“I never thought I’d be Earl of Glenlorne, never wanted to be. I didn’t think I could until I saw you, in the tower, imagined you by my side.”
“I was here for weeks before you came home, Alec. There was no hope, no joy, no smiles. It’s different now and that’s because of you. You’ve made a good start.”
“I am not the laird my grandfather was, if that’s what they’re thinking. I cannot bring back the days of peace and power and prosperity. Those days are long gone, never to return.”
She raised her hand to his chest, drew circles with her fingertip. “Your clan wants a new beginning. You’ve already given them that—a pretty new countess, a handsome laird. Jock’s brother has ideas for breeding a new type of sheep with better, thicker wool, Alec, and Annie MacNabb has some ideas for weaving shawls with new patterns. She saw one of Sophie’s shawls. She thinks the clan could make them here and sell them in Glasgow or Edinburgh. So many others have ideas as well. Alastair MacNabb wants to build bridges. They only want your blessing, and a little money. They are willing to give Glenlorne their time, their loyalty. It’s their home too. Sophie’s money will do so much good.”
He caught her fingertip, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “You’re a clever lass, Caroline. Did you know my grandfather was a sailor for a time? He told me about the wonders he saw while he was aboard ship. Other places, new ideas, different ways of doing things. Marvels.”
“Sophie’s dowry will help you do all those things, Alec,” she said.
“As a matter of fact, I’m not going to spend her money at all. I have an acquaintance in London, an earl, who owns a shipping company. He’s encouraged me to invest for years. I wrote to him, asked him if about shipping Glenlorne wool, investing in new ventures. He’s offered to advise me. He believes my investment could do very well. I shall need money for an initial investment, of course, which will come from Sophie’s dowry, but I will replace every penny, put it in trust, make my own way without living off my wife.”
Caroline felt a swelling of pride, and love. “That’s wonderful,” she said.
“If I survive.”
“The wound truly is minor,” she said.
“What about next time?” Brodie is trying to shoot me, and Speed and Mandeville have some reason of their own for wanting me dead.”
“They want Sophie—her dowry is many times more than mine was,” Caroline murmured.
“Ah yes, there’s you—if Somerson finds out I’ve debauched his little sister, he’ll probably try to run me through.”
She smiled. “No, he wouldn’t shoot you himself—he’d simply pay someone to call you out,” she joked. “Besides, if anyone would understand that you preferred to wed for money, it would be Somerson.” She realized too late how that sounded. “I mean, he doesn’t understand love.” She almost bit her tongue. She had never intended to admit she was in love with Alec.
“Is that why you gave up your dowry? Does money mean so little to you?”
“How do you know that?” she asked.
“Glenlorne is an old castle with cracks in the walls, windows that don’t shut tightly enough. I overheard your conversation with Somerson. You’re taking a huge risk.”
“I’ve always had money, of course, or at least I never wanted for anything money could buy. Yet I think I am happier without it. I can make my own choices, live my own life. Surely there are other folk in Scotland who wish their children to learn English.”
“So you’ll stay in Scotland?” he asked.
“It’s the first place in a very long time that’s felt like home.”
“It won’t be easy. Scots are suspicious of Sassenachs. Promise me you’ll write to me if you need help. At the very least, let me be the brother Somerson isn’t.”
“I could never think of you as a brother,” she whispered.
“Caroline, I have never been—”
The door swung open, and a long pool of moonlight raced across the floor. Caroline leaped to her feet, standing boldly between Alec and the intruders.
Jock jumped backward in alarm as she came forward, backing into Leith. “God a’mighty, lass, I thought you were a ghost!” Jock shifted and he pushed his tam back in relief. “Alec, lad! Are ye all right? We’ve been looking for ye for hours. Muira insisted something evil had befallen ye.” He crouched in front of Alec.
“He was shot,” Caroline said. “How did you open that door?”
Jock looked over his shoulder. The door? I didn’t open it. It was standing open when we got here, otherwise I wouldn’t have even bothered to look in this old place.”
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
“We’re lost,” Viscount Speed said grimly. “We’ve been circling these woods in the dark for hours. I swear I’ve seen that tree stump before.”
“It’s too dark to see a hand in front of your face,” Brodie said, standing in a pool of moonlight, staring at his own palm.
