Page 2 of Highland Wishes And Dreams
She stepped out of his arms and wiped her cheeks. “Thank you.”
Chapter 2
“Acoach is coming up the drive, my lady.” Her housekeeper stood wringing her hands at the bottom of the wide commanding staircase.
Mrs. Wilson’s news sent waves of excitement and crippling sorrow sweeping through Galina’s tired body. Finn and his mother were here, and she could use the help—both with her brother and with Jake. Oh, they had a wet nurse and nannies but the weight of being responsible for the wee babe, given his mother’s death, fell on her. She pushed aside all thoughts of seeing the man who owned her heart and focused on the most important issue, which was holding this family together before it imploded. This was not the time or place for romantic nonsense. Besides, Finn had never shown anything other than friendship toward her. All of them were still grieving Wen’s death, but Andrew…
She’d spent the past half hour trying to rouse Andrew. Trying to make him want to live. Andrew refused to get up. He remained in a drunken stupor. The same stupor he’d been in the past two months. It was impossible to get too angry with him. He had lost the love of his life and he’d shut down. What broke her heart is he refused to see Jake, and Jake needed his father now more than ever.
“Their rooms are ready?”
Mrs. Wilson nodded. “Aye. The fires are being lit now.” Even though it was summer, the nights still got a bit cool. Banff Castle, while well kept, was not the warmest. Some of the bedchambers still had small windows so sunlight rarely penetrated.
“I’ll come down to welcome them. Ready the drawing room. We shall take refreshments there first.”
She stood on the landing torn between going to her room to change, and going up to check on Jake. She looked down at her drab day-gown and went with the love filling her heart. She went up to get Jake. The baby was her world. She owed Wen. She’d promised her friend everything would be all right. Instead, she’d sat holding Wen’s hand as Jake came into this world, and then squeezing tight when Wen left shortly after. She choked back a sob.
Besides, Lady Stuart and Finn would want to see him.
She’d received a letter yesterday from Emily saying that she could not travel for the christening. Galina understood why. Emily had safely delivered a son five weeks ago. The pain, sorrow, and guilt at her joy must be hard for Emily to bear.
Even though heavily pregnant and probably in fear of her upcoming birthing, Emily had stood at her twin sister’s graveside and bid her farewell. It broke Galina’s heart that the life Wen had planned of her sister’s son being the same age and growing up together would go on, but not with Jake’s mother.
At the nursery door Galina stood for a moment and breathed in the baby smells. She’d always wanted children, and although sitting through Wen’s harrowing delivery and death had diminished her obsession somewhat, she still longed to one day hold her own babe in her arms. The risk was there but the reward… she looked at Jake and knew the risk was worth it.
Only she needed a husband for that and her second obsession—Finn—was making it impossible for her to face the prospect of marriage to another. She longed for Finn to suddenly see her as more than his sister’s friend. She was hoping for a miracle.
She made her way carefully downstairs with the sleeping babe in her arms. Jake was such a good baby and he usually slept peacefully between feeds. She settled herself in the drawing room and waited for Lady Stuart and Finn to be announced. Her heart was pumping fast just knowing Finn was here. She just wished it were under better circumstances.
Mr. Wilson, the butler and Mrs. Wilson’s husband, didn’t even have time to announce her guests before Lady Stuart rushed in and headed straight for her grandson. Galina stood and without a word handed the boy to her. The tears began to roll down Lady Stuart’s cheeks but you could see the love shining through the sorrow.
“He has Wen’s eyes.”
Galina didn’t say anything she merely nodded. She had wondered if this was why Andrew could not bear to look at his son. Jake looked like Wen.
Just then she heard the heavy steps of Finn coming up the stairs. She turned to greet him and had to force a smile to her lips. As soon as he entered the room her knees grew weak and the familiar excitement stirred her stomach. Handsome was too tame a word for the likes of Finn Wilson, Viscount Stuart. She imagined him as a warrior of old, tall, broad shouldered, bulging with muscles, and his hair was as black as a moonless sky. But it was the kindness beaming from the bluest of blue eyes, and the smile always on his succulent lips that drew most women. Since Wen’s death both had fled.
He looked haggard, and she suspected she looked haggard too. The last two months had been terrible.
“Hello, Gal,” she loved the way he used her nickname. It reminded her of how close the two families are—were…
“Finn,” and she moved to press a kiss to each cheek. He smelled of horses and hot musky male. He smelled wonderful to her. “I have your rooms ready if you’d both like to freshen up?”
Finn looked around the room. “Where’s Andrew?”
She couldn’t hold his gaze. “He’s indisposed at present. I hope he’ll be down for dinner.”
Finn’s mouth turned down. “I see.” The silence said it all. Normally Andrew would have been here to greet his best friend with a smile on his face and warmth in his words.
Thankfully Mr. Wilson and a servant arrived with refreshments and Galina indicated Finn take a seat. Lady Stuart was standing at the window talking softly to Jake who lay quietly in her arms.
“How is Andrew coping?”
Finn had poured himself a whisky and settled into a chair by the fire.
Did she tell the truth? Maybe some of it. “Andrew has not been himself since Wen’s death.”
“I saw at the funeral that he took my sister’s death hard. I know he loved her very much.”
