Page 56 of A Dash of Scot
“All that cooing, and he’ll be no good at guarding, only wanting the love of a woman.”
“Did your superior officers say that to you?” she teased as she glanced up at Dougal.
Dougal laughed hard, his head falling back with the force of it, and then they both turned to see Anise, who had finally decided to climb out of the carriage.
She looked up at the large castle walls and the windows that glistened in the sun. “You have a lovely castle, Lord Reay.”
“Thank ye, Miss Anise. One I’m happy to share with friends.”
She smiled tightly at Dougal. “I appreciate your generosity.”
The door opened then with the colonel rushing from inside the castle. “I do apologize for no’ being here to greet ye,” he said, “I had a letter to finish that was most urgent.” As if to punctuate that, a footman rode off on horseback from around the side of the castle.
“Colonel Austen,” Anise said. The light that had been dull and faded in her eyes was somewhat lightening. “This is a pleasant surprise. I didn’t realize you’d be here.”
“Ah, aye,” he said. “I’ve been staying with Dougal.”
This was knowledge that had been shared upon their first visit, but Anise, too enamored with thoughts of Sir John, must not have listened.
“That’s lovely to have such good friends.” Anise’s smile was sad, and she likely thought of the friends she’d had to leave behind.
Perhaps Poppy should write to them and invite them for a stay. Their house was rather small, but if she and Anise bunked up, they could have at least two in the other room.
The idea had merit, and she’d need to think more about it. Whatever to get her sister out of her melancholy.
“’Tis such a beautiful day. Shall we take Sentry for a walk by the Kyle?” Dougal said. “He does love to chase sticks in the water.”
“I would love to see your property and to throw a stick.”
Sentry took off running around the side of the castle on a path that led to Kyle, and the four of them followed, Dougal and Poppy in the front and Anise at a much slower pace behind.
Though her sister was rather melancholy, there had at least been a spark upon seeing the colonel. A familiar and trusted face. Perhaps that was just what her sister needed to get her moving toward the light again.
18
She was here.
Dougal’s fingers tingled with the need to lace them through Poppy’s. To tug her toward him and kiss her. To tell her again how much he loved her. Somehow, miraculously really, he was able to contain himself as they meandered down the well-worn path from the castle to the water’s edge.
The Kyle of Tongue was smooth today, high tide, and he hoped that the calmness of the water somehow seeped into his bones.
The very thing he’d known he’d wanted for the better part of a year—a life with Poppy—was on the verge of becoming a reality.
Poppy bent beside him and picked up a stick that had already been properly chewed on one end by Sentry. She didn’t avoid the obviously slobbered wood as she tossed it a dozen or more yards away, which Dougal found endearing. She must like dogs, and that was a huge bonus for him.
Sentry barked and took off running, intent on maiming the stick once more.
“He’s a rather rambunctious fellow, isn’t he?” she said with a laugh, watching as Sentry bounded toward the stick, then somersaulted over the downed limb, grabbing and shaking the life from it before he ran back toward them.
“That he is.”
“Come here, boy,” Poppy called, clapping her hands.
“Do ye like dogs?” he asked.
“Oh, yes.” Poppy’s eyes lit up. “We never had one, but I always liked playing with my friends’ and neighbors’ dogs.”
“Why’s it that ye never had one?”
