The Emerald Tartan

by Patricia McGrew

  “Aye, that may be true. But, I have been a grown man for quite some time. I have no excuse for not returning several years ago.”

  “You had no way of knowing Percy would turn into a complete scoundrel. A lot of men marry for money. With you gone, you had every right to believe Percy had what he wanted – the estate. He had not mistreated your sisters in any way while you were there, had he?”

  “No. That is true.”

  “We cannot live by hindsight, Ian. We can operate only based upon what we know at the time of the decision-making process. If you could put yourself back at the estate, fourteen years ago, knowing what you knew then, would your decision to leave the estate have been any different?”

  Ian hesitated. “No. I did what I had to do at the time.”

  “Exactly. So why are you obsessing about it now? It is done. You cannot change the past, no matter how much you might like to do so. What you can do now is to embrace the future, and if your sisters’ lives have been unpleasant for whatever reason, it is now within your power to help them make the future better. Focus on that. That is the only thing you can change – the future. So let’s deal with that, but together. Please do not leave me out.”

  Tension melted away from his face. As the carriage driver slowed and pulled aside to let a group of equestrians pass them by, Ian looked directly into Lydia’s sparkling green eyes. He drew her close to him and kissed her. The ladies and gentlemen on horseback twittered and laughed amongst themselves at the public display of affection between Ian and Lydia.

  Lydia regained her composure, searched Ian’s face, then asked, “What was that for?”

  “For being my other half –my saner, calmer, more rational half. I should have spoken with you earlier, but I was so overcome with guilt and shame, I couldn’t bring myself to even mention it to you. I think I will always feel some guilt, but you are right. I cannot undo the past. I can only work on the future. I will do everything I can to make the future better for my sisters and niece than they could ever imagine. I will also do the same for us.”

  “Two days and we will sail for Edinburgh. Just a little longer, sweetheart!” She kissed his nose and held his hand closely to her heart.

  The ten days they spent with her mother and Captain David flew by in a series of small dinner parties, which culminated in one last gala evening. The next morning Ian and Lydia departed for Fallkirk, Scotland on the next packet ship to Edinburgh. In a hastily arranged agreement after the last party, Caroline and Captain David agreed to follow them to Scotland on another packet ship that departed the next day.

  CHAPTER 36

  Trotting slowly, the two horses followed by a cart, full of luggage, ambled toward the main house. The once grand and noble-looking house had deteriorated over the years. Repairable? Yes. But definitely no longer a welcoming sight. Two women, dressed in work dresses, stood near the entrance gate to the main house.

  Peals of laughter rang out. “I told you, Belinda! It is them! Ian, Ian! Can you not get the horses to move any faster?” queried Annie.

  “We should have dressed in the new dresses today,” moaned Belinda. “I didn’t mean to greet him like this. I just didn’t think he would arrive until the morrow.”

  “Belinda, we couldn’t be sure when he would arrive, and we wanted to start the cleaning of the main house. I couldn’t be happier the tenants finally moved out. What they did to our house was a crime. We will clean up once we show Ian and his bride to their room.”

  The reunion was everything Ian had hoped for. He could see a myriad of emotions fighting for control in Belinda’s face. But rather than address serious issues immediately upon his arrival, he decided to speak with Belinda and Annie after dinner. A couple of hours later, Ian and Lydia settled into their rooms, and Sing Hee was made to feel at home in his new quarters; it was time for dinner.

  Over dinner, Ian explained that his in-laws, Caroline and Captain David, would be joining them in a couple of days. The two had stopped to spend a little time in Edinburgh with some of their friends.

  Just before dinner, Ian took Belinda and Annie into the study, so he could explain to them how he came across Percy in San Francisco, and how he learned about the separation between Percy and Belinda. Belinda had aged over the last intervening years and lost a considerable amount of weight, but he could see the hope in her eyes for a better future. She was still a beautiful woman, but she was no longer the plump, frivolous woman he remembered.

  Before he could say anything, Belinda brought up her daughter, Sara.

  “Your niece, Sara, will be here tomorrow evening just before dinner. She is visiting some friends in Buckhaven. We did not tell her of your arrival, because we did not want to get her hopes up. We have had a rather difficult time of it for the last few years, and we were not certain as to when you would arrive. So, we sent her to visit with some friends for a couple of days. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Actually, it was a good idea. I have some rather unpleasant things to share with you about Percy. It is best our conversation not go beyond these walls.”

  Ian related to Belinda and Annie a portion of the events in San Francisco and briefly mentioned Percy had passed away while there. He tried to spare his sisters the more gruesome details of Percy’s business, but they learned enough to understand that he had not been a very nice person.

