Page 17 of Love Set Apart
“Do ye enjoy it?” Angus asked.
Robert nodded. “He can be a challenge, but I enjoy me time with him. I am no’ his mother, so I cannae stop him from doing as he wishes, but he listens to reason.”
“Having once been a young lad meself, ye have me sympathy.” Angus chuckled and was happy when Robert joined him.
“He enjoys riding. We visit the stables almost daily, ye should join us,” Robert suggested.
“I would like that.” Angus wanted to be helpful to Edna and befriending Robert was a good start.
Robert seemed happy to hear it. “I have nae doubt that Louis would enjoy meeting ye. He’s a curious lad. He’ll have many questions for ye I’m sure.”
“I look forward to answering them. Unfortunately, I do no’ have a horse with me.”
“That is no’ an issue,” Robert said. “There are many to choose from in the stable. I’ll have one saddled and ready for ye when ye arrive.”
“Thank ye. That’s most kind of ye.”
Robert’s gaze slid toward Emilie who was now being led around the room by Matteo.
“Ye cannae take yer eyes from her,” Angus noted.
“As ye have said, she is beautiful. I do no’ seem to be able to help meself,” Robert admitted.
“If a miracle occurred and ye could be with her, would ye?” Angus already knew the answer to this question, but he wanted to hear what Robert would say.
“It would take a miracle, sir, but aye.” Robert seemed reluctant to look away from Emilie, but he faced Angus giving him his full attention.
“Ye have spent time with her, have ye no’?” Angus asked.
Robert stiffened and eyed Angus with suspicion. “Why would ye ask that?”
“I want to help, if possible.”
“To answer yer question, aye. Now that she is betrothed that will end.” His voice softened and became barely audible. “I will see to it.”
Angus felt the lad’s pain. If he couldn’t be with Edna he wasn’t sure what he would do. “I’m sorry to hear it. I am always on the side of love.”
“Are ye married?” Robert asked.
“Me wife is right over there.” Angus pointed to Edna with pride. “I love her with all me heart and soul.”
“Then ye’re a lucky man,” Robert said, following Angus’ outstretched finger.
“I agree wholeheartedly and I wish the same for ye, lad.”
“Thank ye, but I doona ken that I believe love is in me future. I’ve been given a glimpse of what love is and now unfortunately it is being taken from me.”
Angus felt the need to give the lad some hope. Edna could give him more than hope, but it wouldn’t happen immediately. “The lass does no’ wish for this marriage. Ye must ken that.”
“She may no’ wish it, but her father and the Queen Mother are determined that she will marry this old man.” There was a tinge of anger and resentment in Robert’s voice.
“I doona believethe old man,as ye call him, wishes the marriage either.” Angus tried not to take offense to Robert’s words. He understood the lad’s frustration, but as an older gentleman himself, those words stung. He, of course, wasn’t nearly as old as Matteo and yet he felt protective kinship with his new friend.
Robert’s eyes lit up on hearing this. “How do ye ken it?”
“He told me when we spoke earlier.” Angus gazed at Matteo who stood with Emilie. He was attentive to her, but in a grandfatherly way. “I feel they are both being forced into a marriage that neither wants.”
Resigned as he was to the outcome, Robert was doing an excellent job of hiding his true feelings. “Still there is no’ a thing that can be done to stop it.”
