Page 24 of Beware A Wallflower's Wrath
“Lord help our Annis,” Lachlan said to the sky above.
“Aaaamen!” cried Robert.
CHAPTER 10
Beginning of July
Glasgow
This would be the second hardest day of her life. Annis took a deep breath.
“Fin,” she began, putting a plate of eggs and rasher in front of him. “I need to talk to ye.”
He looked up, those eyes so like his father’s pinning her with curiosity, then concern. “Ye sound serious. Are ye well?”
“Aye, I’m fine, fine.” Would she be in a few moments?
Although she’d been unable to find the words earlier, they spilled forth now. She explained how she had been betrothed, then pregnant, then the betrothal broken. The story she had concocted to protect herself and Fin. How sorry she was for lying to him about who his father was. When she finished, Annis waited while he digested all the new information.
“So, I’m a by-blow?”
She rushed around the table to sit next to him. “Ye’re a fine young man with a loving family.”
He nodded. “Will ye tell me who my father is?”
“Aye, if ye want to ken.”
Fin shrugged. “What does he ken of me?”
She blinked back tears at the pain on her son’s face. “I never told him.”
He nodded again. “Can ye tell me why?”
“Pride, mostly. I didna want to force a mon into marriage. He would have resented us both eventually.” Her voice cracked. “But I was wrong no’ to tell him—and my son.”
“So, the image in my head isna my da.” Fin clenched his jaw. “Is he alive?”
Annis drew in a breath. “Aye, and he came to see me just before we left for Dunderave. He’s a widow now, and he wants to rekindle our… relationship.”
Fin’s light brows drew together. “And ye havena told of him me?”
She shook her head. “No’ yet. But I will.”
“I ken ye love me, Ma. I ken ye did this because ye thought it was for the best.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “But I need some time. Do ye want me to meet him?”
“That would be between the two of ye. I willna force ye to do anything ye dinna want to.” Annis was so proud of how Fin was taking this devastating information.
“I’ll have to think about all this.” He whistled for Mac, then stood. “I’m no’ angry with ye, Ma. But I’m no’ happy with ye. I didna ken my da, but this is still like kicking the stool out from beneath me.”
Annis wiped away the tears streaming down her face. “I understand, Son. Take all the time ye need.”
“When will ye speak with him? My… what is his name?”
“Aye, I will. He is Lord Robert Harding.” She winced, knowing Fin would realize he was named after his true father.
“Finlay Robert Porter,” he whispered. “Why did ye give me his name if ye didna want anything to do with him?”
“In case this day ever came.”
