In Pursuit of a Scottish Lady (Moonstone Magic Book 2)

by Hunt, Brenda

  He spoke of the war. Did he have bad memories, too? She heard the war was very hard on the soldiers coming home. Maybe, he was in need of them, as much as she was in need of him.

  Worth could see her weakening. “How about we try it for a month? If for some reason either of us does not like the arrangement, I will be on my way.” Hopefully, this would convince her.

  She stared deep into those gold flecked brown eyes. She saw sincerity reflected in them. She wanted desperately to believe him, but a part of her was hesitant. Finally, she nodded. “Very well, we can try it for a month.” She turned to leave but he caught her arm. She felt the warmth go up her arm and her heart beat faster. She looked down at his hand and watched him reluctantly let her go. Why did his touch affect her so?

  “Thank you,” replied Worth. She had agreed to the month. It was up to him now to make sure he was able to stay longer. He offered his arm. “Shall we go downstairs and check on what Elsbeth has fixed for lunch.”

  Lili nodded and placed her hand on his arm. Then she stopped. “Didn’t you say you were on your way to Edinburgh for some duke or something?”

  Worth stopped. “Yes, the Duke of Worthingston. I will write him and explained to him I have been delayed. It wasn’t a very important missive, so I am certain, he will understand, if I tell him, I will check into it at some later time.” She would remember that. He hated lying to her. In actuality, he was not. Lili was his missive and he was aware of what she needed. It appeared, he was in the process of seeing to it.

  Lili looked dismayed. “He sounds like an easy man to work for.” She had believed dukes were powerful men who were to be feared.

  Worth smiled slightly. “He can be.” He placed his hand over hers as they walked back to the great room in companionable silence. He wondered, what was going on in her head. He had thought it might take a bit more convincing on his part.

  Lili wondered why she had agreed to this. Colin was very persuasive. He made her feel nervous, not like Edward. No, it was more than nervousness. She didn’t understand what, but she would find out. She had a month to decide

  In the kitchen, four pairs of eye looked up in expectation as they walked in.

  Lili looked at them. “Colin will be staying with us for the next month to help us.”

  The twins screamed their approval. Alysa came over and hugged Worth. Aiden smiled at this sister. Elsbeth smiled and nodded. Rab grinned.

  Chapter 6

  When I saw you, I was afraid to meet you…

  When I met you, I was afraid to kiss you…

  When I kissed you, I was afraid to love you…

  Anon

  As the days came and went, a different routine established itself at the keep. Everyone settled in as though it had been the routine all along. The weather improved, as spring made is appearance known to the countryside. Slowly, Lili began depending on Colin, little things without realizing it. He came to her every morning, telling her what he and Rab had planned for the day. Elsbeth had breakfast waiting for them in the morning. Morning chores were done. Lili gave Aiden and Alysa their morning lesson. Aiden helped Colin and Rab with afternoon chores. Lili taught Alysa womanly duties, cooking with Elsbeth help, sewing. At the end of the day while Elsbeth and Lili prepared the evening meal, Colin gave the twins their evening lessons.

  The first thing Colin and Rab repaired was the leak in the corner of the roof on the north side of the keep. Lili watched from the ground, amazed by his agility. She and Rab had made an attempt at it prior to winter setting in, but had only managed to repair it enough to keep the snow out.

  Days turned to weeks. The only thing Lili had trouble with was the feelings she felt slowly growing concerning Colin. His touch sent her pulses racing. He was forever using every excuse to take her hand in his, to put her arm through his. She no longer jumped at his touch as she did at first. Slowly, she became used to them. She desperately tried to ignore the feelings but each day, each time, the feelings grew stronger.

  Lili also worried that Colin was developing feelings for her, as well. It hurt that there was nothing she could give him. Everything she had, everything that was hers to give had been taken from her. No man would ever want a woman that had no dowry and was tarnished, damaged, even if she was lady of the keep.

