“Yes, Charles needs to know straight away. We will all leave tomorrow,” his father declared.
Calculating the time it would take to get there and back, approximately two weeks, Finlay considered crying off and asking his father and brother to go without him, but he couldn’t do that. King Charles would want to hear it from him, and his father appeared to want him there.
It tore at him to leave his new wife, but at least the other Cameron men and Andrew were here. They would keep her safe.
…
As soon as the boys had filled her tub and left, Blair stripped her clothes and climbed in. If she’d known they were having company, she wouldn’t have wasted the time in the gardens. She’d only barely remembered to add a little of the lavender to her water. The scent of the flowers had a pleasant, calming effect that had her lingering a few minutes longer than she should have.
Finished, she rushed into the nicest gown she had, the one Finlay had purchased where they consummated their marriage.
“Och. I still need a lady’s maid. My hair is a mess.” Brushing at the long, clean mess of tangles, she realized she’d never be able to style it in a fashionable English way in time for the meal. Turning toward the housekeeper as she returned into the room, she asked, “Do ye ken how to fix it?”
“No, my lady. I’ve only had boys to take care of.”
Oh well. She left it free, thinking to let it dry a little before braiding it.
“Will the earl like me?” Suddenly nervous, she turned toward Jenny.
“Yes, my lady. I’ve known him all my life, and he likes almost everyone. More than that, he’ll be pleased his son wed and has brought you here.”
Taking a deep breath, she glanced back to the mirror. Not wanting to wait any longer, she pleated her hair and added ribbons to match the blue in her gown. It would have to do.
Trusting Jenny to take care of everything, she rushed out and down the steps to join the men. They were already sitting as she scurried into the dining room and skidded to a halt. Straightening her shoulders, she gave Finlay’s father her best smile, then his brother. She was feeling gracious enough to give one to her husband, even if he didn’t believe her a partner in all things. Over time, he would see how capable she was.
Standing, each of them returned her smile. Finlay’s looked relieved, the earl’s eyes seemed pleased, and Thomas appeared to be curious. Strolling to the table, she said, “Sit, please,” but they waited until she eased into the seat next to Finlay, the one his brother had left between them.
“How was your journey to England?” The earl gave her his full attention.
“Och. We came so fast there was no’ time to enjoy the countryside on the way here, but ’tis bonny.”
“Brother, how is it you did not send word that you were taking such a lovely wife? I’m sure Father would have wanted to be there.” Thomas’s eyes pinned her husband with accusation.
“There was no time.”
“A rushed marriage then?”
She caught his implication at once. To dampen the tension, she jumped between the two with, “Nae, we have kenned each other for several years, but ’twas no’ until recently that his hazel eyes pulled me into his web.” It was the truth.
“He’s a lucky man,” Thomas stated.
“Are you a Cameron?” the earl asked.
“Nae, a Macnab.”
The earl frowned, and his gaze shifted to Finlay, who shook his head as if to say, dinnae bring it up. The men must have discussed her father’s duplicity.
What would they think of her when they discovered she had pitted two clans against each other?
Finlay had confidence that his sway with Montrose was enough to keep the Grahams from attacking the Camerons, but what if Bruce was still looking for her and pushed the issue? And och, she hadn’t even thought of it, but if her father discovered the Grahams and Camerons fighting because of her, he would surely reject her altogether and swear his loyalty to the Covenanters. She groaned inside but somehow managed to keep her lips curved upward.
“You are loyal to King Charles.”
“Aye, I am.” It was true. She put all the conviction she could muster into it because one day soon, if Bruce had gone to his cousin, they might all be questioning her loyalty.
“Well, then, there is nothing more to be said on it. How do you like Catriona House?”
“’Tis grand and beautiful, but it has been neglected.” Dwight’s gaze darted to the window and fogged. She could see he was mulling her words, not just ignoring her.
“Can it be salvaged?” His voice was rough and off in the distance.
“Aye, with the proper attention and care. It will be magnificent.”
“That reminds me, Thomas,” Finlay chimed in. “The estate manager Prudence recommended hasnae followed through on getting things in order. His books are quite difficult to follow as well. The estate seems to be taking all my allowance and not producing anything. Have ye and Caldwell had much success with the man?”
Was that why he’d stayed in the study all day yesterday? Was he being cheated? She had to get a look at those books.
“I usually do my own books. When Prudence suggested him, I declined.” Funny, but that almost looked like amusement in Thomas’s eyes.
Changing the subject, she asked, “Will ye be staying with us tonight?”
“No, we are close enough there is no need. Caldwell is a little farther, so when he comes for a visit, he may take you up on the offer. You’ll get along nicely with Prudence, too. He would have come today, but he is currently in London.”
“I’m sorry I didnae get to meet him.”
Andrew appeared at her side. “My lady, the dressmaker has arrived. I put her in the parlor.”
“Aye, thank ye, Andrew.”
“Ah, yes. We will need to be on our way as well.” They all rose and strolled toward the front door together.
