Peggy’s Love: The Victorian Highlanders Book 5

by St. Clair, Ellie

  “Rory’s been in a time or two,” Roderick added with some nonchalance, and Rory shot a glare at him.

  “It wasna anything like that. Just a night of drunkenness.”

  “And another for cheating while gambling, if I do recall the story correctly.”

  “Enough of that!” Peggy cut in. “We all know Rory has a past that is not exactly the most… righteous of them all. But why me, tonight? I just don’t understand it,” she said, throwing her hands in the air, looking at them each in turn. “Why would he believe that I had anything to do with it at all?”

  They all said nothing, though Rory could feel Roderick’s eyes boring into him. He was the only one to witness the entire event, but it was more than that — he knew Roderick blamed him, and rightly so. It was a good thing he didn’t know that Rory was at fault for more than simply not taking the proper care of Peggy.

  “We have everything nearly sorted out now regarding the tourist information,” Rory said instead. “I think we should leave tomorrow.”

  “I agree,” said Roderick resolutely.

  “But we’ve only just arrived!” Peggy protested. “We’ve hardly seen a thing so far.”

  Roderick was already shaking his head. “I didna know if this was a good idea to begin with, and now I know for sure. We go home tomorrow,” he said with finality, and even Gwen held up her hands in mock surrender.

  “And one more thing,” Roderick added. “This stays between us. No one tells Duncan McDougall that his daughter found herself in jail. You hear me?”

  At least there was one thing upon which they were all in agreement.

  * * *

  Rory stared out the windows of the train as they drew closer to Inverness, and home came rushing toward him with the passing scenery. The Highlands were a land unto themselves. When Callum, the oldest of the McDougalls, had returned to visit, he’d equated his home in the Northwest Territories to these lands, but Rory didn’t believe it. Nothing was like the Scottish Highlands, its terrain so vast, so varied, with nary a person to fill it.

  But the people that did, well, they were good people. He had certainly learned that in his travels. There was no one like a Highlander.

  Never before had he experienced a trip away like this one. Somehow, Peggy’s presence had changed everything. He needed to be back to Darfield, away from her in these close confines of the past few days. She seemed to steal all the air from whatever room she was in. Suddenly the young girl that had so eagerly followed them throughout their childhood had changed in mere days, becoming not only a woman, but one that he couldn’t get off his mind.

  Their dances together, her willingness to put herself in danger to help someone else, the fear that had overcome him when he helplessly watched her being led away by the police officer — it all had him completely rattled, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

  Rory sighed as he stole a glance over at Peggy, noting her gazing out at the same landscapes. What did she see when she looked at them? Did she still desire to be free of them, to find something more out in the world? If only she could understand that no matter where one went, there was no greater feeling than coming home. He watched her take a deep breath, noticed the rise and fall of her chest. When did she become so beautiful? He had an urge to run his fingers through her long, dark hair, to let them trail over the smooth skin of her face, down her neck to her full breasts, where he would—

  He stopped his thoughts right there. One thing he knew — he had to be careful. This wasn’t just any woman. This was Peggy, and he needed to respect her.

  Even in his thoughts.

  * * *

  Glasgow intrigued Peggy, her short visit only inspiring her to want to see more of the world. And yet, she couldn’t deny the warmth that filled her as lush greenery and majestic landscapes began to flash outside her window. Perhaps that was one of the reasons people such as Rory loved to travel away from home so often — because when they came back, home had never felt quite so wonderful.

  It was silly, really. She had grown up on these hills, this land. Why was she seeing it with new eyes all of a sudden?

  Perhaps because here, there was no fear of someone hauling her away into a jail cell, or falsely accusing her of a crime she didn’t commit. Everyone knew her here, respected her family, and would look out for her best interests.

