“How very unfortunate for the young lady. Employment at Haddington House, no matter the role, is an occupation I would not wish upon anyone.” Mother glided across the room, her hand outstretched in invitation, her words and tone as refined as ever. “You are most welcome. I trust your journey was a pleasant one.”
Sophia’s startled gaze sought and found him. “You didn’t tell me that your mother is English.”
Mother looked as shocked as Sophia did. “Duncan, you’ve brought me an Englishwoman.”
“More than that, Mother. She is my friend. And I hope that she’ll become yours as well.”
***
“Now, son, no more of your stories. Tell me what is truly happening here.” Mother sat in her favored armchair, eying him with the very knowing look of wisdom that had always brought a gleam to Father’s eyes.
Mrs. Green had led Sophia up to a guest room under strict instructions from Mother to provide her with a few gowns to try on, since Sophia didn’t have any of her own. Now Duncan was alone with his mother and, as was her tendency, she’d not waited more than a moment to ask questions.
Duncan had learned from his late father that delaying an answer was pointless. Though it was the Scots who had the reputation for stubbornness, his very English mother had long ago taught him that they weren’t the only ones with backbone.
“Mr. Haddington threatened her,” he said. “’Twas no longer safe for her to stay.”
Mother’s mouth turned up in a subtle smile. “You sound even more Scottish than usual today, Duncan. Miss Pemberton appears to have affected you more than you will admit.”
“How could an Englishwoman’s influence make me sound moreScottish?”
She reached over and patted his hand. “Even as a little boy, whenever you were excited or worried or overwrought, whatever influence I had on your diction disappeared. You have sounded like Johnny ever since your arrival. Miss Pemberton’s presence here must be indicative of something more than the moral depravity of Mr. Haddington.”
“She is my friend.”
His usually regal mother actually rolled her eyes. “Aiden MacAllister is yourfriend. When was the last time you sat with his hand in yours for a full quarter hour as you did with Miss Pemberton this evening?”
“I am fond of her, but she was born to a family of privilege and refinement.”
Mother pushed out a heavy breath. “Now you truly do sound like your father. He made the exact same objection early in our acquaintance. Tell me, did I ever believe myself above him, too refined for a Scotsman?”
Duncan shook his head and leaned back against the sofa. “But you, dear Mother, are the universal exception to most every rule.”
“Would it help if I told you that whilst I watched Miss Pemberton this evening, I saw a fondness in her eyes when she looked at you that went beyond mere friendship?” She smoothed the front of her skirts.
“You’ve been trying to find me a wife for years and years, Mother. Knowing your growing desperation, I’ll not allow you to be the judge of any woman’s fondness for me.”
“Then allow me to be the judge of my son’s idiocy.”
He chuckled. Mother never was one to mince words.
“With her, you smile and you laugh, something you haven’t done often since your father died. And though my difficultrelations convinced you long ago that the English hold unflattering views of Scotland and her people, please do not allow that to convince you to paint all the English with the same hateful brush.”
He let his shoulders sag. “She said something like that to me not long ago. I don’t care for the idea of the both of you being right about that part of me.”
Mother tucked a stray hair back behind her ear once more. “I, for one, am impressed that she possesses enough fortitude to tell you when you’re being muleheaded. You are rather intimidating, you realize.”
“So I’ve been told.” ’Twas one of the reasons the Haddingtons allowed him full run of the stables with few questions asked, and one of the reasons they didn’t dig too deeply to discover his origins. He needn’t tell anyone he owned a small but fine estate of his own; his demeanor alone convinced people to heed what he said. He far preferred being respected for his work and self-possession than for the value of his land and his mother’s family connections.
“Does Miss Pemberton find you intimidating?” Mother asked.
“She seemed to at first, but not any longer.”
Mother nodded. “I like her.”
He had hoped she would. “Do you like her enough to allow her to stay while she finds her footing again?”
Mother clasped her hands on her lap, her bearing as royal as if she’d actually been a queen. “She may stay as long as she wishes, under one condition.”
