Page 106 of A Torn Allegiance
Her quill flowed freely and liberally as she tried to express her emotions and all the happenings of the past few days, first to her parents and then to Lady Sophie. To her friend, she wrote,You would have been so proud of His Grace. Perhaps you’d have even had a spell or two, if you were the fainting kind. He was rather remarkable, and now the landowners have been employing him nonstop to assist their gardeners and tenants in understanding the new farming methods.
To her brother, she wrote,Sheep may be an option still, but a compromise of some sort is underway, and I think you shall be pleased. Hayes was brilliant. When speaking of the land and the tenants, it was like he was a Scot himself, risen up from the land.
Noise out front, possibly the sounds of a newly arriving carriage, distracted her, and she rushed to the opposite window. “Oh, heavens.” She clutched her skirts with one hand. Her parents had arrived.
The line of servants that rushed to stand along the front walk was much longer than the one that had greeted her. But that was as it should be. Her father nodded to each. Her mother stopped and spoke to them all. When they reached the housekeeper, Elsie knew they were likely getting an earful from the woman. Duncan descended from the carriage, and her own smile grew. He looked right up at the window where she stood, and waved.
Then her parents, too, looked in her direction. She could do nothing but smile. And attempt to steady her breathing, for she had news indeed. She was likely in trouble for having rushed off, and when she’d last left, her father would have been in the least likely mood to accept her news. But her parents had arrived at last, and the entire household was in Scotland together, something she’d longed for time and time again. With a myriad of emotions, she moved quickly through the rooms until she stood just inside the front entrance to welcome them all.
Her mother held her longer and closer than normal, and when Elsie saw the worry and relief in her face, she felt a sharp pang of regret. “I’m sorry, Mother. I did not wish to worry you.”
She brushed a strand of hair from Elsie’s face. “I wasn’t worried, exactly. You were coming here, to your most beloved place, and in the company of a good man and servants. But all the same...”
“I know, and Iamtruly sorry. I came for Hayes.” Her smile grew until she couldn’t suppress its exuberance, and why should she? “I have the best news.”
Her father had not exactly smiled at her yet. But he embraced her, and then he led them through the front. “Let us convene in the drawing room for some refreshment.”
A few of the servants scurried off.
Before long, they were seated comfortably in one of their smaller rooms with a tray of treats and tea from Cook.
“Father.”
He placed his cup on the saucer. “Allow me, please.”
She nodded.
“Lady Sophie told us, in rather bold terms, where you had gone and your reasons.”
Elsie at once wished to hear every word replayed in the minutest detail, but she knew she never would until she was once again reunited with her best friend, so she simply waited while her father seemed to be gathering his thoughts to continue.
“I understand my words to Hayes were overly harsh.”
She nodded.
“And spoken prematurely.”
She waited.
“And untrue besides.”
She sucked in her breath. “Untrue?”
“Yes. I don’t think Hayes is spying on our country for nefarious purposes.”
She breathed out a significant amount of stress. “That is excellent news, for you see—”
“Not at all. How could he be? He’s a fantastic fellow and a future monarch besides.”
“Hmm. Yes, I have—”
“And we were wise to consider watching him in the beginning, but shortly thereafter, we all mentioned he was not to be considered a threat.”
“Yes. All this is very true, Father.”
“And so I wish to apologize to the man.”
“As you should.” Duncan sat taller. “He has been nothing but a gentleman and a true friend besides. He is here to help his family, not harm us, and he has helped us while here as well.”
