Joseph tugged on one of Dorothea’s pigtails which were bound with ribbons. “She will be here any moment—” A sound caught his attention, and when he looked to the window, he saw the Heaton carriage pulling into the driveway. “Actually, it appears she’s arrived.”
Dorothea gave him a stern look, crossing her arms. “I should let her know that it is not nice to be late.”
“You know better than to do that,” Joseph responded instantly. “And you will return to your chambers and wait until we are finished.”
“But… can’t I stay and watch?”
“No, little lass,” Henry drawled. “That’s why he’s got me here. I daenae think that society will recognize ye as a witness, little lass.”
Dorothea clearly wasn’t pleased about that. But because he knew that Catriona and her family were on their way in, he didn’t want to risk Dorothea staying for much longer and saying something that she should not, so he began ushering her to the door.
“Stay with your governess,” he ordered just as the door opened and the butler entered, Catriona right on his heels. And that darned dog of hers came bounding in as if she owned the place, going to lie down next to the hearth.
Joseph straightened, taking Dorothea by the hand. She pasted herself to his thigh.
“Good evening, Joseph,” Catriona greeted in that bland tone that had been haunting him since he left Heaton Manor yesterday afternoon. To Dorothea, she sounded far more pleasant. “Good day, Dorothea.”
Dorothea said nothing but curtsied.
Joseph wanted to question her again about her odd behavior. He could tell there was something behind it though he couldn’t imagine what he could have done to deserve it. But he couldn’t ask her here, no matter how much she wanted to.
“Dorothea, go upstairs,” he ordered again.
“Won’t she stay and watch?” Catriona asked with a frown.
“This is not a place for a child.”
Her lips thinned with displeasure, but she said nothing, only stepping to the side as Dorothea quietly took her leave. No doubt she didn’t like what she was seeing, and he wondered if shewould maintain her distant demeanor or call him out on it. She stared at him as if she was wondering what she should do as well.
“It is nice tae finally meet ye, Miss Wallace.” Henry approached from behind, bearing a broad smile. “I’ve heard a lot about ye from Joseph here.”
Catriona gave Henry a pleasant smile. A dull ache began to throb in the back of his head at the sight. She never smiled at him like that.
“You’re Scottish?” she asked.
“That I am, born and raised. That was until Joseph here stole me away from me homeland and forced me into a life of servitude.”
“This is Henry Macdonald,” Joseph cut in, “and he manages my estates. I asked him to be here to act as my witness.”
“Ah, I see.” She dismissed him with ease, turning her attention back to Henry. “Where did you reside in Scotland?”
“Glasgow, Miss Wallace. A city man through and through. I suppose that is why I am nae so bothered when I am in London.”
“I have been to Glasgow a few times,” she said. Joseph clenched his jaw. “It is a beautiful city.”
“Nae more beautiful than ye, I’m sure,” Henry said, and she laughed heartily.Heartily. Yet when she looked at Joseph, she looked as if she would much rather be anywhere else.
“Where are you sisters and your uncle?” Joseph cut in once more. He had no intention of being ignored in his own house on his own wedding day.
“They are coming in, I’m sure,” Catriona answered, her voice lacking interest. “I hurried inside because I did not want to keep you waiting for much longer. Last I checked, they were still speaking with the priest.”
“Ah, forgive us!” Right on cue, Lord Heaton came bustling in with a flustered looking priest next to him. Ava and Maisie came in right after, all smiles. Ava took one look around the room and asked in dismay, “Where’s Dorothea?”
“She won’t be joining us,” Joseph informed them.
The two younger sisters made no effort to hide their disappointment, but they said nothing. Joseph felt his annoyance shoot through the roof. They didn’t have children. They couldn’t possibly understand why he made the decisions that he did.
“We’ve wasted enough time,” he clipped. “Let us get this over with.”
