“What device?” Lucy asked as she spread the gown on the floor so Blair could step into it.
“I suppose it shall not matter now if you know, only do you promise not to tell anyone?”
Lucy pulled the bodice of the gown up and then walked around to the back to lace it. “I have no one to tell, Miss.”
“Well, ‘tis a trick, you see. Lady Bayington and I agreed to say I am not to inherit until I am thirty.”
Lucy stopped lacing the back of the dress. “It is not true?”
“Hardly. I received all of it shortly after my father died. I am not as wealthy as Mr. Whitfield mind you, but then no one is. When I told Mr. Whitfield how much it is, he said he doubts I could manage to spend it all, in three lifetimes. He is joking of course. Lace the dress a little tighter, please Lucy.”
The maid had almost forgotten what she was doing, and quickly returned to her chore. She helped Blair with her hair, her wreathlet, her shoes, found a white shawl for her, and then sent Blair off to her last dinner aboard the ship.
WHEN THE WHITFIELDS and Blair entered the dining salon, everyone turned to stare. This time they stared at Blair’s beauty. David was especially attentive, and Blair was once again flattered. Robin stayed with her parents, and when she waved, Blair smiled and waved back. Then she prayed Robin would not join them. She did not. Instead, Robin kept her eyes glued to the elevator door and the stairs, waiting, Blair assumed, for Lord O’Dell.
Her fiancé had still not arrived by the time Blair finished her dinner, and the music began. Shortly thereafter, David came bearing a note for her. She accepted it, read it, nodded her appreciation to David, and then laid it on the table where Claymore could reach it.
“It is working?” Abigail asked as soon as David was gone.
“Aye.”
Blair accepted a dance with the first man who asked her, intentionally left her shawl behind and then excused herself, and left the room. Fortunately, it was not as cold as it had been the night before, and when she looked, Lord O’Dell was waiting for her just a few feet down the promenade.
She ignored the way he stared at her dress, especially her low neckline and went to him. “You wished me to meet you?” she asked.
“I am happy you came. I did not think you would.”
“Because I made a spectacle of receiving a note that first night. That was because of the rude way in which I was received, as you might recall.”
“I do recall and am ashamed of their behavior.” He turned to look out over the water, what he could see of it, that is. It was a clear, calm night and the stars above were also reflected on the water. “Mr. Dedrick is quite fond of you,” he said.
Blair, on the other hand, gave him all her attention. “Is he? Unfortunately, I do not favor him.”
“Why not?”
“I cannae quite put my finger on it, but there is just something about him that...” she kept her eyes on the side of his face.
“And all this time I thought it was me you found annoying.”
Blair drew her head back with a shocked expression on her face. “Truly? Why did you think that?”
“Well, I seemed never to say anything right.”
“If you thought that, then I am profoundly sorry. It was not my intention.”
He turned to face her finally. “You do not find my telling you how beautiful you are offensive.”
She dropped her eyes to the middle of his chest. “I find hearing it from any man offensive. Hopefully, once I am married, I shall no longer have to endure it.”
“Perhaps you might even like hearing it from a husband?”
“Perhaps so.” She glanced away and quickly looked up at him.” Lord O’Dell, I must tell you how pleased I am that you intend to marry Miss Robinson. She is quite thrilled and very much in love with you. Is that what you wished to talk to me about?”
He boldly looked her in the eye. “I fear I have greatly erred where Miss Robinson is concerned, and I know not what to do.”
“How so? I thought you quite enamored with her wit and charm.”
“She truly is enjoyable, but I have made a terrible mistake and I know that now.”
“You do not love her?”
“I led her to believe I do, but...” Lord O’Dell dropped his gaze. “I cannot marry her when...”
“When what?”
He drew in an exasperated breath. “Since that day in the storm I have thought of nothing but you.”
Blair pretended her surprise very convincingly. “I dinna...”
“Tell me you have thought of me too.”
“Well, I...”
“You have; I know you have. I long to have you in my arms again.”
