“What would ye like me tae do? Enter with ye? Or wait here? ‘Tis yer choice, my love. I donnae want tae get between the relationship ye have with yer father.”
Amelia turned to her husband with love in her eyes. Tears were almost ready to fall down her cheeks. She took both of his hands in hers. “My dear, you have been my salvation. I do not know how to thank you for the sacrifice you have made. I love you with my whole heart and feel so blessed to have find such a kind and generous man.”
“‘Twas nothing, Amelia. ‘Twas the only choice. A duty to love. I wouldnae have it any other way. And there is no price on family.”
A tear slid down her cheek and Jamie wiped it way with his thumb. “I would like to enter, myself into his chamber, but please come with me to the warden’s. You can wait there. I need to talk to my father alone.”
Jamie nodded, and they exited the carriage once again to pause in front of the dark wood of the prison, two guards standing outside who let them in. Amelia went in first, holding her skirts, so that she could walk quickly to the warden’s office. The time had come, there was no point in delay.
She entered in, and a gruff man sitting behind a desk, jumped with astonishment at the sight of such a well-dressed lady in his office with a tall, menacing looking man behind her. He stood and walked around his desk to nod at her. “Me lady, how can I be of service to ya?”
Amelia swallowed and held her head high. Her father and her family’s fall from grace had been the topic of all the gossips and the London newspapers, surely. She had left so hurriedly for Scotland, that she and her mother hadn’t been there to witness the tittle tattle, thank Heavens. She was certain the warden would have heard every bit of gossip as her family name was trailed through the mud of their disgrace.
She cleared her throat and she clasped her hands in front of her for strength., “Hello good Sir, my name is Lady Amelia Kinnaird. This is my husband, Laird Kinnaird. I am here to pay for the release of my father...Lord Jonathan Parker.”
The warden’s eyes nearly burst out of his head. “Lord...Lord Parker? Ye have come to pay for him? Why, he was not expected to be out for years, with as much debt as he had to his name.” At Jamie’s angry stare, the warden blushed and coughed in embarrassment. “Forgive me, me Lady, of course. I shall be happy to assist ya. Would ya like to see him first or shall we settle the debts?”
“I would prefer to settle the debts firstly, and then see my father.” Amelia held on to her own hands tightly, feeling as though time dragged before she would lay her gaze upon him.
The warden turned to shuffle a few papers on his desk and look through a large leather-bound notebook. He hmphed with satisfaction at his search. “Lord Jonathan Parker owes the crown...30,000 pounds.”
He swallowed, fearful to lift his eyes and see the pale face of the beautiful young Lady, for he was certain no one could pay for such a sum in one payment.
But once he did, he saw Amelia remove a package from a bag, and count out the proper pounds. “‘Tis here. You may count it yourself if you like.”
The warden’s mouth had fallen open. “‘Tis most unusual, me Lady, to pay all at once. You must excuse my surprise.”
Amelia smiled weakly. “Of course. I understand how…unconventional it would appear.”
The warden counted the money and stood to unlock a brass safe that stood to his side. He placed the money inside and turned back to his notebook to make a few notations. He turned the book, so that Amelia could sign her name in the ledger as proof of payment. He also opened a few drawers to find a ribbon-wrapped scroll. He opened it to place Lord Parker’s name inside in a rough scrawl and sign his own name at the bottom. He rolled up the scroll once again and wrapped it in ribbon. He stood once again and handed it to a relieved Amelia. “Here you are, my Lady. His debts are considered paid.”
Amelia exhaled deeply, and she began to see tiny pinpricks of light in her eyes as if she would faint. Jamie rushed to move by her side and supported her back. She soon regained her strength. The warden had a concerned look on his face, but he was silent. “Thank you, warden. I would like to see my father now. Would it be acceptable for my husband to remain here while I do so?”
The warden scratched his head, not quite liking the idea of such a large man sitting in his sitting room with him. He was used to such being behind bars and thus safe. “Of course,” he eventually replied, grabbing a ring of keys from the wall. “I will take you there first.”
Amelia followed him to another gated area which he opened, and the metal door creaked as it swung ajar.
“This way, me Lady.” He motioned for her to move forward and she did so, her skirts rubbing against him as she moved by. Once he sealed the gate again, he began talking, “We do not lock the prisoners in their rooms, for they are free to move about and do the work of the prison. But we do lock the gate. Your father’s room is not far.”
Amelia’s eyes fell upon the squalid circumstances of such a place. Small wooden rooms, old and dirty, stared back at her, and she noticed a few gaunt figures wandering about the place, forlorn, and listless. She shivered to think of her father in such a place. A high lord reduced to a peasant in a matter of moments. A voice said in her head, but he did deserve it, did he not? Perhaps this will teach him a good lesson about responsibility.
The warden turned to a dark wooden door, only a few steps from the metal gate’s entrance. He knocked, and a voice from within said, “Coming.”
The warden turned away, saying to Amelia as he left, “I’ll leave him to ya, me Lady. He is free to leave.” And with that, he was gone, and Amelia was left alone, feeling like she couldn’t breathe, wondering what she would do when she saw his face again.
