Page 55 of His to Keep
“Pipsy!” With a broad smile on her face, Eilidh leans across the table to take the toy from him. “Where did you get her?”
“Your bedroom at home. The Dalglieshes looked after everything. They kept the business going, made sure the house was cared for. I owe them a debt I can never repay.”
“Weowe them a debt,” Eilidh corrects him. “Their thoughtfulness extends to me.”
Alexander nods. “You’re right.”
The room falls silent, and I get the impression everyone is struggling for a safe topic of conversation.
“Niamh isn’t with you.” The facile observation is the best I can come up with.
“No. Something came up and she had to fly home.”
Eilidh clears her throat. “Uh, Gio mentioned Niamh might have had a thing with Jamie. Were they together?”
Alexander’s eyes widen as if he’s surprised by his sister’s question. “If things had gone differently, they’d have married.”
“Things? You mean if Jason Henry hadn’t cut our brother’s throat?”
Both Alexander and I wince at the vitriol in her voice. She blows out a breath and clenches her fists as if calming herself.
“Did Dad know about Jamie and Niamh?”
“I think so.”
Eilidh tilts her head to one side as she studies her brother’s face. “She helped you when you were hurt?”
“She got me the best medical care available and came to visit whenever she could. She put up with my shit moods when I couldn’t remember who I was or what my life had been like.”
“You couldn’t remember anything? Your family? Me?”
Alexander lowers his gaze, unable to meet her accusing glare. “There were flashes of memory. When it all came flooding back, Niamh helped me plan how to get back everything Dad built. Then when she learned you were still alive…”
Eilidh cuts him off before he can travel any farther down that road. She clearly doesn’t want to think about how she too was thought to be dead. “It was good of her to do all that.”
“Niamh blames herself for what happened. She thinks if Jamie had been the one betrothed to Cara our family would still be alive.”
Eilidh screws her nose up. “How does she figure that?”
“She believes Drummond took our family out because he was insulted at being offered the second son.”
Eilidh shakes her head. “No, the betrothal was a trap. Jason didn’t care who the groom was going to be. He was looking to eliminate competition, that’s all.”
“I’ve told her that, but she doesn’t believe me.” Alexander picks up his coffee cup. “Perhaps you could convince her. She’s a good woman and she shouldn’t be carrying that guilt.”
Eilidh purses her lips. “Speaking of good women, what are you up to with Cara Drummond?”
Alexander scowls, more because of his sister’s confrontational tone than the question, I suspect. “That’s not your business, Eilidh.”
She gives an irritated snort. “Did you know Gio was going to pluck me out of Jason’s clutches and marry me before it happened?”
“Yes, I approved the plan.”
She stares at her brother until he accepts she has a point. He interfered in her life, so she has some right to meddle with his.
“I’m not hurting her if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m honoring the agreement our fathers made.”
Eilidh’s eyes widen. “You’re going to marry her?”
