Page 34 of Beware A Wallflower's Wrath
The golden Hours on angel wings
Flew o'er me and my Dearie
For dear to me as light and life
Was my sweet Highland Mary.
Robert Burns, “Highland Mary”
The golden Hours on angel wings
Flew o'er me and my lass
For dear to me as light and life
Was my beloved Annis.
Your Rabbie, “Beloved Annis”
Two days later, a red tulip arrived at the shop. “Och, he’ll spoil me if this doesna stop,” she mumbled, but her smile belied the tone of her voice. She was pleased. Annis had never been truly courted, and Rabbie seemed to be making up for lost time.
“He’s a mon on a mission to win back yer love. My husband was a good one for romance.” Aileen sighed, a nostalgic smile curving her lips. “Ye’re a lucky woman, Annis. Even if it did take him fifteen years to get it right!”
Later that night, she and Fin were enjoying a supper of fish and brown bread. “What do ye think of Lord Robert having another son?”
Fin pursed his lips and tipped his head, studying his plate. “It would be nice to have a sibling if he was willing.”
“Who wouldna want ye as friend?” Annis asked. “Ye’re the brightest and finest lad I ken.”
“And ye’re terribly biased, Ma.” He paused with a fork halfway to his mouth. “Will ye marry him?”
“Would it make ye happy?”
He nodded. “If it’s what ye want too.”
“I’m considering it.”
He grinned. “What do ye think of Lord Robert having a son? He’d be yer stepson if ye become his wife.”
Annis blinked. The thought hadn’t yet crossed her mind. If Fin gained a brother, she gained a son. Would Anthony welcome additions to his family? Did he have the mindset of the peerage or was he more like Rabbie?
“I’m no’ sure, being so partial to my own son.” They smiled at each other, both wearing the same silly lopsided smile of happiness.
The nightly chocolate drops and quotes from Robert Burns continued, and she’d found several more of Rabbie’s jokes tucked into books at the shop.
“Weel, is Lord Robert’s tactics swaying you at all?” asked Aileen on the sixth day of Rabbie’s absence. “If no’, perhaps I’ll marry the handsome devil.”
Annis felt the blush rise to her cheeks. “If he returns the same mon, then…” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Ye are no’ worried history will be repeated?” Annis heard the disbelief in Aileen’s voice.
She shrugged again. “Let’s say I’m no’ as trusting as I once was.” Her eyes burned, and she cursed inwardly. Her emotions were getting the better of her, and it wasn’t like her. Yet she was terrified it would happen again. And this time it wouldn’t only be her heart torn to shreds. Rabbie had finagled his way into all their hearts.
Dinna look for trouble where there is none, her da’s voice echoed in her head.
Was she looking for trouble? Nay, the doubts assailed her because she had made up her mind. She would marry Lord Robert Harding when he returned. If he returned, taunted the mean little voice in her ear.
As she put away several romance novels on the upper floor of the shop, another spine stuck out, calling to her. She took the book with shaking hands, trying to banish her uncertainty. Pulling the slip of paper from the book, she smiled as she read it and wiped a tear from her cheek.
