Page 105 of Claimed Highland Brides

RANSOM NOTE

Fiona was staring at her in a very fixed manner and it was bothering Jamesina. She kept stealing glances at her sister, hoping that she would have looked away, but Fiona just kept on staring.

“Is yer knitting not interesting enough Sister?” she said at last.

“Hmm?” Fiona seemed distracted.

“I asked if yer knitting was boring ye?”

Fiona smiled. “Does it interest anyone?”

Jamesina shrugged as her needles clicked. “I find it quite soothing frankly.”

“Aye, I suppose it is tha’,” Fiona agreed.

They continued to work in silence, the cozy room with its blazing fire providing a fitting backdrop to the click-clack of their needles.

“I too find it soothing should anyone be interested in knowing,” Fenella piped up.

Jamesina laughed, the first genuine bit of mirth she’d felt since her husband left. There was a tentative knock at the door and then Daividh stuck his head in and nodded to his wife. “Och, Mistress Campbell, may I have a word?”

Fiona blinked in surprise but immediately put down her knitting and got to her feet. “Excuse me, ladies.”

No one verbally replied to her as she crossed the parlor, each of her sisters focused on their knitting. She stepped out, with a last vague smile at them all, and closed the door behind her.

Jamesina watched her go curiously, wondering what Daividh wanted. He didn’t usually disturb their evening visit since it was the only time that the sisters got to sit together during the day.

At this time, Daividh was usually replying to letters. She supposed that without Delwyn around that was a bit more difficult.

That’s probably why he wants Fiona.

She sighed, shaking her head, disappointed that she was back to thinking of Delwyn. She had managed to go the whole day without him consciously crossing her mind.

And I was doing so well too.

Fiona followed her husband to his study, wondering what was going on. She had barely closed the door behind her when he thrust an envelope into her hands.

“I received this today. Somebody left it with the footman.”

She looked down at it, frowning at the seal. “This looks familiar. Who sent it?”

“It’s from the steward. The Sassenach. That is his seal.”

She stared at it. “Ye want me tae read it?”

“Aye.”

She took a deep breath and broke the seal, then she hesitated as her breath trembled out from between her lips. She dropped her hand from the letter without opening it to read its contents. She bit her lip.

“Wha’ is it?”

Fiona sighed. “I think Jamie’s pregnant.”

Her husband quirked an eyebrow. “Aye. She has th’ glow.”

She met his gaze. “So ye noticed as well?”

“Aye. I did.”