“I don’t think you’ve ever called me that.”
She lifted her brow in the haughtiest fashion she knew how. “Well, I doona think ye’ve ever acted the role of boorish lord before either.”
His smile vanished and he closed the distance between them. “As I’ve just discovered that the life I should have led was stolen from me, I’m certain you will find it in your heart to forgive me.” He captured her hand in one of his large ones and raised it to his lips. “You still smell like the sweetest honeysuckle, lass.”
Shivers raced across her skin and she took a step backward to prevent herself from leaning into him. She should be stronger, shouldn’t she? “Ye shouldna say such things.”
“Aye, but I’ll say them just the same.”
Just then Alasdair appeared on the threshold and Hannah wasn’t certain if she was relieved or disappointed by his arrival.
“Ye wanted ta see me, Mother?” he said, stepping into the parlor.
***
Chet stared at the son who would never share his name. The lad was tall, his hair a shade darker than Hannah’s and his eyes a light green. He could see himself in Alasdair’s countenance and he wondered what else they might share. Remorse for not having known his son before now washed across Chet and hardened his resolve to see that all was put to rights.
He took a step towards the lad and offered his hand. “The Marquess of Astwick. I take it you’re Alasdair Campbell.”
“Aye, my lord.” The lad nodded once as he shook Chet’s hand. “Have we met? Ye seem…familiar.”
“I regret that we have not met before now, but it is my sincerest pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, my boy.”
Alasdair’s brow furrowed as though he was trying to make sense of everything.
“I am an old friend of your mother’s,” Chet continued. “And I just had to meet you.”
“Me? But why?”
Chet smiled, hoping to disarm the lad and make this easier for everyone. Why indeed? How could he possibly explain the situation without explaining all of it? “Because I’ve offered your mother the protection of my name, and I want to make certain you know that protection extends to you and your brother.”
Alasdair’s eyes flashed to Hannah. “What does he mean by that?”
“Al—” she began.
“It means,” Chet interrupted her, “your mother has agreed to marry me.” Not today, but she’d agreed many years ago, and Chet intended to see that she kept her word in that regard. “Life, as you know, can be difficult for a widow. I can and will provide for you, your mother, and your brother.”
“My father has barely been gone these two months.” The boy’s eyes flashed to his mother in something akin to anger, which was the last thing Chet wanted. He was moving too quickly.
So Chet smiled his most pleasant smile and hoped Alasdair could see his sincerity. “Indeed,” he said. “But you see I owe Major Campbell a debt that can only be repaid by bringing the three of you into my family. For me to personally see to your safety, health, and happiness.”
“Ye kent Papa?” Surprise flashed across the boy’s face.
Chet nodded. It wasn’t technically a lie. He did know himself, after all. “And I know he would want me to care for the three of you. But I’d like your blessing as well, Alasdair, as you’re the man of your family.”
Alasdair looked from Hannah to Chet and back. A perplexed frown creased his brow. “Did ye really say ye’d marry this man, Mother?”
Hannah met Chet’s eyes, and from the tear that trickled down her cheek he felt confident she clearly remembered the night she’d vowed to be his wife. The night they’d conceived their son. “Aye,” she whispered. “I did promise ta marry Lord Astwick.”
“And Papa wanted this for ye?”
Hannah nodded. “His lordship speaks the truth, Alasdair. Yer father would want it this way.”
Alasdair turned his attention back to Chet, the frown still firmly in place. “What is this debt ye owe my
She lifted her brow in the haughtiest fashion she knew how. “Well, I doona think ye’ve ever acted the role of boorish lord before either.”
His smile vanished and he closed the distance between them. “As I’ve just discovered that the life I should have led was stolen from me, I’m certain you will find it in your heart to forgive me.” He captured her hand in one of his large ones and raised it to his lips. “You still smell like the sweetest honeysuckle, lass.”
Shivers raced across her skin and she took a step backward to prevent herself from leaning into him. She should be stronger, shouldn’t she? “Ye shouldna say such things.”
“Aye, but I’ll say them just the same.”
Just then Alasdair appeared on the threshold and Hannah wasn’t certain if she was relieved or disappointed by his arrival.
“Ye wanted ta see me, Mother?” he said, stepping into the parlor.
***
Chet stared at the son who would never share his name. The lad was tall, his hair a shade darker than Hannah’s and his eyes a light green. He could see himself in Alasdair’s countenance and he wondered what else they might share. Remorse for not having known his son before now washed across Chet and hardened his resolve to see that all was put to rights.
He took a step towards the lad and offered his hand. “The Marquess of Astwick. I take it you’re Alasdair Campbell.”
“Aye, my lord.” The lad nodded once as he shook Chet’s hand. “Have we met? Ye seem…familiar.”
“I regret that we have not met before now, but it is my sincerest pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, my boy.”
Alasdair’s brow furrowed as though he was trying to make sense of everything.
“I am an old friend of your mother’s,” Chet continued. “And I just had to meet you.”
“Me? But why?”
Chet smiled, hoping to disarm the lad and make this easier for everyone. Why indeed? How could he possibly explain the situation without explaining all of it? “Because I’ve offered your mother the protection of my name, and I want to make certain you know that protection extends to you and your brother.”
Alasdair’s eyes flashed to Hannah. “What does he mean by that?”
“Al—” she began.
“It means,” Chet interrupted her, “your mother has agreed to marry me.” Not today, but she’d agreed many years ago, and Chet intended to see that she kept her word in that regard. “Life, as you know, can be difficult for a widow. I can and will provide for you, your mother, and your brother.”
“My father has barely been gone these two months.” The boy’s eyes flashed to his mother in something akin to anger, which was the last thing Chet wanted. He was moving too quickly.
So Chet smiled his most pleasant smile and hoped Alasdair could see his sincerity. “Indeed,” he said. “But you see I owe Major Campbell a debt that can only be repaid by bringing the three of you into my family. For me to personally see to your safety, health, and happiness.”
“Ye kent Papa?” Surprise flashed across the boy’s face.
Chet nodded. It wasn’t technically a lie. He did know himself, after all. “And I know he would want me to care for the three of you. But I’d like your blessing as well, Alasdair, as you’re the man of your family.”
Alasdair looked from Hannah to Chet and back. A perplexed frown creased his brow. “Did ye really say ye’d marry this man, Mother?”
Hannah met Chet’s eyes, and from the tear that trickled down her cheek he felt confident she clearly remembered the night she’d vowed to be his wife. The night they’d conceived their son. “Aye,” she whispered. “I did promise ta marry Lord Astwick.”
“And Papa wanted this for ye?”
Hannah nodded. “His lordship speaks the truth, Alasdair. Yer father would want it this way.”
Alasdair turned his attention back to Chet, the frown still firmly in place. “What is this debt ye owe my
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