Joan Wolf by The Scottish Lord

Author:The Scottish Lord
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

0 where have you been, my long long love,

These long seven years and mair?

—ANONYMOUS

Ian stayed six days at Castle Hunter and then he left for Edinburgh. He told his mother and sister he was going to see his solicitor; in reality he was going to see Frances.

Edinburgh. Frances lived in Charlotte Square, one of the glories of the New Town built in the late eighteenth century after the North Loch had been drained and bridged by an enlightened town council. As Ian rode down Princes Street his eyes went with affection and respect to the towering heights of Edinburgh Castle, for so many centuries the home and fortress of Scotland’s kings. The classical New Town was Edinburgh’s pride, but Ian loved the Old Town, with its high, narrow houses, winding closes, and boisterous, teeming life. The Macdonalds in fact still had a house on the Canongate, a short distance from the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

He asked for Lady Robert in a constricted voice and gave his name. The servant went to inform Frances and then came back to conduct him to the drawing room. She was standing by the tall windows, which were opened to let in the warm August air. The sunlight reflected off her pale hair and bathed her face in the merciless light that was kind to very few women. Her hands were tightly clasped together in front of her, her eyes were deeply green, unsmiling and intent as they rested on him, standing bareheaded and enormous in her doorway.

He gave a strange laugh. “I don’t know how it is, Frances, but you always turn out to be more beautiful in the flesh than one remembered you.”

She, who had received unmoved the lavish compliments of England’s greatest and wealthiest nobles, flushed. “And somehow you are always bigger than one remembered,” she returned with an attempt at lightness. As he crossed the room toward her she said a trifle breathlessly, “I am so sorry about Charlie. It must have been quite a shock to you.”

He stood directly before her now. “It was,” he replied grimly. “It was also a shock to learn that you were a widow. I had not received any of Douglas’s previous letters.”

“Oh,” she said faintly and looked up into his lean, tanned face. The brilliant life was still there in his eyes, but it was controlled now. He looked different, she thought confusedly. He was not really any taller than she remembered, it was the sense of authority he exuded that was new. He had not said he was sorry about Robert’s death. Her chin rose a trifle. “Has Margaret told you what is going on in the Highlands?”

“Yes. And I gather I have you to thank for saving Lochaber from Charlie’s greed.”

Her finely arched brows drew together. “Nonsense. Your mother would never have allowed him to carry out any clearances. I merely reinforced what I’m sure he had heard before.” Her lips set. “I’m sorry Charlie was killed, but I am not sorry you are Lochaber now.

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