Chapter 13 #2
“I’m afraid Me Laird an’ Me Lady have gone out on some business,” the maid replied apologetically.
“Oh,” Melissa said, crestfallen, as her hopes of spending some much-needed time with her sister were dashed.
“But the bairns are in the morning room,” the maid added quickly when she realized how disappointed Melissa was. “Ye can go right in if ye care to spend some time with them.”
“I think I will.” Melissa then thanked her, feeling a bit better. It would have been a shame if she had come all the way from Daniel’s castle to just go back without having seen anyone at all. “I know the way, thank you,” she added when she saw that the maid was about to show her the way.
“Of course, I almost forgot. Go right ahead, Me Lady,” the maid said kindly and walked away.
Melissa made her way down the entrance hall and turned into a passage that led to the morning room where the children often played. She could already hear their happy gurgling sounds coming from behind the closed doors.
“Where are my favorite—” she began as she pushed open the doors but quickly stopped when she saw who was sitting in the center of the room, on the carpet.
“Melissa,” George said cheerfully from where he was sitting with the youngest of Avery’s children. “I’m so happy to see you. Have you decided to take me up on my offer?” He looked at her with hopeful eyes.
“No,” Melissa said hesitantly and looked around the room, feeling a wave of unease at finding her father alone with the children while Avery and Darragh were out. “Do Avery and Darragh know that you are alone in here?” she asked bluntly without pulling any of her punches.
“Yes.” Her father seemed crestfallen as he lowered his gaze back to his grandchild.
“You don’t have to worry, I’m not entirely alone.
” He nodded toward the double doors at the other end of the room.
“Darragh has some of his men watching me at all times.” He sighed heavily.
“Apparently, it’s not that easy to redeem myself even if I try,” he complained almost bitterly.
“Oh, good.” Melissa breathed a sigh of relief, ignoring her father’s complaints and walking over to a chair. “You can’t expect everyone to just forget what happened in the past,” she said, lowering herself into the chair, nearly rolling her eyes at the hurt look her father was giving her.
“I know.” George continued with the hurt narrative as if he was the one who had been wronged.
“I just wish that you girls would remember the good times we had as a family before everything went bad. I wasn’t always a bad father, was I?
” he pointed out and turned back toward his grandchild, who came crawling onto his lap.
“I’m not all that bad, am I, little one?
” he asked his grandchild as he lifted him into the air. “Am I?”
Melissa watched as the child gurgled away happily in her grandfather’s arms. The pit of her stomach was filled with a strange mixture of longing for the man who had raised her and the nauseating sensation of knowing what he had done.
“Why is it that you aren’t with your husband?” George asked as he lowered the child to the floor and allowed him to crawl away once again to a pile of wooden blocks. “You’re supposed to be enjoying marital bliss,” he attempted to start a polite conversation.
“He’s been called away on business.” She decided to humor him but keep the conversations as short as she could. Seeing him as the dutiful family man once again gave her an uneasy feeling that she didn’t feel like dealing with at present.
“Does he often go away on business?” he asked, giving her his full attention.
“I don’t know, we’ve only just gotten married.”
“Of course,” he said warmly. “You wouldn’t know each other’s routines that well just yet.” He continued to smile at her. “These things take time, you know. Your mother and I also had to get used to the new rhythm at the start.”
“Please, don’t give me marital advice,” she snapped in a tone that was slightly harsher than she had intended.
“I’m sorry,” George uttered in an understanding tone that took her by surprise. “You still need a bit of time to adjust before you allow me back in. I shall respect that.”
Feeling slightly uncertain but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, Melissa accepted his apology and allowed him to continue. “Thank you.”
“Of course, I’ll keep the conversation away from any kind of fatherly or marital advice until you are more comfortable.” He looked at his grandchild again. “Did Daniel say where he had gone on business?”
She felt relieved that he’d steered the conversation away from subjects that had anything to do with her mother or the family matter at large. “He didn’t say, just that he’d be gone for a day or so.”
“Ah, I see. He’s probably left you with an army of men to guard the castle.” His uncomfortably sweet smile made her squirm in her seat.
“I guess so,” she said as she readied herself to leave as soon as she could. “Daniel’s man at arms is still at the castle. He deals with that kind of thing. I haven’t really interfered in any of the castle affairs.” She placed her hands on the edge of her seat, ready to push herself up.
“As it should be.” George nodded his approval. “A wife’s place is to run the house and not the affairs of men.” He looked up quickly when Melissa stood to leave. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“I’m very tired,” she lied. “The trip was long. I want to go and freshen up before Avery and Darragh get back.”
“Of course,” George said respectfully with a sad smile. “I have to get back down to the inn I’m staying at as well.”
So, they haven’t let him stay in the castle yet. Good.
She didn’t blame Avery and Darragh for not wanting him around. He made her very uncomfortable as it was, and she didn’t have to see him as often as they did at present.
She made her way out of the room, deciding to go to her old chambers and await the arrival of her sister and brother-in-law, but not before popping her head into the morning room and making sure that the guards were still keeping an eye on George.