by Deb Kemper
“Hah! Amalie presented the laird with twins, a son, and a daughter. Amalie’s parents are with them, in Inverness, where they’ll reside another month before returning to Badenoch. Oh, and the rest is personal, an invitation to visit Moy Hall. What do you think, Edmund? Will Mother mind terribly if you and I head off to Scotland for two weeks?”
“I have a break, at school, in a few days. Just us, Father?” Edmund smiled. It’ll be a grand opportunity to find out why Mallow writes so infrequently.
“Aye, The Mackintosh has requested my presence on a…well, professional matter. I shall make arrangements today.”
****
Garth Mackintosh waited, at the quay, for the ship carrying the Liveseys to drop the gangplank. He checked on Mallow, beside him. “Did I tell ye that Edmund’s comin’ with Heath?”
“Aye, four or five times, Da. I didn’t forget.” She glanced around the dock, noticing a lovely, fashionably dressed, dark-haired woman watching them. “Da, do ye ken the woman burnin’ a hole in me, with her eyes?”
“Ignore it, lass, no one important. I see them.” Garth waved an arm, in the air.
Edmund spied the Mackintoshes and broke into a smile, at the sight of Mallow. He made tracks towards them. Mallow watched him approach, with a slight smile. Well, there ye are with yer handsome self, Master Livesey.
He stood in front of her, for a long moment, bowed, and clicked his heels. He gushed, “You look lovely today, Mistress Mackintosh.”
Mallow offered her hand. He accepted, raised it to his lips, and kissed the ivory flesh. Heath and Garth watched their children play out roles as burgeoning adults.
“He’s missed her sorely, since we returned home.” Heath glanced up at his friend.
“I wish I could offer him encouragement, but Mallow does as she sees fit. I’ve no idea wha’ she thinks about him except she didn’t put up a fight, to come with me.” The two men laughed together.
Heath slapped Garth’s back. “Well, I shan’t discourage his interest. There’s been no girl catch his notice, at home, though dozens came into society this summer. He seemed attracted to a few, whom he graced with a dance or two.”
They followed the youngsters. Peripherally, Garth noticed direct movement into his path. He glanced that direction and sighted the dark-haired woman nearly upon them. He glared. She stopped, stunned.
He turned back to Livesey. “Amalie looks forward to yer visit. The twins are wearing her high spirits thin. Ewan’s beside himself with jealousy and I must admit, I am too.”
“Has the dowager returned from Europe?”
“Nay, I wrote and suggested she stay awhile longer. As she and my wife lack common fondness, fer each other’s company, it’s less tense if she stays in France. It won’t cost me much more and we could do with the rest, after Amalie’s folks left us.”
“How was your visit?” Heath and Garth slowed their pac,e while Edmund and Mallow entered the carriage.
“Insightful, a blessing, really. Rabbi circumcised my sons—and me.”
“What?” Heath stepped back. “At your age, old man?”
“Aye, at my age. If my sons must endure the knife, then their da must, as well. He didn’t stop there.”
“What?”
“He used his knife to protect his daughter from further pregnancies.”
“Are you healed?”
“Aye, Amalie took a great deal of pleasure tendin’ me, though she’s mad, as a settin’ hen. It took a few days, before I could walk….”
Heath guffawed. “No doubt! You appear hale and hearty now.”
“That I am, my friend.” Garth slapped the physician on the back.
“What of Collin, is he still with you?”
“Aye, he’s in The Chattan, at the moment. He’s gone to test the waters, to see when it’s safe to go home.”
“Ah, well I hoped to see him this trip.”
“I imagine he’ll return, in a day or two.” Garth glanced around the area their carriage parked. “Wi’ good news, I hope.” He opened the door and gestured for his friend to precede him.
They climbed in, to join their children.
****
“I have questions I didn’t feel I could ask anyone else. That’s why I wrote to ye.” Garth poured mead into his ceramic stein and a glass of port for Livesey.
“How may I help?” Livesey took the glass and sipped the port appreciatively.
