Edwina (27 page)

“Don’t worry yer pretty head now, Rose,” Mr.
Gillespie soothed. “The man asked us to his table. We must not
fuss.”

“He did at that.” she whispered, still
upset.

What was all the foolishness for? Edwina
couldn’t help but wonder what it had been like before she came.
When the Scot and his wife... it seemed strange to say it—she
couldn’t imagine him wooing a woman, let alone having a child. Any
romantic notions she had of him were gone the minute she walked
into the cottage. He had changed. Or maybe she had changed, because
she had never really known this man.

Within minutes there was much talking and
to-do over the special occasion, Edwina having no idea what it
could be.

“Miss Blair, I see that Mrs. Gillespie has
not informed you?”

Edwina set down her fork
and placed her hands in her lap.
Here it
comes. I’m out of here. He doesn’t like me . . .

“It seemed yers for the telling,” Mrs.
Gillespie said, her voice serious.

“Of course. And right you are.”

Edwina saw Paige look down. She was
disturbed. What was wrong?

“It seems I shall be in America for a few
months. Chicago and... other places.”

She could tell he did not want her to know.
Edwina shook her head and smiled. What was she supposed to say?

“I shall return in the spring.”

So he was off to see Cecelia. That’s why he
did not mention his business. “Then I wish you traveling
mercies.”

“Mercies?”

“Just a saying. wishing you safe travel.” He
nodded. “Paige, I will be back before you know it. Be a good lass
and learn as much as you can from Miss Blair. I shall test you when
I return to see what you have learned.”

What fluff was that? Learn as much as you
can? Jeesh, couldn’t the man see he was breaking his daughter’s
heart? Scot or no Scot she was going to talk to him this evening if
she had to stomp her foot and raise her voice—which she had seldom
done before. Her nerves tingled.

When Paige asked politely to be dismissed in
her sad little girl voice, her father patted her head and sent her
off. Edwina wanted to run after her, but it wasn’t her teacher she
wanted.

“Mrs. Gillespie, would you bring me the
posts? There should be several... forms... waiting for me.” Alex
Dunnegin asked.

She ran for the mail and laid it on the side
table. The Scot had a few words with Mr. Gillespie about the
gardens and the repair of the barn.

Mrs. Gillespie put her apron back on and
waited for her employer to leave. It must be some pretense of
manner; she couldn’t clear the table in the Laird’s presence.

The Scot pushed back his chair, picked up the
large stack of mail, and headed for the door.

“Mr. Dunnegin, I would have a word with you,
if you have a few minutes,” Edwina said.

He checked his watch. “My office, half past
the hour.”

Edwina gazed at the clock. She had twenty
minutes. If he had to get up in the morning and had yet to say his
good-byes to his daughter and meet with her, it would be late
before he got off to bed. She’d better have her speech ready. Off
to the library.

Paper and pen in hand, she slipped off her
shoes and sat at the small library table.

“Miss Blair,” she heard from the doorway
sometime later. “It’s past time.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was . . .” Her toes sought
the shoes, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

She followed him nervously. “Sit down.” He
indicated a chair. “What is it?” Zap, her thoughts left. Just as
though lightning had struck her. “Well, first, is there anything
you wish me to do... for Paige? Second, may we take a shopping trip
to Edinburgh?”

“Shopping? Edinburgh? Why would ye ask such a
thing? I thought I made it clear she is not to leave the
premises.”

“Okay. I just thought—”

“You are not here to think Miss Blair. You
are here to teach my daughter and protect her—” He winced slightly.
“You may go to Edinburgh, if you must, but my daughter is not to
leave this farm. You may arrange for her to stay with Mrs.
Gillespie, if you must go.”

Edwina felt her face muscles tighten. Oh boy,
now she really felt free to visit Scotland’s capital. How could she
talk to this stubborn man? He was so... so hard, immovable, and
unkind.

“You knew yer responsibilities when I brought
ye here, lass. I meant for them to be carried out. Especially now
that I will be out of the country.” He paced.

