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Those words strung together brought an image to Pippa’s mind of William and her in the little Blakemore cottage, Pippa tending the garden while William brushed down their horses after a ride on the beach. Such a picture of domesticity had never called to her before as it now did when William made up the other half of the equation.
“Does our union have your blessing, Mac?” she asked.
He looked at Pippa hard. “I like the man, but for something this important, I think you’ll need to write to your father.”
Pippa had already written a letter, but she was waiting for William to wake before she sent it.
“But you will write one, too?” she pressed. If Mac approved, she knew her father would also.
Mac’s mouth ticked up in a smile. “I will write one, too.”
She breathed out her relief. After William’s illegal behavior, Pippa had worried about whether or not her family would approve, about whether or not they would make this difficult. Mac didn’t appear entirely at ease with the situation, but he must have respected William’s character enough to look past it, to do his best to be understanding and give the man a chance to prove himself. William had promised to leave smuggling behind. Now he needed to heal and then prove himself a man of his word.
“Are you certain Mr. Blakemore holds you in a similar regard?” Mabel asked.
“Yes.”
“Then surely a little more caution regarding his bedchamber will not ruin your relationship with the man.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Mac stood to answer it.
Mabel leaned closer and lowered her voice. She likely wanted to slip her last piece of advice in before the children commanded her attention. “Father has entrusted us to protect you, and your reputation is part of that, Pip.”
“I understand.”
“Then will you please be more mindful in the future?”
Mac spoke, saving her from needing to reply. “Mr. Blakemore is here again, and he is not pleased.”
Oh, drat. Not this again.
Mabel stood. “Shall I come with you to speak to him?”
Mac’s mouth pressed into a firm line. “Perhaps you can make sense of the situation better. He clearly did not appreciate my explanation.”
Mabel followed her husband out of the room and down the stairs, and Pippa joined them. William’s father had come by late last night, angry that William had not been taken to Ravenwood Cottage directly.
Mr. Blakemore stood in the entryway, leaning heavily on his cane, a scowl dragging his face down. “Has he awoken?”
“I am a man of my word, sir,” Mac said, his voice solid and steady. “I will send someone for you the moment your son wakes.”
“No, Mr. Blakemore,” Mabel soothed. “He is still very much asleep.”
Mr. Blakemore’s eyes shifted from Mabel to Mac. “If he is sleeping, I do not see the harm in taking him home with me. He should be with his family.”
“I do not understand either,” Mac said. “But Dr. Garvey recommended leaving William in that bed until he is better, and I think we ought to trust the word of the physician.”
That was a difficult point to argue with. Pippa could see the distress in Mr. Blakemore’s eyes, and she pitied his concern. “Would you like to come up and sit beside his bed for a while?”
The man looked at her sharply. The room was tense until Mr. Blakemore nodded, and Pippa turned to lead him upstairs. Mabel and Mac followed, and they all went up to the sick room but remained in the corridor, the door open, while Mr. Blakemore went inside.
Mr. Blakemore lowered himself onto the chair beside William’s bed.
Mac cleared his throat. “We will leave you now. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish.”
“I will stay with him,” Pippa said quietly. Her heart reached out to the man. She understood how difficult it was to see William hurt and unconscious and to wish he would only just open his eyes. They had fluttered a few times, as though he were almost awake, but each time, he’d slipped back into a deep sleep again.
Mabel looked as though she meant to argue, but Mac put his hand around her shoulders and steered her away.
