Page 46 of A Two-Faced Laird
“Well, the school in Achnabreck is such a success that I would like to open another one,” she replied. “Minister McLintock’s daughters are running it on their own now, anyway, so I would very much like to see if another school is welcome in Drumnaird. The only problem is, it is five miles away, and I cannot make such a long journey every day.”
“That is easily solved.” The Laird’s voice was filled with satisfaction. “I own a cottage there. It is currently being renovated, but it is almost finished and should take only another few weeks. In the meantime, you will be able to make yourself ready. Aidan will not be married for three months anyway, although I must warn you, Fenella will sometimes be visiting.”
“I understand,” Edina said.
This was something she had not considered, but she decided she would have to take things as they came. If she and Fenella met, she would greet her politely and make her escape as fast as she could; the last thing she wanted was to create tension between them. That would put Aidan in a very awkward position, and she loved him too much to do that to him.
“Thank you for the house,” she told Laird Findlay. “I appreciate it very much.”
“It will be furnished to your taste, of course,” he informed her. “And you may take your maid with you and employ a woman from the village to look after the place.”
“That is very kind of you.” Edina was incredulous.
He must really want to be rid of her! She did not know whether to be flattered or insulted. She stood up and took her leave, then went to see her father again.
When he heard what had happened, his face broke into a wide grin.
“This is the best thing that could have happened,” he observed. “It will solve many problems, my pet. I know how you feel about Lewis—Aidan—and I know that your heart will hurt for a while, but time will heal it, and in a while you will meet someone else.”
Edina could not imagine that ever happening, but she said nothing, merely gave her father a tense smile.
“I think I will go to start preparing now,” she told him. “There is a lot to be done.”
Indeed,there was much more to be done than she had realised. Edina took out her entire wardrobe and meticulously went through it with the experienced eye of Mairi, whose advice she often sought on matters of style and fashion. She wanted to pare it down to the absolute minimum that she would need so that she had as little as possible to take with her when she moved into her new home. After all, what use would she have for more than one ballgown? The chances of her even being invited to ceilidhs had almost disappeared.
When asked if she wanted to move to Drumnaird, Mairi was thrilled. “Two o’ my sisters live there, Mistress,” she said happily. “It will be a pleasure, but why are ye goin’ there?”
“Because the school here is doing well on its own now, so I really don’t need to be here any more,” she answered. “I want to open another in Drumnaird.”
“Oh! Mistress, ye are so good tae us!” Mairi exclaimed. “My sister Maggie was tellin’ me the last time I saw her how much she wanted tae have a school in their village as well. She says they talk about it a’ the time.”
“Really?” Edina was pleased and amazed. “I had no idea, but at least it looks as if I will not have to spend much time convincing the parents it is a good idea.”
“An’ Laird McGowan is a decent kind o’ man,” Mairi said firmly, nodding.
Laird McGowan owned the village and the estate it was on. He was a kind man and a good friend of Laird Findlay. Things were falling into place nicely, she thought.
“Now,” Edina frowned as she laid out her two oldest ball gowns on the bed. “What am I going to do with these perfectly useless things?”
“Give them to the seamstresses, Mistress,” Mairi said eagerly. “They can cut them up an’ make Sunday dresses for the wee lassies.”
“What a good idea!” Edina clapped her hands. “You are so clever, Mairi.”
“Thank ye Mistress.” Mairi was delighted.
Her whole life had changed for the better because of Edina. She would never leave her.
Days went by,and Edina counted every one as they turned into weeks and seemed to speed up as the date of the wedding loomed nearer and nearer. Fortunately, her time was so full establishing the new school while managing the old one and keeping track of her other enterprises that she had little time to think of Aidan, except in her dreams.
These tormented her at night, bringing back memories of their tender lovemaking, Aidan’s rasping kisses when he had not shaved, and the feel of his big calloused hand teasing and caressing her.
Edina had been obliged to stay at the White Stag in Drumnaird a few times, always taking two of the castle guards with her. Although many wastrels spent time in the inn, she met and established relationships with some decent local people, and she knew this would make her passage into village life easier.
She had just come back from Drumnaird one evening a little over a month before the wedding, exhausted and still drowsy from dozing in the carriage. Her hair was tangled into something akin to a bird’s nest, and she was grubby from walking with the village children in the dusty street.
Edina stumbled as she alighted from the carriage and began to walk inside, wiping the sleep from her eyes, but suddenly, she squealed as she collided with someone in her befuddled state.
Stumbling backwards, she looked up into a pair of hazel eyes that belonged to a tall, slender woman with dark brown hair and regular, but unremarkable features.
