“Fox, is it?” Malcolm snorted. “Well, I ken it’s all done and dusted once ye start in with Christian names.”
But Malcolm’s eyes held worry, concern that did not lessen over the coming days. Not as Leah assisted him with the monthly accounts. Not as she kept a tally as they paid the farmhands their weekly wage. Not as she discussed altering the milking schedule in the dairy.
Leah forced herself to ignore it.
Yes, perhaps, she should have insisted Fox court her properly, but as the end result would be the same regardless—shewouldmarry him—why delay the inevitable?
And, oh bother, why did she keep using the wordinevitablein regard to her upcoming marriage? Why couldn’t her brain choose a happier word likefortuitousoranticipated? She certainly felt those emotions, too.
Initially, no one besides herself, Malcolm, and Aileen knew about the betrothal, because her brother kept no secrets from his lovely wife, no matter Leah’s pleading.
But that all changed the following Sunday.
Leah sat in the family pew, tucked against Malcolm’s side, trying to stem the nervous trembling of her hands.
After all, she knew what was about to happen. Separately, both she and Fox had spoken with the vicar, authorizing the reading of their marriage banns. Once the banns were read today,everyonewould learn of her impending nuptials.
How would people react? Would they congratulate her? Or, like Malcolm, would her neighbors approach the news with disbelief and concern?
Given the distance to Laverloch, Leah did not expect Fox to be in attendance.He may never come to services in our parish, Mrs. Buchan had mused just the day before.
But now, in the moment, Leah struggled to bear the tension of it by herse—
A murmuring rush swept through the congregation.
Leah turned her head to see Fox striding down the aisle, back ramrod straight, eyes focused ahead, his walking stick clicking with each step.
Oh!
He had come.
Happiness and relief swamped her in equal measure.
Fox did not actually need to be present in order for the banns to be read, but he had expended the effort to come anyway.
The thought sparked a rush of warmth in Leah’s chest. And given Malcolm’s grunt of approval, Fox’s consideration had earned a smidgen of her brother’s respect.
The village parishioners gaped and murmured to one another as Fox passed, bonnets and hats bobbing at the captain’s first appearance at church.
Fox walked with stoic determination, ignoring the scattered whispers.
For her part, Leah couldn’t help but notice how handsome her betrothed looked in a green superfine coat with dark gray trousers. The turned heads and long stares of other ladies indicated she wasn’t the only one appreciating Fox’s appealing form.
And to think, she was going tomarrythis man.
Fox nodded at Lord and Lady Hadley, then Malcolm and Leah, before seating himself in the pew for Laverloch Castle, head forward and face impassive. He had come alone, of course. His ward, no doubt, remained at Laverloch, a closely-guarded secret as he had said.
The taut tension in his shoulders set Leah’s heart to thumping.
Heavens, what was the man thinking? What if, after seeing the lovely, unmarried women on display in Fettermill parish, Fox came to regret his hasty betrothal to herself?
Leah pressed her hands together to stop their shaking.
All too quickly, Dr. Ruxton mounted his podium, greeted the congregation, and read the banns:“I publish the banns of marriage between Captain Fox Carnegie of Laverloch Castle and Miss Leah Penn-Leith of Thistle Muir . . .”
A stunned hush settled over the congregation.
Then, a murmur followed that swelled through the room like waves at Lunan Bay.
