“Hush,” he said softly. “None of that matters.”
“I could bring shame to my family and to yours. What if there is a trial?”
“You do know that the police will never bring charges against you? That was all settled. The dead man was attacking you.”
“No one told me that,” she said and took a shuddering breath.
“It is over.”
“It is not over for our family, and I will tell you about that very soon, but for now, I am feeling tired. Would you take me home?”
“Of course. This is was a long outing for your first venture.” He helped her to her feet and held her hands in his. “Please know, Elspeth, that I am honored that you told me what happened, but it will never matter to me. Tell me more or never mention it again. Whatever is best for you. Would you like to take a walk like this tomorrow?”
She nodded as they turned to walk toward her home. “I would like that very much,” she said and smiled a wobbly smile.
He kissed her hands. “I am glad. Very glad.”
Chapter 20
“Are you sure you’re up to this, Elspeth?” Muireall asked as Kirsty pulled her hair up into a fashionable chignon and Aunt Murdoch clucked her tongue from where she was seated on the bed.
“I think I am, but Alexander has told me several times that he will be more than willing to bring me home anytime I want, if I grow tired or for any reason, really,” she said and studied herself in the mirror.
She was going to tell Alexander yes, she would marry him, that very night. She was both excited and nervous. The two of them had been taking walks together, she had visited his home with Kirsty and Aunt Murdoch. They had attended the theater together and had taken a beautiful ride to the outskirts of the city. He had kissed her several times, and once very passionately. It made her heart flutter and her cheeks pinken to think about it. He had been panicked that he might have scared her. But he had not. She’d been awoken instead. There was a womanly need for him she was just discovering, and it made her feel as though she’d at long last arrived at maturity.
But she had not told her family yet, and it weighed on her. Something she must right immediately. She asked Muireall to call Payden and James to her room. Her sister looked at her strangely.
“What is it, princess?” James said as he walked into her room. “You’re looking especially lovely, Lizzie.”
Payden followed him. “It smells in here.”
“That’s the rose water she just dabbed on her wrists,” Kirsty said.
Elspeth smiled at the exchange, and her heart broke for a moment, thinking that she would not be part of this family banter for much longer, but it would not change what she was about to do.
“I wanted to talk to you all together. I love you all very much and always will. I love this family.” She looked at each of them and smiled softly. “But tonight I am going to tell Mr. Pendergast, Alexander, that I will marry him. He’s asked several times.”
“I knew it!” Kirsty said.
“This is no surprise, Lizzie.” James laughed. “The poor man’s at his wit’s end being patient.”
Aunt Murdoch stood slowly from the bed and held Elspeth’s face in her hands, kissing both of her cheeks. “A good match for you, dear.”
“Will I have to wear a suit to the wedding?” Payden asked.
Kirsty laughed. “Of course you will, you silly boy.”
Elspeth laughed too and glanced at the only person who had said nothing to her announcement. Muireall was white-faced and holding her hands tightly in her lap.
“Oh, Muireall,” she said and felt her lip trembling. “Are you disappointed in me or in my choice? I love him. I haven’t told him that yet, but I do. I wouldn’t leave this house for any less of a reason.”
Muireall stood and smiled tightly. “Congratulations, Elspeth.”
They all watched her walk from the room, her shoulders slumping.
Elspeth closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry on what was to be such a happy day for her. She heard Payden and James leave her room.
“I’ll go to her in a bit,” Aunt Murdoch said. “Kirsty, stay and finish her hair.”
“Why is she angry?” Kirsty asked.
“She’s not angry. But she does see her family changing, and her life’s work has been to hold the MacTavishes together. She’s not allowed herself to find any joy or anything for herself all these years. She’s been weighed down by your mother and father’s words to her.”
“But we’re grown now,” Kirsty said. “You said that Mother and Father didn’t intend to stay here. They would have wanted us to have lives and loves of our own, don’t you think?”
“Of course they would,” Aunt Murdoch said and patted Kirsty’s shoulder as she went by.
Elspeth looked up at Kirsty. “I never in a hundred years thought that she would be sad.”
“I know, but you must remember you can’t make her or anyone else happy. You can only be happy yourself, and I believe you are going to be very happy with Mr. Pendergast,” Kirsty said. “I think I heard a knock at the door, Elspeth. Come. He must be here.”
He watched Elspeth come down the staircase of the Thompson home and held his breath. He released it before he fainted dead away in front of his love and her family. She was stunningly beautiful in pale yellow that brought out the red in her upswept hair. Her skirts were trimmed in brown velvet, and she held a matching bag in her hands. She had lost the haunted look she’d worn for so many weeks, her face full and her cheeks rosy, and was now staring at him as she came slowly down the steps, one brown silk shoe nosing out from under her skirts at a time.
He held his hand out to her as she came down the last steps. Her family, all but the oldest sister, were standing in the hallway watching them.
“You are looking particularly lovely, Elspeth,” he said.
“Thank you.” She smiled up at him. “What time is the dinner?”
“Seven. We have plenty of time.”
“Let’s take the long way to your parents’ home, past the park. It is still warm, but a buggy ride might just be the thing for a breeze in our face.”
James winked at him and pulled Payden down the hallway. Kirsty and Aunt Murdoch stood together with linked arms watching them.
“Have a wonderful time,” Kirsty said with a smile. Aunt Murdoch nodded to him.
He held her arm as they went outside and helped her into the buggy. He climbed up beside her and hawed the horse forward. He couldn’t remember ever being so happy in his entire life. She reached her arm through his, and he glanced at her. She seemed different this evening, smiling in the way a woman could when she was holding a secret dear to her.
“Can we stop somewhere for just a few minutes? I want to talk to you and don’t want you to be concentrating on the horse,” she said with a raised a brow.
He laughed. “Trust me. I’m not thinking about the horse right now.” Alexander turned into the park near his parents’ home, veered off the wide trail, and set the brake. He turned to her, bringing her hand to his lips. “Now tell me what you would like to talk about.”