Highland Love Prevails by Emilia Ferguson

Author:Emilia Ferguson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Highland
Publisher: 0
Published: 2018-10-01T21:00:00+00:00

A DAY AT HOME

“Glenbrook, I have to leave.”

Douglas said it gently to the steward, who was insisting that he stay.

“Sir, I can't let you go,” the man protested “The master gets back tomorrow. He will be overjoyed to see you alive and well. This calls for a celebration.”

“No...Really...” Douglas shook his head. I can't!” he protested. Then he thought about it. He had arrived at Duncliffe at eleven of the clock, and had spent the last hour unraveling some minor crises in his father's absence. Merchants, coming with their wares, to make a sale. Accounts, needing to be looked at. A cottager, coming to plead a boundary dispute. By the end of the single hour, Douglas felt exhausted.

He was drained of all his energy, and there was no guarantee that, if he set out now, he'd find a safe place to sleep, or anything to eat. It grew dark at five of the clock now, and it was decidedly cold. The thought of riding out now was disturbing at best, deadly at worst. He also couldn't do that to his father’s horse.

“I cannot stay another day,” Douglas said anyway, knowing that it would be more sensible, but hating the idea. Every day he spent here made his chance of getting shot that much the greater. He would find it hard to justify so long a delay at home, if Colonel Brand challenged it.

“Yes, sir,” Glenbrook said glumly.

Douglas sighed inwardly. He honestly couldn't risk being shot for desertion because his father wanted to throw a ball in his honor.

Not that Father would be likely to do that, in any case.

His father actually being cheerful seemed almost impossible. “I'll take some luncheon, Glenbrook,” Douglas said wearily.

“Yes, sir.”

He went up to his bedchamber and, for the first time that day, got some peace and quiet. Taking off his outdoor boots, he changed his coat to something more suitable for inside the house, and then headed along the hallway to the upstairs parlor. It had been, in former times, part of the old solar of the fortress. Now the family still used it for informal meals.

He went in and looked out of the window, feeling strangely empty. It was odd to be back, with no Arabella, no Francine. Without even Father, who had at least been there when he had first left, all those months ago. He sat and looked out at the gray-dark sky thinking. In the grate, the fire cracked and popped, a companionable sound in the silence.

I hope Marguerite is safe.

The rest – even the long, cold journey North which he'd make alone – he could manage. However, there was nothing, now, he could do to keep her safe.

Or is there…?

One possibility would be to ask his father to send someone to keep an eye on things. What would he say to his father, when he asked him? That he was in love with an Englishman's daughter?

Father is not comfortable with English Jacobites.

He hadn't been pleased when Francine married one, that much was certain.

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