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John Barclay was shaking with anger, and Alanna was not even tempted to argue with him. She carried Christian from the room. Elliott went to fetch the carriage, while she waited for him in the hall. When Graham walked up to her, she turned away.
"I really believed taking Ian to see his son was the best thing to do. I'd no idea the visit would provoke such terrible consequences. Can you ever forgive me?"
"We'd planned to reveal the truth about Melissa's son gently, in hopes that Ian would love him as dearly as he had loved her. Perhaps we would have failed, and his reaction would have been the same violently hostile one you observed, but now we'll never know. I can forgive you, but will Ian?"
"I doubt it. I always liked Melissa. I thought she was as nice as you."
"She was," Alanna insisted, but her eyes filled with tears, and she used the edge of one of Christian's blankets to wipe them away. "Why don't you go after Ian. He's the one who needs you now."
"I'd much rather ride into town with you."
"No, I'd not be good company. Please go."
"I am so sorry."
"Goodbye, Graham."
Despite having caused the day's disaster, the Englishman had no intention of giving up his quest to win Alanna's heart; he kissed her cheek lightly before leaving.
* * *
Night had fallen before Alanna and Elliott returned home, for it had taken them some time to satisfy Charity Wade's curiosity without divulging more than they wished her to know. She was fond of Christian, and relieved to have him restored safely to her care. They left her home after reassuring her Ian was unlikely to visit ever again.
"We should have told Charity not to admit any other visitors," Elliott worried aloud.
"I'll tell her tomorrow."
"You're not going to keep visiting the babe, are you?"
"Of course, I am. I realize I'm a cousin rather than his aunt, but I want him to feel loved."
Elliott held the front door open for her. "Come upstairs and help me write the letter to Hunter. I know you'll be able to explain the difficulty of our situation far more eloquently than I."
Alanna accompanied Elliott to his room, but she didn't want Hunter to come for Christian, so her heart wasn't in their task. "He hasn't answered any of your other letters. What makes you so certain he can read?"
"I've seen him do it many a time. I've also seen him write."
"Christian is too small to travel any great distance," Alanna reminded him.
"That will be a matter for Hunter to decide."
"He'll need to bring along a wet nurse."
Elliott went to his desk, sat down, and removed a sheet of stationery from the top drawer. "I doubt he'd recognize that term. I better just say he'll need to bring along a woman to nurse the infant."
Although hoping Hunter would never arrive, Alanna tried to appear helpful. "Yes, and tell him to bring plenty of blankets to wrap him in."
"I believe the Seneca use furs rather than blankets to keep warm."
"Well, whatever they use, tell him to bring plenty. Did Hunter have a house? Does he have anywhere to take Christian?"
Elliott dipped his pen into the ink. "Let's not overwhelm him with questions, Alanna. How he chooses to raise his son really isn't any of our business."
"It most certainly is. Melissa isn't here to look after the boy, so we must."
Elliott turned around to face her. "You must be very disappointed in my parents. But, Alanna, they'd never love Christian, even if you somehow convinced them it was their duty to raise him. He's clearly part Indian, and they'd never be able to overlook that. I'm surprised that you can."
"So am I frankly, but Christian's heritage doesn't bother me at all. Now let's hurry up and write that letter. We better tell Hunter to send a reply, whether or not he's coming to Virginia. That way we'll be certain he received the letter and knows he has a son."
