by Bree Wolf
Inhaling a calming breath, he gestured to a footman. “Hand this to Mrs. MacDrummond,” he instructed the young man, nodding across the room at the red-haired siren he couldn’t take his eyes off. “Only to her. Is that understood?”
“Of course, my lord,” the man replied as he took the small note from Nathan’s hand, bowed and then quickly hurried off.
***
“Ever since I told Aiden about the picnic you had with Niall and Blair at Hyde Park,” Claudia told her with a deep sigh, “he keeps begging me to have one as well.”
Beside her, Garrett chuckled, his green eyes drifting to his wife. “Aye, the lad knows how to melt yer heart with a single look.”
Maggie smiled at her friends. “I wouldna mind having another picnic, and I’m fairly certain neither would Niall and Blair.” She looked from Claudia to Garrett. “How about−?” Her voice broke off when a young footman stopped in front of her with a formal bow.
“Excuse me. Mrs. MacDrummond?”
“Aye,” Maggie replied, confused about what was going on. However, when the footman handed her a note, her stomach plummeted. Had something happened to her children? Was she being called home?
Her breath lodged in her throat and her eyes dropped to the small envelope in her hand as she fumbled with the seal. Seal? Maggie paused, and her eyes focused on the hardened wax, able to pick out delicately carved letters.
“My lord,” she mumbled under her breath. Instantly, fear turned into joy, and she could feel goose bumps trailing a path up and down her arms.
“Are you all right?” Claudia asked, concern in her voice as she moved closer. “Has something happened?”
Robert chuckled. “I assume it’s from your chess partner.”
Maggie met her brother’s eyes and nodded, unable to keep the smile off her face. “Aye, it is.” As she broke the seal, Maggie dimly heard Cecilia whisper an explanation to Claudia and Garrett, which added another two sets of rather expectant eyes to those already directed at her.
My dearest daisy,
I apologise in advance for angering you with this breach of our agreement; however, I must ask you for one last favour: will you dance with me?
Yours always,
My lord
As though transported back through time, Maggie suddenly smelled the invigorating aroma of wildflowers. She felt Nathan’s hand holding hers, his other sitting gently upon her middle as they stumbled through the high grass, the sun warm on their shoulders. She could even feel his heavy foot crush her dainty toes, but in the end nothing mattered except for that look in his deep blue eyes.
That look that…
Maggie couldn’t quite describe it, but it made her yearn.
Her eyes rose from the note and instantly found his. He was standing across the room, looking at her the same way he’d looked at her then, all those years ago. It was gentle, and yet, daring. Impatient, but also peaceful. It was everything and nothing. Extraordinary and, still, something she remembered seeing again and again.
“Will ye hold this for me?” Maggie mumbled, not even turning her head, her eyes fixed on the man across the room. She couldn’t even say who took the note from her hands, but found her feet moving her forward barely a moment later, her hands free to grasp his.
Free to dance.
***
The moment Maggie began moving toward him, Nathan felt his heart trip and stumble. Her eyes were looking into his and, although he thought there might be a distinct possibility that she was walking over to slap him in the face for his audacity, Nathan doubted it.
Indeed, that teasing smile he loved so much tickled the corners of her mouth and her eyes glowed in that same way they had long ago.
That day out in the meadow.
Did she remember it as well as he did?
“Aye,” Maggie said the moment she came to stand in front of him. “I’ll dance with ye, my lord.”
Nathan inhaled a slow breath as the effect of her address washed over him. Then he smiled at her. “I admit I’m a bit nervous.”
Maggie chuckled. “‘Tis I who should be nervous,” she replied as her hand settled on his arm and they turned toward the dance floor. “After all, ‘tis my toes in danger, not yers.”
Nathan laughed. “I’d hoped you’d forgotten.” He pulled her into his arms as much as he dared. “But I promise I’ll protect you as best as I can.”
“I know,” she told him, her eyes wide and trusting.
And then they danced…
…and the world fell away.
