Page 81 of In Search of a Husband
But Kate wasn’t something he could ever replace. She was family.
His family.
He was more in love with her today than yesterday and knew, without doubt, the same would be true for tomorrow and the day after. He wished to tell her as much, but he feared she would shyaway from such a confession. Or worse, believe she wasn’t worthy of it.
Every damn day. That would be his promise to her.
Every day he would prove she was worthy of his love, even if their time was cut short.
And London and the rest could go hang. She needn’t be afraid. If all went well, he would have more money than he knew what to do with, and he would protect her. If she could leave London behind and the life she thought she wanted, for what he could offer her here in Scotland, then he’d marry her.
She caught his piercing gaze and smiled, mouthing not to interrupt, then quietly urged Lorna to continue.
His chest swelled with pride, and then anger pushed its way up, heavy as stone as he realized Tavish should have been the one standing there, watching the governess teach his oldest child to read. Instead, his brother’s passing left him to fill that spot. To stand there and smile and be proud when the girl never wished for her uncle to be the one there supporting her. She wished for her father. And rightfully so.
And she and Maisie would never have the opportunity.
Gabriel left Scotland when he was younger and never once thought of having a family of his own. And now, with one letter, he had two girls to raise and a crumbling castle and a business that was in ruins.
Or itwasin ruins.
Now, the inn was open, and there were paying guests. The required permit for the distillery was being arranged, and work on the expanded site was slowly progressing. By spring, the distillery would be opened for operation, and in the meantime, he could sell off the stores of illicit whisky they had.
It turns out, all his life he had been searching for the right partner. And now, she lay in bed in front of him.
Love struck.
He couldn’t pass it off as some affair. He had never felt this way for the few mistresses he kept while in Paris or Venice. He had had asweetheart once while he was at university, and he had thought himself in love. Perhaps it had been. But with Kate?
It was as if she had made herself a home within his heart, and for all her stubborn pride, she wouldn’t leave.
He cleared his throat and pushed off the doorjamb, slowly clapping for his niece.
She poked her head up and smiled.
“Reading now, I see. Ye must be almost ready to turn eight.”
She shrugged, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “It isna so hard, Uncle.”
“You have been working very hard, Lorna. And it shows,” Kate said, grinning over at her charge.
The girl snuggled closer to Kate, and Gabriel felt something in his chest crack. His heart perhaps? That would explain why it was suddenly so hard to breathe.
“I’m proud of ye,” he said.
The little girl beamed, springing up in bed to launch herself at him. He staggered back, caught a little off guard. “Whoa.”
She buried her head into his shoulder and hugged with all her might. He thought for a moment, while trying to find his balance, if he had ever hugged his father. But his father wasn’t the sort, at least not to him.
Tavish wished to be king because their father ruled over them as if he were one. And all that wrought was Gabriel feeling as if he needed to prove himself.
Kate kicked her long legs off the bed and onto the floor, slowly traipsing up. She rubbed a hand over Lorna’s back, leaning in to whisper softly something into the girl’s ear. Lorna popped her face up from his shoulder and grinned at Kate, sniffing back tears.
“It’s been a sad morning for Lorna.”
“Is that so?” He backed up a few steps and dropped onto the bed. Lorna instantly broke out into giggles.
“I miss Ma sometimes, that’s all.”
