There was only one answer. Tears ran down her cheeks. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, please!”
He closed his eyes in relief, and then he was grinning and reaching for her, and she was in his arms. “Thank God,” hemuttered into her hair. “Imagine my embarrassment if I arrived home without you, after that bloody letter to my father.”
She managed to laugh. “I had a letter about a new client,” she said, probably blathering again. “It was horrible. She made it sound like I was being hireddespiteall of my shortcomings.”
“I thought you already had a new client,” he said, leaning back to look into her face.
“I—I lied,” she admitted. “Because I didn’t want you to ruin your life by declaring yourself to me.”
He gave her a little shake. “Ruin it? You have completed my life, Penelope. Don’t you know that? I love you so much, so, so much.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “Callum, so much.”
They might have said more, but they were interrupted by whooping and cheering from outside the door. The next moment it was flung open, and Mortimer and Selina came rushing in, faces flushed with joy, both of them hugging each other, and then Penelope and Callum.
Penelope wasn’t sure if them being so happy was a good thing. “He hasn’t saved me,” she said, when she was able to get a word in. “He hasn’t rescued me. I was quite capable of saving myself. I had a new client and—”
“I’m not saving you!” Callum replied loudly. “Well, I suppose I am. But you are saving me, too. From a miserable marriage with a woman I do not love, or else spending the rest of my days alone in the forest, wishing you were there.”
Penelope was moved beyond speech, so it was just as well Selina spoke for her.
“Let us just say you saved each other,” she said gently.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The rest ofthe morning felt like a dream to Callum. They spoke of their plans, and then Angus arrived—Selina had sent for him—and Callum learned that the two of them had planned to go north to Bonnyrigg and start their own married lives. Callum was surprised and pleased, especially because it would mean Penelope would have her friend with her.
“I really am glad for you,” Mortimer said, although he looked a little down in the mouth. “That awful Lady Hamlyn. Can I write her a reply and tell her to go and jump?”
“As much as I would like to do that—” his sister began.
“It’s a deal then.” Mortimer rubbed his hands together, but then his excitement dropped away. “I’ll miss you, Pen.”
“You can come with us,” Callum said, before he could stop himself. The boy had only just reconciled with his sister and now they were to be parted again, so it was only fair he make the offer.
Mortimer shot him a doubtful look. “Thank you, but I’m not sure that Scotland is the place for me. I will visit, of course I will, but I think London is where I am most comfortable. Can I stay here in Jasmyne Street? For the time being at least.”
“Of course you can. But Mortimer, how will you afford to live here? Please tell me you won’t be asking Uncle Bertie for help?”
“No, I am done with Uncle Bertie,” Mortimer said cheerfully. “I have had an offer from someone else who wants me to be theirsecretary. I have a reasonable hand and can spell, and I think that is all that is required.”
“Secretary?” Penelope blinked. “From whom, Mortimer?”
Her brother looked uncomfortable. “Lord Muir’s son. Do you remember him? Sometimes Lord Muir would bring him to Chelsea, while he and you...” He coughed. “He remembered me, and I think he was embarrassed about his father’s selfishness and that was why he has come to me with the offer. I thought about turning him down, and I will if you want me to. If it is too awkward.”
Penelope thought a moment. Lord Muir’s son had turned out to be far more generous than his father. “No, don’t turn him down,” she said quickly. “I feel no animosity toward him or his father. That is in the past.” She looked at Callum, worried what he might think.
“I am more interested in the future,” he said firmly.
Selina had brought in tea and more cake and now she sat beside Angus. “So are we,” she said.
“I thought we could handfast at the border,” Angus added, smiling at his lady love.
Penelope looked puzzled. “You mean like Gretna Green?”
“Aye. We will join hands before the blacksmith and two witnesses, and swear to live the rest of our lives together. ’Tis as good a marriage as any.”
Callum could see that Penelope was less than thrilled about that. “We will marry from my aunt’s house,” he said soothingly. “I’ll get a license.” He wanted everything to be legal under British law, no loopholes that might cause questions and doubts in the future.