  His studious Annie, still a bookworm, took in everything Ian had to say. She sat quietly for a while pondering the ramification of all his words. She stood up, all five feet of her, and declared, “Ian is right, Belinda. I think it best we not mention Percy again. As far as Sara knows, he passed away unexpectedly, and that is why he never returned and was unable to provide for us. She need not be burdened with the details. She is ten years old. Let’s let her have her dreams.”

  Ian added, “Yes, and it is about time for you two women to start having some dreams fulfilled too. Belinda, we will be hiring help for both the main and dowager houses, and I will add an addition on to the dowager’s house so it is more comfortable for you. Additionally, I suggest we update the decorations and furnishings, unless you would rather move into the main house. And, Annie, would you like to have a season in London?”

  Both women looked startled. “Ian,” began Annie, “while we may not have had much money, we have not been destitute. Our lives have not been totally miserable. While I shouldn’t speak for Belinda, I will. I think an addition to the dowager’s house is a grand idea. Further, I have no interest in having a season in London. But, I do have something else which I want very much.”

  “What is that?” asked Ian.

  “A chance to go to medical school in Edinburgh.”

  Ian sat down as though he had just had the wind knocked out of him. “What? I have never heard of such a thing! You are a woman,” shouted Ian.

  “Well, I am glad you noticed. Nevertheless, I decided a long time ago if I ever had a chance to do whatever I wanted to do in life, I would become a doctor. Give me one good reason why I cannot become a doctor – other than the fact I am a woman.”

  He knew he was in dangerous territory and decided the safe thing to do was to talk with Lydia. “I will talk with you later about it. For now, we should get back to the dining room for dinner.”

  Dinner was a noisy, raucous affair. Everyone was excited and all seemed to talk at once. When the time came for port and cigars, Ian said, “Since I am the only man who drinks port and smokes cigars here today, let’s dispense with that tradition, unless some of you ladies would like a wee bit of port with me.”

  There was stunned silence at first. Then much to Ian’s surprise, all three of the ladies said, “yes”. Once the port had been poured, Ian excused himself from the parlor briefly, and returned with a set of bagpipes he had stored years ago in the hidden closet in his room. Entertaining the ladies and Sing Hee with his bagpipes was the perfect choice for a perfect day and evening for everyone. Much laughter and joy filled the house for a first time in many years.


  After music and port, everyone discussed the idea of Annie going to medical school. The University of Edinburgh, which was well-known around the world for its medical program, did not admit women to its medical program. However, Annie insisted she was prepared to cut her hair short, bind her chest, and to register at the school as Andrew MacLeod. In spite of Ian’s automatic voicing a woman could not get into medical school, along with the insinuation it would be too difficult for a woman, he knew in his heart that if any woman could do this, it would be his sister Annie leading the way. There was a striking similarity between the personalities and determination of Annie and Lydia, and he knew better than to say an unequivocal “no”. So, it would be off to medical school for Annie if they could come up with a plan to make it work.

  Annie, flushed with excitement, brought out the information she had gathered on the University of Edinburgh and its outstanding medical school to discuss with Lydia.

  At that point Ian motioned Belinda away from the group in the parlor to accompany him to his library. Quietly, he closed the door after Belinda entered the room.

  “Belinda, I need to talk with you about my disappearance fourteen years ago and to explain to you what happened.”

  She put her forefinger over his lips. “Nay, Ian. It is I who must apologize to you. I distinctly recall you telling me you believed Percy and his father were out to get rid of you and to seize the estate for their own benefit. I was blinded by my love for Percy. There is nothing you could have said or done to make me see what a scoundrel he was. After I caught Percy with another woman at Edinburg, he spent less and less time here and more time in Edinburgh and London. I think he had given up on the idea of me giving him a son. His father joined him in Edinburgh. By the way, his father died about ten years ago.

  “I did not realize he had gambled away most of our assets until it was too late. One day a group of men came to the house and began moving pieces of furniture from the attic to the dowager’s house. They gave me no explanation other than to say that Percy had ordered it done. He only told me he had a surprise for me.

  “The next day, he announced that he was moving to London, and that Annie, Sara and I were to move into the dowager’s house because he had rented out the main house for income. When I protested, he slapped me, walked out the door, and never returned.

  “Ian, I have no one to blame but myself. There were all sorts of clues Percy was neither honest nor faithful. Frequently, large pieces of silver came up missing. He always blamed the maids or the butler and made a habit of firing staff members. As a result, when we moved into the dowager’s house, there was no staff left at all. Annie and I had to do everything ourselves.”

  “How long have you been in the dowager’s house?” asked Ian.

  “We have lived there for eight years. But before you get upset all over again, you should know I have learned a great deal in that time. I have learned about things that are important. While I would prefer to not to work so hard, I will never again take for granted the value of someone else’s work. Now I understand how much work is involved in just the basics of everyday life, such as preparing a meal, doing the laundry, or caring for my daughter.”