Surprising her, Dwight pulled her in for a warm, welcoming embrace. “I am pleased Finlay has brought you into the family and am looking forward to conversing with you again.”
“Thank ye.” She nodded at him then looked to Finlay, who had a soft smile on his face.
“And again, dear sister. I apologize for my earlier behavior.” She wanted to forgive him, but there was still something there she didn’t trust.
“I will forgive ye when ye apologize to all the servants in England.” Winking at him, she laughed.
“I will set out doing so with great haste.” After kissing her hand, he dropped it slowly then backed toward the door.
Once Finlay shut the door behind them, he said, “I am sorry I forgot to tell ye they were coming. I meant to warn ye, but I got so caught up in going through those journals last night I couldn’t see straight when I came up to bed.”
“Ye are forgiven. They are my family now, and I guess they will forgive me for not welcoming them.”
“I did tell them that I neglected to let ye ken.”
“Can I help ye with the accounts? I’m good at it.” His gaze darted away as if he were ashamed of her. Why would he not let her help? He was shutting her out again, but perhaps he needed a little more time. She would find a way to prove herself.
“We’ll see about it later. For now, ye have a guest.”
He took her hand. Tingles shot through her arm as he moved to wrap his arms around her, and her disappointment faded. It was the first time since they’d been intimate that he had reached for her outside of the bedchamber. Drawing her close to his long, lean body, he dipped his head, giving her a soft, searching kiss as he held her. He didn’t ask for anything or move to deepen the embrace, just held the contact for a moment, as if he was seeking the reassurance of her presence.
The touch had been comfortable, familiar. Something more than just duty or desire. It was companionship. Maybe he wanted it, too, needed it the way she did.
“I will be in my study, but I promise to no’ leave ye alone for the next meal. Please come get me if ye ever fee
l I am neglecting ye.” His attention lingered on her, and she was off balance and looking forward to the next time she would see him. Contentment washed over her, along with anticipation of their next meeting. Could her husband actually care for her?
Chapter Twenty
After poring over the books all day, Finlay realized something was still wrong. When he returned from Oxford, he would invite Prudence and his youngest brother for a visit. Then, his sister-in-law could give him more information on Mr. Gerrick. What had she found trustworthy about the man when all he saw was a lying weasel?
Frustrated and not quite able to find the answer, he looked forward to the welcome distraction of dinner with his wife. She’d seemed to have forgiven him despite his Herculean feat to mess things up. He was hopeful she would join him in bed tonight without his having to go in search of her.
Maybe he should make sure he had a key to her room. Better yet, close it in and forget about its existence. Why would his father build such a thing?
He was almost to the door when he spied her coming from the back of the house. Waiting for her to draw near, he noticed she was wearing a gown he hadn’t seen yet—it was the lightest shade of pink. It looked good on her, and he finally felt at peace knowing he was providing for her.
When she reached him, he threaded his arm with hers as they strolled through the already open door. “Ye look lovely.”
“Thank ye.”
“Did ye order some new gowns?”
“Aye, I did, but only a few. I dinnae ken what my budget would be, and I didnae want to spend too much.” Ah, she had heard what he’d said earlier about his allowance disappearing.
“Dinnae worry, ye can buy whatever ye like.”
They were about to sit when Brodie strolled into the room, followed by every other Cameron man who had joined them on the journey. He’d not been aware they weren’t going into the village tonight.
“The gardener came today.” Tristan glanced to Blair as he took the seat next to her.
“Do ye think he will do?”
“Aye, he seemed competent, and better yet, he agreed with the plans I drew up. He’s brought a man who works with vegetables and herbs as well to help Cook with his garden.”
Brodie said to Finlay, “When I was returning from the village today, I met yer father and brother. Is it true ye are going to Oxford tomorrow?”
Finlay glanced at Blair, who stared back at him blankly. “Aye, ’tis true. He wants me there when he seeks an audience with King Charles.”
“I didnae ken.” Blair’s blue eyes frosted over, possibly angry with him, yet again, for his poor timing.
“Nae, I havenae had the chance to tell ye.”
“What do I need to pack?”
“Ye will be staying here.”
Shock registered in her gaze before she averted her eyes and studied her plate.
Hell, this hadn’t been the way he’d wanted to tell her, but he couldn’t explain it all in front of the men. They were going into an area where men were killing each other because of their allegiances. She was safe here.
The meal went by with Blair barely speaking as the men talked about their day and what they had done.
He longed to pull her into his arms, carry her up to their bed, and tell her all, but just as everyone was shuffling through the door, Robbie pulled him aside. “I need to speak with ye.”
“Can it wait until the morning?”
“Nae. It must be now.”
Groaning inside, he remembered the promise to his laird that he would do what Robbie asked without question. He tilted his head to indicate the direction. “In my study.”
By the time he looked up, his wife had fled.
Malcolm, his laird’s brother, followed them into the study, shutting and locking the door behind him. Hurrying over to the decanter, Finlay poured a serving of whisky for each of them then took a seat at his desk, trying to ignore the books taunting him.
Robbie started, “I need to ask something of ye.”
“Go ahead.”
