Quest of the Highlander (Crowns & Kilts #5) - Cynthia Wright Page 0,105
course I do, but—”
She was interrupted by Cicely, who had half-risen and was waving toward the manor house. “Here we are! Do come and join us.”
Nora turned her head and saw Micheline gracefully making her way down one of the pathways, clad in a fresh-looking gown of apricot silk. Walking beside her was a familiar-looking young man with a head of unruly dark hair. Nora’s heart leaped with joy.
“It’s Grant!” she breathed. As their eyes met, a broad grin spread over his face and she rose, hurrying forward to embrace him.
“By my troth,” Cicely exclaimed. “I believe we managed to surprise Nora after all!”
Warm greetings were exchanged all around. Micheline inquired about Nora’s news before sharing stories about their weeks in Gloucestershire, where the family passed the summer riding and breeding horses.
“We are fortunate the girls love horses as much as we do,” she said, smiling. “We can all be outdoors together. Andrew had a special saddle made for his horse, Hampstead, after our babies began to come, so now it is little Alison’s turn to ride up high with her papa.”
“Oh, it sounds wonderful,” Nora said with feeling. Their life was like a fairytale, she thought.
“We did have a fine time,” Micheline agreed. “Our dear friend, Sir Jeremy Culpepper and his new wife recently paid us a visit.” She glanced at Cicely. “He has grown more stout than ever. I could sense his wife wanting to give his hand a little slap when he continued to reach for the sweets.”
They laughed together until Grant cleared his throat. Suddenly Micheline was getting to her feet. “Cicely, won’t you help me gather the children for supper?”
“What? Oh, yes, I suppose I should go with you.” Cicely suddenly smiled as if she knew a good secret. “You and Grant have a nice chat. I’ll be back soon.”
When Nora and Grant were alone, she reached out to clasp his hand. “I can hardly believe you are here. I think you must be growing taller every week.”
He beamed at her. “Ye are a welcome sight.”
Nora wore a French hood lined with pearls and now she raised a hand, sensing that some of her long curls had come loose. “I came from weaving at Whitehall Palace. I know I must look very untidy compared to the ladies you’ve seen at Greythorne Manor.”
“Your cheeks are pink, your eyes sparkle, and your hair gleams like polished copper in the sun. That’s real beauty as far as I’m concerned.”
“How did you know I needed to hear a few words of flattery?” Nora felt his hand tighten on hers. She remembered the day at Stirling Castle when they had been together in the lion’s den courtyard, and she had trusted him enough to confide that she was with child. Grant had declared that he would wed her himself if he could. “What a good and true friend you are to me, Grant. Tell me now what brings you here.” Her heart was in her throat. “I hope Lennox is well?”
He shrugged. “Not sick or injured, if that’s what ye are asking, but he is not himself.”
What could that mean? Nora’s thoughts skittered toward hope then backed away. Certainly, she would not wish for Lennox to be unhappy in his new life.
“What is it then?” she managed to ask.
“I will be plain. Do ye still have feelings for him?”
Emotion rushed through Nora in a wave so powerful she felt ill. Looking into Grant’s big gray eyes, she replied, “I will always love Lennox, yet I know it is impossible.” Her hands went instinctively to her thickening middle. “I could never live in his world, with the duke.”
“Because of your weaving,” Grant supplied.
She nodded. “It is as much a part of me as breathing, and Lennox well understands that. I might want to try to be different, but I would not thrive among the aristocracy.”
“Yet ye love him.”
She fought an urge to weep. “Yes. Of course.”
Grant leaned closer, tightly holding her hand. “He bade me to ask if ye would see him. He didn’t want to just appear if it would be painful, but if ye will agree…”
“It is surely folly!” Nora drew a shaky breath, smiling as elation rose up in her. “But, yes, I will see him. Gladly.”
Chapter 30
After she returned from Weston House, Nora was so excited she could scarcely sleep that night. She dreamed of Lennox coming to her, then she lay awake on her rope-strung mattress and relived every memory they had shared.