now frowning at him, and then she said so seriously, “You did, didn’t you? You forgot it.”
He fell over this time, he laughed so hard. And when he was done, he felt… almost normal, the bitterness that had been eating at him gone, at least for the moment. And he saw the impish grin she was now wearing, proving she’d been no more than teasing him again.
What a gem she was, this young girl, certainly not what he’d been expecting from English lasses. If the rest were like her, well, he might not find it so disagreeable to wed one after all.
Twelve
N eville’s guests—and the number had grown considerably as the day progressed—had no idea that the only reason they hadn’t been summarily sent on their way was that Neville was actually relieved that he wouldn’t have to deal with his grandson alone again, after their disastrous first meeting. He was hoping that a house full of young people—and he’d been informed that most of those arriving were close to Duncan’s age—would entertain the boy enough that he would feel more comfortable being there.
It had been obvious that that wasn’t the case, that Duncan resented this trip to England. Oddly enough, Neville had never considered that his heir might not want to
be
his heir. He wasn’t quite sure how to deal with that, or make his grandsonmore disposed to assuming the responsibilities that would come with his inheritance.
Duncan had much to learn, but perhaps immediately was not the time to begin. Getting the marriage accomplished and out of the way might be a better start, since Duncan did seem to be agreeable to that—for
Archie’s
sake.
That still infuriated Neville, that the boy was quite willing to please his Scots relative, but not his English one. To be expected, he supposed, but he still didn’t like it. However, he was grateful that Archibald had gotten the boy to agree to wed. He wouldn’t feel relieved himself until it was accomplished and a child conceived, since he feared that if the old Scot didn’t get a new heir in Duncan’s first son, as soon as Neville passed on, he would try to lure Duncan back to the Highlands.
Not an unfounded fear. His communications with Archibald MacTavish had led to one clear indication. The man was very possessive of what was his, and very stubborn and unbending in his demands. Neville didn’t like this dividing of heirs, as the Scot had proposed. Duncan
was
his only heir, no matter Elizabeth’s promise that the lad would come to England to claim and administer his inheritance.
That he was also Archibald’s only heir, Neville had no problem with. Managers could be hired to oversee the two large estates when Duncan needed to divide his time between one or the other. Neville’s holdings were not so complicated that they needed constant supervision. It wouldbe nice if Duncan could devote himself fully to one country, but Englishmen were long accustomed to owning properties in far-off places, as well as on the home front.
It was a moot point, however. The Scotsman clearly felt that he’d lost Duncan because of Elizabeth’s promise, and so insisted on the continuation of the line that would give him a new heir. On that, at least, Neville could agree. What man wouldn’t like to know that his line would continue and not die out—
before
he died himself? For Duncan to produce lots of offspring would assure both men of that, but only if he got started on that producing soon.
Neville was pleased with his choice of bride for the boy. He probably should have made an effort to meet her prior to making the commitment, but he had still been so furious at Archibald for insisting on the
most
beautiful bride to be had, as if that were the only thing of importance when choosing a bride, that when his agents had promised she was just that, he had contacted her parents posthaste.
But having met her now for the first time that afternoon, he was not displeased. Ophelia Reid was most definitely as beautiful as the
He fell over this time, he laughed so hard. And when he was done, he felt… almost normal, the bitterness that had been eating at him gone, at least for the moment. And he saw the impish grin she was now wearing, proving she’d been no more than teasing him again.
What a gem she was, this young girl, certainly not what he’d been expecting from English lasses. If the rest were like her, well, he might not find it so disagreeable to wed one after all.
Twelve
N eville’s guests—and the number had grown considerably as the day progressed—had no idea that the only reason they hadn’t been summarily sent on their way was that Neville was actually relieved that he wouldn’t have to deal with his grandson alone again, after their disastrous first meeting. He was hoping that a house full of young people—and he’d been informed that most of those arriving were close to Duncan’s age—would entertain the boy enough that he would feel more comfortable being there.
It had been obvious that that wasn’t the case, that Duncan resented this trip to England. Oddly enough, Neville had never considered that his heir might not want to
be
his heir. He wasn’t quite sure how to deal with that, or make his grandsonmore disposed to assuming the responsibilities that would come with his inheritance.
Duncan had much to learn, but perhaps immediately was not the time to begin. Getting the marriage accomplished and out of the way might be a better start, since Duncan did seem to be agreeable to that—for
Archie’s
sake.
That still infuriated Neville, that the boy was quite willing to please his Scots relative, but not his English one. To be expected, he supposed, but he still didn’t like it. However, he was grateful that Archibald had gotten the boy to agree to wed. He wouldn’t feel relieved himself until it was accomplished and a child conceived, since he feared that if the old Scot didn’t get a new heir in Duncan’s first son, as soon as Neville passed on, he would try to lure Duncan back to the Highlands.
Not an unfounded fear. His communications with Archibald MacTavish had led to one clear indication. The man was very possessive of what was his, and very stubborn and unbending in his demands. Neville didn’t like this dividing of heirs, as the Scot had proposed. Duncan
was
his only heir, no matter Elizabeth’s promise that the lad would come to England to claim and administer his inheritance.
That he was also Archibald’s only heir, Neville had no problem with. Managers could be hired to oversee the two large estates when Duncan needed to divide his time between one or the other. Neville’s holdings were not so complicated that they needed constant supervision. It wouldbe nice if Duncan could devote himself fully to one country, but Englishmen were long accustomed to owning properties in far-off places, as well as on the home front.
It was a moot point, however. The Scotsman clearly felt that he’d lost Duncan because of Elizabeth’s promise, and so insisted on the continuation of the line that would give him a new heir. On that, at least, Neville could agree. What man wouldn’t like to know that his line would continue and not die out—
before
he died himself? For Duncan to produce lots of offspring would assure both men of that, but only if he got started on that producing soon.
Neville was pleased with his choice of bride for the boy. He probably should have made an effort to meet her prior to making the commitment, but he had still been so furious at Archibald for insisting on the
most
beautiful bride to be had, as if that were the only thing of importance when choosing a bride, that when his agents had promised she was just that, he had contacted her parents posthaste.
But having met her now for the first time that afternoon, he was not displeased. Ophelia Reid was most definitely as beautiful as the
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