Gone was the crowd around them. Gone were the other dancers. Gone was the marble floor under their feet as well as the music drifting to their ears, replaced by a summer day’s soft breeze and the gentle twittering of birds high up in the branches. Warmth lingered in the air, and the calm swaying of the grass stalks surrounding them guided their feet.
“I remember it as though it had happened yesterday,” Nathan murmured, his eyes lingering on hers.
“I do as well,” Maggie replied in that same wistful voice. There was no question. No confusion. She knew. She simply knew what he’d meant. What he’d meant to say. Words were unnecessary for she could read his face the same way he could read hers.
Never in his life had Nathan experienced this with another. Never had he felt closer to another as though they’d once been one soul…
…and still remembered what that was like.
“Did ye let me win?” Maggie asked with a teasing gleam in her eyes as they swept over his face. “Ye never were the most proficient player, but perhaps ye’ve been practising−”
“I never was the most proficient player,” Nathan interrupted, “because I could never concentrate on the game.” His gaze widened meaningfully as he pulled her closer. “I only ever saw you.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. “Even when…?”
Nathan nodded. “Even then.” He trailed the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. “You’ve always consumed my thoughts, blocking out everything else simply by being there.” A soft chuckle rumbled in his throat. “It took me a while to realise why, but I lost my heart to you long before you left that summer.”
Tears came to her eyes, but the smile that lingered on her lips remained true. “As did I,” she whispered when the music came to an end and the memory of that summer’s day long ago slowly faded away. “As did I.”
For another moment, Nathan held on to her, unwilling to let go so soon. “I’ll write to you.”
Smiling, Maggie nodded. “And I’ll answer.”
Chapter Thirty-One
The One
Hyde Park shone in a brilliant green as their little horde stampeded down the path toward the Serpentine. While Niall, Blair and Sophie raced ahead, Aiden and Robbie fought to keep up. Wee Alex, on the other hand, was stoically ignoring the children’s competition as he’d once again fallen asleep on his father’s arm.
Shifting the sleeping child to his other shoulder, Garrett looked at his wife. “If he keeps this up, he’ll sleep through the rest of his life.” He glanced at his son’s peaceful face. “Although it doesna look as though he minds at all.” A chuckle rumbled in his throat, and he pulled Claudia into a tight embrace with his free arm.
Maggie laughed. “When he was little, Niall used to sleep a lot, too.” She looked from Claudia to Garrett. “It’ll pass before ye know it and then ye’ll be exhausted from chasing after him, wishing he’d finally go to sleep.”
Robert and Cecilia joined in their laughter as they headed off the path and spread out two large blankets in the shade of a small cluster of trees. Grinning at his wife, Garrett sat down with his back resting against a large trunk, Wee Alex still sleeping with his head on his father’s shoulder. “I’d give ye a hand,” he told his wife with a grin, “but I’m currently a wee bit indisposed.”
Unpacking the basket, Claudia swatted his child-free shoulder. “Careful, Garrett MacDrummond,” she warned with a teasing note to her voice, “or you’ll find the basket
empty before you’ve even taken a single bite.” Her brows rose in challenge, and Garrett cringed in mock defeat.
“It’s wonderful to see the children together,” Cecilia told Maggie as they sat together, unpacking their own basket. Down by the water, the elder ones were doing their best to skip pebbles on the water while the young ones watched in awe, clapping their hands as they counted the ripples. “I cannot believe you’ll be returning home soon.”
Sadness rested in her sister-in-law’s eyes, and Maggie pulled her new friend into a tight embrace. “I’ll miss ye as well,” she told her with a bit of a sniffle, “and the children will be sad to leave, too.” Sitting back, both women wiped at their eyes. “But perhaps ye could come visit us in Scotland some time.”
Cecilia’s gaze widened and she immediately turned to look at her husband. “Isn’t that a wonderful idea, Robert?”