“When the twins were born, our daughter came first. Our son was turned and had to be shifted in order to get him headed in the right direction. We were fortunate, Mallow was in the room. She helped, managed to move her brother so he’d be birthed properly. Granny Mae said that he and Amalie wou’ die if he wasn’t turned.”
Heath nodded. “It’s often the case, with twins, that one is turned in the wrong direction. If the babe can’t be put right, well there’s a good chance the mother can die, unless a surgeon’s handy.”
“I see. Well, my conundrum is this; I said no more children. I canna…will no’, take the chance she’ll die. It’s no’ worth the risk of her life or her health. She thinks I’m daft and still holds a grudge, that I took care of it myself. What say ye?” Garth leaned back in the deep chair and took a long pull on the mead.
Livesey pondered Garth’s problem. “Has Amalie recovered from the birth?”
“That’s another difficulty we face. She’s no’ nearly as spry as she was after Ewan.”
“It’s to be expected, though. Garth, she’s away from home, in a strange house. Her children are temporarily set up here. She’s waiting for her life to begin again, at home. She’ll not rest until she’s in more permanent surroundings.”
“I’d no’ thought of tha’. What about the bairns? Amalie’s about to turn thirty. You saw her at dinner. She’s tired.”
Heath grinned. “I saw her eating well. She’s feeding both twins?”
“Aye.” Garth scrubbed his chin with a knuckle. “I offered a wet nurse, but she ‘respectfully declines’.”
“It takes a great deal of energy to feed twins. Combine that with being away from home.” Heath shook his head. “She’s homesick and needs to get her children settled.”
Garth pondered the fire for a moment. “Ye’re right. The signs are there, I just don’t ken how to read them. She’s a mystery to me, that lass.”
Heath laughed. “Katherine and I married twenty-one years ago. I’m still trying to figure out her way of thinking.” He leaned toward Garth. “I shall be sorely vexed, should you learn to decipher Amalie, before I do Katherine.”
Garth chuckled. “I dragged ye all the way up here to explain my wife to me.” He shook his head and raked his hand through his hair. “I wonder what our offspring are up to.”
“They went for a walk, in the gardens.” Heath raised a brow. “Don’t be surprised if my son asks to speak with you privately, before we leave.”
Garth grinned. “I almost like ’im too well to comply. My daughter can be a handful.”
“You raised her that way, Garth. Are you surprised?”
“Nay, she’s a tough one, when she has to be. I reared her to become The Mackintosh.”
“Well, God bless her husband, if she’ll have one, then.”
“Aye, he’ll need to be a prayerful man, fer sure.” Garth smiled. “A verra prayerful man.”
****
“So, Moy Hall is your other home?” Edmund patted Mallow’s hand, resting in the crook of his arm.
She watched him, tilting her head to see around the brim of her bonnet, a stoic smile in place. “It’s part of my inheritance. We never lived here, as Da prefers the castle, nearer The Chattan. My grandmother, as ye wou’ call her, lives here. Da paid fer it, but she had it built. She has verra fine taste. It’s a shame she’s such a hag.”
Edmund turned a shocked expression on her. “You feel that way about your grandmother?”
“She’s Da’s stepmother. She was a cousin to his own mam. She’s a vicious sort of woman, who delights in o
ther people’s misery and thinks girls aren’t worth educating. She says they’ll learn all they need to know from their husbands.”
“That’s rather archaic thinking, Mallow. Are you certain she believes that way?”
“Aye, she has no problem articulating her feelings, vulgar though they are, sir.” She straightened and clasped Edmund’s arm firmer. I don’t ken why I’m wastin’ time with him. He an arrogant Englishman, fer pity’s sake.
Edmund cast a sidelong glance her way. “My grandparents are wonderful. I’m sure they’ll love you.”
“Mam’s folks just left us. They made me long to see Dublin and their home. They were grand, verra well-educated, kind, and well-mannered. Her father’s a rabbi.” She checked his response.
His eyes widened. “A rabbi? I was not aware that Lady Mackintosh is Jewish.”
“Aye, she’s a rabbi’s daughter, verra well versed in scripture and Torah, tha’s Biblical law. We’ve begun to teach Bible, at our school in The Chattan. I so long to go home.”
