AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Nine
It had been a few mornings since the dinner, and every memory was burned in Amelia’s memory. The cold feel of Donald’s grasp, the blackness of his eyes, the warmth of Jamie’s breath on her cheek as he accused her of trying to get into his arms. And yes, the vision of a dark-haired woman kissing Jamie against a stone wall. He had pushed her away from him, but then they left the room, and Amelia had found her mind scrounging for possible answers. A mistress? An old love?Ugh! Why should it matter to me? I had threatened to clobber him, and someone else offered him her kiss. She is welcome to him!Then, why did the thought of whether or not he bedded this woman niggle its way into her brain, not giving her any peace?
This morning, Amelia was writing letters with Fiona after breakfast. This is how they spent most of their mornings. Fiona would write to her friends and family back in London, and Amelia had been desperately trying to get a letter sent to her friend Marianne. She had sent one, but she feared her friend had abandoned her as well due to her change in situation for she had not received a reply.
But today, with the clear sunshine coming in through the castle windows, Amelia received a letter. A maid brought it to her, and Amelia squealed with delight!
Fiona was startled. “What is it, my dear? Are you well?”
Amelia apologized for her outburst. “Oh, of course, Fiona. I just received a letter I had been waiting for. Would you mind if I took a little time to read it now?”
“Oh no, of course not. Please take your time.” Fiona returned to penning the long letter to her sister, and Amelia donned a plaid before heading outside to read the letter in the bright sunshine.
She began to pace the well-worn path she and Fiona had made with their daily walks around the grounds, and she opened the letter, breaking the seal.
It read:
My dearest Amelia,
I have been trying for weeks to get a letter to you, but father is quite overwrought at the loss of your family and doesn’t want us to contact you in any way. It appears that your father had asked my father for money, which he gladly gave, but now is regretting his choice. No matter. I am so sorry, Amelia, for all that has happened to you and your family. Had you any idea that your father was involved in such things? I have sent this to the address you requested but where are you exactly? What have you been doing? Oh, I have so many questions. My friend, I wish there was some way I could help. Perhaps I could visit you and your mother?
I read in your last letter that Charles is a complete cad. I thought men were made of firmer stuff, but apparently not. I am so sorry, Amelia. I thought you might want to know, but Charles will be getting married. To Lady Ashford, after Christmas.
Please tell me if I can be of any use to you. Please know that I will always be a friend to you. And if you’d like me to visit, you have only to ask. I will sneak away from Father if I can.
My prayers are with you both,
Love,
Marianne
20 December 1750
Tear burst into Amelia’s eyes, as she finished the letter, letting her hand fall to her side. She came across a stone bench and sank into it, her heart threatening to break with the weight of her situation. And now, Charles...married. To Lady Ashford! She was twice his age with pots of money. So, apparently, he had no character left to miss. Even still, her heart ached with the misery of losing everything.
At least she still had Marianne. Amelia’s shoulders shook with sobs, and then she heard a sound coming from her side.
She turned to find William running to her side. “Och, lass, are ye all right? Are ye well?” He placed a warm hand on her shoulder and waited worriedly for her answer.
Amelia could pretend all was well, but she hadn’t the energy. She felt comfortable with William. She could tell him at least part of her story.
She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I will be right soon enough, thank you. I have just received a bit of bad news.”
“Aye? And what was this news?”
Amelia cleared her throat, hesitant to begin, but desperate to relieve the weight that had settled over her heart. “Before we came to Scotland; I had been engaged to a viscount in London. But, our family situation suddenly...changed, and he sent me a letter of rejection before we left. And now, I’ve just heard that he’s remarrying.”
A new wave of tears billowed over her cheeks, and William made soothing sounds as he laid Amelia’s head on his shoulder.
“Lass, that man must be a cad and a bastard tae be letting ye go. Drop him from yer mind. All will be well.”
Amelia finally felt like she had a friend who wasn’t a dangerous laird, her mother, or her employer. She relaxed into his shoulder.
* * *
Jamie had just come downstairs after washing and dressing and tiredly walked to the window, hoping the bright sun would wake him up. Far off, he spotted William with Amelia on the stone bench, with William comforting Amelia, and Amelia’s head lying on his shoulder. A pang of jealousy flew through his chest with a flash. He stopped himself. Why should her friendship to William bother him? It should only be frustrating that William was trying to make headway in their bet. And for that and that alone, Jamie would speak to his friend later. He tried to put it out of his mind as he went to the table to eat breakfast.
He sat down near to his mother. He started to eat, and then casually asked her, “Ma, where is yer young companion?”
