Malcolm and Lizzie were right behind them.
Right away, Lizzie looped her arm into hers. “I canna wait for ye to meet everyone.” Her hair was slightly out of place and her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen.
Jocelyn hid her smile behind her hand. It didn’t take a genius to figure out how they’d spent their journey.
“Did you enjoy the ride?” Jocelyn asked, her voice teasing.
“We did indeed.” Lizzie waggled her brows. “Did ye?”
Jocelyn smiled, nodding. “Whilst our journey was much more, ahem, uneventful, we had pleasant conversation.”
“We had pleasant conversation,” Lizzie mimicked. “Ye two make me laugh. I dinna believe Gunn didn’t make more creative use of the time alone with ye.”
“Lizzie!” Jocelyn playfully pushed her shoulder. “Don’t say such things.”
With a roll of her eyes, Lizzie shook her head. “Ye ken ’tis going to happen.”
“Oh, it will, yes. But it will be in the comfort of the laird’s bedroom,” she confided, giggling uncontrollably.
Now it was Lizzie’s turn to gasp. “Jocelyn! Ye must tell me e’erything. Or wait until I introduce ye to the others. Then you can telluse’erything.”
Jocelyn’s insecurity ramped up once again. She wasn’t so sure that conversation should be the first topic they discuss upon meeting.
“We’re going inside to meet the others since ye two are out here lallygagging about.”
Gunn met her eyes, his dancing with laughter. “We are right behind ye two. No need to sass us, Lizzie.”
She heard him turn to Malcolm and comment how he didn’t know how he dealt with his wife. All in good nature, of course. Both men laughed behind them as they walked through the arched entry and through the courtyard that would lead them inside.
As soon as they entered, the sound of laughter filled the air, along with the stomping feet of little ones. Jocelyn smiled. Her excitement was growing to meet the people in Gunn’s life that he held in such high regard. She was still nervous, but he’d spoken about them enough that she felt like she almost knew them. He’d insisted repeatedly that they would like her. Actually, he said they would love her. She wasn’t sure about that, but she would settle for being liked and accepted in the group of close-knit friends.
They climbed the stairs, using the excited noises to lead their way. They found everyone in the drawing room. Jocelyn was taken aback at how quickly everyone stopped and assessed her.
“E’eryone,” Lizzie announced. “Meet Jocelyn Townsend, Gunn’s,” she glanced at him over her shoulder. “Well, they’re courting for the most part, so call their relationship what ye will,” she said with a laugh. She pointed to a petite woman with kind eyes. She held a babe on one hip while she tried to hold onto a tot as he tried to wrestle free from her grasp. “This is Gwen, she’s married to Nicholas. Duke and Duchess of Gordon.”
Jocelyn’s eyes widened and she immediately dropped into a curtsy. “Your graces.”
Gwen handed the babe to her husband. With a smile, he grabbed the babe and nuzzled her neck, causing a deep belly laugh. One side of the duke’s face was marred with scars, but it did nothing to take away from his handsomeness. With kind eyes, he greeted her with a dip of his head.
“Please,” Gwen said, approaching and wrapping Jocelyn in a hug. “Amongst friends, there are no titles. I’m Gwen and he’s Nicholas. Simple as that.”
Jocelyn wasn’t sure if she would feel comfortable referring to them by their first names, but then Gunn was a laird, and she’d been calling him by his first name this whole time.
“We are very informal. There’s no need for all that stuffiness. ’Tis nice to meet ye.”
“You as well. Thank you.”
“Ye’re English,” Gwen stated matter-of-factly. “I look forward to how ye ended up here. These two wee ones are Benjamin, but we call him Bennie, and Violet. And this one,” she pointed to her round belly, we havena decided yet.”
“Congratulations. You are very blessed.”
“We are,” Nicholas said, bending to kiss Gwen’s cheek. “I’ll take the wee ones. Ye have fun getting acquainted.”
A dark-haired woman approached, and Jocelyn noted her coloring and features mirrored Nicholas’s. “I’m Clarissa, Nicholas’s sister in case ye havena guessed. My husband, Alexander, is the one wise-cracking o’er in the corner. He’s got a sharp tongue but it’s all in good fun. I’m glad to meet the woman who captured Gunn’s heart. Honestly, I didna think ’twould e’er happen.”
“It’s nice to meet you. If I’m not mistaken you are the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, correct?”
“Aye, but as Gwen said, titles mean naught when we’re together. Our wee laddie, Colin, is down for a nap. Ye’ll ken when he’s awake, he chitters more than a lassie.” She laughed and gestured for her husband to join Nicholas as he left.