He smiled, patted her hand again, and stopped. “I understand, Mallow.” He hesitated, gazing into her eyes. “May I have a word with your da?”
One elegant brow rose, her voice hushed. “Whatever for, Edmund?”
He reddened and cleared his throat. “I’d like to speak to him concerning our relationship.”
“And what relationship might that be? I thought we were friends.”
“We are!” He hastened to assure her. They walked a moment longer. “But there comes a time, and I feel it will be soon, that we may be more than friends.”
She paused, in her step and he stopped, turning to study her. “Edmund, I have a great deal of responsibility. All my life Da’s trained me to be The Mackintosh. Could ye really love me so much that ye’d not mind if I carry on my family’s heritage?” She wore the most delightful frown.
Edmund appeared thoughtful. “Aye, I believe I love ye anyway. I, too, have a legacy to bear. At some point we must speak about our responsibilities.”
“Why is that, sir?” She turned to the path once again. He kept his pace matched to hers.
“So that we understand our duty to our families, and each other.” He explained seriously.
“I see.”
They walked on, admiring the fine, curved lawn, the manicured path along the firth. They took a few stone steps down closer to the loch.
Mallow gazed out across the still water. I play a dangerous game with this young man. He’s beginnin’ to think I’m serious.
Edmund released Mallow’s hand, stuffing his in his pockets, and joined her study of the still, reflective water. He watched the sky’s mirror image. An osprey flew overhead and dove, shattering the perfect surface, before them. It flapped away violently, clutching a fish in its deadly talons.
“This is beautiful, Mallow. I don’t mean the man-made parts. All of it. Scotland’s the loveliest place I’ve ever visited.” He turned to her. “Almost as lovely as the lass in front of me.” He moved nearer, bent, and kissed her soft, rosy mouth.
He pulled back. His expression changed. He bent to kiss her again.
This time Mallow placed her gloved hand against his cheek. When he straightened he looked into her eyes and turned away. He cleared his throat.
I don’t fathom this strange feelin’ about Edmund. How can it change, in a flash, from thinkin’ I’m teasin’ ’im to thinkin’ I love ’im? I’m confused. I must talk to Mam, about this.
Edmund whirled, catching her in reverie. “Mallow, you didn’t answer my question about speaking to your da.”
She glanced up, from under her bonnet and pursed her lips. “Aye, ye may speak to Da, Edmund.” My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. Does fallin’ in love rob ye o’ being yer own person?
Edmund nodded and offered his arm. She slipped her hand in the bend near his elbow and felt a flush, when he smoothed the top of her glove, with his fingertips.
****
After dinner the men retired to the library. Garth produced the cigar box and offered them round to his guests.
Heath Livesey shook his head. “Not for me, old man. Katherine would kill me. I will have a glass of that fine port though.” He took one of four deep leather arm chairs, near the fire.
Edmund grinned and shook his head too. “No thank you, sir. Might I speak freely?”
Garth replaced the top on the cigar box, empty handed, with a sigh. “Aye, ye may.” He poured Heath a glass of port and joined him near the fire. Garth turned a deep gaze on Edmund. “Cou’ this be abou’ my daughter?”
“Aye, sir. I firmly believe that I’m in love with Mallow. I asked her permission to speak with you.”
“And she obviously relented?” Garth brows rose.
“After…well a bit of coaxing, yes.” Edmund clenched his hands behind his back, warming himself by the wood fire.
“I see. What are yer intentions, Edmund?” Garth perched on the edge of his chair. “Sit. I prefer to see my daughter’s first victim in a comfortable chair.”
Edmund laughed. “Is that the way you’ll view any man, in love with her?” His face flushed as he sat across from Garth.
The Mackintosh joined him, with a chuckle, and leaned back. He stared at the ceiling a moment. “Edmund, my daughter is no’ an easy young woman to ken. She’s unique, in that she’s trained to take my place, should I die, prior to one of her brothers comin’ of age, to handle the responsibilities.”
“I understand that, sir. I’m the only option my father has as heir. I must succeed in that endeavor, to care for my mother and sisters.” He watched Garth carefully. “I would ask you for her hand in marriage.”
