Falling in Deep Collection Box Set

by Pauline Creeden

  This was a meal I would savor.

  Epilogue

  Cainneach-Balfour

  July 4, 1830

  Jinny McGrail

  How was it that a love beyond measure fit into the confines of one’s heart? But it did. And there was room enough for others.

  My cup runneth over.

  I looked at the tiny hand upon my breast, and watched our son lying peaceful where he’d fallen asleep while nursing.

  There was a knock at the door and Douglass came in. “Hallo, love.”

  “Hello.” I smiled.

  “Yer uncle is here to see ye and the newest clan member. He’ll be up in a wee bit.” Douglass kissed me and then looked at our son. “So, how is my darling laddie this fine hour?” He rubbed his palms together in anticipation.

  I eased our son from his suckling nest and into his papa’s big hands. “Eating better now that he’s perfecting the skill,” I said, righting my gown.

  Douglass lifted Kelan to place a light kiss on his small lips. He said to him, “Aye, ye’ll need to perfect that eating skill so ye can grow big and strong like yer da.”

  Watching Douglass with our son made my heart swell to nearly bursting. I couldn’t imagine any woman not being madly in love with the father of her child if he loved and nurtured that child.

  There was a knock at the door and Uncle was shown in. He was unaccompanied. Aunt Fia had moved, some months ago, to the Glasgow estate she’d inherited from her sister. Uncle lived alone now. Does he go home early these days?

  He walked straight to Kelan. With tears in his eyes he asked if he could hold him, and after a good hour of visiting, Uncle sat quiet, bouncing Kelan in his arms.

  “What is it, Uncle? You act as if something is troubling you.”

  He looked at me. “There is something troubling me, lass.” His gaze slid to Douglass.

  Douglass stood from his place beside me on the bed. “I’ll leave ye two to speak in private.”

  I took his arm. “You don’t need to go, I’m sure Uncle doesn’t mind.” I looked at Uncle. He might mind, but I didn’t want to be alone to chat about matters I might not want to discuss.

  Uncle’s brows pinched as he looked down at Kelan. “As long as ye don’t mind speaking in front of yer husband, Jinny, I don’t mind.”

  Douglass walked around the bed. “I’ll take Kelan to look at the world out the window.”

  Uncle kissed Kelan and handed him over. He met my gaze.

  “I just feel to blame for so many things. Maybe if I’d no’ left ye alone with Lachlan, I would no’ have felt the need to say what I said to him at supper that night, and he would no’ have left home that next day. I’m sorry I left ye to fend for yerself against my family. I wanted to tell ye this when I came to yer chamber door that night, but I didnae.

  “I still have no’ heard from Lachlan since he left for Edinburg with that mysterious friend from Dalmahearn. Fia said a man had shown up to retrieve his trunk that day and she had no’ even thought to ask his name since Lachlan had told her to expect him.”

  I felt horrible that Uncle didn’t know the truth. But I could not risk telling it and putting Douglass’s clan in danger. My loyalty was to my husband who had protected me. And would Uncle be happier to know Lachlan had snapped? That he’d shot and tried to drown Douglass, and that he’d beat me severely, and tried to force himself on me?

  He said, “I had only just realized before he left town that he’d set his heart on having ye, Jinny, but then he was gone and Douglass came along, and I thought all would be fine.”

  Uncle stood and walked to the window where Douglass and Kelan were. Looking out to sea, he pulled in a long breath and said, “I was happy he was gone, and to be honest, I’m happy he has no’ returned. I feel guilty for that, and hope I was no’ a bad father. But it seemed no matter what I did, his feet always walked toward a self-seeking path. Fia was right there applauding his every step and shouting her disapproval of mine, accusing me of harshness and of no’ loving him. I pray he has found some ease wherever he is.”

  He turned to me and I knew then that he understood Lachlan had gotten himself killed.

  “I suppose what I’m trying to say is, while I might have erred with Lachlan, would ye be willing to let me redeem myself and be a good grandda to Kelan? I ken I’m only his granduncle, but—”

  “I would be honored, Uncle.” Tears burned my eyes. “Kelan needs you and so do I.”

  Douglass studied my expression from his place at the window. His brows pinched and he turned his gaze to Uncle, standing beside him. “Ye’re welcome here at the castle to see Kelan as often as ye wish.”

  Uncle smiled, more tears coming into his eyes. “I’m honored and appreciative.”

  I couldn’t believe Douglass had made that offer. I knew it was for me that he’d done it. I reached for him. “Oh, thank you, Douglass.”

  “Of course, my love. But I should warn yer uncle,” he said, walking to me and sitting on the bed. Kelan was cradled in his arms.

  Uncle said, “Warn me?”

  “Aye, warn ye.” Douglass looked at him. “That invitation does no’ extend to visiting Jinny, as she might no’ often be free. I plan to give ye many more grandsons.” He kissed Kelan’s face. He then lifted my fingers to his lips—his gaze meeting mine. “And lots of granddaughters to boot.”

  About the Author

  Anna Albergucci has always had a vivid imagination. When she was a child, she entertained her mother and anyone who would listen with the telling of her intricate dreams. Now she puts that inspiration to paper, weaving her stories into deeply passionate characters that live lives the rest of us only dream about.

  Married to her high school sweetheart, Anna lives in Texas surrounded by her ever-growing family and her fur babies. She serves as president of Cisco Writers Club, and is the founder of a yearly writers’ retreat she hosts at her estate each fall.

  She loves mornings, coffee, and sitting on the porch appreciating her life. She’s a sucker for hosting parties, especially historical costume parties. And in her spare time you can find her touring old mansions, shopping for antiques, or curled up reading a romance, paranormal, or thriller, whether historical or contemporary.

  Connect with Anna online:

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  Check out Anna’s other works on Amazon!

  Thank you

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