A Scandalous Secret by Ava Stone Page A

lightened a bit and she smiled for the first time that day. “After my father. He’s a strong lad, a good lad, but the last few months have been very difficult.”
    Chet remembered when his own father had passed away. He’d been a boy himself at the time, and his heart went out to the son he’d never met. “Campbell was a good father, then?”
    “He loved Alasdair like he was his own. Doted on him.”
    The sincerity of her words eased his heart a bit. At least his son hadn’t suffered in Chet’s absence. “I want to meet him. Alasdair.”
    She nodded again. “But please promise me ye willna tell him.”
    Well, he certainly wasn’t going to lay eyes on the lad and just blurt out, ‘Nice to meet you, I’m your real father.’ Chet stared into Hannah’s pretty blue eyes and his heart tightened. How had everything in his world turned out like this? “I won’t tell him today, but I won’t make you any other promises.”
    “But—” she began, then quickly closed her mouth when he narrowed his eyes on her.
    “And you’ll marry me,” he said darkly.
    Her mouth fell open this time. “I—but—”
    “No buts.” He shook his head. “Alasdair is my son, and I deserve to be his father if only as a step-father in the eyes of the rest of the world.”
    “No,” she whispered.
    Chet scoffed. “I wasn’t asking you, Hannah. I did that once before, and it didn’t turn out well for me. I missed the first dozen years of my son’s life. I won’t miss a moment more.”
    “Chet.” She heaved a sigh. “I’m no’ about ta marry ye. I’m barely widowed. And I have two sons, no’ just the one.”
    If she thought she was going to deny him his child, she was wrong. If she thought she was gong to deny him herself, she was mad. “Hannah Laren Campbell, I have every right to my family. My son and the wife I always should have had. Major Campbell raised my son, and I will return the debt by raising his.”
    She clamped her lips together and folded her arms across her chest, but at least she didn’t say ‘No’ again.
    ***
    Hannah’s mind spun the rest of the way to Carteret House. Never in a million years did she think her day would have progressed in such a way. But there was no point in discussing the situation any further with Chet. He’d made up his mind, and he wasn’t about to let her change it. So she’d wait until they reached her brother’s home, where her reinforcements were sure to be waiting. So long ago she’d dreamed of being Chet’s wife, but many years had passed and she’d gone down a different path. It was too late to go back, wasn’t it?
    The coach rumbled to a stop and Chet opened the door, offering his hand to Hannah. She accepted his assistance, and together they ascended the front steps. The front door opened at the stoic butler ushered them into the corridor.
    “Is his lordship in, Moffitt?”
    Beside her, Chet grumbled, “I didn’t say I wanted to see him .”
    Hannah frowned at her first love. She’d feel less guilty about this entire affair if her heart didn’t lighten a bit when she met his eyes. Blast him for making her knees slightly weak after all this time, and especially now when he was behaving so boorishly. “He is my brother. He might have a thing or two ta say about—”
    “We’ll tell Carteret our good news after I’ve met with Alasdair.” Then he turned his gaze on the butler. “Have Master Alasdair Campbell brought down to the…” He gestured to the closest door. “Whatever room this is.”
    He was being much more heavy-handed than Hannah remembered him, but she supposed she could understand his impatience. “Moffitt, please ask Alasdair to join us in the blue parlor.”
    The old man nodded. “Of course, milady.”
    She dropped her hold on Chet’s arm and entered the parlor in question, hoping for a little space; but he was quick on her heels. “I doona appreciate yer behavior, my lord.”
    “My lord?” he echoed with a deep, rumbling chuckle.