  As for Rory — she stole a look toward him. They had barely spoken since that night — the night when everything had changed, was she being honest. She had no idea what he was currently feeling toward her. She stared at him now, noticing his strong jaw, which she could just see past his blond hair that hung near to his chin, the scruff stubble covering it in a way that made him look far wilder than he actually was. She could admit that her feelings for him now paled in comparison to what she had felt even two years ago. No, what had been an infatuation had turned into something more — a desire to be with him, to be near him, to be more than the friend he saw her as. Or even worse, the friend of his sister. Or the sister of his friends.

  He had been reckless in his youth, she knew that. Even now, he had a certain air about him that yearned for adventure, but that only drew her toward him instead of scaring her away as it likely should.

  Rory shifted in his seat, and Peggy turned from him before he noticed her studying his profile. She closed her eyes as she listened to the clatter of the wheels on the track. Once they reached Inverness, the McDougall carriage would be there to greet them for the final leg of their journey.

  She and Gwen had chatted for much of the train ride, but she was tired now and leaned back in the seat. She noted the familiar rise of the land, saw recognizable buildings rising in the distance. In no time at all, she would be home, back at Galbury.

  And then what came next?

  Chapter 10

  Nothing, she realized days later. Nothing came next. It was as though their journey to Glasgow had never happened. Nothing had changed.

  Peggy found herself in the same place she had always been — back home, with the same tasks to complete that she always had. The same people, the same conversations. She loved them all, truly she did, but somehow everything had lost its sparkle.

  On their way back to Galbury, they had stopped at Darfield Keep for Rory to depart, and as he did, he had simply lifted a hand in farewell. It was the last Peggy had seen of him in a week.

  “What’s wrong, Peg?”

  Peggy looked up to find Kyla standing in the doorway, looking down at her where she sat in her mother’s parlor, darning a sock, for goodness sake.

  “Nothing.” She shrugged. “All is fine."

  She wished she could blame her lackluster attitude on the fact that nothing in the Highlands was as interesting as life in Glasgow. But it wasn’t that. For she loved her home, and she loved the people here, despite the repetitiveness that her life could sometimes hold. It had taken a few days until she could finally admit, even to herself, what the difference was.

  For as much as she tried to push him from her mind, as much as she sorely wished it wasn’t true, what had changed was the fact that her life had been full of Rory for just a few short days, and now he was gone from it, back home to see to his own duties. When they met one another again, it would be as it always was — friends greeting one another and nothing more. That was likely all that he had ever thought of her, even in their moments in Glasgow that had meant so much to her. Now she had no idea how to respond to him once more.

  But she certainly couldn’t tell Kyla about all of that. After all, Rory was Kyla’s brother, and while she might understand what it was like to want the love — or even affection — of a particular man, Peggy knew she would likely laugh off her desire for Rory. For Kyla knew better than anyone that Rory was not the type of man who would settle down any time soon, especially with a woman like Peggy.

  Let him go, she commanded herself. You’ve done it before. You can do it again. Besides, there had been the man in Glasgow who had been particularly attracted to her, sh
e knew — Mr. Gowan. He had remarked upon her beauty twice. If a man like him, a fine, cultured man from the city looked at her like that, then surely there were other men who would do the same?

  Kyla looked as though she were going to say more, but then there was a shout from downstairs, and she was dashing down the hallway with Peggy smiling after her. Kyla and Fin had been blessed with twin boys last year. It hadn’t been an easy birth, but never had there been a more determined or capable woman than Kyla McDougall.

  Now the boys were a year old. They had learned to walk quickly and kept everyone in the house running after their every need. Peggy loved it, especially the fact that her brother Finlay, always so serious, so focused on his work, despite being softened by Kyla, had become someone else completely once he’d held those little babies in his arms.

  Peggy rose to help Kyla, but as she descended the stairs to the great hall, she heard a knock at the door. She crossed the room, but not before the door eased open a crack.

  “Hello?”

  Peggy didn’t have to look around the massive slab of wood to see who stood there, for she would know that voice anywhere. And there he came, his broad shoulders rounding the door.

