Page 14 of In Search of a Husband
She’d held him even as his blood seeped into his shirt, and his skin became cold and waxy beneath her horrified gaze.
Helpless.
Kate detested that most of all.
“You may not wish for a husband, and I understand, considering what happened with the marquess…”
“I have turned down several proposals.”
“Yes.” Charlotte rose and stretched, a knowing smile etched across her face. “I only wish to remind you that swearing off marriage forever serves no one, especiallyyouif you are doing so only out of spite. Marriage is many things. Lily was lucky and found a love match. And perhaps it wouldn’t be a love match for you, but maybe you can find a kind man who will protect you. Think of what you could lose.”
It didn’t matter if it was a love match. Kate wasn’t interested. “I am not traveling to Scotland in search of a husband, Lottie. I only wish for some quiet and time alone.”
“Isn’t that how every great romance begins?” Charlotte laughed to herself, then patted Kate on the head.
“Not mine.” Kate crossed her arms and sank lower into the sofa.
“Very well, dear. Wake me in a while, will you? If I only have a short time before you leave, then I wish to spend so much time with you that you are well and truly sick of me.”
“I will leave you my beautiful embroidery to remember me by.”
“Such a scandal, Katherine Bancroft.” And with another laugh, her best friend swished through the door to retreat to her bedroom leaving Kate alone once more.
Scotland was what she needed for an escape. It would be a fresh start, and as governess, no one would pay too much attention to her.
That would be how she reclaimed her narrative. It only took oneleap of faith to set her on the right course once more. She wouldn’t tolerate wallowing any longer.
She must move forward.
She sighed and grabbed her embroidery hoop once more.
“Now onto thet.”
CHAPTER 3
Gabriel MacInnes snappedhis timepiece shut and grabbed his coat. “Damn it.”
“Ye shouldn’t say that,” his niece Lorna announced, giggling behind him.
Right. He had the bairns now to mind after. As well as a distillery that was failing, an inn that was closed from fire damage and general lack of upkeep, and crumbling Dunsmuir Castle.
What a welcome home.
A week after laying his brother to rest, his life was a far cry from days in Paris managing his shipping empire. But now he had inherited Dunsmuir estate, found himself a laird, and a whole host of problems along with it.
He leaned forward, pushing away a stack of books and a vase full of dead flowers to glance at his reflection in the mirror. As if he knew what he was looking for. Only that the great hall suffered a leak, the plastered ceilings were peeling, and the furniture was arranged in a way that rendered the only decent room in the drafty tower house near useless.
“Are ye coming with me, lass?”
Her button nose was smudged with the drinking chocolate he hadbrought them from Paris. Almost the same color as her dark-brown eyes. “Can I?”
Could she? He had no earthy clue. She was six, so he suspected she was capable of walking into the village.
“If ye manage to stay out of trouble, don’t see why no’.”
Maisie raced into the great hall, wearing a flower crown on top of her honey-brown hair, and her face also smeared with drinking chocolate. “Do ye ken my sister, Uncle?”
“I’ve met her before, aye.” The damn buttons on his damn jacket were too stiff. Forget it. He would meet the builder without a buttoned jacket. Everyone would manage fine without a polished appearance. This was Scotland after all.