Blair touched his jacket lapel with her fingertips. “Yet, you have chosen Robin.”
“Surely you would not condemn me to a life without true love.”
She felt his arms go around her and she was about to weakly protest when his lips found hers.
Right on time Claymore shouted, “WHAT’S THIS!” He grabbed Blair’s arm, tore her away from Lord O’Dell, and hauled her back inside. Still pretending to be furious, he marched her into the dining room, burst through the door and shouted, “NOW YOU’VE DONE IT!” As soon as the music stopped and he had the attention of the entire room, he lowered his voice just a little. “You have embarrassed Mrs. Whitfield and I for the very last time!”
“Mr. Whitfield, I...” Blair tried to protest.
Behind him, Lord O’Dell dared to demand, “Unhand her, Sir.”
“Stay out of it, O’Dell,” Claymore harshly said, “or I shall see you flat on the floor. How dare you kiss Miss MacGreagor when you are engaged to Miss Robinson?”
Mortified, Lord O’Dell glanced at a shocked Robin, and then looked pleadingly at Blair. It was to no avail, for Blair would not even acknowledge him. In a huff, he turned around and walked out.
Blair just stood there with her head hung down while Claymore gathered his wife and their things. When he came back, he again harshly took hold of Blair’s elbow and guided her into the elevator.
Just before the door closed, Blair saw the hurtful way Robin looked at her and the tears streaming down her face. Even so, for the elevator operator’s sake, she kept her emotions in check. In a haze, she walked down the hallway to her room, assured the Whitfields she would be fine, and opened her door. Finally alone, she collapsed on the bed in a flood of tears.
That night, she packed her own belongings, chose what she would wear the next day, and spent the night in fitful sleep. When Lucy arrived bringing a fresh rose from Lord O’Dell, she rejected the rose and sent the maid away – and when someone knocked for a third time, got no answer, and slipped a third note under her door, she shoved all three back out unread.
Blair waited all morning but Robin did not come to say goodbye or even yell at her. As much as Blair wanted to watch the United Kingdom appear in the distance as they sailed toward land, she stayed in her room. She ate lunch, and when Abigail came to say they were about to land, she listened, felt the engines turn off, and guessed when the towboats began to push the massive ship into its berth.
Still, Robin did not come.
Blair did not think she would, so she sat down and wrote a letter explaining what truly happened. When Abigail agreed to deliver it, Blair was relieved. There was nothing left to do now but wait. She hoped and prayed Robin would understand and forgive her, but by the time they had docked and most of the first class passengers disembarked, Robin still had not come.
THE STEVEDORES CAME to take Blair’s traveling bags away, and then Claymore and Abigail came to get her, declaring the coast was clear enough to prevent Blair from having to endure another round of harsh stares. At last, she walked into the sunlight and Blair was never so happy to see anyone in her life as she was when she spotted Lady Laura Bayington waving to her from the dock below.
Unfortunately, before she could head down the stairs, Lord O’Dell stepped in front of her. “Move,” she demanded.
“I love you.”
“Of course you do,” Blair said. “But I dinna love you. I dinna even like you and I am certainly not inclined to let you near my inheritance. Please move out of my way.” At length he half bowed, tipped his hat, and walked away. She hoped Robin had witnessed the exchange, but when she glanced around, Robin was nowhere in sight. There was nothing left to do, but to fly down the steps into the loving arms of Laura Bayington.
Just before she got into Laura’s waiting automobile, Blair looked up once more and there, watching her, was David. His smile was warm, he was formally dressed, and he tipped his tall black hat, as if to say he admired what she had just done. She returned his smile, and then watched as he walked down the steps and disappeared into the crowd.
While they waited for the luggage, Abigail talked incessantly, Laura listened intently, and Claymore kept a fatherly eye out for any man who dared think Blair approachable. Blair looked, but saw nothing of the viscount and wondered how he managed to slip past the two men who stood at the bottom of the steps searching each face, it appeared, for someone in particular. She wished the viscount well, wherever he happened to be, for he had saved Robin from a disastrous marriage.
