Chapter Sixteen
The carriage came to a halt, and she was relieved to be home at last. They had ridden in silence after their somewhat truce which left her a little bewildered and maybe hopeful.
Her emotions had come full circle where he was concerned in the last two days, from excitement to indignance and back to admitting she had feelings for him.
At the front door, she reached up to unlatch, but her sister Alice was there before she could complete the task and swinging the door wide.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were with the king and the queen to see the earl?”
“Be easy, Alice. I am home, and the earl is with me.”
She realized how that sounded immediately and, considering the lateness of the day, regretted Alice’s obvious misinterpretation and excitement which bubbled out of her.
“Alice, who’s there?” Her mother’s voice preceded her from around the corner. “Marion! Why have you returned so quickly? Is aught amiss? Where is the queen? Where is the earl?”
Well, this wasn’t starting out as she had hoped. “Mother, Alice, the earl is here.” As she said this, she stepped to the side to reveal him.
“I needed to return home. Do not make assumptions, please, and the earl was gracious enough to see I was escorted properly.”
Her mother’s demeanor changed almost instantly upon seeing Alexander. “My dear earl, do come in and seat yourself at our table, for we are just about to seat for our evening meal.”
“I do not wish to intrude upon your family,” he said.
He, of course, would know how her mother would react to that and right on cue, she said, “Oh no, my dear, do come in and let us show you how grateful we are you kept our dear lass safe.” She ignored Marion and took the earl’s arm, practically dragging him to their small dining hall.
“Do you know I have heard of these bands of highwaymen who would steal the eyes right out of your head. But they would not trouble one such as you…”
Her mother prattled on as Alice embraced her. “Whatever the reason, I am glad you have returned. Mother and Father have been relentless about my coming out next season and I fear they will be worse on me than they were on you.”
She was not in the least surprised. Alice had been far too vocal about what she would and would not do and with whom she would converse. She’d set her sights high, and her parents would quite likely have to take her down a notch or two.
“Alice, please have Jonathan see to the earl’s driver and ensure he is set up with a warm meal and a comfortable bed for the night.”
“I shall, and then I want to hear every detail about your time away. Your lips are too tight for my liking,” she said as she skipped away.
Marion drew a deep breath and joined her family and Alexander in the dining hall.
“…and I said to her that she should never have gotten mixed up in that family.”
“Ahh, there’s my wee lass,” her father said and stood to embrace her. “Sit down by me and tell me of your travels. I had not expected to see you for more days than I was willing to count.”
“Aye nor I, but a situation arose, and I felt it best if I returned to my family.”
As she said this, she pointedly looked at Alexander whose brow was knit again as he nodded at all the town’s gossip her mother threw his way.
“A situation, you say?”
“Aye, and I believe the earl would like to have a conversation with you alone after dinner.”
His brow shot up. “That sounds serious. Will I need my sword?”
Her father always had a way to break the tension with humor, but Marion was not entirely convinced this time that he was in jest.
“Nay, Father. He has a question to pose to you, and you should know already that my answer is aye. It is important to me that you be properly addressed in this matter.”
“Then I shall bring my pocketbook.”
“No need for that, either. You shall see for yourself when you have your discussion.”
Marion settled into her meal then and worked hard to not devour the fish their cook had prepared exactly how Marion loved it. So tender and juicy. Though she would have loved to have two more pieces, she maintained her politeness and settled on the one with only an extra potato and bread.
She was as nervous as she’d ever been when it came to him.
Starting over meant a full-on courtship that could go on for weeks or months and then a betrothal followed by another long wait before they married.
She’d have to keep him at arm’s length because even now, while he listened to her rambling mother, she wanted to sit on his lap and kiss him senseless.
Eventually the meal ended, and her father stood. “My lord Argyll, would you care to join me in my study?”
“Aye, my lord, I would like that very much.”
The two men left the dining hall and after a short time, Marion could hear the door close. In her mind, she paced in front of it.
“Now, my dear, you have had a long journey as the earl has told me and so off to your chamber with you. I’ve asked a bath to be drawn, and you will be seen to and then into bed with you. We will discuss your trip on the morrow when you’re rested.”
Two things drew questions in Marion’s mind. The first was her surprise at the thought of the earl having gotten in any words at all. The second was that her mother had been polite in front of the earl, but a chastising was for certain on the way for cutting her trip short.
Uninterested in hearing anything of that nature this eve, Marion retreated to her chamber to where two servants she did not know poured steaming water into the wooden tub they used in their chambers when necessary.
She dismissed the maids when the tub was full and removed her gown and shift and stepped into the glorious water.
Leaning back, she let the full effect of the hot water sooth her aching bones.
What she would say to her mother on the morrow, she did not know, but for tonight she would try to rest her weary head.
She felt like she’d been hit by a plank from the emotional turmoil.
Had she done the right thing? She hoped so despite the racket she’d have with her mother.
She did regret not speaking directly with the queen, but there was no way around that, and she sincerely hoped she would see the woman again and that she would forgive her.
Marion sat upright after a time. She’d just recalled something Jean had said just before their parting. Marion had been so upset she’d not let herself dwell on it until now.
Jean had said her brother loved Marion, but how could she know that? Aye, he’d been a brute, but he’d done everything since to try to make it up to her, and had he not dropped everything including a family crisis to see her to safety?
She mulled it over in her mind. For sanity’s sake, he’d even left the king.
Marion sank low into the water as if it could make her invisible.
Did he love her? Did she love him? She couldn’t imagine him kissing anyone else, that was for sure and certain.
Further to that, she couldn’t imagine anyone else kissing her.
What an outcome!
She loved him. She really did. She loved Alexander Campbell, and, on the morrow, she would tell him, for he would have to know before he returned to Inverary. She simply must.
There was no way she would sleep this night. She stepped out of the tub and donned her shift then sat near the fire to brush her hair. The nights were getting cooler now that the height of the summer had passed.
For what seemed like an age she stared into the fire until she heard a noise from outside below her window which faced the street.
Moving to peer outside, she saw Alexander step into the carriage and Neville turn it around to tear off up the street.
He left! But what about his conversation with her father?
Would he not have spoken to her to at least tell her it was all in place?
Her heart sank in her chest as she sat on the side of the bed and let her tears flow.
This was all her fault. Had she not been so impatient, she might still be at Inverary with him.
She’d lost him.
*
The conversation with Marion’s father had gone much better than he had hoped.
The man was understanding that they had begun their courtship and appeared pleased that he had sought the approval of the king at least. He’d been forthcoming as to the reason Marion had wished to return and to their desire to begin a formal courtship anew.
But that was not what he wanted.
And her father was far more intuitive than he’d given the man credit. So, they’d agreed on bypassing the courtship and betrothal and that Alexander could begin planning the wedding which was his wish.
He’d left her father with the task of informing no one, not even his wife—especially not his wife—and that Alexander would return the following day with the particulars and to formally propose to Marion.
Her father did not hesitate and appeared pleased that he knew something his wife did not.
Well, he’d leave them to that bit, but for now he would make his way to the palace and hopefully secure the king’s blessing for them to marry at Linlithgow Abbey.
He did not want to wait one more day to make her his.
The more he thought of it, the more he was convinced they were perfect for each other even in the way they quarreled.
Alexander pulled up to the palace. The hour was late, but he was immediately admitted entry and was informed the king and queen were expected in the morning, having cut the tour short, but that he would be welcome to one of the guest bed chambers in their apartments.
He agreed and didn’t even mind the lengths to which the king’s servants went to ensure his comfort.