Page 22 of His Highland Duchess
“She is strange,” Margaret laughed. “A personality that matches her style.”
“Her dresses are so pretty.”
“I love them,” Lenora agreed.
“Perhaps when ye are of the right age, yer father will commission her to make ye some.”
Aurelia and Lenora’s eyes widened, and they turned to Lysander. “Can you, Father? Please!”
“We will see,” he said simply. “That is some years off.”
Their faces dropped, but they did not argue. He had taught them better than that.
Before long, food was served; roasted duck was the main course, cooked in fennel and other herbs of which Lysander did not know the names. Roasted and sautéed vegetables also. Gravy. And many a side dish, all sweetened and smelling delicious in ways that had his mouth salivating.
“Do you miss home?” Aurelia asked Margaret as she cut into the duck served on her plate. “I would.”
Margaret chuckled. “A little. But I have nae been gone for so long yet that I have noticed.”
“But you miss your family?”
“The same answer,” she said with a smile.
“Will they come visit?” Lenora asked hopefully. “Or perhaps we will visit them?”
“How many siblings do you have?” Aurelia asked.
“Are you close?” Lenora followed up.
“Why were they not at the –”
“Girls,” Lysander spoke over them. “Margaret does not wish to be bombarded with questions. Let her eat.”
“It is perfectly fine,” she laughed. “I da nae mind. In fact, it might be nice to talk of them – me family, I mean. If for nae other reason than to remind meself.”
Lysander frowned at the comment. And at how polite and well-spoken Margaret was being. This was a side of her he had not seen before, and it heartened him to see how well she treated hisdaughters, how proper she was being, and how they seemed to like her.Although that is also a problem.
To keep her away from his daughters was impossible. He knew that now. But he also worried about what might happen if his daughters grew to like her, how they would react when she left at the end of the Season. He did not want to hurt them, but he did not want to deny them either. Again, it was a dangerous line that he walked, one which he had no idea how he should tread.
“I have a brother and two sisters,” she explained to Aurelia and Lenora. Although as she spoke, she would glance at Lysander as if to make sure he was paying attention. “One sister ye ken surely, for she is married to the Duke of Rosehall.”
“Oh!” Lenora cried. “Her Grace is your sister?”
“She is,” Margaret chuckled. “I also have a younger brother, Graham, who is a little older than ye are, Aurelia. He is…” Lysander saw her eyes glimmer with love as she remembered her brother. “Mischievous ta say the least. A real troublemaker.” She winked, and the girls giggled. “But he is kind and caring, and when he is of age, I ken he will make a young lady very happy.”
“What of your other sister?” Aurelia blurted.
“Aurelia,” Lysander warned her. “We do not shout.”
“Sorry, Father…” She looked away, embarrassed.
“It is fine,” Margaret laughed. “Her name is Isobel, and she is but four.” Behind her eyes now, Lysander saw pain, for he could tell that she truly missed her youngest of sisters. “I miss her the most, I think but…” She smiled. “I will see her again shortly. And I cannae wait to see her grow into a young woman before me eyes.”
“She is visiting?” Lenora squeaked. “When!”
“Lenora…” Lysander sighed.
“Oh…” Margaret’s eyes widened, and she looked caught in a lie. “I just mean… in general.” An awkward laugh. “I will see her again one day I am sure. Just as I will see her grow.”
