But the only one who mattered right now was Miranda.
She felt sorightseated beside him.
Lowery and Montrose left the dining room once the Lawson ladies came downstairs. Lady Lawson, who was quite full of herself and quick to put on airs, could be heard complaining about their rooms.
Miranda turned to him and gave another soft laugh. “They had reserved our guest rooms, hadn’t they? And the innkeeper kicked them upstairs because of us, didn’t he?”
Bram grinned. “Aye. Ye missed that row and I didna intend to tell ye about it.”
“Lady Lowery is still putting up a fuss, it seems. I should not be gloating, but it feels so good to give back a little of what they have been dishing out to me and Gwenys over the years. But I’ll add that to my list of things to atone for once I am back in London.”
Her eyes took on a dreamy sparkle as she continued. “I long to be back home. I have the loveliest house on Duchess Square in Mayfair. I purchased it for myself after my husband died. Do you ever have the feeling that something is right? You don’t knowwhy, but it strikes you in an instant and envelops your heart. You just know it has always been meant for you.”
“Aye, Miranda.” Did he not have this exact feeling upon their first meeting, as disastrous as it had been? Even now, watching her fuss over her cup of tea brought him endless delight.
“It is a beautiful home, and I have made the loveliest friends on Duchess Square.”
He encouraged her to talk about her life in London because he wanted to learn all he could about her, and her hopes and dreams. What better way to learn more than to listen to what she had to say about her house and the friends she held so close to her heart?
In truth, he enjoyed the velvet softness of her voice. He also felt her sincerity and passion as she confided in him, encouraged by the fact she felt comfortable enough with him to reveal more about herself. Bram did not think she had ever confided as much to anyone, not even her dearest friends.
He listened attentively as she told him how she had gained in confidence when taking her independent first steps upon becoming a widow. “My friend, Berry—she’s really Lady Berengaria Thane—came over to welcome me shortly after I had moved in. We became fast friends. Then Gwendolyn Carstairs moved in, and we became good friends, too. Of course, Lady Fiona Shoreham was also a neighbor, and we became even closer when her husband, the Earl of Shoreham, passed away.”
Bram nodded. “Ye must have been a comfort to her, for ye understood her loss.”
“Well, Shoreham was a nice man…unlike my husband. But Fiona has moved away now that she married the Duke of Durham. But Gwendolyn, Berry, and I remained on Duchess Square and have made nice lives for ourselves. Berry recently married, but still participates in all of our activities. We do charity work, attend scientific lectures, hold our societymeetings, attendtonfunctions. Gwenys fit right into our lives when she joined me. I’ve loved having her with me. I know she’ll marry soon and make a life with her husband. I’ll miss her so much, especially if she moves away. Far away, if she is to marry Douglas.”
“I meant what I told the Lawsons last night. Ye’ll always be welcome at Lanark Castle, Miranda. Right now, Douglas and Mongo’s mother is my chatelaine, and she’s doing rather a poor job of it. She keeps the house running well enough, but there’s little kindness in her and nothing ever gets done without a complaint.”
“Oh dear.”
He sighed. “She isn’t cruel or evil, just incredibly irritating. She also plays favorites with her sons and our staff. It is a problem at times, especially in her dealings with her sons. Ye’d think Douglas would be her favorite, but she dotes instead on Mongo.”
“Because he is a needy child,” Miranda said. “And despite the fact he is no longer a boy, she likes that he is inept because sheneedsto be needed.”
“We all need someone who loves us,” Bram said, “but our loved ones should support us, no’ hold us back. She purposely indulges his childish ways and encourages his failures. He’ll face my wrath over yer abduction, make no mistake. His mother will weep and wail and beg me to be lenient. Then she’ll be furious and unforgiving when I ignore her pleas. But I must make him feel the consequences of his foolish and dangerous behavior. How else will he ever learn to take responsibility like a man?”
Miranda nodded. “He may never learn, and I am sad for him if this is so. To my own shame, I see a little of her in myself. I am trying so hard, Solway. I want to do what is right for Gwenys. But have I been thinking of myself all these years? Wanting Gwenysto need me. Holding her back when all along she has been this wonderful, capable sweetheart of a girl.”
“Och, Miranda, do no’ berate yerself for loving her and wanting to protect her. Ye are no’ holding her back now. Everything ye do for her is because ye wish to see her happy. Mongo’s mother is motivated by her own selfish desire, no’ her son’s happiness. It is all the more important for me to see that he faces punishment.”
“Even if he and his mother never forgive you?”
“Aye, even so. He hurt ye, Miranda. Look at the cautious way ye still move. I know yer ribs still hurt, and my heart aches every time I see ye wince. If I am compelled to be merciful, it will only be because ye ask it of me. But dinna ask me, for he’ll believe he can get away with his foolish behavior and unthinkingly hurt someone else.”
Miranda gave a thoughtful nod, but said nothing more.
While they sat together in a quiet moment, Bram glanced into the entry hall and noticed yet another commotion courtesy of Lady Lawson. Honestly, how did her husband tolerate this woman?
Miranda followed his gaze.
“Oh, the last of the Lawsons’ trunks have been brought down,” she said, and pulled back her chair to rise. “Drat, Lady Lawson’s just noticed me. I ought to bid them farewell.”
He rose along with her. “I’ll go with ye.”
“You needn’t.”
“Aye, I do.” Servants were bustling back and forth just outside the dining room, and he did not want anyone accidentally jostling Miranda. More important, Lady Lowery would not dare insult Miranda if he were standing beside her.
