By the time Willamina arrived for dinner, Rosewood Manor was a raucous affair.
Introductions were made and before he could blink Gwen and Clarissa had whisked Willamina away. Lord only knew the things they would tell her.
The men had moved into the study, nursing whisky and smoking cigars.
“I canna believe ye made the jump, Finlay,” Alexander commented, taking a long pull from his cigar, then making smoke rings as he exhaled.
“And I canna believe ye are going to be a da. Poor Clarissa, how is she going to handle having two children in the house now?”
Laughter erupted in the room, and Alexander took the jab in stride. “She is a saint. Willamina looks like a lovely lass. I do hope my wife and Gwen arena corrupting the poor woman.”
“Och, I dinna think we need to fash about that.”
Let us hope no’,” Nicholas said. “How did the two of ye meet?”
Finlay chuckled. “A garden party of all places.”
A chorus of nays sounded off.
“Ye hate parties,” Malcolm said.
“I know. I was guilted into attending this one.” A bit of a lie, though he had told Northington he would make an appearance; if it had not been for his father’s will, he probably would have found some excuse to not attend. But he could not tell his friends that. They needed to believe this marriage was real. He would in no way bring the slightest inkling of embarrassment to Willamina. Their secret would remain their own.
“Well, I am happy for ye,” Gunn announced. “She is lovely and must be one special lass to have caught your interest. Congratulations, brother.”
They all held up their glasses and cheered.
“Slainte!” They shouted and downed the rest of their whisky.
Finlay poured them all another round, and they sipped this glass a little slower. There was no need for him to get so deep into his cups tonight that he lost his wits about him, making him say things that should stay private.
His mind wandered to Willamina. He had not seen much of her today, apart from when they sat down to dinner. But before and after then, Clarissa and Gwen had occupied her time. He was sure they were busy discussing whatever women talked about when it came to weddings, but he would be lying if he said he did not miss having her by his side.
A few more days and she would be his. He was eagerly awaiting the time when he could call her wife.
Even if it was not real.
He would make it so.
*
Willamina was overwhelmedby the kindness shown to her by Clarissa and Gwen. They welcomed her with open arms into their friend group and she could not help but feel a wave of guilt every time they talked about how great it would be to add another woman to the group.
Gwen talked about her wee bairn that had settled in for the night.
And Clarissa talked about how she could not wait to give birth and for her bairn to meet her cousin. “Ye know, we must all stick together,” she said. “Have ye and Finlay discussed children?”
Willamina nearly choked on the sip of wine she had just taken.
Gwen rushed toward her, patting her on the back.
Once she had her wits about her, she apologized. “So sorry, I fear I swallowed that wrong. But, nay, we have had no such discussion.” It was not a lie. They had not. Nor would they. Why for? For a farce of a marriage that they would escape from as soon as it was possible to do so.
Clarissa waddled over, her hands lovingly stroking her rounded stomach. Each time she rubbed her belly, she got a dreamy look in her eyes. “I am certain the conversation will happen soon enough.” Being with child suited her well. Her skin positively glowed, her eyes bright.
“Do ye have plans for more children, Gwen?” It felt a bit odd addressing the duchess by her first name, but she had insisted earlier that she wanted to be called Gwen. Clarissa did the same.
They were both lovely women, and if her situation was different, Willamina thought that she would enjoy being friends with both women.
