“Only of her. The duke disowned her. It was quite the scandal. She was only a distant relation but he disclaimed any connection to her and her family. Was she the one who lost you your home?”
“I guess George’s friend at Harvard was right. The gentry is an incestuous bunch. Do ye all ken each other?”
“I do not. Never saw the need. My father had to and complained long and sometimes loudly about it. Refused to take us with them to some house parties. Something about them not being suitable for children. Yet if I mentioned that any of the people my age had been there he would go all stern and say their parents never had any sense. When I was older I decided it was because of drunkenness and maybe something lewd.”
“Quite likely. So why did your grandfather disown her and her family?”
“He said they had no feeling, or even the slightest hint of courtesy, for the ones who worked their lands and made them rich. To my grandfather that is one of the worst sins of the gentry. He says our class is wonderful at spending the money but neither thinks nor acts like they know it comes from the work of others. He is called a radical, I fear. Well, I do not care, but it occasionally causes the rest of his relations an uncomfortable confrontation.”
“And I suspicion your father was much like him.”
“Yes. But he did play the game much better than my grandfather.”
Iain laughed. “Older men can get away with being more blunt-speaking. People who dinnae like what they have to say can just tell themselves he is getting crotchety in his old age.”
Emily smiled, realizing it was his anger at the gentry that had caused him to go hot and cold in the beginning but that he was well and truly past that. “That is exactly what my grandfather says. He also says he has done enough in the past to please most everyone and earn honors and medals and they just do not have the spine to tell him to shut it.”
“I think I could get to like your grandfather.” He kissed her. “Do ye wish to go home?”
“It would be nice at some time if only to see my grandfather and some friends. Go to my cottage at the shore. But no, I miss some things and probably always will but I realized the other day, some of the things I can make here. I actually liked the cabin and all that we did to make it a better place to live. I truly felt a part of it whereas the manor is pretty much perfect and has been for over a hundred years. All I would do is move in. And I do not believe you would be happy to leave this place and live over there so what would be there for me?”
“I would go if that is what ye really desired.” Even though the words were hard to get out he knew he meant them.
“But why?”
“Weel, a mon should stay with his wife, shouldnae he?” He had to bite back a laugh at how wide her eyes grew. “Lass, I told ye I love ye.” Then he grinned. “And if we are wed, I can shag ye whenever I want and not worry about Mrs. O’Neal lecturing my ear off. Dinnae ye wish to wed me?” he asked quietly, suddenly feeling uncertain and hating it.
Emily hugged him, pressing her face against his throat. “Oh, yes, I do. I do. When?”
“Soon as possible. Suspect it will be a few weeks as I cannae see Mrs. O’Neal standing for us just running off to a preacher and getting it done. She will be wanting a proper wedding.”
“I think I do, too.”
“Good. Need to get to all that shagging.”
She slapped his arm. “Why do you keep saying that?”
“Got the word from ye,” he said, and watched her blush. “Ye were still stuck in shock and ye told me I only called ye ‘love’ because I was shagging you.” He grinned when she groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I would like to ken where ye heard that word and why ye ken what it means.”
“I never said that.”
“Sorry, but ye did.” He laughed when she swatted his arm again. “Violent woman.”
“I think if ye can be calling her a violent woman in that tone she is over her shock and you can get your behind out of there,” came Mrs. O’Neal’s voice through the door.
Iain sighed. “I guess there will be no celebration of our engagement,” he whispered, and stood up.
Walking to the door, Iain opened it and frowned at the woman standing there frowning back at him with her arms crossed over her chest. “We are getting married.”
“When did you decide that?”
“Just now. Ye are interrupting our celebration.” He started to close the door but was not surprised when she stuck her arm out to stop him; he had seen the glint in her eyes.
“Well then, come on, missy, we have some planning to do.”
Emily got up and went to the door. She glanced at Iain and he grinned. Even though she tried to get Mrs. O’Neal out the door as fast as possible she knew it would never be in time.
“Weel, lass, guess the shagging will have to wait until after the wedding,” Iain said, then yelled when Mrs. O’Neal swatted him on the arm. “Damn woman, that hurt.”
