His Convenient Highland Wedding

by Janice Preston

  Anna frowned at Lachlan. ‘You have told her the truth?’

  ‘Yes.’ Had he done right or wrong? It was impossible to tell from Anna’s closed expression. ‘We both understand that it was not...’

  He couldn’t think how to finish what he had started. To cover his discomfort he took Davy from his sister’s arms, hugging him close. The little boy accepted his embrace passively, as though nothing could spark any interest in him, and Lachlan vowed there and then to ignite the joy of childhood for him.

  Flora flicked a glance at him. ‘Come,’ she said to Anna. ‘Warm yourself by the fire. Please don’t feel uncomfortable about what you were forced into, or what you had to do to survive and to support your child. No one but us will know, unless you choose to tell them.’

  Anna slumped into a chair and buried her face in her hands. Lachlan moved, intending to comfort her, but Flora shook her head at him.

  ‘And this is Davy?’ She ruffled his wispy brown curls. ‘What a lovely boy. I can see you will have a fine time living at Lochmore.’

  Davy hid his face against Lachlan’s chest as Anna watched Flora warily.

  Flora smiled at her, anxious to put her at ease. ‘He will soon get used to us, I’m certain. Are you hungry? I am sure Davy must be—my brother never seemed satisfied when he was growing up...he always had room for more food. I asked for sandwiches and coffee to be served when you arrived.’

  Lachlan felt out of his depth. His emotions churned his insides and he was almost afraid to open his mouth and say anything in case they burst forth uncontrollably. He felt that, if he once started to speak of his feelings, he might never be able to stop. He had learned as a youth that to reveal emotion was a sign of weakness, one that was instantly taken advantage of by stronger, tougher men. The habit was so far ingrained that the thought of exposing his innermost thoughts and feelings reduced him to a state of terror.

  The conversation as they ate was stilted. Anna was clearly overwhelmed and Davy remained mute as Flora did her best to fill the silence.

  ‘You will need clothes, for you and Davy.’ Lachlan finally found something to say.

  ‘Oh!’ Anna looked down at herself. ‘But I—’

  ‘Yes, indeed.’ Flora leapt to her feet. ‘We can go shopping. We can buy you a few ready-made gowns for your immediate needs, then we can buy some suitable fabric to make you more.’ She clapped her hands together, beaming. ‘It will be—’

  ‘No!’ Anna wrapped her arms around her waist. ‘I canna go out. I canna risk—’ She choked off on a sob. ‘I cannot.’

  That surge of emotion from his sister somehow spurred Lachlan into action. He might be useless at talking about what his brimming heart felt, but he could protect her from more distress.

  ‘The only place we are all going is to the station,’ he said, standing up. ‘The sooner you and Davy are away from Edinburgh, the happier I shall be. We are going home.’

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lachlan placed a protective hand on his sister’s shoulder as he spoke and she smiled up at him, her dark eyes wide in her narrow, clever face. Flora tried hard to ignore the squirm of jealousy in her gut. They were all family now, but it did seem harsh that she must now share Lachlan just as they seemed to be growing closer. She quashed her instinctive condemnation of Anna’s past as a prostitute. Yes, her sister-in-law had been forced into that life, but Flora was finding it hard to instantly change her natural bias despite her assurance to Lachlan. She vowed to work hard to overcome her prejudice and to hide any doubts from Anna.

  ‘And Anna’s new clothes?’

  ‘We shall shop for them in Glasgow. After all, I know exactly where to go for them, don’t I, Flora?’ He winked at her and that shared gesture reassured her somewhat. ‘If you instruct Muriel to pack our bags, we shall leave for the station and catch the first train to Glasgow.’

  * * *

  The train journey from Edinburgh back to Glasgow gave Flora an opportunity to learn more about Lachlan’s past as he and Anna reminisced about their childhood and their family. The more she heard, the more she realised just how privileged she had always been. Although she tried to join in the conversation she could not help but feel excluded when her childhood experiences were so vastly different from theirs. But she had one advantage over Anna, she realised, as her eyes clashed with Lachlan’s in yet another smoulderingly intense look, full of promise and excitement that sent her pulse racing and washed heat across her skin. Only when Anna noticed one of their exchanges and looked uncomfortable did Flora cease to play and instead she stared resolutely out of the window.

