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Chapter Thirty
The next day, Angus awoke, feeling rested, but the memory of yesterday still hung heavily upon him. He dragged himself from his bed and wandered down to the Hall to find food. Calum and Julia were already there, talking and laughing, looking every bit the happy pair that they were. He almost backed out of the room, afraid to be around them when they were so deliriously happy, but Julia called him back.
“Come, Angus! We have much to discuss.”
“Aye,” grumbled Calum. “About how yer such a bloody ass now.” Angus could see his brother was attempting to appear angry but wasn’t very successful.
“I thought ye’d prefer me this way, with the two of ye being so disgustingly happy.” Julia laughed, and Angus couldn’t help but chuckle as well. A good night’s sleep had done wonders for him. No images of Charlotte as he slept, thank God.
Angus took a piece of bread and began to slather it with warm butter. Julia eyed him for a moment and then said, “So, it is time. What happened with Charlotte?”
Angus looked at their expectant eyes. He was going to resist, but then he gave up. He knew that Julia would give him no end of grief until he told her everything. He sighed, putting down his piece of bread. “Fine. I give up, sister. I know you will not stop until you get what you want. Aye, something has happened. I’m bloody in love with the woman, but she is engaged to another. She knew the whole time and didn’t tell me. Even after…”
He stopped, suddenly feeling shy in the presence of his grinning brother and his excited sister-in-law. He rubbed the back of his neck, and Julia clapped. “I knew it, Angus. Calum, didn’t I tell you that something would happen? I’d even told Charlotte myself that I thought you were attracted to her.”
Angus threw up his arms. “Bloody Hell, is there no end of conversations with Charlotte that go on behind my back?”
Calum laughed. Julia looked confused. “But what is this about an engagement? I didn’t know anything about it.”
“She is apparently engaged. When Lord Darling came for her and me, she told them that she would marry the man they’d selected for her.”
Calum crossed his arms. “Sounds tae me like she wanted tae protect ye and was giving up something that they wanted.”
Angus made a face, and Julia agreed with Calum. “I know Charlotte. She wouldn’t agree to something like that unless there was a reason. But I’m certain we can find out the truth. If this Lord Darling is now in prison, then surely the engagement won’t go on.”
Angus froze. He hadn’t considered that option. He’d just assumed that the engagement had been going on for a while, and he didn’t know. “So, Charlotte wasnae engaged afore ye left? Tae yer knowledge?”
“No, certainly not. I would have known. And if I had known, I would not have pushed the idea of you two as much as I did.”
Angus thought nervously. What if the engagement was now void, and he had just rudely left the Fort? What if there was still a chance that they could be together, and he had ruined it by his sullen jealousy?
Calum then spoke, “Listen, brother, do ye want tae marry the lass? I never thought of ye as the marrying kind, but if ye say ye do, then I know yer besotted with her.”
Angus nodded, forgetting his earlier shyness. “Aye, I wish tae marry the lass. But I just dinnae think it possible.”
Julia suddenly burst forth. “Then you must go to her and find out! Why are you wasting time here with us, sulking and licking your wounds?”
Angus hesitated. “Nae. She willnae want me now after what I said to her. I was angry yesterday after I’d found out. I said horrible things tae her.”
“If she loves you, then she’ll forgive you. Angus MacLean, if you marry, you will find that nearly every day you and Charlotte will be at odds! She has a temper, and you will have to deal with that.” Julia laughed. “I’m sure there will be many times when apologies need to happen.”
Just as Angus was considering Julia’s words, Mrs. MacLean rushed in. “Laird, Lady, and Angus! Angus, I’m so glad tae see ye are well, but Liam has just rushed back from his hunt tae let ye know that Mistress Andrews is leaving today for London! He has found out from Elizabeth Darling. She leaves with that horrid father of hers, and Charlotte means to accompany her.”
Angus’ heart began to beat anew. He had barely felt it before, after yesterday, when he had felt that everything was wrong with the world. But now it was working in earnest. It was as if the sun came out and shone down upon him, and he saw everything clearly.
Angus stood, and Julia was practically bursting. “Go to her! Get her back, Angus! Tell her how you feel! You will lose her to London if you do not!”
Angus still prevaricated for a moment, but then he made his mind up quickly as he imagined Charlotte disappearing from his life forever without another look, another word, another embrace. He could not let that happen. If the engagement was off, then he would put his suit to her to see if there was still a chance.
He rushed past Mrs. MacLean and out towards Liam at the boats. Calum turned to Julia. “Do ye think she’d really leave for London? Without even saying goodbye tae us?”
Julia shook her head and laughed.
“Not a chance. But we needed some way to get him out of here and over to the Fort!” Calum sighed.
“My little minx.”
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