Gideon appeared on the terrace, and behind him, was that Alexander?
His eyes shot to Whitney, who looked pale, and he quickly tried to make her feel better. “Ye brought my brother here?” He ran his fingers over her arm.
“Are you angry?”
“Nay, lass, no’ at all.” He moved to stand, but Alexander rushed over.
“Brother, dinna exert yourself. Stay sitting.”
Whitney dropped into a curtsy. “Your grace,” she addressed Alexander.
“Ye must be Whitney? The lovely woman who has made by brother a changed man.” He took her hand and pulled her to her feet, wrapping her in a hug. “Ye needna curtsy to me, lass. We are family and ’tis lovely to meet ye.”
“Likewise.”
Christopher had never seen his wife so quiet.
“Ye look like hell, brother.”
“Ye should see the other man,” he quipped with a smile. “I hadna any inkling ye were coming. I would have made sure to be prepared.”
It had been a long time since he’d seen his brother. When he’d left, they hadn’t parted on good terms, and he was sorry for that.
“Your wife has been more than kind in inviting Clarissa and I to London.” He turned back to Whitney. “I believe Clarissa is making small talk with Patricia if ye’d like to introduce yourself. I am certain she’ll be thrilled to have ye as a sister-in-law.”
“I would love to meet her. Thank you. Do you need anything?” She caressed Christopher’s arm, and he sighed.
He truly was the luckiest man alive. “I’ve all I need now, love.” He squeezed her hand. “Thank ye. I mean it.”
Her cheeks reddened. “I’d do anything for you.”
He crooked his finger, signaling for her to come closer. “I’ll take ye up on that offer later, love.”
She gasped and scurried away.
“She seems like a lovely lass. Ye did good, brother.”
“She’s been verra good to me. She keeps me grounded and on the right path.”
Alexander chuckled. “What happened here?” He waved his hand at the fading bruises and the cane leaning up against his chair that he used to help him walk.
“That last gamble was a wild one. A story for another day. I’m glad ye are here. There’s so much I want to apologize and make amends for. I caused so much trouble. I dinna ken how ye put up with me.”
“I’ve talked to ye for all of five minutes, and I can already see ye are a changed man, brother. I think I need to thank your wife as well.”
Christopher chuckled. “She’s an amazing woman. Without her I’d be dead in a gutter somewhere. And that’s no’ an exaggeration.
“’Tis good to see ye. We have much to catch up on.”
“I look forward to the conversation. Whisky?”
Alexander smiled. “I thought ye’d ne’er ask.”
Later that night,after mending he and Alexander’s relationship, thanks to the actions of his wife, he settled into bed, Whitney tucked into his side.
“Have I told ye how amazing a woman ye are, love?”
She cocked her head to the side, squinting as she pretended to ponder his question. “Ye may have mentioned it a time or two.” She lifted on her elbow, caressing his cheek. “Are you angry with me?”
