“Very well, then,” he finally bit out.
The women plastered themselves against the wall as he rushed up the stairs and disappeared, then hurried back down and out the door, his cloak streaming behind him.
“Wheesht,” Cait said after the door had slammed.She looked to Amy.“What’s between you two?”
“Nothing,” Amy said shortly, pushing past her and up the stairs to the landing.
Turning toward the left, she disappeared from view.Kendra and Cait exchanged a meaningful glance before following her up and then through a door at the far end of the corridor.
“This is the room Jason and I just vacated,” Cait explained.“It’s the largest one and on the end, so it has the most windows.”
The chamber boasted pale green walls, a four-poster bed with rich blue hangings, and a carved wood washstand, wardrobe cabinet, and dressing table.A big chest rested at the foot of the bed, and an octagonal table with two deep green velvet-upholstered chairs sat beneath one of the five modern sash windows.Everything looked new.
“Kendra, look at this pretty chamber,” Amy said way too brightly.“You and Trick will surely have a lovely reunion here.”
In unison, Kendra and Cait dropped to sit on the big feather bed.“Tell us,” Cait said.
It was Amy’s turn to sigh.She began pacing.“Colin and I are having a little disagreement.”
“About?”Kendra prompted.
“He promised me—before Jewel was even born—hepromisedme that our second son would reestablish my father’s company, Goldsmith & Sons.It’s time for Aidan to be apprenticed to properly learn his trade, to learn the business of running a shop.But Aidan doesn’t want to do that.And Colin is supporting his view, never mind thathe promised me.”
“And a Chase promise is never given lightly,” Cait quoted softly.
“Exactly,” Amy gritted out, still pacing back and forth.
Kendra wondered how long it might take to wear grooves into a brand-new polished wood floor.“What does Aidan want to do instead?”
“He says he has no notion.”Looking disgusted, Amy brushed at her lavender skirts.“He’s a remarkably talented goldsmith—even more talented than I, which takes some doing, I’ll have you know.But he says he doesn’t want to spend his life making jewelry.”
“He’s only fifteen,” Cait pointed out.“Maybe he’ll change his mind.”
“When?When he’s twenty-five?When it’s too late to find an apprenticeship, because guild members expect to train children, not full-grown men?It’s nearly too late to apprentice him already.”With a huff, Amy stopped moving and turned to look at them both.“Besides, the real point here isn’t what Aidan wants, it’s that Colin is taking his side against me.After hepromised.”
“It’s true that Chase promises are not given lightly,” Kendra allowed.“But can you not put this aside for Christmas?It’sChristmas, Amy.”
Amy winced.“You’re right, and I promised Colin I’d put it aside, too.I should do so.My apologies.”She blew out a long breath, visibly calming herself.
Violet walked in, looking much too cheerful.“Are you all getting settled in here?”
“As settled as can be expected,” Kendra said dryly.
“I amsosorry about the cats.”Violet’s false cheer disappeared as she sighed.“I swear I feel nearly as miserable as you do.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Amy muttered.
Plastering a stiff smile on her face, Kendra looked to Caithren.“Well.At least one of us is happy.”
A puzzled frown crossed Violet’s features as a long silence ensued.
Glancing between her three English sisters, Cait finally broke it.“I’m not happy.I’m terrified.”
“What?”the other three said together.
“Why?”Kendra added with concern.
Cait moved her hands to rest on the pointed bottom of her stomacher.“I’m carrying a bairn.”
