She turned forward once more. “I don’t believe my father ever said a truthful thing to me in all my life. My aunt promised to take me in after my father lost our home, but she changed her mind. A friend of my grandmother’s offered me a position as lady’s companion, but then told her butler to refuse me entrance to the house. Mr. Haddington hired me for what he said was the role of governess, but he lied about why I was brought to Haddington House. People are forever lying to me.”
He raised their entwined hands to his lips. “I’m sorry people’ve hurt you, Sophia. But I swear to you that I’m not one of them. When I say I’m pleased to be your friend, I mean that I’m very much pleased to be your friend.”
“Do you kiss all of your friends’ hands?”
Nothing slipped past this woman. “M’ first time.” And, he hoped, not his last.
He guided the horse up a pebbled path and under the columned portico of a house he knew well indeed. “Let us hope the housekeeper has a fire built in the sitting room.”
Sophia’s eyes darted from him to the house again and again. “Thisis your home?”
“It is.”
Johnny, who looked over the animals and stables, stepped up to the cart. Duncan tossed him the reins then hopped down.
“But—” Sophia looked all around, her expression only growing more confused. “But this isn’t a cave.”
Heavens, he enjoyed her sense of humor. “The cave is in back.”
He came around the cart and reached up for her. Without hesitation, she set her hands on his shoulders and allowed him to lift her to the ground. He kept his hands at her waist even after she’d firmly regained her footing; he enjoyed both her confusion over his home and her nearness.
“You are employed by another man when you own your own house and land?” She looked up at him. “I don’t understand.”
“We’ve stumbled upon a new idea up here in Scotland. We call it work, and we consider it a mark of a worthwhile person.”
“Is there not work enough to do here? In my experience, most estates require a great deal of effort to run.”
“It’s not the same.”
She watched him closely, clearly pondering his answer. Few people had truly listened to him the way she always did. He’d found himself anticipating their walks in the garden hours beforehand, knowing he had both a listening ear and an enjoyable conversation to look forward to.
“You took the job to prove yourself, I’d wager,” she said. “To convince someone— I have my theories about who that someone is— that you were more than the fortunate son of a landowner.”
She’d pieced that together quickly.
“And what do you think of my efforts? Have I been wasting my time on a pointless pursuit?”
“That depends on whether you convinced your harshest critic.”
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “And who is my harshest critic?”
“I think” —she stretched up on her toes— “that would beyou, Duncan.” She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, sending warmth straight to his very heart.
The front door flew open and Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, rushed out, arms waving, eyes wide with excitement. “Master Duncan! We were not expecting you.” Her eager gaze fell on Sophia, whose hands yet rested on his chest, whilst his hands were still at her waist. “What is this? A sweetheart? Did you marry and not tell anyone?”
He laughed out loud at the immediate look of panic on Sophia’s face. “No, Mrs. Green. I’m not married. This is my dear friend, Sophia, who has come to meet your mistress.”
Mrs. Green clasped her hands over her heart. “Mrs. Buchanan hasn’t had a visitor in weeks and weeks.”
“Not even her son?” Sophia asked.
Duncan slipped his hand around her back, guiding her toward the house. “I’m here every Sunday without fail.”
“This is where you go. I wondered about that.”
They stepped into the sitting room where Mother always spent her evenings. This evening was no exception. She rose from her usual chair, her blue silk dress flowing in elegant waves as she stood.
Duncan slipped away from Sophia’s side and crossed to his mother, placing a kiss on her cheek. “I’ve brought you a visitor, Mother.” He indicated Sophia. “She has until recently been employed as the governess at Haddington House.”