Evidently he was worried, for some reason
unknown to her. Perhaps she should trust the man. Her instincts
said she should.

“I will watch over her. She will not
leave.”

He seemed to relax. “Continue as you were.
Paige seems to like you. Except she said you would not allow her to
play outside, which she loves. Is that true?”

“No, sir, it is not. We go out every day. In
fact, I have allowed her to hold our classes out of doors, when
weather allows.”

“I see. She also says you are mean.”

Edwina’s lips turned up in a half smile. “I
imagine she thinks that at times. I make her behave during class
time.”

“As I informed you she should.” He had
actually agreed. “Is that all?” He looked up and straight into her
eyes. “No... no, it isn’t,” she stammered.

“Well, out with it, lass. I’ve work to do
this evening.”

“You did not notice your daughter’s sadness
at the table this evening?”

“Sadness? Why, she is happy. We rode
together.”

“And you think that settles everything?” she
shot back.

“Say what you mean, lass.” His tone turned
menacing.

“Okay. She needs you to... to... talk with
her, listen to what she has to say. She loves you so much and you .
. .” Edwina felt tears sting her eyes. Oh brother, now she was
going to make herself look the fool.

“I talk with the lass.”

“Not like that. I mean, really talk to
her.”

“How?”

“For instance, perhaps you could go to her
room and talk about her mother, how she feels about Silsee and Mrs.
Gillespie’s cookies, things like that. She needs to know you love
her.”

Edwina saw the slow burn begin on the
handsome face.

He stood. “I will not ’ave the teacher
teaching the child’s father to love his child, woman.”

“
Be that as it may, sir,
you asked the question, and I answered it.” Edwina felt a strange
new emotion—stubbornness. And she knew exactly where she’d learned
it.

“Ye can be sure, I am most distressed. I
shall now have to leave the country with my daughter in your
care.”

Edwina relented. “Sir, you need have no
concern. I will follow your instructions and teach and protect the
child. You have my word.”

He seemed to understand. “As it should be.”
He tossed a pen down and stood. “If there is nothing else . .
.”

Dismissed. She would not say another word.
Her motives should be clear to the man. And the entire episode had
taken its toll on her nerves. The muscles in her neck began to
scream. She rubbed her neck. “Mrs. Gillespie will know your
whereabouts should your daughter need you?”

“Of course,” he said between clenched teeth.
Well, she had to ask. What if something happened?

Chapter 44

A
fter a warm bath, she was toweling her hair dry and wondering
if Bertie could come to the cottage for a visit. She’d been here
over a month and still hadn’t seen her. Fact is, Edwina didn’t even
know where she was or how to get back to Edinburgh should she need
to go.

She’d been foolish to lock herself into this
deal, assuming she’d have full run of her life. She would go to
Edinburgh at least once. She hadn’t come this far . . .

But she reminded
herself
, You were the one who agreed to
the terms
.

Ah, the conscience. Guilt pinched her spirit.
He was right to be angry with her.

A knock sounded. Surely Mrs. Gillespie had
gone home, and the Scot was in bed. Perhaps it was little Paige in
need of comfort.

Edwina went to the door and cracked it. The
Scot. And her in her robe, hair mussed and wet.

“I apologize. I neglected to hand you these
while you were in the office.”

He slid two letters through the crack. One
from Cecelia, and one from Spencer.

“
Thank you.
And—”

He had already started to walk away, but he
stopped and turned slightly.

“I’m sorry if I upset you. I agreed to the
terms. I will see to them.”

“Aye,” he said.

Edwina shut the door. At least she had
cleared her conscience.

Quickly she tore open Cecelia’s letter and
read. She’d bought a new complex, small but very good location.
Made an obscene amount of money on the sale of a building she’d
redecorated. And the Scot was coming to see her.

So she’d been right. He was interested.

Edwina put the perfumed envelop up to her
nose. Cecelia.

Spencer’s letter was hilarious. He’d raised
his price to clean Cecelia’s condo, and she had agreed after a
short burst of utter frustration that he should dare do such a
thing. But he had reminded her she could get someone else to do her
dirty work, and she had acquiesced instantly. In addition, he was
to become her partner in the acquisition of this new venture.

