Page 89 of To Wed an Heiress
Since Lily was the one who normally brought her meals to her, Mercy was surprised. The housekeeper didn’t normally perform such tasks. Unless, of course, she had some information to impart.
She opened the door for Mrs. West to enter and thanked the older woman when she put the tray on the table.
“Have you heard anything from Irene?” she asked. “How are things at the castle?” In other words, was Lennox all right?
Mrs. West sent her a look that she understood what Mercy was asking.
“He’s a bit bruised and battered,” Mrs. West said. “Irene had to wrap his ribs after the fight. You would think that would have slowed the man down, but no, he’s all set to drag that airship of his up Ben Uaine.”
“He’s going flying again?”
Mrs. West nodded. “Irene’s as mad as I’ve ever seen her. He’s in no shape to do something like that, even with Connor’s help. She’s worried about him. He’s a stubborn fool when he wants to be.”
“Can’t someone stop him?”
“I don’t know who could, Miss Mercy. The man has a head of rock on him when he wants.”
She studied Mercy for a moment, almost as if she wanted to say something else.
“I heard what your grandmother said to you the other day, Miss Mercy.”
She had grown so familiar with feeling embarrassed that she didn’t turn away from Mrs. West’s look.
“Do you remember your grandfather, miss?”
“Only a little,” she said. “He died at the beginning of the war, but he was sick for a good while before that.”
“I understand that he made something of himself in America.”
Mercy nodded. “Their farm was very prosperous, at least before the war. And the house they built was beautiful.”
“Do you know anything about his life in Scotland?”
“No,” Mercy said.
“Well, I’ve a tale to tell you then. Cameron Burns was a crofter who farmed a small patch of Macrory land. He barely made a living, but he was a handsome young man. Ailsa thought so, too. She took a liking to him. Many’s the time she slipped out of the house to meet him. When her father found out he forbid her to see Cameron again. Ailsa and Cameron ran away to America.”
Mercy had never heard that story.
“So when your grandmother goes on and on about your behavior, you might remember that. It was a great scandal. People whispered about her for years.”
Mrs. West smiled kindly at her before turning and leaving the room.
Perhaps one day Scottish mothers would warn their daughters about her. Let me tell you the tale of the foolish American girl and the earl.
She ignored her meal for the moment. Instead, she went to the secretary and pulled out a piece of her stationery. Her pen hovered over the paper, but not one word came to mind. She should apologize for Gregory’s actions and for the unfairness of his unexpected blow. She should most definitely explain about the valise. In addition, she would plead with him not to fly his airship now, at least not until he’d healed completely. She finally put the pen down and stared at the blank page.
If she wrote what she truly wanted to say, the letter would be completely different.
My Dearest Lennox,
Thank you for our night together. I never knew that such pleasure was possible. I never realized that I could feel as if I belonged to someone else as well as myself.
Thank you for teaching me to kiss, for holding me in your arms, and for making me feel as if I was the most loved woman in creation.
I will remember you forever. No one else will ever take your spot in my heart. Even if I live to be an old woman I will never forget you.
Please be safe. And happy. Take the very best care of yourself and if, some time, you think of me, please be kind. I never meant to hurt you.