  Once back at the Tontine Hotel, Lachlan impressed Flora with his decisiveness, his forethought and his attention to detail. It was the first time she had really observed him in action—this must be why he was so well respected by the business community. He ordered baths for both Anna and Davy; he sent out for a modiste to attend them at the hotel and to bring a selection of clothing suitable for his sister and nephew; he purchased enough garments for their immediate needs and charged the modiste with selecting and purchasing suitable fabrics for making additional gowns and forwarding them on to Lochmore.

  Anna was mistrustful of everyone other than Lachlan, including, it seemed, Flora. She refused to let Davy out of her sight, either with Flora or with Muriel.

  ‘He doesna care for strangers,’ she said.

  Flora bit back her retort that she wouldn’t be a stranger for long if they were coming to live with her and Lachlan. When she mentioned his sister’s spikiness, Lachlan asked her to be patient.

  ‘She’s been through a terrible ordeal.’ He cupped her cheek and she turned to press her lips to his palm, her heart brimming with joy. ‘She’s bound to be wary at first. Give her time. Hopkins used threats against Davy to force her to do as she was told. She’s bound to be overprotective.’

  As time ticked by, Anna became more and more agitated. She wouldn’t rest. She wouldn’t let Davy out of her sight, settling him down to sleep on the sofa instead of allowing Muriel to put him to bed. The child had barely said two words and it was clear he would need much care and attention to help him overcome the trauma of the past year.

  ‘What if he’s found out where I’ve gone?’ Anna said for the umpteenth time. ‘What if he comes after us? He’ll take Davy. I couldna bear to—’

  Lachlan hugged her, exchanging an anxious look with Flora over the top of Anna’s head. ‘Hush. You’ll wake the wee lad and frighten him. I’m here. I won’t let Hopkins near either of you. I’ll kill him if he shows his face.’

  ‘But what if he comes for us in the night, Lachy? I’m scared.’

  Pity for Anna’s distress battled with irritation at the way she clung to Lachlan. Flora knew the jealousy that churned her stomach was irrational—this was Lachlan’s little sister, for goodness sake. She’d been through a terrible time and Lachlan was bound to be protective.

  ‘He can’t possibly know where you’ve gone, Anna,’ she said.

  Anna shook her head. ‘There’s eyes and ears everywhere. I lived in Glasgow all my life. Someone might recognise me.’

  Lachlan sighed at that. ‘I’ll write to the investigator who found you and instruct him to go to Edinburgh tomorrow and pay off Hopkins. He’ll never bother you again.’

  He crossed to a small writing desk in the private parlour where they were gathered. They had dined in private, too, Lachlan having decreed that the fewer people who saw them together the less speculation there would be.

  ‘In the meantime,’ said Flora, making a huge effort at magnanimity, ‘perhaps it will set Anna’s mind at rest if you stay with her and Davy tonight, Lachlan? I’m sure the hotel could provide a truckle bed.’

  Lachlan flashed her a grateful smile. ‘The Pioneer leaves at six in the morning.’ He gathered the sleeping Davy into his arms. ‘We should retire early and try to sleep.’ He caught Flora’s eye. ‘Th
ank you for your understanding.’

  Flora spent a restless night, her sleep disturbed by images of the miserable people and mean streets she had seen and by the ideas flashing through her thoughts...ideas and dreams of, somehow, making a difference. She lay awake at one point, making plans. But could she persuade Lachlan to take them seriously?

  * * *

  It was still dark—a cloudless sky spangled by stars—as they all huddled, shivering, on the dock ready to board the Pioneer, the steamer to Ardrishaig. Both Anna and Davy were now smartly attired, as befitted the sister and nephew of a successful businessman and Muriel—already in a fair way to being besotted by Davy—had promised faithfully to keep to herself the reality of where they had been living, although she was unaware of the full truth of Anna’s past.

  * * *

  ‘Ye live in a castle?’ Anna hung back as Lachlan and Flora descended from the hired carriage that transported them to Lochmore from Crinan.

  Flora waited in the forecourt as Lachlan helped Anna out of the vehicle.