  Every night, Colin escorted her to her room after putting the twins to bed. Nearly every night, she tossed and turned wondering, wishing it was all different. But it wasn’t. Her life had changed that afternoon last fall, the day her uncle took everything. No amount of wishing was going to change what happened. Instead she learned to make the best of what was there for her. She had to, for the twins’ sake. But her feelings where Colin was concerned, every day, they grew stronger and became more and more difficult to deal with.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Worth settled into an easy routine at the keep. There were so many repairs that required his attention. He discussed his plans every morning with Lili. It had come to be the best part of his day. He felt, if he included her in his decisions, he could slowly win her trust. When he and Rab went into town for supplies, little did she know, he supplemented what she gave him. He knew, she would not have accepted it. Rab knew and Worth was certain Rab had told his mother, but neither let it be known to Lili.

  Soon, he would have to go into Edinburgh for more supplies. He had sent a letter via courier to his barrister in London to have funds transferred and deposited in his name in Edinburgh. He would need those funds to continue the work here.

  He knew he was shirking his duties back home. But here at Glendenning, he was Colin and not the Duke of Worthingston. The peace and quiet and the simplicity of life here was a balm to his soul.

  He hadn’t known he needed this time to heal until now. After all he had seen in the war, then Caroline and Grayson death, all had affected him more than he cared to admit. He had not liked the jaded, hardened person he had become.

  And there was Lili. His red head, Dulcey had told him, warned him about. Every day he watched her and admired her, her bravery in all she did for her family and for the keep. Knowing, she had gone out as a highwayman frightened him. He was ever so grateful it was he, she had robbed. Someone else and it could all have gone so terribly wrong. He was bound and determined, she was never going to take to the road again.

  Lili was beginning to affect him more and more with each passing day, affect him as a woman affects a man. He had felt the connection from the very beginning but spending day in and day out with her in close proximity was beginning to take toll on his manhood. After walking her to her room, she invaded his dreams at night. All he could think about was bedding her.

  But he feared bedding her, for once was not going to be enough. He was afraid that once would only lead to forever. He was not ready for forever. He was so much older than she, not only in years, but in experience both worldly and intimately.

  Would she understand about his past? Would she understand about his present? He was a duke with duke responsibilities. As much as he enjoyed his life here and the simplicity of it, he knew he could not stay here. Eventually, he would have to return to his old life. He knew this life could not go on for forever. In the meantime, he would enjoy every day as a gift given him by the gods.

  Lili woke up to the spring sun shining through her bedroom windows. She smiled as she remembered the whispers of the past couple of days. She knew the twins nor Elsbeth would not let this day pass without some celebration of sorts. Today was her birthday, her twentieth birthday. She was quickly becoming what many would consider spinster. The last few months, Lili accepted this fact. Soon, she would no longer be considered of marriageable age. She shook her head. She resigned herself to living the rest of her life as the spinster aunt.

  Quickly, she did her morning absolutions and dressed for the day. She wore her light blue soft wool dress. She usually saved it for special occasions, but then wasn’t her birthday a special occasion.

  Lili walked into the great room. Aiden, Alysa, and Col
in were already seated breaking their morning fast.

  “Good morning to ye,” she said.

  Colin just nodded and grunted something that sounded like, “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, Lili,” answered the twins in unison but immediately looked down into their bowl of porridge as though the answers to all their prayers lay in the bottom of the bowl.

  Lili looked to Elsbeth and Rab but no one would look at her. Elsbeth was busy with the pot of porridge on the fire. Rab had walked out as she walked in and had not looked at her. Something was definitely amiss.

  Lili sat down with a sigh. Elsbeth placed a bowl of porridge on the table in front of her with a cup of hot chocolate. Lili looked up. Elsbeth had that secretive smile on her face. Yes, something was definitely afoot. She watched the twins gulp their food and look at Colin to see he had finished eating.

  “We promised Rab and Colin we would help them this morning,” stated Aiden with Alysa nodding her head.