“I need ye to take the priest to Oxford with ye.”
“Won’t he miss mass tomorrow if he goes?”
“I can lead it for him.”
“I don’t like it— It will probably slow us. But my laird has instructed I do whatever ye wish, so ’twill be done.”
Robbie nodded, relief washing over him as he took a large gulp of the amber liquid in his hand. It was the first time he’d seen the young man with a stout drink.
“Can ye trust me with what ye are doing here?”
“Ye are loyal to King Charles?”
“Aye.”
“Would ye lay down yer life to protect him and his family?”
He answered without hesitation, “Aye, ’tis my sworn duty.”
Robbie stood and squared his shoulders. “My true name is Robert Stuart, son to King Charles Stuart and his wife, Henrietta Maria.”
“How?” Finlay was certain his eyes were as round as the moon and his jaw was slack.
“You ken my mother is Catholic.” Robbie waited for him to respond, so he nodded. “My parents made an arrangement when they wed. Their second son would be raised in my mother’s faith. I am the twin to Charles II. I was born three minutes after him.”
How could this be true? He glanced to Malcolm.
“Aye, ’tis true,” Malcolm backed the words of the youth who stood before him.
“My mother’s faith is not welcome in England, so they sent me to where they believed I would be safe. I have not seen them in years, but they saw to it that the church cared for me until it was no longer safe.”
Finlay gulped.
Robbie continued, “There are a few who have discovered my existence. Do ye remember the day Lachlan found me?”
“Aye.” Finlay was with Lachlan when they came upon the charred remains of a church. They had discovered Robbie holding a priest who had been left for dead in the assault that had taken place before their arrival.
“The priest was killed because he didnae divulge where I was hidden away. If Conall had known who I was, he would have waited for me to return to take my life, or worse, hold me as leverage against the king.”
The man who had attempted to kill Lachlan was in league with the Covenanters.
“Ye were fortunate to no’ be home the morning of the attack.”
“I have found a home and safety with the Camerons, but I miss my family. Please have the priest deliver the message for me? It’s too dangerous to put my request in writing.”
“Aye.” He knelt. “Yer Royal Highness.”
“And ye must never call me that again. It puts us all in danger. No one can ken who I am. Not even Blair. She is safer if she doesnae ken my true identity.”
Rising, he nodded. Robbie told the truth—if word of his presence and his religion got out to the people, they would swarm his estate and kill anyone in residence.
He wanted this whole journey over. He wanted Robbie back on Cameron lands, and he wanted his wife out of danger, because they were all at risk with his presence here.
“Can the priest be ready to leave after breaking his fast?”
“Aye, I will be certain he is.”
Once the men were gone, Finlay finally breathed again and calculated what needed to be done to complete this mission. Then, he poured another dram of whisky before settling at his desk to try one more time to make sense of the letters and numbers in the journals before him. Just ten more minutes, then he’d seek out his wife.
Two hours later, his study door slowly creaked open.
…
After stomping into his bedchamber, Blair slammed the door. She’d thought they had made progress today, but her husband still thought it not necessary to tell her he was going to desert her in a place she knew very little about, where everything kept going wrong and she had no access to the accounts.
Pacing the room, she wondered what she could do.
It was too early to go to bed. Besides, she was so ang
ry she couldn’t have slept if she wanted to. She was not going back down to see her husband when he didn’t have the decency to tell her what he was up to. Their relationship would only become strained if she closed herself off. She didn’t want to end up living separately like his mother and father had.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Enter,” she called out as she continued to pace the large master bedchamber.
Jenny walked in. “Good evening, my lady.”
“Good evening. How did it go with the new servants?”
“They are going to do nicely, and one has a sister who is trained as a lady’s maid. I told the lass to send her tomorrow so you can see if she will suit.”
“Wonderful.”
“I heard Mr. Cameron won’t be in tomorrow. I’ll have Father cancel the interviews he had scheduled.”
“I didn’t know he had made appointments.”
“Oh, yes. He had several lined up to go over repairs for the house with the Cameron men and a fellow from the village.”
“Do not cancel them. I can work on it with them. I’ve overseen some work at my father’s castle, and ’twill no’ be a problem.”
“Yes, my lady. Do you need anything else tonight?”
“Nae, och, well, may I have a glass of that spiced wine brought up, please? Thank ye.”
A little while later, she was pulling off her gown and hanging it. She’d been hot all day, and it still seemed quite stuffy inside with no breeze blowing, so she switched into the lightest, softest shift she had then picked up a candle and the glass of wine Jenny had brought.
Slipping through the dressing area and into the lady’s chamber, she ambled to the nightstand to set down her wine then slinked over to the trunk. She pulled open the lid, and the scent of the long-ago lavender wafted up. Despite its age, the plant sprigs had been well cared for. She took out the first letter and carried it to the bed.
Carefully, she peeled open the page to find a lovely, scrolling text. She felt a tinge of guilt for interloping, but maybe his parents’ relationship would give her more insight into the man who was now her husband. How was she to prevent the same thing from happening to them if she didn’t read it?
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