Just before they drove away, Blair took one last look at the massive ship that should have been a pleasure and turned out to be a nightmare.
THE EMBERS IN THE ORNATE hearth in Laura Bayington’s sitting room gave off a comforting warm glow and Blair was finally able to relax. The Whitfields had long since gone to bed, but she and her stepmother stayed up talking.
“Lady Bayington, I...” Blair started.
“My how formal you have become,” Laura said. “What, my darling Blair.”
“Would you hate me if I wanted nothing more to do with London’s society?”
Seated beside her on the sofa, Laura took Blair’s hand in both of hers. “Of course not. Abigail cabled me nearly every day to tell me of the upsets you were enduring. I thought you might not wish it, so I have not yet sent out the invitations.”
“I am relieved.”
“Had I not married your father, whom I loved with my every breath, I would want nothing to do with them either. I do it still for his other children.”
“I understand. I believe I would much rather tour with the Whitfields. Come with us? I can think of nothing I would love more.”
“Why not? I have nothing better to do and it is time to pay your aunt McKenna a visit at the castle.”
“I cannae wait to see her and Uncle Nicholas too.”
“Then we shall leave the instant Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield finish their visit with Charles and their daughter-in-law.
“Thank you.” Blair laid her head on Laura’s shoulder, could not hold her emotions back another moment, and once more cried.
CHAPTER 10
BLAIR WAS SO YOUNG when she left Scotland, she remembered very little of the MacGreagor Glen. The roof and the castle walls were complete but it still needed a great deal of work on the inside. It was the castle she remembered most, for it was the home Cameron first took her to after he found her. She loved Colorado too, but she felt a stronger connection to Glenartair castle. She visited the MacGreagor graveyard and spent hours finding the names she recognized from the lost MacGreagor stories. After that, she walked to Lindsey’s bridge. From the middle of the ancient bridge, she remembered Lindsey by tossing rose peddles in and watching as the river carried them toward the North Sea.
They spent a full week with Blair’s Aunt McKenna and Uncle Nicholas, then off the rest of them went to see as much of Scotland as time allowed. They picnicked in glens, visited ancient castles, saw where famous battles had taken place, and drank Scottish ale, which Claymore found most enjoyable. He ordered six cases sent back to Colorado and hoped they would arrive before he did. They laughed, rested, listened to bagpipes, tried dancing a jig, and saw almost every village from one end of Scotland to the other.
In good time, Blair recovered from her many heartaches. Her mother was not mentioned, not even by the people in Glenartair Village, and she began to feel a great burden finally lifted off her shoulder.
Yet, Robin had not forgiven her.
Although Blair left word with Lady Bayington’s butler as to where she would be should Robin try to contact her – Robin had not. A month passed, and newspapers spoke of nothing else but the details of the sinking of the Titanic. After realizing they originally had tickets on the Titanic’s return voyage, Abigail nearly passed out with fright and Claymore feared he would never get her on a ship again.
A picture of Robin finally appeared in an article displaying all of the 1912 debutants. She looked happy. Another month passed and Blair was still not forgiven. The newspapers said nothing of Mr. Dedrick, Lord O’Dell or the viscount, but she did not care to know any more about them anyway.
It was on a warm day in summer that Blair stood with her back to a tree and gazed across a loch at an ancient Scottish castle. In just a couple of weeks, she and the Whitfields would get on another ship and sail home. She could not wait to be back in her father’s arms.
Just now, however an unfamiliar automobile came into view. Blair paid little attention until it stopped right in front of her. The driver got out, opened the back door and to Blair’s wonderment, Robin stepped out. She was thrilled beyond belief, but instead she put her hands on her hips. “‘Tis about time you got here!”
“Mother only just gave me your letter last week,” Robin explained. “She was determined that I attend each and every dreadful party, tea, and ball. I came the moment I could and was so terrified that you had already gone back to America.”