Meeting her brother’s gaze, Maggie wondered what he would say. After all, the old reason that had kept him away no longer applied, did it? Would things truly be different from now on? Would they no longer be strangers? Would their children grow up visiting each other? Not merely family by blood, but also in their hearts?
“I agree,” Robert said with a smile. “It’s a wonderful idea.” His hand reached out and took Maggie’s, squeezing it gently. “We’re family and we should act the part, should we not?” he asked with a teasing tone.
“Aye, we should,” Maggie agreed, knowing exactly what Robert meant. So much time had been lost. Lost on regrets and fear and doubt. Lost on tears. The past could not be changed, but the future was theirs to claim.
And they would make it a bright one.
Today was already off to a very promising start.
The moment the food had been set out on the blankets, it drew the children from the water, their eyes eager as they flew over the fruits and pastries. Seated side by side, they chewed and swallowed, talked and laughed−not necessarily in that order, though.
“Where’s Blair?” Maggie asked as she craned her neck, trying to spot her daughter.
“She’s still down by the water,” Niall replied with his mouth half-full, “talking to Collin.”
Maggie’s head whipped around. “Collin?”
With his mouth now completely full, Niall merely nodded and pointed toward the water’s edge.
Rising to her feet, Maggie moved away from the family gathering, her eyes darting between the trees until she spotted her daughter’s golden curls. Only a few steps away from her stood Collin, a wide smile on his face as he spoke.
Almost entranced, Maggie stepped closer, unable to stay away. “Hello,” she said cautiously when the two children took note of her approach. “‘Tis nice to see ye again, Collin.”
The boy nodded and returned her greeting.
He had not run off again, had he? Maggie thought as her gaze swept his face. No, indeed, he looked happy. There was no resemblance to the sad and angry little boy she’d met here a fortnight ago. “Where are yer parents?” she asked nonetheless.
“Right over there,” Collin said without a moment’s hesitation and pointed farther up the slope. “We’re having a picnic.”
“So are we,” Maggie replied and her gaze wandered over to her daughter. “What a coincidence.”
Blair grinned. “‘Tis not a coincidence at all, Mamma. I wrote Collin a letter, asking if he and his family could come today.”
Smiling at her daughter, Maggie sighed. “Well, I−”
“Collin!”
Looking up, Maggie spotted a woman with dark hair and blue eyes head toward them. The moment her gaze fell on Collin, the delicate tension in her eyes disappeared. “There you are. I was calling you−” She paused when she took note of Maggie and Blair. “Oh, hello.”
“Mamma, this is Mrs. MacDrummond,” Collin introduced them with a small wave of his hand. “She’s the one who took me over to Lord Townsend’s house that day.”
“Oh.” The sound was soft and cautious as her eyes swept over Maggie. Then her gaze widened. “Oh!” This time there was more emphasis in the exclamation, and she stepped forward eagerly. “Thank you so much for what you did,” she said, grasping Maggie’s hand. “We were all so very worried when we found him gone.”
Maggie smiled at the woman who’d once fancied herself in love with Nathan. “I can imagine how ye felt.” She brushed her other hand over Blair’s curls. “My own have given me a scare or two as well.”
“Oh, I’m Kara Brewer,” the other woman said with a shake of her head and an easy smile on her lips. Maggie liked her instantly. “Collin said he’d received a letter from your daughter.”
“So I’ve heard,” Maggie chuckled, grinning at Blair.
Blair grinned back. “I like Collin, and I wanted to see him again. Can we have our picnic together?”
Mrs. Brewer’s smile deepened as she looked at Blair. “What a wonderful idea, young lady.” Her gaze rose to meet Maggie’s. “If it’s all right with you?”
Maggie nodded. “Aye, ‘tis a truly wonderful idea.”
“Then run ahead,” Mrs. Brewer told her son, “and tell your father to stop unpacking. Blair, would you show them where you’re settled?” Both children nodded eagerly and were off in a dash.
With a happy sigh, Mrs. Brewer turned back to look at Maggie. Only now, her gaze held something slightly different as it swept over Maggie’s face. Her eyes lingered as though she were looking at something she’d only ever glimpsed from far away and was now most eager to inspect more closely.
