Page 94 of The Last Debutante
NO ONE WAITINGin the great hall was surprised when Jamie and Daria appeared hand in hand and announced their intentions toward one another. Daria’s parents seemed to be more relieved than shocked, and Jamie could guess that it was a solution to their fears about their daughter returning to English society. Duff scowled, as Jamie knew he would do, and whispered to Robbie about the trouble they would face. But Robbie and Geordie were quick to congratulate Jamie.
The mood was festive as they dined that evening, all the troubles they had been through and were facing forgotten for the time being. The clan would learn soon enough of their laird’s decision, and no one knew how the news would be received.
The next morning, Mackenzie’s men fetched Mamie. She arrived that afternoon in the midst of another downpour. Beth Babcock cried out when she saw her mother and fell to her knees with grief, her arms around Mamie’s legs.
There wasn’t much her parents could say to Daria to appease her. One needed only look at Mamie to see the toll their deceit had taken. Daria’s father especially seemed to have no words; he sat with his head hung as his wife begged their daughter for forgiveness.
“Don’t ask for my forgiveness,” Daria said. “It’s Mamie’s you want.”
“It’s impossible for you to understand,” her mother said pleadingly. “I know that it is. We knew we were wrong, so wrong... but, Daria, we were in love and there was nothing that could keep us apart. No law of man, no force of nature. I know how very hard it must be for you to hear.”
“No, Mamma, that’s not hard to hear. Whatishard to hear is that you had so little regard for your mother. Forme.That you chose to lie and help a wretched man instead of face the truth.”
“Don’t be too hard on them,” Mamie said sadly. “Hindsight can be so much clearer than the view of the present.”
Daria wasn’t convinced of that. “Well, now you must face up to what you’ve done. You can’t hide any longer.”
“We’ll all be ruined,” her mother said tearfully.
“Beth, dearest,” Mamie said, “we already are.”
“What of you, Mamie?” Daria asked. “Will you stay here in Scotland?”
She shook her head and took Daria’s hand. “I am returning to England. Whatever they face, I should like to be there with them.”
Her father’s head sank even lower.
“You are all welcome at Dundavie,” the laird said.
“Here!” Mamie said. “But... Ishotyou.”
“That was a wee bit hard to look past,” Jamie admitted. “But I am willing to let bygones be bygones, Mrs. Moss, if you will give me your word no’ to shoot any Campbells.”
Mamie smiled ruefully. “Thank you, Laird, but I think it safer for us all if I return to England with Beth and Richard. They will need me as they’ve never needed me before. And I confess, I am eager to go home.”
Young John entered and said something to Jamie, who nodded, then looked at the group. “Our English ghost has arrived,” he said.
“Ashwood?” Charity asked.
“Aye.”
Charity and Daria looked at each other, then hurried out the door before the others.
The man they brought into the foyer with his hands bound at his back did not look like an earl. He’d lost all the hair on the top of his head, and the buttons on his waistcoat strained. While Mamie had scrimped for food, he had feasted, judging by outward appearances.
He looked at all of them, an angry scowl on his face. “What’s this about?” he shouted angrily, as if he didn’t know.
Charity walked to where he stood, halting directly before him. “Do you recognize me, sir?”
“Why would I?”
“My name is Charity Scott,” she said, and slapped Ashwood across the cheek with such force that his head was knocked round.“That,”she said, “is for my father, Joseph Scott.” She turned and left.
The earl was still stunned when Daria slipped up to him. She dealt his other cheek a slap. “That is for Mamie,” she said, and walked back to where her parents stood.
“That’s the least of what you deserve,” Jamie said. “We’ll keep you until the English authorities arrive in Nairn.”
“You can’t keep me!” Ashwood shouted, but no one listened. Jamie directed his men to take the monster from their sight, then looked at the Babcocks.