“What of yer studies at university? Ye have plans, lad, ye need to see to them.”
“That’s true, but Mallow and I can live in the family home near Cambridge whilst I complete my degree.”
“Have ye told her ye desire to live in a city?” Garth watched the youngster with narrowed eyes.
“Nay, we’ve not spoken of marriage yet, sir. I intend to do so, before Father and I leave.”
“I see. Well, ye have my blessing, but I don’t want ye to get yer hopes too high. The lass prefers the country, to the city.” He glanced around the room. “All this is a bit much fer her. I think ye may find she has a penchant fer wide open spaces.”
“I’ve thought of that, sir, and hesitate to pursue the matter with only a home in town, a small sleepy town, but nonetheless….”
“Talk with her, lad and let me ken wha’ she says. A long engagement might be suitable to her. Gives ye both time to come to terms wi’ a new life. I’m sure yer mother will wan’ to meet her.” Garth brushed his knuckle across the scar on his chin.
“Aye, I spoke to Mother and she suggested Father and I invite your family to the country estate. Will you ask Lady Mackintosh to consider a trip to our home? When she’s recovered, of course.” Edmund sat back and sighed.
Garth grinned. “Aye, I’ll do tha’. Are we finished then?”
“Aye, sir, for the moment.”
“Then let’s talk about fishin’, fer Loch Moy’s teamin’ wi’ fish. We can start early in the mornin’ and have enough caught fer supper, on the morrow.”
“Mallow will accompany us, I hope. You have little confidence that the three of us can supply an adequate number of fish to feed the household.” Heath ventured.
“I’ll ask her to take pity on us and come along.” Mackintosh toyed with his cold pipe and longed for a smoke. “I do believe I’ll take a walk beside the loch. It’s a lovely evenin’.”
“Sounds the very thing, mind if I join you?” Livesey stood and deposited his glass on a side table.
“Not at all.” Garth stretched out of his chair. “Edmund?”
“I…think I’ll find Mallow.”
“Send one o’ the girls to fetch her. They likely ken where she’s hidin’.”
****
“So wha’ do ye think, Mam?” Mallow blew her runny nose and wiped tears, from
her face with a lovely embroidered handkerchief.
Amalie studied the Turkish rug, under her feet, before answering. She gazed at the lovely princess, across from her, with awe and a great deal of affection. “I think you might well be on your way to becomin’ a woman. I have little experience with men, lass, but I knew when your da kissed me. I was in love, but havin’ never felt such an emotion, I was also afraid. Fortunately, we married a few hours later, so I had no time to ponder my fear.”
Mallow smiled. “I’m afraid too and not at all sure that Edmund and I want the same things from life. For my part, I’d be content to marry a Mayhew and live in The Chattan. I doubt Da wou’ be happy about it, though.”
Amalie laughed. “Probably not. He sees you as his successor and a challenge to any man, who thinks himself worthy of your hand. Do you think you could marry a man you controlled?”
Mallow, frustrated, rolled her eyes heavenward. “That’s why I’d marry a Mayhew. Those young men do whatever I ask, anytime. I don’t have to be bothered with ’em behavin’ disagreeably.”
“But darlin’, marriage isn’t about the runnin’ of things. It’s about being partners, in all that affects you.” Amalie reached for Mallow’s hands. “You marry for love. You have that option, and a lot of lasses don’t, but be sure he’s someone you like, as well.”
Mallow frowned. “I haven’t thought of it like that. I’d marry a man, just to have bairns, without giving a lot of thought to a sire, except that he’s easy to look upon, and halfway intelligent.”
The ladies sat quietly for a moment.
Mallow’s voice became reverent. “Wha’ did Da whisper to ye when ye were havin’ the bairns?”
Amalie blushed. “Just what I needed to hear.”
Mallow’s eyes widened. “Oh!” She laid her hand over her heart. “He’d do that because he kens ye.”
“Your father knows me better than anyone ever has.”
Mallow sat back. “I think I’m startin’ to see how marriage works.”
A tap on the door brought both of them around. Gerty stuck her smiling face inside. “Master Livesey’s askin’ fer ye, Mallow.” She closed the door quietly.