Piper nodded in terse agreement, parting the willow’s draping branches to peer into the darkness one last time. In the rush and with the duke’s men milling around, she hadn’t been able to say her goodbyes to anyone and had also been forced to leave Edith behind.
She didn’t want to leave without Connor, nevertheless, Temple was right. If they were to make good their escape, it would best be done under the cloak of darkness. Concealed by the canopy of branches, she let Tam boost her onto the back of a dappled mare. She didn’t even have Dandy since they would leave their horses behind when she and Connor boarded the train north.
Assuming Connor caught up with them, that was.
“Dinnae fret, lass. If my brother dinnae make it to the train in time, I’ll take his place at the altar,” Tam offered with a grin broad enough to pierce the darkness.
“He’ll catch up.” A repetition of Temple’s assurance offered little comfort. If Connor didn’t appear soon, it would be worries aboutwhyrather than thoughts ofwhat nowthat would consume her.
Scenarios of all sorts flooded her imagination, making her realize how negative she’d become as a result of these trials in her life. Heaven forbid it be something as simple as a thrown shoe. No, it was doom and disaster with no alternative.
As the practice of living had been suspended because there had long been no outcome other than Rutledge finding her. Pessimism ruled while optimism stagnated. That wasn’t at all how she wanted to contemplate the future. The days ahead could prove happy and gay if she concentrated positive thought to achieving that goal.
Therefore, Connor would come as promised. Whatever delayed him was no more than that. A delay, she determined with ruthless confidence.
They guided their horses to the gravel lane and set out at a swift lope that would carry them out of the immediate vicinity of Dinton Grange in all haste. Once the drive met the junction of the Aylesbury Road, they slowed to a walk for safety reasons. Though the sky gained more color with each passing minute, it was unwise to race willy-nilly into the darkness.
“Dinnae fash, lass. Connor’s long been a dawdler,” Ian told her when she’d twisted about for the third or fourth time in hopes of seeing the outline of a rider approaching. One particular rider, in any case. “Always lagging behind.”
Tam grinned with a nod, coming up on her other side. “Aye. Our wee Heather Blossom toddled about ‘ere Connor bothered to stand on his own two feet.”
As Connor had five years on his sister, Piper knew Tam embellished the truth. They were trying to bolster her spirits, although disparaging the man she loved wasn’t the finest approach. “Connor is the best of men. I trust him implicitly. He will catch up before we reach the village.”
The twins shared a look over her head, then Tam glanced back at her. “He is a good’un, true enough. Dinnae get us wrong, lass. We love Connor like a brother.”
Ian slapped his thigh, and the pair burst into laughter that took the edge of gloom from the early morning that the rising sun hadn’t yet accomplished. Ahead of her, the shadow of Temple’s shoulders gave a lurch. She rolled her eyes, trying not to smile.
“Seriously, though,” Tam went on, “we’re glad to see him have something he cares enough about to dedicate himself to.”
“What do you mean?” From what she’d seen, Connor had a great deal of focus regarding his goals.
“There was a time we would’ve wagered our brother couldnae find himself in a dark room wi’ both hands.” Ian smirked, his eyes dancing. “No’ that there’s much to find.”
The pair chuckled again unable to resist any opportunity to poke fun. Growing up with them must have kept the entire MacKintosh clan on its toes.
“Connor’s spent a long while trying to be like one of the others rather than figuring out who he is wi’out us,” Ian went on with a shrug. “’Tis nice to see him wi’ a purpose in life.”
“I hardly think seeing me to safety qualifies as a life’s mission.” She frowned.
Temple shifted in his saddle to peer over his shoulder. “I believe they are referring to something more prosaic than our current mission, my lady.”
“Our brother’s never found the same satisfaction in self-indulgence that we have,” Tam told her.
“That most reasonable men do,” Ian put in.
“He’s a pleaser, ye ken?”
Ian: “Aye, doing for himself dinnae make him happy.”
Tam: “Never has. He’s needed something to work for.”
“’Tis no’ that moldy auld farm of his we’re talking about, either,” Ian added.
“Nay, we’re talking about ye.”
Piper swiveled from one twin to the other so quickly her head spun. “Me?”
“Aye,” they announced in unison, then Tam carried on, “Nothing ever meant much to Connor if he dinnae have someone to do it for.”