  His wide-opened eyes stared at Belinda. He was speechless. Finally, he spoke. “Belinda, I don’t ken what to say. You are so different from the sister I knew. You only cared about dresses and ribbons and such.”

  “Yes, yes,” laughed Belinda. I guess I needed a bit of a sample of real life. Although I certainly didn’t think I needed one as harsh as I got. Nevertheless, it is all right. I have matured as a person during the intervening years.”

  “But I should have returned to check up on you several years ago. I didn’t do so because I couldn’t get passed my own hurt pride. I cannot undo the past for you or any of the hurt you experienced, but I can and will do everything in my power to make your life whatever you would like it to be now.”

  Belinda smiled and gave him a heart-felt hug. “Thank you, Ian. Right now all I want is for my Sara to be happy and to develop into a fine, young woman.”

  “Then, would you like to move back into the main house tomorrow?”

  “No, Ian. I would not like that at all. I have grown rather fond of the dowager’s house, and I have come to love my independence. Besides I seem to recall something about an addition to the dowager’s house. I am rather looking forward to that!”

  “Och. You are right. I did say that. You will forgive me then?” “Ian. Have you not been hearing a word I have been saying? There is nothing to forgive. I am where I am in life because of the choices I have made. You didn’t and couldn’t make my choices for me, so you bear no responsibility. If there is any forgiving to be done, it is I who should ask you for forgiveness. Because of my blindness and stubbornness, you had to flee for your life.”

  “I must admit without these past thirteen, uh, now fourteen years, I would not have grown or learned the skills I now have in sailing and in business. I am now independently wealthy. I can refurbish our homes, and most importantly, I have my Lydia. For the first time in years, Belinda, I feel as though I can breathe and my demons are fading. Thank you for this talk.”

  Ian put his elbow out for Belinda. “Shall we join the others?”

  “Happily so,” she agreed.

  As they approached the living room, a loud pounding resounded from the front door area. “Is anyone at home,” a voice yelled.

  Ian looked at Belinda and said, “I will get that. It sounds like Dr. Miller. He was not sure if he could join us this evening or not, but he is here now.”

  “Who are you talking about?” she asked as they both walked to the front door.

  My best friend, Dr. Thomas Miller, but I call him Doc. He has sailed with me for years and is going to locate in Fallkirk, so he can be the doctor for the estate and for town. He is a fine man.”

  Ian opened the door, and Dr. Miller stepped into the foyer and removed his hat.

  “Good evening, everyone,” he said.

  They all walked into the parlor and Ian made the introductions. When Ian got to Annie, the doctor just stared at her. Annie blushed. There was an awkward silence. Suddenly, the doctor seemed to have remembered he was in a room full of people and mumbled to Ian, “Yes, I would love a glass of port. It will warm me up for the ride back to Fallkirk.”

  Annie busied herself by straightening out and refolding her lace handkerchief.

  About an hour later, Dr. Miller rose from his chair and announced it was time for him to leave. He was going to have a busy day tomorrow setting up his surgery and offices.

  “Perhaps I could help you out with that, Dr. Miller,” volunteered Annie. “I would love to see how you are going to set up your office.”

  This time it was Dr. Miller’s turn to blush. “Ah, yes, that would be delightful Miss Annie. I will send a hack for you around mid-morning if it is all right with your brother.”

  “Of course,” said Ian.

  ***

  Later that evening, Lydia and Ian snuggled under the down comforter. “I don’t think I have ever seen Dr. Miller so flustered in the presence of a woman. And Annie looked just as flummoxed.”

  “It was a rather strange encounter, wasn’t it? agreed Lydia. Did you hear what David said about my mother before we left London, Ian?”

  “About what?”

  “About finding mother as his perfect mate.”

  Ian nibbled gently on Lydia’s bare neck. “My dear, a man would have to be a complete fool not to recognize perfection when it stares him in the face. And you, my love, are perfection personified. From the time I realized when I simply talked things out with you, rather than trying to make all of the decisions myself, my life not only became simpler, it became more fun. There is nothing the two of us, together, cannot do. In fact, I have a wonderful project for us to work on. Come closer, my love!”

  His eyes twinkled with all the devilishness he could muster as his hands sensually massaged her back.

  “Actually,
sweetheart. You have already have that project underway.”

  He looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” Lydia’s face beamed, and her eyes danced. Then, slowly she looked down at her stomach.

  For a moment longer Ian puzzled her riddle. Then it hit him. “You mean you are going to have a baby?” he croaked out.

  Lydia kissed him deeply and whispered her joyful secret to him. “Soon, Ian, there will be three of us to mull over the future. Just think how much better three heads will be than two!”

  He caught her mouth with his, and together they celebrated the joys of love and life.

  *** THE END ***