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He sat back and thought about what Calum just said to him. “It wasn’t about the fact that Calum thought he was a weak idiot.” He sat in silence until they arrived at the shore. When they got out of the boat, Julia took Angus’ arm, and they walked towards the castle quietly. Soon he would be locked in his room, away from everyone, and he could fall into a much-needed slumber.
Calum paused and stood back with Liam by the boats for a second. He leaned in and whispered, “Lad, did anything happen with Charlotte and Angus? Why is my brother now such an ass?”
Liam smiled. “He’d kill me if he heard me tell ye. But aye, something has happened. He’s as besotted as ye were, laird. There must be something about the Sassenachs.” Liam laughed, and Calum smiled.
“Good tae hear. That’s something I can work with. I may need yer help with something, Liam. I’ll let ye know.”
Liam smiled. “Of course.”
Calum walked behind his wife and brother, feeling quite satisfied that he and Julia had been correct.
* * *
Charlotte heard a knock at the door, and she sat up, wiping her tears. She thought it might be Elizabeth. She really should be comforting her at this time and not wallowing in her own misery. The girl had just lost her father to an unknown fate! When she uttered out the words “Come in,” she was taken aback when she saw it was her father.
He moved inside shyly, and Charlotte stood to follow him to the chairs at her hearth. When he sat, he looked like he was struggling with words, and many emotions flitted across his face before he finally was able to find what he wanted to say. “My dear, Charlotte, can you ever forgive me? Your father has been a horrible fool. I don’t know how you have dealt with me recently. ”
Charlotte leaned forward and grabbed his hands, so glad that her father had come back to her. “Of course, Father! I love you. I was so sad to see that Lord Darling had taken you under his thumb! I knew you felt trapped, and I wanted to help you if I could. But now he is gone!” She hesitated. “He is, isn’t he?”
“Yes, yes, of course. I will speak to him and then send him to the authorities. I just can’t believe that a man of his status could do such a thing. I thought he was such a well-connected, well-bred man. I trusted him, and I should not have. You tried to get me to see reason. I am sorry again, daughter. I have put too much faith and importance in the power of social status.”
“You are forgiven, Father. Of course, you are forgiven.” She tightened her grip on his hands and looked into his eyes. “But please tell me that I will not be forced to marry whoever it is that Lord Darling has selected for me. I do not want to marry that man. I want—” she hesitated, and General Andrews placed his hand atop Charlotte’s.
“My daughter, of course. You shall have whatever pleases you. You will be free to do as you wish and marry who you wish. I will not attempt to stand in your way any longer. I have proven myself to be a most uninformed and weak father.” He gave a hollow laugh and then said, “What is it that you want? You have changed so much in these recent weeks. Many of the changes are good changes. I can see a maturity in you that has not been there before. But now there is sadness. What is it?”
Charlotte watched her father’s kind eyes as they expressed to her how much he loved her and cared for her. Her shoulders released when he told her that her engagement would be broken. But something still hung over her, and she was afraid to tell her father. But now that there was no chance of it coming to fruition, she could share her feelings with him.
“I want…a different man, father. I have fallen in love, but I kept my feelings hidden from you because I didn’t think you would approve. And I thought that there was never a chance that he and I could be together. If it was going to save this man’s life, then I was willing to throw myself into my new marriage.”
She paused, waiting to see how her father would react. He leaned back in his chair and smiled. “You are in love with someone, my dear? Could it be Angus MacLean?”
“How did you know, Father?” Her face was beginning to heat with embarrassment, and she looked down at her hands.
“Despite what Lord Darling has to say on the matter, I can put a pair of thoughts together.” He chuckled. “I suspected for a while now. I could see the way that he looked at you, and you spent so much time at the Fort and had extended your stay a few times already. And even after Julia left, you wanted to stay, and you even snuck back there once you’d moved in here. You sent over the vegetables. There were many clues, my darling.”
Charlotte smiled. “I suppose you’re right, Father. I had no idea that I was so obvious, for I did not yet know myself my true feelings. But I love him, Father, and I could not, in good conscience, marry another who I do not love. I would rather remain alone.”
General Andrews frowned as he thought. “Charlotte, surely this MacLean man loves you in return. You are wonderful in every respect.”
Charlotte said, “I have made too many mistakes, Father. He did not know that I was arranged to be married to another. I think he is angry with me.”
“So, he knows of your feelings?”
“Yes. And I know of his. I thought that after today, with Lord Darling being put in prison, he would surely speak to me again. But, he left without saying anything. I am lost.”
Now that she’d begun to open up to her father, it was as if everything came flooding out all at once.
“Does he know that the engagement was made by Lord Darling? I don’t remember anyone saying anything to him about that.”
Charlotte felt hope begin to flicker into being. “No, you are right. I don’t think he knows that. But would that really make a difference?”
“Yes. Perhaps he simply thinks that you are engaged, and that is that. He might not know that now that Lord Darling is put away, there is no more engagement.”
“Yes, Father, you are right! How could I have been so despairing?” Her hope was beginning to catch flame. “I will have to tell him somehow. I don’t know that he wishes to speak to me, but I will have to try!” But she felt disappointed again, and she sat back, another worry niggling at her mind. “You do not disapprove, Father, of me loving and wishing to marry a Scotsman?”
General Andrews sighed and shook his head. “I think it is long overdue that I give up my notions of you doing anything according to my plan. All I desire now is for your happiness. Angus MacLean is a good man. You could have done far worse.”
“But what about your desire to reside in London once you are retired? You may have to end up in Scotland.”
Her father smiled. “You know, I do believe it’s beginning to grow on me. If finding Scottish lovers is in our blood as it appears to be, then perhaps I should find myself a Scottish wife.” Charlotte laughed, her heart ready to try once more.