  ‘We do.’ Pride rang in Lachlan’s voice. ‘Welcome to your new home. I told you... I’m a wealthy man these days.’

  ‘Considering your past, Lachy, I have to wonder how you came to be such a rich man.’

  It was said in a teasing voice, but Lachlan’s curt rejoinder cut through the air. ‘I work hard.’

  Flora puzzled over Lachlan’s response as they all trooped inside. Was there something he hadn’t told her? Mrs Dalgliesh met them in the hallway and Lachlan introduced Anna and Davy, whose brown eyes were huge as he gazed around.

  ‘My sister and nephew will be making their home with us here at the castle,’ he said. ‘Will you show her to a suitable bedchamber? And the nursery wing must be made ready for Master Davy and one of the maids assigned to help care for him.’

  ‘Anna. Please allow me to show you upstairs,’ said Flora. ‘I’m sure you’d prefer to choose your own bedchamber. I shall let you know as soon as Mrs McKenzie has decided her preference, Mrs Dalgliesh, and could you ask Cook to send refreshments to the drawing room in about half an hour? It is a while yet before dinner.’

  ‘I canna put you to that trouble, Lady Flora.’

  ‘It’s no trouble, Anna. And we are sisters now. Please call me Flora.’ She smiled down at Davy, clinging to his mother’s skirt, and tousled his hair. ‘Or Auntie Flora to you.’

  ‘Thank you... Flora.’ Anna sounded almost unbelieving and Flora realised it would take time for the other woman to feel comfortable with her.

  ‘I’ll leave you in Flora’s hands, then, Anna,’ said Lachlan. ‘I’m sorry, but I really must check if there is anything in my study that requires my immediate attention. I shall see you in the drawing room in half an hour.’

  Lachlan strode away, leaving the two women and Davy together.

  It was hard work, conversing with her sister-in-law as they climbed the stairs. All Flora got in return for her efforts were monosyllables. She was beginning to think Anna would never say more than Yes or No to her until they went into the Yellow Room.

  ‘I like this one,’ Anna said. ‘It is a happy colour. But it is very grand.’

  ‘It’s yours for as long as you wish.’

  ‘Could...?’ Anna fell silent.

  ‘Could...?’

  ‘I dinna want Davy to be upstairs.’ Flora had explained to Anna where the nursery was. ‘He’s used to being with me.’

  Her dark eyes pleaded with Flora.

  ‘He can sleep in the next room for now,’ said Flora. ‘He can move upstairs to the nursery later, once you’ve both settled here.’

  Anna crossed to the window and stared out, her arms wrapped around her body.

  ‘Anna? Is there something wrong?’

  ‘It is so...empty here.’ Flora could see her tension from across the room. ‘So big. So wild.’ She faced Flora and the words burst from her in a rush. ‘How do you stand it, being out here all alone?’

  ‘I am used to it, I suppose. I grew up in a similar place.’

  And even I have been lonely here. How much worse for Anna, who grew up in a bustling city?

  Anna glanced out of the window again and shivered.

  ‘I am sure you will get used to Lochmore.’

  Anna’s expression and the stubborn set to her mouth revealed her doubts. Flora prayed Anna would settle at Lochmore for at least a while now she knew how important Lachlan’s family were to him.

  ‘Come, let us go down for a cup of tea and I shall instruct Mrs Dagliesh to have these two rooms made ready.’

  Davy was bouncing on the bed and, seizing her chance, Flora swung him up into her arms. ‘Come along, Davy. Come with Auntie Flora and you shall have some cake.’ The sooner he became accustomed to them all the better and, if he was happy, hopefully that would help Anna settle.

  As they reached the drawing room, Lachlan approached from the direction of his study, Bandit at his heels.

  Fickle hound! He spends more time with Lachlan than with me!

  Davy stiffened in her arms and began to squirm. Her arms were tired—he was heavier than he looked—and Flora put him down.

  ‘Doggy!’

  It was the first word Flora had heard him speak. Bandit had stopped dead, staring at Davy, his head tipped to one side. Then, with a happy Yip he bounced towards them, stiff-legged, stubby tail wagging furiously. Flora held herself ready to snatch up either Davy or Bandit should the child get frightened, but relaxed as he giggled and chased the terrier in a large circle.