Spencer? He was not serious about money. It
seemed he had negotiated a deal that would allow him to set up his
own restaurant on the entire second floor of Cecelia’s new
apartment building. Tenants would have their own restaurant, and it
would be open to the public as well. They would split the profits
in exchange for rent-free space.

Another feather in Cecelia’s cap. Edwina was
proud of her. Giving the entire floor to Spencer meant giving up a
good income. Perhaps the message that Sunday at church had touched
her.

It had certainly brought Edwina to her
senses. Go and live or wait to see what happened. She’d had to
overcome some things, given up a little to gain a lot, she realized
now.

Paige needed her more than she thought
possible. The little girl didn’t realize it yet, but Edwina did.
Especially now that her father was to be gone for several months.
How could he leave his child for that long and not feel anything?
What was so important that it would keep him away from his
daughter?

She shook her head. It was none of her
business. He paid her well to do a job, and she would do it.

Smiling, she went to bed, thinking of Spencer
and Cecelia.

The smell of ham frying wafted to her nose.
Tossing the covers back, she dressed quickly and headed for the
kitchen. She walked in calling, “Rose, what smells so wonderful?
Are you trying to put more weight on me? I’ve just lost a few
pounds walking these lovely hills and now you—”

The Scot and Mrs. Gillespie came from the
back of the kitchen where they’d obviously been talking. Serious,
from the look of it.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She
turned on her heels and shot out of there.
Off to the hills with you and your mouth Edwina Emily
Blair.
She shut the door quietly and
started down the long drive.

Lord, I always seem to open my mouth at the
wrong time.

She’d made it to the end where the drive
intersected with the main road and started back. The black car
drove slowly past her.

She took a detour and wandered out around the
barn and listened. Was that bleating of the lambs... or sobbing?
She hurried inside. Up the ladder to the hayloft she went. It was
Paige.

“
Sweetheart, what’s the
matter?” she cooed, dropping to her knees.

No answer. Edwina waited. “Father’s leaving
and won’t take me with him.”

“Ah,” she smoothed the soft hair. “Your
father can’t take you.”

“Why?” she sobbed. “Why can’t he?”

Edwina had walked herself right into that
one. “Well, he would if he could, wouldn’t he?”

The child’s crying slowed.

“See, now there’s the answer. He would, but
big people must make decisions that their children don’t understand
because they’re not old enough. That’s why God gave little ones,
like you,” she tickled her ribs, “a mom and dad.”

“My mom’s not here. Where did God put her?”
She’d walked into another one. “Well, God is even bigger than our
moms and dads, and He has even more love than they do.”

“Oh.”

It must have made sense to the little girl in
her because she stopped crying.

“Should we go and see your father off?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we were smiling as he left, so he won’t
think we’re mad at him?” Edwina tried.

“Aye.” The child rose.

Edwina gently pulled the straw from the
mussed hair and took Paige’s hand. Together they walked to the
cottage and through the back door.

“Run and wash your face and hands,” she
encouraged.

“How did you get her to come down, lass? She
wouldna budge even for Mr. Gillespie.”

“We just talked, Rose.”

“Ah, ye have a gift with the lass.” Edwina
smiled. Her calling became more certain at that moment.

“
There now.” Edwina
inspected her charge, then knelt. “Check my hair for straw,
please.”

Edwina, on her knees, bent her head and
noticed two black shoes in the doorway. Caught again.

She waited, face red, while Paige dug through
her hair, then looked up.

The Scot was not angry. Her breath came
again. All she needed was to send him off angry at her foolishness.
It would not bode well.

In fact, he looked away as soon as her eyes
had courage enough to meet his. “I’ll be in my office,” he said
quietly.

She and Mrs. Gillespie exchanged a look. What
was there to do but go on about their business?

Her chopping knife working viciously, Mrs.
Gillespie said, “We are to meet out front for the send-off at nine
sharp.”