Luna exchanged a glance with Maxwell. “You were barely a child yourself,” she said with feeling. “Were you supported by other members of your family?”
Penelope seemed to be struggling with this subject and Callum wanted to put an end to it, but then he saw how those around them were hanging on her every word.
“My father had lost what money we had left through his bad investments, so we had no financial support. As for family... I have an uncle, but he is a selfish sort of man who did not want to be bothered with his sister’s children. A friend of my father’s stepped in and offered me assistance and I took it, to my cost, but what else was I to do?”
Penelope’s cheeks were fiery red. Her meaning would not be clear to most of the guests here, but Callum was sure his parents knew exactly what she was saying. Jennie would have explained matters to them. He admired his wife’s bravery in telling the truth when she could so easily have brushed it aside.
“Callum is so lucky.” Penelope looked at him, love in her eyes, before turning to the rest of his family seated nearby. “If he needs help, he has you to ask. I am sure most of you here have families to depend on, and to love, and who love you. I do not know all of your circumstances, but I hope to. I had no one, and I still feel that loss. My brother was estranged and only lately has reunited with me. I have Callum to thank for that,” and no one could doubt she meant it.
Callum sought to lighten the conversation before they were all in tears. “He was a wee nightmare when I first met him,” he said, “but I quite like him now.”
That made them laugh and Callum felt the mood shift. Even his father was watching Penelope as if she was no longer his enemy.
“You have a brother?” Cat’s blue eyes were wide. “Why didn’t you bring him with you?”
Penelope bit her lip so Callum answered for her. “He did not want to come.”
“Then you must write to him,” Maxwell declared loudly. “Tell him he must visit as soon as possible. It is important to have your family around you.”
“But aren’t we Penelope’s family now?” Cat asked innocently, eyes even wider.
Maxwell stared at her a moment like he might reprimand her, and then he shook his head in defeat. “Aye, we are,” he agreed.
Callum felt such a wave of relief wash over him. He lifted Penelope’s hand to his lips, silently thanking her, and she gave him a shaky smile before turning her full attention on Maxwell.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said, heartfelt. “After my parents died, I longed for someone to say those words to me.”
Hector raised his glass, getting rather unsteadily to his feet. “To the boy’s wife! Even if she is an English lassie, she is one of us!”
They all drank, heartily echoing the toast.
Later, when the guests had gone, Luna and Maxwell invited Penelope to walk with them in the walled garden. Cat and her stripy kitten—more of a cat now—joined them, while Callum dawdled behind, listening to the sound of their voices. His father was telling the story of Callum running off to live in a tree, and Penelope was smiling as if she had never heard it before, andthen Luna told the story of her meeting with his father, and Penelope was laughing.
Callum heard footsteps behind him and turned to find his brother Rory, casting an interested glance over the domestic scene.
“She is quite a woman, your wife,” he said. “Well done, Callum. And thank you. Our father has been telling me that it was up to me to bring home a suitable wife since you had failed.”
“Has he?” Callum shot Maxwell a dark look.
“Yes, but my point is, he is won over. I will be able to remain fancy free.”
“Don’t count on it,” Callum said. “He’ll want us all married to ‘suitable’ partners. It’s your turn now.”
Rory laughed. “I’ll never marry.”
Callum looked across at his wife. “Then you’re a fool. I heartily recommend it.”
But he could see Rory did not believe him. Oh well, one day his brother would fall in love and then it would be Callum’s turn to laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Selina was washingat the basin and was not aware of her husband’s arrival in their room. Not until he caught her around the waist and squeezed.
“Angus!” she scolded him.
“Can I not cuddle my wife?” he asked her, a little hurt, and stepping back as she turned to face him.
They had been married for several weeks now. Selina remembered their handfasting ceremony with joy, and their arrival at Bonnyrigg. The MacKenzies had been kind to her, even Maxwell, and she had taken her place as Penelope’s maid. Thank goodness her friend had been accepted, too—some days she shone with happiness.