Blair slowly smiled. “I feared you would never forgive me.”
“Forgive you? I cannot think how I shall ever thank you for keeping me from making the worst mistake of my life.”
Blair opened her arms and hugged her friend. “I have missed you so. It broke my heart to hurt you that way, and I feared I would never see you again.”
“It took me nearly a week to recover after we landed,” Robin admitted. “You did me another favor too. I ate like a pig and gained several pounds, which fully delighted my mother.”
When Blair giggled, so did Robin and it was the most glorious sound Blair had ever heard. “Where...”
“I cannot wait to tell you. Blair, I have met the most wonderful man, and he truly is wealthy. Odd, but I did not need your castoffs after all.”
Blair scoffed, “You never did. I want to hear all about every single moment. Did you meet the king? What did you think of...” with Robin’s arm around her, Blair walked back to the automobile, got in, and slid over so Robin could get in.
Life was finally good again.
The end
Beloved Secrets
Book 3
(The Lost MacGreagor Books)
Sample chapter
CHARLES MACGREAGOR was hired to rebuild Glenartair Castle after it burned four years earlier. His men were hard working, supplies were coming in on time finally, and he was well satisfied with the progress. He was satisfied, that is, until the floor of the old castle gave up another of its secrets.
CHAPTER 1
MACGREAGOR GLEN
Autumn, 1912
Fortunate were the times when the MacGreagors had no scandals laid at their doorstep. This, however, was not one of those times.
For generations, the MacGreagor clan lived in a glen that offered good hunting, grew sufficient crops, and had ample rolling hills upon which the livestock could graze. Eagles graced the land with an occasional flight from one end of the glen to the other. Red deer, long-eared rabbits, and red foxes were often seen in the forests. The Scotch pine trees filled the air with a sweet smell, and a multitude of cottages surrounded first a Keep, and later a castle.
As well, a large loch and a river provided more than enough water, and for the most part, they were happy, peace-loving people. Yet, they were not immune to hard times. They suffered illnesses such as the Black Death, wars with the
English, and battles with other clans the same as every Scottish clan did. In the 1300s, and because they lacked sufficient shelter from such attacks, they built a castle large enough to house the entire clan and keep them safe. Years later, it caught fire, or so the story went, and a second castle was built to replace it.
Little by little, the people traded the hard work of growing crops for other endeavors and moved across the highway into Glenartair Village. After that, the cottages surrounding the castle were no more.
In 1903, Glenartair Castle burned for a second time.
All the inhabitants escaped unharmed, but the intense fire gutted the entire inside, crumbled some of the walls, and left little more than a hideous black ruin. Therefore, the Duke of Glenartair hired Charles MacGreagor to rebuild it and after some frustrating delays, everything was at last running smoothly. The outside walls were up, the new roof kept Scotland’s abundant rain out, the floors on the second and third floor were laid, and the front and back staircases were finished save for the railing.
Fortunately, Charles had a wealthy employer who spared no expense when it came to equipment and materials. Outside, the site looked much like any other construction site with tables, supplies, ladders, and equipment scattered about. There was even a telephone, although it had to be housed in a locked box to keep someone from stealing it. What remained of the wood flooring was piled on two-by-fours, and covered with tarps to keep it from getting wet. Inside, the men worked a hand powered circular rip saw, cut the wood to measure and already the Great Hall, the foyer, the downstairs sitting room and the dining hall had new floors waiting to be waxed and polished as soon as the interior walls were up.
What worried Charles most was the possibility of a major storm that might ruin the hardwood floors before they got the windows in and the doors hung. Often, he took off the white and blue striped train conductor’s cap he liked to wear and looked up. This day the sky was clear so he put his cap back on and decided it probably would not rain any time soon. Considering the lateness of the day, he sent most the workers home to enjoy the coming weekend. He was looking forward to his Saturday night poker game and a quiet weekend himself.
Beloved Lies, Book 2 Page 20
