myriad
shades of colored wildflowers, rocks dotting the hillsides. There
were pathways where others had walked before her. No wonder the
Scots were proud. Their land was hauntingly beautiful.
Caught up in the new spring flowers,
honeysuckle and foxglove she recognized, she tried to memorize each
nuance, even sketched some of the plants on her pad. The late
after- noon skittered away. She could see the castle up on the
hill. No matter how far one walked, she was sure they could see it
like a beacon. Lights were beginning to come on in the miniature
windows as she viewed the Scot’s home. It was, sadly, time to go
back.
The walk took longer than
she’d predicted. It was dark now, but a full moon gave enough light
to make the ground appear frosty white. The evening was magical.
The sky, after a sun-warmed day, gave way to the moon in all its
glory; full, white, and low, it seemed to lull her home. Thank you, Lord, for such a fine day and for all
the things you created . Edwina walked
through the front doors and wondered if she should have rung the
bell first.
“Ah, you have returned,” Reardon said, his
manner gruff. “I was about to place a call to Laird Dunnegin.”
Edwina’s eyes widened. He sure was pomp and
circumstance tonight.
“Oh, I’m glad you didn’t,” she gushed. “He
would have been very unhappy.”
“Indeed.”
“Is it so late that you were worried?” She
cringed at the question.
“I was just coming out to look for you. I
have orders to assist you in loading your baggage and taking you to
Edinburgh, this eve or on the morrow, as you desire,” he said
gazing past her.
So he didn’t like her shenanigans either.
Well, she would be gone soon.
“I’m very sorry. Would you prefer I leave
tonight?”
“I... what have I to do
with it?” he said sensibly. “I am at your service, lass.”
The reminder was quick and sure. “Yes, right.
Then I will leave in the morning.
“What time shall I come for you?”
“Eight o’clock?” she questioned.
“Eight o’clock.” Reardon repeated and
retreated, his flaps flying. Edwina ran up the stairs and found her
bath was running.
Uh oh, Bertie is in my room.
“ Lass, where have ye been?
Reardon was just aboot to set out fer ye.”
“I know, Bertie. I spoke with him just
now.”
“Then ye apologized sure and true? He is not
aboot friendliness this eve.”
“I noticed. And yes, I apologized.”
“Good lass, now be aboot your bath. I shall
return with a plate.”
“Thank you, Bertie, you’re a doll. I’m
starving.”
“Doll?”
“You know, a sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?” Bertie appeared the foolish one
this time. “It’s a pet name.”
“Ye call me a pet name. Like a dog?” Her
hands flew upwards.
“No, not that kind of pet.... Oh goodness,
forget I said anything. It was an endearment, Bertie.”
“Well then.” Bertie settled down and hustled
through the door.
Chapter 13
“A h, I shall never appreciate a shower ever again,” Edwina
cooed as she settled into the warm water. I wonder if I could possibly fit a tub this size... no, it
would never work, even if the landlord were willing to pull down
the wall between the kitchen and bathroom. Then what would I use
for a kitchen?
Her musings quickly gave way to thoughts of
moving into a larger apartment. Perhaps she ought to think about
making a real home for herself, not just a come-hither-and- rest
place to lay her head until the next day’s duties.
Funny, she’d never thought about that before.
What had prompted her to think about it now? She should know some-
thing about herself, with all the psychology books and magazine
articles she had read.
Strangely enough, she had
no idea why she wanted a cozy home at this point in her life. She
had planned to keep the apartment until—or if—she married. Now it
seemed to take on a sense of urgency. Edwina shrugged. Just when you think you’ve figured out who you
are and what you’re about, something as simple as
shades of colored wildflowers, rocks dotting the hillsides. There
were pathways where others had walked before her. No wonder the
Scots were proud. Their land was hauntingly beautiful.
Caught up in the new spring flowers,
honeysuckle and foxglove she recognized, she tried to memorize each
nuance, even sketched some of the plants on her pad. The late
after- noon skittered away. She could see the castle up on the
hill. No matter how far one walked, she was sure they could see it
like a beacon. Lights were beginning to come on in the miniature
windows as she viewed the Scot’s home. It was, sadly, time to go
back.
The walk took longer than
she’d predicted. It was dark now, but a full moon gave enough light
to make the ground appear frosty white. The evening was magical.
The sky, after a sun-warmed day, gave way to the moon in all its
glory; full, white, and low, it seemed to lull her home. Thank you, Lord, for such a fine day and for all
the things you created . Edwina walked
through the front doors and wondered if she should have rung the
bell first.
“Ah, you have returned,” Reardon said, his
manner gruff. “I was about to place a call to Laird Dunnegin.”
Edwina’s eyes widened. He sure was pomp and
circumstance tonight.
“Oh, I’m glad you didn’t,” she gushed. “He
would have been very unhappy.”
“Indeed.”
“Is it so late that you were worried?” She
cringed at the question.
“I was just coming out to look for you. I
have orders to assist you in loading your baggage and taking you to
Edinburgh, this eve or on the morrow, as you desire,” he said
gazing past her.
So he didn’t like her shenanigans either.
Well, she would be gone soon.
“I’m very sorry. Would you prefer I leave
tonight?”
“I... what have I to do
with it?” he said sensibly. “I am at your service, lass.”
The reminder was quick and sure. “Yes, right.
Then I will leave in the morning.
“What time shall I come for you?”
“Eight o’clock?” she questioned.
“Eight o’clock.” Reardon repeated and
retreated, his flaps flying. Edwina ran up the stairs and found her
bath was running.
Uh oh, Bertie is in my room.
“ Lass, where have ye been?
Reardon was just aboot to set out fer ye.”
“I know, Bertie. I spoke with him just
now.”
“Then ye apologized sure and true? He is not
aboot friendliness this eve.”
“I noticed. And yes, I apologized.”
“Good lass, now be aboot your bath. I shall
return with a plate.”
“Thank you, Bertie, you’re a doll. I’m
starving.”
“Doll?”
“You know, a sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?” Bertie appeared the foolish one
this time. “It’s a pet name.”
“Ye call me a pet name. Like a dog?” Her
hands flew upwards.
“No, not that kind of pet.... Oh goodness,
forget I said anything. It was an endearment, Bertie.”
“Well then.” Bertie settled down and hustled
through the door.
Chapter 13
“A h, I shall never appreciate a shower ever again,” Edwina
cooed as she settled into the warm water. I wonder if I could possibly fit a tub this size... no, it
would never work, even if the landlord were willing to pull down
the wall between the kitchen and bathroom. Then what would I use
for a kitchen?
Her musings quickly gave way to thoughts of
moving into a larger apartment. Perhaps she ought to think about
making a real home for herself, not just a come-hither-and- rest
place to lay her head until the next day’s duties.
Funny, she’d never thought about that before.
What had prompted her to think about it now? She should know some-
thing about herself, with all the psychology books and magazine
articles she had read.
Strangely enough, she had
no idea why she wanted a cozy home at this point in her life. She
had planned to keep the apartment until—or if—she married. Now it
seemed to take on a sense of urgency. Edwina shrugged. Just when you think you’ve figured out who you
are and what you’re about, something as simple as
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