Page 36 of The Lyon Deception

“We will be happy,” she whispered against his cheek.

Much happier, she thought, than that old man upstairs, who wasted his life on things that were meaningless. Sinclair was nothing like him.

He is the man I love and admire, and oh yes, we will be very happy together.

It was late when Sinclair went outside. He could not sleep. There were too many things going around in his head. Regrets for the past, for the grandfather he had never really had, and the suffering the man had brought to his people in his efforts to turn Sinclair into a gentleman. Sinclair had never wanted to be a gentleman. He had only wanted his grandfather to love him.

The light was strange on the horizon, perhaps the Northern Lights were preparing to shine. He had seen them before when he lived here, before he went to school in Edinburgh and then to London. He wondered if his grandfather was up there somewhere, watching him, and probably frowning because Sinclair wasn’t going to do what he was told.

That made him smile. He thought of his mother then, and how happy she had been with his father. She had made her own life and never regretted it, and Sinclair would do the same. He had his Cat, and he would marry her, and he would make her happy just as she made him happy.

Would they live at Bonnyrigg or London? Or perhaps they could spend their time between the two?

He was still considering those questions when he heard a step behind him and turned. It was Callum, Cat’s eldest brother. He too was looking up into the sky, his dark eyes narrowed. He looked very much like his father, tall and handsome, but there was something of Cat in his features too. Perhaps his mouth, that one moment was laughing and the next drawn into a stubborn line.

Not that Callum had done much laughing since they’d met.

“So you are Lord Armytage now,” Callum said. “Should I congratulate you?”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“And you dinna want to live here?” the other man went on abruptly. “I dinna blame you. It looks awfully bleak to me. I’m no’ sure Cat will take to it.”

“No, I won’t live here. I might sell it. Although, did you see the bothies?” He frowned at the memory. “I would need to do some repairs before I make any decisions. Everything has been badly let go. I can’t walk away, my conscience won’t let me. This is my fault.”

Sinclair knew now his grandfather had used every penny to set Sinclair up as a “gentleman.” It may not have been his choice, but he felt guilty about it.

Callum looked at him. “It’s a disgrace, but it was your grandsire’s fault, not yours. Mend the bothies, repair the land, make yourself known to your people. They will love you for it.”

“Did you see the clothing the servants were wearing? It’s a wonder they haven’t frozen. When I was here before, there was spinning and weaving. The people could care for themselves. He has taken everything from them.”

“Aye, he has, so you must bring it back. Put the money to good use.”

“Maybe I will not sell after all,” Sinclair mused. “Maybe I can come to some arrangement with some diligent fellow to take it on, and I can still keep an eye on things. What do you think?”

Callum smiled. “I think you are right. What if Rory took it on?” His smile turned into a grin. “He’s nothing better to do.”

Sinclair wasn’t sure whether or not he was joking. “Do you think he would want to?” he said. “He didn’t seem very happy with me at Bonnyrigg.”

Callum paused, still watching him. “We’re family. Rory and me and you, all of us.” He held out his hand, and Sinclair took it. They solemnly shook. “And family look after each other, Sinclair.”

“Yes, they are supposed to,” Sinclair agreed, once again remembering his grandsire.

“And if one of them steps out of line, then he’s brought back in, quick smart.”

Sinclair eyed him. Was that meant to be some reminder to him to look after Cat properly? Well there was no need for it. “I love your sister,” he said firmly. “I will love her forever. You have no fear that I would ever hurt her or let another hurt her.”

Callum seemed to find comfort in this, as if it was the answer he was looking for. “Then I have no quarrel with you. Now let’s go inside before we both freeze to death.”

Chapter Nineteen

It was spring when the wedding took place. Jennie thought Bonnyrigg was looking at its best. This was the first wedding to be held here since Luna married Maxwell and Jennie married James. Cat’s two elder brothers had wed in London, although Donal had wed at Setholm on the borders. This promised to be a grand occasion, and everyone was here.

Jennie could see fresh flowers everywhere and enough food to make the tables groan. Cat was glorious in her wedding gown of cream velvet, with a wreath of white roses in her auburn hair. Sinclair was handsome in his wedding suit, made especially for the day by his London tailor. Beside him, Cat’s three brothers were very dashing in their kilts. Jennie watched as her nephews passed among the guests, many of them neighbors, introducing Sinclair. The men had come to be friends since that first uncomfortable meeting.

Cat was surrounded by her sisters-in-law, all of them smiling and offering advice. Penelope had had her baby, and just as Callum had foretold, it was a little boy. She rocked him in her arms while his sister Henrietta ran wild with Donal’s son, Little Maxwell, following after her. Donal’s wife Agatha had her own secret—she had recently discovered she was carrying a second child. Jennie had happened upon her looking decidedly ill one morning, and Agatha had sworn her to secrecy. She wanted to keep the happy news to herself for now. Time enough to share when the wedding was over.

Grace’s sisters, Prudence and Harriet Snowden, had traveled north with Jennie and James to join in the festivities. The two girls felt they had every right to be here as they had been part of the scheme that led up to Cat and Sinclair’s romance. That was news to Jennie. In fact Harriet claimed it was due to her that they were married at all! Penelope’s younger brother, Mortimer, seemed to have taken a fancy to Prudence, and they had spent most of the visit in each other’s company. “More wedding bells,” Jennie overheard Grace say to Rory, smiling at the pair. “That will just leave Harriet.”