ said Ruth. But she slipped her arm through his and squeezed it, to signify forgiveness.

‘Who told you?’ he asked as they reached the door.

‘Someone. You don’t need to know.’

‘Was it Josh?’

‘Course it wasn’t. If he knew, you’da been out on your ear long before now. You know what he’s like about the Family. You better pray he never does find out, either. You better pray your Lady Alice never lets anything slip in front of him.’

‘She wouldn’t. She’s sound.’

A snort of disbelief served Ruth as a reply to that.