  Colin looked to her expecting her to disagree.

  “I see no problem with that. It’s too pretty a day to spend indoors.” Lili replied.

  Colin nodded. “Good.” He walked out the door with the twins close on his heels.

  Lili turned to Elsbeth. “What is going on?”

  Elsbeth shook her head and smiled. “A cannae say.” She turned back to the fire.

  Lili sat sipping her chocolate wondering what everyone up to. She would just wait and let it play out. She would forego lessons for today. A day of leisure would be a welcome change.

  “I think I’ll go the library. It needs airing out. I think tis a good day,” stated Lili.

  Elsbeth nodded.

  Lili walked into the library. She walked over to the windows, drew back the curtains, and opened the windows with a flourish. The freshness of the spring air filled the room. Lili went about the room, dusting, humming as she worked. She felt the doldrums of long winter months was finally leaving the keep. The wild flowers and the blue bells were beginning to bloom on the hills. Spring was here at last.

  She worked enjoying the quiet and the peace. A few times, it crossed her mind, she wondered what the twins were up to. Instead, she decided to enjoy the alone time. It was something she had not had in a very long time, peace. She had often wondered if it still existed.

  Lili turned and gasped, her hand went immediately to her heart. Colin stood in the doorway.

  Colin walked in. “I’m sorry, Lili. I did not intend to startle you.” She had looked so relaxed when he walked in. He had not wanted to disturb her. He had enjoyed watching her for those few moments. She was more relaxed than he had ever seen her. He watched her walk about the room. She had a natural grace that most women he knew would envy. The soft blue wool of her dress hugged her body. The blue of her dress brought out the blue of her eyes. Those eyes that haunted his dreams at night.

  “I did not hear you.” He was alone. Where were the twins?

  “I have been instructed to bring you somewhere. I am not to tell to where or why,” he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

  Lili looked at him suspiciously. “You have?”

  Colin nodded and offered her his arm. “My lady, your presence is requested by the laird of the keep.”

  Lili smiled as she took his arm. Why did being near him make her heart beat faster? She walked with him through the empty keep out into the yard. When they walked on out of the yard into the nearby field, Lili looked to Colin. “Where are we going?”

  Colin smiled. “Trust me.”

  Lili looked at him through narrowed eyes. She did trust him, did she not?

  Colin chuckled and continued walking.

  Lili followed where he led, wondering where he was going. She knew the area. She just wondered, exactly where he was taking her. They rounded a small copse of trees that opened to a small open meadow that has been cleared.

  “Happy Birthday Lili!” shouted everyone.

  The twins, Rab and Elsbeth had a large picnic set up. Lili smiled.

  Colin leaned over and whispered in ear. “I told you to trust me.”

  His breath against her ear made her shiver in a good way.

  The twins came over and each grabbed at hand to lead her to the blanket they had set up. She sat down where they directed her to. Aiden and Alysa spoke at once.

  “Did we surprise you?”

  “Do you like it?”

  Lili laughed. “Yes, I love it. Thank you all, so very much.”

  “Colin thought of it,” announced Aiden. Everyone added their words of agreement, everyone except Colin.

  Lili turned to him as he sat down beside her. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me. Elsbeth made you a cake.”

  Alysa chimed in. “I helped Elsbeth.”

  “And I helped Rab and Colin clear this,” added Aiden.

  “Thank you again, all of you. This is the best birthday ever.” She hugged Aiden and Alysa.

  Elsbeth passed out plates of food. Colin had killed several quails and had them roasting on an open fire he had built.

  Colin sat back and watched. Lili’s face softened. The worry lines disappeared from her face. She turned into a beautiful young woman. The ton would find fault with her red hair and the light cream of her skin instead of that pasty paleness that was so in favor. But he could not. She was taller, thinner than most of the women he was drawn to. Nor was she as full-bosomed, as the women he spent time with. But then the women he entertained himself with, were not young innocents such as Lili.

