His eyes were squinted as though it pained him to ask, which made sense considering all of the background between them. But even Duncan couldn’t resist the plea to look after a pregnant woman.
“Of course,” he said. “Besides, I’ve not much else to do.”
“Did you find a gift for Jane?” Billy asked, sitting down across from Duncan, who looked beside him at the object sitting on the side table.
“I’m working on it.”
“Good,” Billy said, drumming the fingertips of his free hand on his knee. “Well, I best be off. If you need me, the church isn’t far.”
“Very well.”
“Oh, and Duncan?”
“Yes?”
“My family will be arriving after the church service. They are coming to help — with the pudding, the mulled wine, the mince pies, and all that. Their intentions are good, but as you are aware, there are many of them, and they can be rather—”
“Overwhelming?” Duncan supplied drolly, and Billy pointed a finger at him.
“Exactly,” he said. “I wish you the best of luck.”
Duncan could only sigh as Billy left, wishing dearly for his quiet study and peaceful hills at home at Galbury Castle. Soon enough, he told himself, momentarily guilty for the thought, for he knew that Mary wasn’t due to birth her baby for some time. He just had to get through Christmas, and then all would be well. One more day.
In the meantime, he could hardly wait to see Jane again. He peeked beside him at the wooden carving he had been working on, frustrated that he couldn’t seem to get it quite right. Something was missing, and he wasn’t sure how to bring it together.
Jane was frazzled. She knew Billy’s family would be arriving in a few short hours, but there was much to do before then. Mary’s maid would be attending church, but Jane would stay in order to be with Mary — she was certainly not leaving her alone.
She had tidied her own room before anyone discovered evidence of the night before and had just finished donning an old work frock to wear for preparations around the house when she sensed a presence in the doorway and looked up, aghast to find Mary standing there dressed in a very full yet very beautiful navy gown.
“Mary!” Jane exclaimed, as her sister was visibly leaning on the doorframe for support. “What are you doing out of bed?”
“I’m going to church,” Mary said, her face set in determination, and Jane was already shaking her head.
“You absolutely are not.”
“I’m the vicar’s wife!” Mary exclaimed. “I must be present.”
“Mary,” Jane said as diplomatically as she could, “I am sure that all will understand that in your condition—”
“I have been in this condition for months now,” Mary said. “And the church isn’t far if I am going to be sick.”
Or if she was going to give birth, Jane thought, although she didn’t voice the words. Not yet.
“How are you feeling?”
“Just fine,” Mary said, pushing off the doorframe and placing her hands on her hips. “Never better.”
“Mm…hm,” Jane said, looking Mary over, although she sensed that this was a battle she was not going to win. “Very well,” she sighed. “We shall go, but if anything is amiss, we are leaving, no matter where we are in the service. Is that fair?”
Mary smiled faintly. “Of course.”
Time to change.
Duncan was not particularly well-versed in ladies’ fashion, but he would have considered that Jane looked quite fine in whatever she wore, although she typically favored plain gowns without much of the shape or adornments he saw on many of the Englishwomen.
When he heard her step on the stair, however, he looked up from his seat and his jaw dropped open. She was wearing a plaid skirt, a linen shirt, and a vest laced up in the front. Her hair was parted in the center, but braided on each side, coming together in coils at the bottom, where they wrapped around one another. He had never been as stunned by her as he was at that moment.
She looked like a Highland queen — his queen.
He stood up at attention to greet her as she descended the staircase. He reached out a hand, ready to tell her how beautiful she looked, but her eyes were full of concern and her words were as stilted and practical as they had ever been.
“Mary is determined to attend the service this morning,” she said, her jaw set in such a way that it was obvious Jane was not particularly pleased with this plan. “However,” she lowered her voice, “she is not well. I agreed to attend with her, but told her we will leave at the soonest sign of any pain. Will you come with us in case anything happens?”
Duncan hesitated. He had no intentions of attending, but he also wasn’t sure how he could deny Jane — of this, or anything else.
“Please?” she added, which ended any of his remaining internal argument.
“Very well,” he said. “When are we leaving?”
“Soon,” she said firmly. “You look fine as you are. No need to change.”
“Are we walking?”
“Aye,” she said. “The church isn’t far. It’s closer than the livery.”
Duncan nodded, eyeing Jane critically and sensing something was amiss.
“Jane, is everything all right?” he asked quietly. “Are you all right? After—”
“I’m fine,” she said with a smile he was well aware was forced. “Never better. We best go.”
Then she turned around and started up the stairs, leaving Duncan scratching his head, an odd ache in his chest.
She meant more to him than any woman ever had and likely ever would. Here he was, thinking of marriage after knowing her for just over a week. While she, however, did not seem affected in the least. Did last night mean nothing more to her than a chance experience?
She hadn’t used him for their sexual encounter — had she? If she had… well, Duncan deserved it, for he had done so enough times in his own years. But Jane had so much goodness within her, he was sure that wasn’t the case.
If it was, he had no idea just what he was going to do.
Chapter 12
Jane was well aware that Duncan was uneasy. She just wasn’t sure if it was due to his attendance at a Christmas service, or to his reaction to her. She was aware that he had wanted to talk to her, and that conversation would be had — just not at the moment. There was too much else on her mind for her to properly decide if what she felt for Duncan was enough to overcome the fact that not only had he originally been betrothed to her sister, but that he was not the most temperate of men. He was surly, obstinate, and gruff. He was also determined to get his way, and had no issue in providing his opinion — even when it was not requested and certainly not necessary.
And yet, she had more feelings for him than she had ever had for another, and she wasn’t sure how to keep herself away — or if she even should.
But today was Christmas, Mary was due to have the baby soon, and the entire Miller family was set to arrive shortly after the church service.
Duncan would have to wait.
Their progress to the church had been slow — Jane on one side of Mary, Duncan on the other. She had taken one step after the other with more determination than Jane had ever seen her approach something before.