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And then it was just the two of them.
‘You look dead on your feet,’ Cal said.
Heather didn’t bother to deny it.
‘Come on. We’ll go through to my sitting room. I need a brandy. And you can have...something else,’ he said, vaguely, obviously remembering that alcohol was not on the menu for her for the next seven months. Longer, if she breastfed.
In fact, given what had happened the last time she’d drunk alcohol, Heather rather thought she might give it up all together. Just to be on the safe side.
Cal’s sitting room was warm, cosy and welcoming in a way that nowhere else in the castle Heather had seen so far had managed. She curled up in the armchair near the unlit fireplace, and pulled a blanket over her knees more for comfort than warmth.
Cal handed her a glass of something frosty and misty before pouring himself a brandy.
Heather cautiously took a sip. It was delicious.
‘Home-made elderflower cordial and sparkling water,’ Cal said, taking his own seat opposite her. ‘Mrs Peterson makes it.’
‘It’s lovely.’ Heather took another sip.
‘Better with champagne,’ Cal replied. ‘But under the circumstances... Speaking of which—what happened by the river? You didn’t hurt yourself or the baby? I should have asked before... Do you want me to take you to the hospital to get checked? I’ll be honest, I don’t really know how these things work.’
Heather smiled at his concern. ‘Neither do I, really. But I didn’t fall hard or anything. Just slipped into the mud at the end of the bridge. More embarrassing than painful—which I imagine was just what the children intended.’
‘Probably,’ Cal admitted. ‘So you don’t need the hospital?’
Heather shook her head. ‘I’m fine.’ Then a thought occurred to her and she frowned. ‘But I do need to transfer my medical care up here if I’m staying. To keep up my midwife appointments and scans and what have you.’ She hadn’t even thought about that side of things when she’d agreed to Cal’s deal.
‘And are you?’ he asked, pausing with his glass halfway to his lips as he waited for her answer.
Heather frowned. ‘Am I what?’
‘Staying.’
* * *
Cal had no idea what he was going to do if she said no now. Of course she’d been happy to take his deal before she’d met the kids. But an afternoon with Daisy and Ryan—not to mention Mrs Peterson’s disapproving gaze—might well have changed her mind.
But if she could put up with a mud dunking from his niece and nephew, maybe she’d be strong enough to stick it out. To be honest, she already seemed to have more control over them after one afternoon than some of the previous nannies had had after a week or more.
Heather was the right person for this job—Cal could feel it. And not just because she was a scandalous time bomb waiting to explode.
She still hadn’t answered. That was a bad sign, right? Or maybe she was just making very sure of her answer. She didn’t seem like the impulsive type—her encounter with Ross notwithstanding.
Finally she nodded, and Cal let out the breath he’d been holding and took a celebratory sip of his brandy.
‘I’m staying,’ Heather confirmed. ‘Which means there’s a lot of things we need to sort out.’
‘I can give you the details of our family doctor. He’s been looking after the Bryces for decades.’ And keeping their secrets. ‘He’ll look after you. It’s only for six weeks, after all.’
How many appointments would she need in that time anyway?
‘I suppose... But my twelve-week scan is due soon. I’ll need to get that moved to the nearest hospital with a maternity unit. Which is...?’
‘Edinburgh, I imagine,’ Cal replied, thankful possibly for the first time for the remote location and lack of facilities at Lengroth. At least in Edinburgh he was unlikely to be recognised and asked a lot of awkward questions. ‘We’ll get Dr Harvey to book it for you, and I’ll take you down to the city for it.’
She looked surprised at his offer. ‘Thank you.’
Cal shifted uncomfortably under her grateful gaze. ‘Of course. It’s only right. Now, what else do you need now you’re staying?’
