Was it Melody’s imagination, or was there fondness in Jane’s voice? If she’d won over Jane, it was a victory indeed.
“I will,” she answered, and heard Jane’s footsteps patter away down the hall.
Angus let out a long sigh. “I am nae sure that it’s proper for us to be here.”
“We cannae discuss the matter at hand here,” Thomas observed, turning away from the window. “Melody, I would like to talk frankly to ye. I want to talk about Callum. I daenae think we can talk about it here.”
“What is your suggestion, then?” she asked, frowning.
“Ye come to me cottage. I have one outside the keep, where me wife and I used to live. I’d like you to visit.”
“V-Visit?” Melody stammered.
“Aye, if ye are willin’. Angus can escort ye to and from me cottage. We’ll drink tea, there’ll be cake, and we’ll talk.”
“Is that wise, Thomas?” Angus interjected uncertainly. “I think if we can just get Lady Melody on a coach back to England, all of our problems will…”
“…will still be there after she’s gone,” Thomas responded pleasantly. “Angus, I understand ye want to smooth things over and pretend that nothin’ is wrong, but changes must be made, do ye understand? I think this has gone on long enough. I’ve said me piece, and I’ve watched Callum suffer for years. Nay more. Watchin’ him and Melody together has made me realize…” he broke off, shaking his head. “Enough of that. We’ll talk about it outside the bounds of the keep. What do ye say, Melody?”
She took a long breath, steeling herself. “I say yes. Whatever you want to tell me, Thomas, I want to hear it.”
“Well, I daenae much agree with Thomas’ sudden change of mind,” Angus huffed. “But if ye go, Lady Melody, I suppose I must, too.”
26
The tip of a cane rattled the desk, just inches away from Callum’s nose. He flinched, jerked upright, and found himself glaring straight up at his grandmother.
“I thought that would get yer attention,” Sophie sniffed. “Ye have been in here all day, without so much as pokin’ a nose out of doors. Supper will be served in a few hours.”
Callum sighed, rubbing his face. He pushed his work aside and leaned forward, rubbing a fingertip over the dent Sophie’s cane had made in his desk.
“Ye are afraid I’ll be late for supper?”
“Nay, actually. I came here to speak to ye because Melody’s nae been seen all day. She did nae come to breakfast and ate nay midday meal. Kat’s seen neither hide nor hair of her. I sent Janeto rifle through the keep to find her, and if Jane could find her, then she isnae here.”
“Of course she’s here, Grandmother.”
Sophie rattled the tip of her cane on the desk again. “She isnae. Ye arenae listenin’ to me.”
Callum bit his lower lip hard. “Listen, Grandmother. I’ve nae seen Melody since we parted ways after that wretched council meetin’. I told her the full truth. I told her about Fletcher, Elsie, and… Alexander. She was shocked, as ye would imagine, but I’m sure she understood now why we cannae be together, and why I cannae have a new heir. She understands.”
“She understands? It’s ye, lad, who understands nothin’. She has nae beenseen. Do ye nae think that what ye said made her want to leave? If ye have driven her away…”
A tightness formed in Callum’s chest, making him swallow hard. He curled his fingers into fists, deliberately avoiding his grandmother’s eyes.
“If she chooses to leave, then I support her,” he responded. “It would be best.”
Sophie stared at him, her face wrinkling up into a frown.
“I daenae understand ye, Callum,” she said at last. “Ye had everythin’ ye needed just within yer grasp, and ye let it slip away. Why?”
Callum clenched his jaw. “I’ll say the same to ye, Grandmother, as I did to Melody. I daenae want a bride.”
“I did nae speak of what ye wanted. I spoke of what ye needed.”
He struggled to find a response to that. Before he was obliged to find something to say, running footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. Jane appeared in the open doorway, out of breath.
“Lady Sophie, I have discovered somethin’,” she panted.