“Is something wrong?” Maggie asked cautiously, wondering what had inspired the woman’s interest.
Mrs. Brewer laughed. “Oh, not at all. It’s just…” She exhaled a deep breath, her eyes bright and friendly. “You’re the one.”
Maggie frowned. “The one?”
“The one who conquered his heart.” A deeply compassionate smile touched her lips. “After I met my husband, I could finally understand the look I’d often seen in Nathan’s eyes. And every once in a while, I wondered who she was.”
Maggie felt her breath shudder past her lips as she stared at the other woman. The woman who’d given Nathan a son. The woman who had loved him once. The woman who would now be a part of his life again.
“I’m glad he found you,” Mrs. Brewer said, and Maggie could see that the joy she saw on the other woman’s face was truly genuine. “I knew something had changed the moment I heard he’d come to apologise.”
“Thank ye,” Maggie whispered, touched by Mrs. Brewer’s words. “‘Tis been hard.”
The other woman nodded knowingly. “It has, but today is a new day.” She looked over her shoulder at Blair and Collin as they directed Mr. Brewer to set up his blanket closer to the cluster of trees Maggie and her family had chosen for their own. Then she met Maggie’s eyes with a smile on her face. “Shall we?”
“Aye,” Maggie replied with a new lightness in her heart.
And they walked back up the slope side by side.
Chapter Thirty-Two
A Time to Fight
When the time to bid London goodbye finally came, Maggie knew that she was not the only one torn. While they all longed to return home to Scotland, even her children shed tears when they bid their cousins farewell. The past few weeks had bonded them together, and Niall, Blair and Sophie promised to write to each other.
Maggie, too, wrote her last note to Nathan, promising to stay in touch, to continue their games of chess, to share in each other’s lives…to not lose one another again. Still, both knew that even heartfelt promises were sometimes broken. Not by intention, but simply by the bends life took as it travelled along a path no one could predict.
Although Niall no longer glared at her, Maggie knew that something still burdened him. He played and laughed with the others, and sometimes Maggie wanted to pretend that all was well. That there was nothing sad or fearful lurking behind his bright green eyes.
But there was.
Only Niall refused to speak of it, walkin
g off whenever Maggie tried to broach the subject. And so by the time their carriages rolled out of London, Maggie still worried about her son, about the thoughts that kept him up at night. For whenever she dared to look in on him after dark, she found him wide awake, turning his back to her as soon as she stepped into the room.
“He’s clearly still angry with me,” Maggie said to Claudia as her friend rocked her little son in her arms. As always, Alex had fallen asleep the moment the carriage’s wheels had started down the street.
Seated across from her, Claudia sighed, her gaze moving from the sleeping child in her arms to Maggie. “He’s young, and he’s hurt. You need to give him time.”
Maggie leaned back in her seat, grateful to have her friend by her side. “I know,” she mumbled, feeling rather impatient. “I know this isna easy for him. I…I just feel so helpless.” Again, Niall’s sad little face appeared in her mind. “I see him so lost and hurt and…and all I can do is stand there and watch. I feel like the worst mother in the world.”
“Have you tried to talk to him?” Claudia asked, shifting slowly to get more comfortable without waking her son.
Maggie sighed as the last of London rolled by their window. “Whenever I approach him, he turns and walks off. He doesna want to talk to me.”
“Does he talk to Blair?” Claudia’s brows rose meaningfully.
Maggie smiled at the thought of her capable little girl. “Aye, he does. She tells me he’ll be fine, and I’m not to worry.”
“There you have it!” Claudia exclaimed, then tensed when Alex stirred in his sleep. For a second, it seemed like she was holding her breath, then shifted her attention back to Maggie when her son’s eyes remained closed.
“She’s seven years old,” Maggie pointed out. “She canna know that he’ll truly be all right. She wants him to be as do I. But she doesna know.”