  He sat watching her as she sat laughing with the twins. It was hard to imagine, she had been out that night playing at being a highwayman. She could have well been shot and killed that night. No, he would make certain, she would not be out doing such a stunt again.

  They ate and talked and laughed. Colin listened and learned about their life when Lili’s father was the laird. He was glad she and the twins had for the most part, a happy childhood. Their father had cared for them while alive. He should have made certain they would be taken care of after his death.

  Alysa sat down beside him. “Can we give Lili her present now?”

  Colin looked around to everyone who nodded.

  Lili looked at them suspiciously.

  “Yes, why don’t you get it Ali,” said Colin.

  Aiden followed Alysa to another unopened basket. Lili had seen it, but thought it held more food. Ali brought her present wrapped in a piece of cloth and placed it in her lap.

  Lili looked to each one of them. Carefully, under five pairs of watchful eyes, she unwrapped her package. She pulled out a carved wooden box.

  “Rab carved it,” volunteered Aiden. “Then he and Colin helped me paint it and put it together.”

  “Open it Lili,” said Ali. “Elsbeth and I put the velvet in. Aiden and I glued the stones on the top.” Ali leaned over and whispered, “They not real Lili, but they are pretty.”

  Lili smiled with tears in her eyes. It was a beautiful jewelry box. Their thoughtfulness touched her heart.

  “Do you like it Lil?” asked Aiden. He was worried. She hadn’t said a thing.

  She pulled Aiden and Ali to her and hugged them both tightly. “I love it. It is the best birthday present I have ever gotten.”

  Aiden hugged his sister. “Colin thought of it.”

  Lili looked over to Colin and mouth, “Thank you.”

  Colin smiled and nodded. How many women had he known would have loved a gift such as this? None, that he could remember. They would have wanted the jewels.

  Aiden and Ali opened it for her, explaining everything each of them had done. Lili listened and complimented them on what a great job.

  They spent the rest of the afternoon at the picnic. Rab had made a kite for Aiden and Alysa. Amid much laughter, Colin assisted Aiden in its flight. It took several attempts before it soared in the air.

  While Aiden flew the kite, Alysa gathered wildflowers. Lili showed Alysa how to braid the wildflowers into wreath for her ha
ir. Alysa and Aiden with Colin encouragements convinced Lili she needed one as well.

  The sun was slowly setting in the western sky when everyone made their way slowly back to the keep. Lili could see how tired the twins were.

  “I think you two need to go up to your room and get ready for bed.” Lili knew they were worn out when they didn’t argue and climbed the stairs to their room.

  Lili turned to Elsbeth, “What kind of help do you need to clean up?”

  Elsbeth shook her head. “A dinnae need ye. T’will not take long. Ye go put the twins to bed.”

  “A’ll see to the animals,” said Rab. “T’wont need no help,” he said to Colin.

  Colin nodded.

  Lili looked to Colin as he offered her his arm to escort her upstairs. She placed her hand on his arm. Why did touching him always make her heart beat faster?

  “I would like to thank you for your help with the jewelry box.”

  “It was Ali’s idea but Aiden had some definite ideas about it. He and Rab had some serious discussions concerning it,” Colin smiled.

  She smiled. Yes, she could see that happening. “Thank you, anyway.”

  They approached the twins’ rooms. She could hear them chattering away.

  “Did you both wash up?” Lili asked as she entered the room.

  Both nodded and hurriedly climbed into each their bed.

  “You do truly like your present?” asked Aiden.

  Lili sat at his bedside. She hugged him tight. “It is the best birthday ever. I love my present. I thank you very much for it.” She tucked him in. “Angels to watch over thee.”

  “And thee,” replied Aiden.

  Lili walked over to Ali’s bed. She removed Ali’s flower crown and placed it on spindle of her bed. She leaned over and hugged Ali.

  “I’m happy you liked your present Lili,” said Ali.