A shuffle came from inside along with a few footsteps, and then the door opened noisily. On the other side, unshaven and a bit dirty from his time in prison, stood her father, Lord Jonathan Parker.
At the sight of each other, they jumped into each other’s arms, both had tears in their eyes that slid hot and fast down their faces. They cried out in sadness and gladness for being reunited. All of Amelia’s anger slid away with her tears, and she simply felt light and happy...at last.
“My dear Amelia,” Lord Parker finally spoke, his voice thick with emotion. “Why ever have you come? You must let me to my fate. ‘Tis deserved for what I have done to you and your mother.”
Amelia smiled, feeling the strength to forgive her father flow through her. She had not expected this, but her heart was full of love for this man. “Father, I have come to take you back to mother. We have paid your debts. You are free to go.”
She let the weight of these words sink into his wizened face. He sat down, smoothing his hands over his graying hair, taking in this turn of events. He looked up at her, shock on his face. “But…how? My debt was far too great.”
Amelia chuckled, not sure what to do with the happiness spilling over. “’Tis a long story father. But, when we moved to Scotland, I met someone. He is now my husband.”
Lord Parker stood, taking Amelia’s hands in his. A smile was on his face. “My dear! You have been married! No one could deserve you, of course, but you must tell me of him.”
“He is waiting for us in the warden’s office. He wanted to give me some time with you. He is a good and kind man, father. He is laird of his clan. He…he got the money for us. I was about to make a very silly mistake in marrying someone else, someone evil, to get the money, but I love Jamie and did not want to live without him. His grandfather was an English viscount and had left him an extensive property. He has now sold it. All for you, for us. He has given us a miracle.” A fresh round of tears burst forth from Amelia’s eyes, and she hugged her father once more, whose expression was one of great surprise.
After a few moments, Lord Parker began to speak, his voice a whisper. “Amelia, what a beautiful thing he has done. But, how can I ever repay him? I do not deserve such a chance.”
Amelia pulled away, grasping her father’s hands tightly, lookin
g into his eyes. She made her voice firm, for she feared he would not know what to do with such a gift. “Father, this chance has been given to you. Jamie wanted to do it, for you are now family. Take this as your chance to be reborn. Spend your days with mother and with us, and do not look back.”
Her father nodded, and then she led him out from the prison, her hand in his, and his eyes gleaming with tears, so proud of his daughter.
* * *
Lord Parker had been greatly pleased to meet Jamie, and they shook hands fondly inside the warden’s office. Now, they were headed back towards Scotland, with Amelia regaling her father with tales of their story along the way.
Lord Parker was eternally grateful. He apologized fervently for his actions and for the way it had been handled. He thought he would never see them again.
They eventually arrived in Brechin, the three of them at ease with one another, and Amelia could see her father tensing, once he’d heard from Jamie that they were not far from the castle.
“Amelia, daughter, what if your mother does not forgive me? Are you certain you should have come? I would have been better left to rot in prison, for what I had done to my dear, sweet Henrietta.”
Amelia’s eyes softened at the worried expression on her father’s face. They had had 12 days to reconcile with each other and discuss the past along with the future. Her father had asked for forgiveness and was sad for his daughter about Charles’ harsh rejection. “That lordly bastard,” he’d said, and Amelia smiled, for her father rarely deigned to swear, at least not in front of her. And, he’d worried and worried about seeing her mother again, although Amelia knew in her heart, that Henrietta would be only too happy to see her father once again, after all this time.
“Mother will be delighted to see you. Without you, she has lost the light inside of her. She was ill and weak, hoping, waiting for you to return, father. She will forgive you; I promise.”
Lord Parker seemed to calm after that, and she watched him smooth his coat and straighten his cravat, probably looking for something to do with his tense hands as the carriage brought them closer and closer.
“Marianne will also be there, Father. After she’d left after the wedding to return to her father, I requested that she come again to be a part of this reunion.”
Her father smiled. “Ah, that lovely girl. I am glad she was a friend to you, my dear, in this time. I’m surprised her father has allowed her to go on such a journey once again.”
Amelia leaned back, smiling. “Well, she has her lady’s maid with her. But, you know Lord Browne would never cower away from an opportunity for his daughter to spend time among the nobility. My mother-in-law’s father was a viscount in London.”
“I see. Well, whatever his reasons, I am happy she will be with us.”
And they completed the rest of the journey in relative silence, with Lord Parker making some general comments about the scenery. They slowed in front of the iron gates, and Amelia breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, at long last they had returned to Scotland--her home. She would not need to return to London anymore if she did not want to. She grabbed Jamie’s hand as the carriage came to a stop, and they heard the crunch of the coachman’s boots on the gravel as he came to open the door. They descended from the carriage, and Lord Parker’s mouth was agape with the splendor of the place.
Amelia slid her arm through her father’s as she came to his side and said into his ear, “All will be well, father. Believe me, if I can forgive you, then Mother surely will.” She laughed and squeezed his arm tighter. He placed his hand on her arm, and after Jamie opened the gate, they walked towards the entrance slowly.
