Page 38 of His Highland Duchess
“You missed it, father!” Lenora echoed as she too arrived, out of breath and red in the face.
“And what exactly did I miss?” he laughed.
“I did a handstand,” Aurelia said, her eyes wide and wild with excitement and untamed eagerness. “For thirty seconds, I held it. Did you not see!”
“Oh no,” Lysander said, feigning to be upset. “I must have missed it, sorry.”
“Truly, we thought the two of ye would be long gone by now,” Margaret laughed. “Through the forest, never to be seen again.” She winked at Lysander, letting him see how right she had been. To ignore the girls was to see them return because all they wished for was attention.
“If only,” Lysander chuckled.
“Father!” Aurelia turned on him in shock. “You do not mean that.”
“Maybe I do.”
Lenora threw herself at Lysander, and he wrapped her in his arms and lifted her onto his knees. “Liar! Liar, liar, liar.”
Aurelia, seeing her little sister on her father’s knees, leapt forward and jumped on them both. Lysander cried out and fell back, and the two girls giggled as they climbed all over him. He pretended that he could not push them away, begging for them to yield, but they continued to climb on him, laughing joyously the whole while.
Margaret laughed along as she watched them.
Her heart swelled and she smiled more than she had in a long time than she could remember. Sure, the duke and she might not have properly discussed the future. But for now, she reasoned that she was happy with where things seemed to be.
What was more, this little scene right here was one that she had spent her life dreaming of. Her, the duke, and the two girls felt like one big family. A happy family. It was all she had ever wanted in her life, an ambition which she could see manifesting right before her eyes. Although the thought brought its own sadness, for she was not a part of this family, and if things stayed how they were, she never would be.
Nae, do nae worry about that. This marriage is not supposed to go down that path, and such a thing was never promised. Be glad that you and the duke have found a place of comfort. That is the best outcome I can hope for.
It was a bittersweet realization to have. Margaret had always wanted a family of her own. But if this marriage ended as it was set to, she likely never would. How was she meant to feel about that? She could not say. Then again, being confused seemed to be her life of late, so why should this be any different?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It had just started raining when Lysander, Margaret, and his two daughters arrived home. It was a most unexpected arrival as the day had been bright and sunny when they left earlier in the morning. This, Lysander was to find out as the four of them strode inside, wasn’t the only unexpected arrival that day.
“Your Grace!” Mr. Jeffries hurried toward them. “You have a visitor, Your Grace.”
“Oh?” Lysander was carrying Lenora in one arm as Aurelia clung to his other hand. “Pray, do tell, Mr. Jeffries. Who is it?”
“His Grace, the Duke of Morland,” Mr. Jeffries answered.
Lysander frowned. “Julian? He’s here?”
“In the drawing room, Your Grace. I warned him that I did not know when you would arrive home, but he insisted on waiting.”A crack of lightning suddenly erupted in the distance. “Although I suspect the weather had something to do with it.”
“Tell him I will be with him shortly.” He put Lenora down beside her sister. “The two of you, upstairs at once – no arguments.” He looked at them warningly, sensing their desire to protest. “It’s baths for both of you.”
“Yes, Father,” they mumbled, only for Aurelia to brighten. “Race you!” She then stepped around her sister and took off through the house.
“No fair!” Lenora cried after her.
“Girls!” Lysander shouted to no avail, as they were quick to disappear through the halls.
He laughed to see them go, not at all upset that they were behaving so frantically. In fact, it heartened him to see, as he loved it when they were in a mood like this, the pleasure felt in knowing how happy they were.And I know exactly who to thank for that.
Margaret was waiting patiently just behind him. She wore a soft smile, watching after the girls, and no doubt she found their playfulness as amusing as he did. When she saw him turn on her, she nodded her understanding. “I will leave you to it.”
He was about to agree to the fact, for there was no need for her to meet with him and Julian. Only then, Julian strode suddenly into the foyer as he must have heard them arrive.
“Ah, there he is!” Julian cried joyously. His voice boomed loudly, as was typical for the large man. “I was wondering if you would beat the storm.”
