Chapter Four
“Gwenys, may Ispeak to ye?” Bram asked, coming forward to greet her and Douglas when they returned from their shopping excursion shortly before the inn’s tea service was to commence later this afternoon. Miranda had retired to her bedchamber about two hours ago, claiming she was not completely healed and needed bed rest.
What she really needed was to get away from him because she thought he was a low creature who seduced married ladies and then heartlessly dropped them when he grew bored.
She had not said as much, but the disappointment shone in her eyes.
How could he interpret her actions as anything else?
“Of course, Your Grace.” Gwenys must have enjoyed her time with Douglas because she appeared happy and agreed to his request with an effervescent smile. “Let me stow away my purchases and I’ll join you in the dining room. Is that all right?”
Bram nodded. “Aye, lass. Thank ye. By the way, yer aunt is upstairs resting. Ye needn’t wake her if she’s asleep. I’ll help her downstairs later if she has a mind to join us for afternoon tea.”
She gave a nod and scooted upstairs with her packages.
Douglas cast him a speculative glance. “Do ye wish privacy? Shall I make myself scarce?”
“No, lad. Ye may stay, if ye wish. It is Miranda I’d rather no’ have with us for this conversation. I want to learn more abouther, but she will never allow Gwenys to talk about her if she’s present.”
“I see. Well, if Gwenys turns out to be reluctant to discuss her aunt, let me know what ye’d like to find out and I’ll work it into my next conversations with her.”
“Good of ye, Douglas. But I think she’ll tell me all I wish to know,” Bram remarked as they stood in the hallway near the dining room, which was mostly empty but would fill up within the hour as the time drew nearer to the inn’s popular afternoon tea. “Gwenys seems to be kind and trusting. She has no’ been hurt in love, as I fear Miranda has been.”
“Sounds like a private conversation to be had between the two of ye. I’ll leave ye to it, since I need to stop by the Bank of Edinburgh and transfer funds from yer investment account to the castle’s operating account. I assume ye’ll want me taking care of the Solway holdings while ye’re in London, as usual.”
“Aye, Douglas. Ye’re the only one I trust to manage the family’s assets.”
“Then I’ll attend to it now.” Douglas glanced longingly toward the stairs that Gwenys had climbed only a few moments ago.
Bram noticed he was casting a moon-eyed look at the staircase, obviously longing for the lass. “Ye like Gwenys. How bad is it?”
“Oh, I’m quite lost to her.” Douglas cast him a wry smile. “Who’d ever believe I would fall for a Sassenach? But she fills my heart, Bram. I canno’ explain it. I feel so good when I am around her. However, she’ll be making her debut soon and is bound to have plenty of suitors for her hand. I dinna think I’d have much of a chance, even if I were in London to court her.”
Bram clapped Douglas on the back. “I’ll see what I can do about bringing Miranda and Gwenys back with me after Parliament closes for the yuletide holidays.”
Douglas shook his head and groaned. “That’s almost eight months away.”
Bram sighed. “Ye know I’d bring ye along with me on this trip if I could. But there’s no one else who will care for our properties as ye do. Gordon’s a good man, but he’s too old to handle the entire load. And Mongo… Lord save us from yeridjitbrother.”
“I know.” Douglas wore a grim expression as he bade Bram farewell and strode off to the bank.
It wasn’t long before Gwenys flitted down the stairs, her step light and airy. She resembled a little butterfly, and Bram could see why Douglas had grown fond of her. She was the sort of young lady who would always put a smile on a man’s face. Cheerful and kind, and a pretty lass, too.
Bram escorted her into the dining room, taking a table in a quiet corner.
“How is yer aunt?” he asked, holding out a chair for her.
“She was sleeping, so I did not wake her. But I spread my purchases out on my bed so she’ll know I have returned and may come downstairs to look for me.”
“I won’t keep ye long, Gwenys. And she’s welcome to join us if she so desires. Would ye care for a cup of tea? Or hot cocoa? Cider, perhaps.”
“Tea is perfect. We had a gloriously sunny day, but there’s still a bite to the April wind. A remnant of winter, I suppose. The chill tore through my bones toward the end of our excursion, so I purchased some beautiful woolen shawls for me and Aunt Miranda.”
“I’m sure she’ll enjoy hers.” He summoned one of the maids and ordered tea for Gwenys and an ale for himself before returning his attention to the lass and beginning to ask his questions. “I know ye care for yer aunt, and I like her, too. But Gwenys, she does no’ seem happy.”
She regarded him in obvious confusion. “No, she is quite cheerful.”
He shook his head. “What I mean is that she does no’ appear to like men. Well, perhaps it is only me she does no’ like. She certainly does no’ trust me or think highly of me. Can ye tell me why she is so wary? She mentioned she was once married.”