  “Rory?” she called, opening the door all the way for him.

  “Peg.” He stood there, so solid, so very… real. Which was silly. Of course he was real. It was just that for the past week, he had been filling her imagination, and now he was here, in the flesh.

  He stared at her, his gaze inscrutable.

  “Peggy,” he began, reaching a hand out, for what she didn’t know. Should she reach out and take it? Step into his embrace? But then from behind her, there was a crash, a squeal, a shout, and whatever may have been there between them, even for one moment, disappeared in a flash.

  “Kyla!” He looked past Peggy now at the chaos behind her, before bestowing upon her a small smile and then continuing on into the great room.

  “Rory,” Kyla called out, carrying one child in her arms, attempting to walk as the other held onto her leg. “Would you like one?”

  “For a moment,” he said, taking the boy on the floor — Niall, after Kyla’s father — and throwing him into the air. Niall squealed in delight and Peggy laughed at his glee. “Once he starts to cry, though, Ky, he’s yours again.”

  As fun as it was watching him, when she heard his words, the corners of Peggy’s smile began to fall. Clearly, he still wasn’t entirely committed to a life of family, now was he? Not that it was any of her business, she reminded herself.

  Onward from Rory MacTavish.

  “What are you doing here, Rory?” Kyla asked, and Rory gestured beyond her to the sitting area.

  “Let’s sit,” he suggested. “And perhaps you should ask Fin to join us.”

  Kyla raised her eyebrows, exchanging a quick glance with Peggy. This sounded somewhat serious. And Rory was never serious unless the matter was truly grave.

  It took some time for the family to assemble — for once they heard there was a matter to be discussed, they all wanted to be included. It wasn’t until dinner was nearly on the table that the entirety of them were gathered round the worn furniture that forever spoke of the McDougalls.

  “Well, Rory,” Finlay said dryly. “We’re all on the edge of our seats. What do ye have to tell us?”

  “Nothing altogether that important,” he said with a shrug. “But I wanted to talk to you about it. Mrs. McPhee — ye know, she looks after everything at Darfield within the keep — she’s had to return home. Her daughter just had a child and things were rather difficult, I'm told, so she feels she’s needed. She said she’ll return once she’s able, but meanwhile, I canna keep up with all of it on my own. I’ve asked Mrs. McPhee if any of the girls would suit, if any know enough to step into her role, but she tells me that while they are all competent at their jobs, she doesn’t think they can manage it all. I would ask ye to come fill in for a while, Kyla, but….”

  The fact that the two one-year-olds were currently draped across her, each in an effort to secure the entirety of her affections, spoke to the problem with his request. It was not currently feasible for Kyla to return to Darfield Keep.

  “But I’m sure one of the girls could do it,” Kyla said encouragingly. “Haven’t any shown some kind of promise?”

  He thought of each of them. The three girls from the village who came in to help serve were all friendly, welcoming, and well-meaning, but none had the capacity of Mrs. McPhee.

  “I dinna think so, Ky,” he said, shaking his head. “I wish one could, but all would just fall apart.”

  Peggy listened to the exchange, as did the rest of her family, but while they all looked as perplexed as Rory and Kyla, Peggy began to feel ire working its way from the pit of her stomach, up through her chest. It was such a simple solution, and yet none of them had even entertained the idea. Did they really think her so incompetent? Why was it that no one ever looked to her for an answer to any problem?

  Finally, she cleared her throat within the silence that remained, but for the squawks of the children.

  “I can do it.”

  All heads turned toward her.

  “You want to do it, Peg?” Roderick asked, his face slightly confused. “’Tis a lot of work, and it would take training, you know that. Why, the girls Rory speaks of, they have been there for months now.”

