Page 81 of Undercover Savior

I stopped walking. “Know what, Brose?”

“About your grandfather and the housekeeper. What was her name?”

“Agnes MacDonald?”

He pointed at me. “That’s it. Angus and Agnes. The least well-kept secret in the west of Scotland.”

“I had no idea,” I murmured, replaying Mrs. Drummond’s odd behavior this morning. Wait.Mrs. Drummond. “Good Lord,” I said under my breath. Could it be?

Brose chuckled. “You’ve finally pieced it together, eh?”

“I need a drink. Join me?” I said when we reached the gate that led to the cottage’s entrance—the one I hadn’t noticed had thistles woven into the design. Con and Gus were certainly right about my lack of investigative skills. It was a wonder I could locate my own nose.

“I’m anxious to see what you’ve done with the place.”

Once inside, his eyes opened wide. “I never took you for someone who celebrates the holiday.”

“I’ve a reason to this year.” I poured two glasses of brandy and handed him one. “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” he repeated. “The young lady inspired all this?”

“Yes.”

“You remind me of your father when he met Alexandria. Same lovesick expression.”

“Yeah? What about you, Brose? You’ve never brought a woman around. Why is that?”

“I did once, many years ago.”

“It’s a day for stories I’ve never been told. Who was she?”

My uncle’s expression darkened to the point where I regretted asking.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

He took a hefty pull from his glass and held it out for more. “No one would’ve told you, would they have?”

“I’m not following,” I said, giving him a little extra.

“How do you think your parents met?”

I was stunned. “No.Through you?”

“Your mother was the only woman I ever loved. Not that she ever knew.”

“Did you say you brought her to Ashcroft?”

“Aye. We were friends at university, and I invited her for the weekend. I suppose I was showing off a bit.”

“Did my father know how you felt about her?”

He shook his head. “No one did. Until now.”

“God, Brose. I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry.”

“That was a long time ago. Over thirty years. Admittedly, my heart broke in pieces back then. I eventually got over it.”

I thought back to him spending time here while my dad was still alive. I didn’t recall it being often.

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