“Then wash your face and hands, Dugald Geddes. Father Jean-Paul is awaiting us in the chapel.” She bent down and spoke to the child at her side. “Say hello to your pa, Dugie.” But the little boy hid his faced in his mother’s skirts, much to Dugald’s disappointment.
“He’s just shy,” Pansy said. “He ain’t used to men in plaids and bonnets with bony knees, but you’ll win him over soon enough.”
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Dugald wrapped Pansy in a fierce embrace.
Watching from his horse, Alex turned to smile at Velvet. It was the first smile he had offered her. “He’s missed her very much. Pansy has a good man in Dugald,” he told her.
“She loves him,” Velvet said quietly. “She had many suitors among the Mughal’s best soldiers, but, knowing that Dugald was alive, none would do for her.”
Dismounting, he helped her down from her own stallion, and the horses were quickly taken away by two stableboys. They continued together into the house. Seeing them coming, Skye realized that they had already made some kind of peace between themselves.
“Welcome toQueen’s Malvern, Alex,” she said graciously.
He kissed her hand. “Velvet has agreed to come home wi’ me,” he said.
“But surely not for a few more days, my lord. We have scarce had time with our daughter these past five years as you well know.”
“We would be pleased to remain with ye for a time, madame,” he said quietly, and Skye saw that he was anxious to please Velvet.
“I want a bath,” Velvet said. “ ’Twas hot riding this afternoon. I fear that we will have a storm before nightfall. Can you send Daisy to me, Mama? I don’t want to disturb Pansy’s reunion with Dugald.”
“Of course, my darling. Alex, I would like very much to speak with you, and perhaps while Velvet’s bathing would be a good time.”
“Have Alex’s things put in my room,” Velvet said to her mother. “For propriety’s sake we must share a bedchamber.”
“For practicality’s sake.” Skye laughed. “All the other bedchambers are filled to overflowing with your sisters and brothers, their spouses, and their offspring. Go along now, my darling, and Alex and I will have a cosy chat.” She smiled brightly at her daughter, and Velvet turned and hurried up the stairs. “Come with me, my lord,” Skye said to her son-in-law. He dutifully followed her into the library where Adam was already waiting.
Once they were all settled, Skye turned to Alex and said, “You have made your decision then, my lord?”
“We have already talked, Velvet and I. She is willing to come back to Scotland wi’ me as I have already told ye.”
“Have you thought over what I wrote to you, Alex? Do you possess the patience to love Velvet?”
“I don’t know,” he answered her honestly. “What I do know is that I want her to come home wi’ me. I am not certain that I love her, but I don’t want to lose her again.”
Skye nodded. She understood his quandary, but Adam was not so open-minded. He glowered at his son-in-law from the depths of his chair and growled, “You’d best not hurt her, my lad. Son of Angus Gordon or no, I’ll kill you if you hurt my child!”
“Adam!” Skye gently admonished her husband.
“Nay, little girl, I mean it. She’s suffered enough. I’d rather he sue for an annulment than give Velvet a moment’s pain,” Adam declared.
Strangely, Alex was not offended by his father-in-law’s vehemence. “I am trying, my lord, but remember that I have suffered also. Still, given time, I believe that Velvet and I can work out the difficulties between us.”
“How long before you leave?” demanded Adam.
“A few days, perhaps a week or more. I don’t want to tear Velvet from her family too quickly after this long separation.”
“Umm.” Adam nodded. “ ’Tis wise.”
“You see,” Skye said, “Alex is indeed going to try to overcome the gulf that divides him from our daughter.” She rose from her own chair and, walking over to Lord Gordon, put a hand on his arm. “I know it will not be easy,” she said, “but I somehow believe that you and Velvet are meant to be together. Hold fast to that thought, Alex! It will aid you in getting over the hard spots.”
He stood and smiled down at her, thinking as he had thought those long years ago when he had first become betrothed to Velvet that his mother-in-law was an incredibly beautiful woman. But then so was his wife, and he wanted to go to her now. “I will try, madame,” he promised.
“I know you will,” she said, reassured. “I will have a servant show you to your apartment, my lord.”
When she had sent him on his way, Skye turned back to Adam. “Let them be, my love. You cannot make this all right for Velvet any more than you could theothermatter. She must work this out with her husband, and there will be bad times before it is all settled between them. Was it not that way with us?” She settled down into his lap, resting her head upon his shoulder.
“I always hated it when you were hurt as well,” he grumbled.