They finally reached the door, and Jamie reached out to open it for them. He turned to Lord Parker. “Welcome, Sir, tae Kinnaird Castle.” And, he opened the door. Amelia walked in first, followed by her father and Jamie. She was slightly relieved to find the main hall empty, so that they would not be bombarded with excited hosts as soon as they came in. She wanted to give her father time. She held his arm once again and guided him to the armchair by the fire. His eyes were constantly moving around the hall, taking it all in. “My goodness, Jamie, ‘tis lovely. ‘Tis what I’ve always dreamed of a castle looking like in my adventures as a boy.”
Jamie smiled, and walked to the wine cabinet to pull out three glasses. He glanced at Amelia, and she shook her head from her seat in the other armchair. He poured two glasses and handed one to his father-in-law and stood by the hearth and took a sip. While they waited in silence, Amelia let her gaze slide to Jamie, his arm up on the hearth, remembering the time they sat in these very seats, drinking wine, and her eyes on his magnificent form that had so riled her back then.
Her new husband was unaware as she let her eyes follow his muscled arm from the mantle to his face and down to his stomach and his breeches. He met her gaze, and after giving her a questioning look, his face melted into a smile, and he gave her a wink. Amelia blushed, even though she knew he appreciated her desire.
Soon, enough, they heard footsteps in the hall, and Fiona and Henrietta entered the room. Fiona walked forward with surprise and joy, but Henrietta hung back, after looking upon her husband’s gaunt face. He had gained strength and health in the days of travel to Scotland, but he still had not yet returned to his fine form. He stood tall, his hands behind his back, and he made his way to his wife. Fiona moved to the side to let them have this moment. As he approached, Henrietta began to burst into tears, and she ran to him to clasp her arms around his neck. Jonathan was surprised, but he took his wife into his arms and whispered an apology into her ear. “My dear, can you ever forgive me?" Through her tears, Henrietta nodded and said, “Yes, yes, of course! To have you back is all I wished for, Jonathan. The money does not matter.”
Lord Parker pulled away and placed a kiss on his wife’s tear-stained cheek. He held her hands in his and kissed each one. “Never again shall I be so foolish as to throw away the best parts of my life. I am eternally sorry, but I will spend the rest of my time making it up to you.” Henrietta smiled and hugged him again.
At the side, Amelia’s tears of joy slid quietly down her face as she wrapped her arm in Jamie’s. He kissed her head, and whispered, “Ye have done it, my love. Ye have accomplished your goal.” She sighed with final relief and happiness.
“We have done it.”
* * *
Later, after a fine dinner and a lot of discussion of the past few months, the Kinnaird clan, old and new were brought together in front of the hearth. They’d moved the chairs, so each of them could gain from the fire’s warmth. A servant had come to fill each of their glasses with wine or ale, and they all sat encircled, with Henrietta and Jonathan sitting next to each other, their hands touching, Jamie and Amelia the same, Fiona sitting in an armchair by the fire looking full of joy, Marianne sitting next to her, and William sitting next to Marianne. They were a jovial crew, all cognizant of the trials of the past, but willing to move on to the happier times of the future. Lord Parker would assist Jamie in his new endeavors and be advised to stay away from the gaming hall. Henrietta and Jonathan were gifted with their own suite in the castle to join in this new family.
Suddenly, Amelia stood. She placed a hand on her stomach as she surveyed her combined family, joy filling her heart. “I have more good news to add to our family party. The publishers have agreed to publish my poem, Agnes and Jerard, and they will publish it under my name, a woman’s name. They are also hoping for more.” Everyone’s eyes widened with surprise and joy. They clapped and hugged her, Jamie standing to kiss his wife on the cheek and whisper his congratulations once again.
They all returned to their seats, and Amelia continued, “Also, there is more than one reason why I invited Marianne to stay with us for a time. Of course, I wanted her to be a part of the reunion of my father with this family.” She nodded to her father, and he beamed at his beautiful young daughter, new Scottish Lady. “But, I also asked her to stay with us because...I am pregnant with a laird or a lady a
nd wanted her to be here for the birth, and so I want you all to raise your glasses to commemorate this event.” She smiled awaiting the warm outcries of grandparents. Jamie was already aware, and he smiled up at her.
There was a pause, but then Fiona and Henrietta jumped up to kiss their daughter and daughter-in-law again and squeal with excitement. This had been the secret wish of both these many months. Jamie stood at Amelia’s side, beaming as only a future father could do. Marianne smiled and looked at William who laughed once again at the exciting turn of events.
Lord Parker continued to sit, but tears began to fall down his cheeks. Once out of the clutches of the future grandparents, Amelia went to him and sat down. She placed a hand on his arm.
“My dear, I do not deserve such a beautiful gift.” He looked down in shame.
Amelia smiled warmly, all her anger and bitterness having fled long ago. “Father, you do. For how else would this all have happened but without you?”
Capturing The Highlander's Heart (Lasses 0f The Kinnaird Castle Book 1) Page 25