  ‘That introduction went well.’ Lachlan grinned. ‘Bandit will make a good friend for Davy. Until he has a cousin or two to play with.’

  The intent in his gaze sent a shiver of anticipation up Flora’s spine, but Anna still had that stubborn look on her face.

  Later, after they’d had their refreshments—Davy having to be forcibly prevented from feeding the entire cake to Bandit—Lachlan amazed Flora by stripping off his jacket and settling on the fireside rug with Davy. Bandit barked deliriously, dashing in circles as Davy ended up in a wriggling heap being tickled. Her heart swelled. He would make a wonderful father. Oh, how she longed—

  ‘He was a good brother to us younger ones.’ Anna’s attention was on Lachlan and Davy and Flora strained to catch her words over Davy’s giggles. ‘Family was everything to him until he got—’ Her mouth snapped shut and she went red.

  ‘Until he got...?’

  Anna shook her head. ‘Nothing. He went overseas. We missed him, Ma and me.’

  Flora puzzled over what Anna stopped herself saying. That was the second time her sister-in-law had seemed to let slip about some big secret in Lachlan’s past. She’d thought he’d told her everything. About his childhood. About the family’s struggles. Their poverty. Maybe she should have questioned him more closely about why he had left Scotland at a time when his mother and sister must have needed him, but the priority had been to rescue Anna and the moment had passed. Maybe she would ask him about it when they were alone.

  The feeling that there was something she did not understand—some secret she was not party to—unsettled her. Rather than sit there stewing about it, she decided to keep busy.

  ‘If you will excuse me, I must consult with Cook on tomorrow’s menus.’

  After speaking to Cook, she hesitated over whether to return to the drawing room, but decided to leave Lachlan and Anna to talk undisturbed. Anna still seemed wary of Flora, but Flora hoped they would eventually become friends.

  Upstairs, Muriel helped her disrobe. She pulled her dressing robe on over her chemise, went through to her boudoir and crossed to the window bay. The weather had, for once, remained fine all day. The afternoon was drawing to a close and Flora gazed across the ocean at the sun as it sank towards the horizon, painting the sky with blush pink, the colour deepening by the second and reflected in the gently rippling s
ilver sea. In a short time, she knew, a rainbow of colours would appear, painting the sky with a vibrant palette as the day reached its end and darkness descended. She wrapped her arms around her waist, a shiver chasing across her skin as she wondered what the coming days would bring.

  * * *

  ‘You are pleased with your bedchamber, Anna? And with the nursery suite for Davy?’

  Lachlan propped his shoulders against the mantelshelf and watched as his nephew dozed in Anna’s arms, his heart swelling with joy that he had found them and brought them home.

  ‘They’re verra nice. For the time being.’

  His gaze snapped to Anna’s face. ‘What do you mean, for the time being?’

  ‘Lachy...’ Anna lay Davy on the sofa and came to Lachlan. ‘I’m grateful you helped us escape and that you’re paying off that bastard Hopkins. But...’ she swept her arm in a wide arc ‘...we canna stay here for ever.’

  ‘But I—’

  ‘We dinna need to talk about it now.’ She patted his cheek. ‘We’ll stay a few weeks at least.’

  ‘But I want you to stay.’

  She smiled at that. ‘Ye haven’t changed, Brother. Ye always did want your own way. And Lady Flora seems welcoming, but I canna help but worry...well. Never mind that now. We’ll talk again. I’m bone weary. I’m going to lie down.’ She scooped Davy into her arms. ‘Will ye open the door for us, please?’

  He crossed to the door as if in a dream as all his plans teetered on a knife’s edge. Anna paused on her way from the room.

  ‘Dinna look so worried, Lachy. I promise I’ll not sneak away in the night.’ She leaned closer and whispered, ‘And if ye’ll take my advice, you’ll tell that wife of yours about Australia before she finds out some other way. I’ll not deliberately let it slip, but I hardly ken how to speak to a lady like her without also watching my tongue over your secrets.’

  He watched her carry Davy up the stairs.

  ‘Drummond?’