  “I have often been at Darfield Keep when there have been tourists in attendance. I understand what goes into it. Besides that, Kyla and I speak frequently about the running of the lands and Darfield.” She sat up straighter now, looking at them all in turn with intent so they understood just how serious she was. “And while you all may think I am incompetent, I believe I am much more intelligent than you give me credit for. Give me a day with Mrs. McPhee, and then see what she thinks. You all trust her judgment, do ye not?”

  There was silence for a moment before Rory broke in.

  “I agree,” he said with a nod, leaning forward on his elbows as he studied her contemplatively. “I think Peggy can do it, and the girls will be of great help.”

  With those words, any question as to whether she truly felt anything for him drifted away, as his support of her and his confidence in her abilities meant more than she could describe.

  She bestowed upon him a small smile before her attention was caught by her brother’s voice.

  “He’s right,” Finlay said, seemingly somewhat surprised that he hadn’t thought of it before. “It would be good for Peggy to have some purpose, wouldn’t it, Peg?”

  She nodded. Her brother was more perceptive than she gave him credit for.

  “What do ye plan on doing — travel there every morning, return home at night?” Duncan asked, his face more contemplative as he clearly wanted to disagree with the idea but knew that would draw the ire of certainly his daughter, and, it seemed, at the very least part of his family.

  “Mrs. McPhee stays at Darfield while there are tourists in residence, and returns home once they depart,” Rory offered. “There are rooms if Peggy wishes to do so as well.”

  “My daughter will not be staying at Darfield Keep with all manner of Lowlanders and Englishmen wandering the castle!” Duncan exclaimed, waving a hand in the air.

  “Kyla often did so,” Finlay said, sitting back with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “’Tis different,” Duncan grumbled. “Kyla had her brother there.”

  “Very well,” Jane finally said, her voice, despite its softness, cutting through the tension. “I will go with Peggy, for the first visit, at least. I will stay in a room alongside her and will also determine if there is any potential threat. Would that suffice, Duncan?”

  Duncan very clearly wanted to argue. Peggy knew that he hated being away from her mother, but all Peggy had to do was convince Jane with one stay that nothing untoward would happen, and then all would be well and she could continue on the next visits without a chaperone.

  “Fine,” he finally relented. “For a few days, and th
en you’re both home.”

  Peggy grinned. A purpose and a chance to spend time with Rory. Really, there was nothing more she could ask for.

  Chapter 11

  Rory looked over the bedchambers once more, ensuring that all was prepared. Why he was so nervous for the two McDougall women to come to visit, he had no idea. Jane had been like a mother to him as his own died at his birth, while he had known Peggy his entire life.

  Part of him had wanted to argue with her idea to stay here. It was a lot of temptation — too much, perhaps — but he couldn’t deny that she was the most competent woman he knew besides Kyla, and there was no better person who could help manage in Mrs. McPhee’s absence.

  The woman came bustling down the hallway now, shooing him away like the mother hen that she was.

  “I have this taken care of, Rory, there is no need for you to worry,” she said in her matronly way. “Now, Peggy will arrive any moment and I will begin to show her everything as soon as she steps foot in the door. I’ve also spoken with the three girls about helping out, and they are all perfectly agreeable. I will be back as soon as I am able, and the girl can return to her life and all will be as it should. My apologies again, though I thank you for yer understanding.”

  “Of course, Mrs. McPhee,” he said, placing a large hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about us. All will be well in hand. Thank you for staying the extra day to show Peg around.”

  “’Tis my pleasure, lad.”

  Despite the fact she worked for him, she still saw him as the little boy who used to run around the village after church on Sundays or when his father went to gamble or meet with some of the men. Some things never changed.

  There was a knock at the door, and Peggy’s exuberant face appeared.

  While some things changed before anyone realized.

  “Peggy, Jane,” Rory said, ushering them in, bestowing a kiss upon the cheek of each of them. “Thank you for coming to stay with us — I do appreciate it. This party should only be here for a week or so, and then you can return to your lives, for a time anyway. Mrs. McPhee has agreed to stay for the day to review all that’s necessary, Peg.”