Page 75 of The Butterfly
Kincardinshire, Scotland
livia glanced down at the boy walking at her side, his face a study in grim determination. She smiled, unable to help the way her heart ached at the sight of Gawain, who was so much like Niall, it was uncanny. Dark hair, dark eyes, a stature far greater than other boys his age, and a solemn face. When her husband had come to her with this notion of taking him in to raise alongside Serena at Dunvar House, she’d only experienced a moment’s hesitation.
Her reticence had had nothing to do with the boy—he had not asked to be born to Conall and could have a better life with them. No, her worry had been over how Gawain might take to being sent away and thrust into an entirely new world away from his mother. Would he like Olivia and Serena? Would he even want anything to do with them?
But, of course, she had agreed that the boy should come to live with them, and the very next day, Niall had gone to fetch him. He had warned her how much Gawain resembled him, but she had still been unprepared for the child who had been presented to her—filthy and dressed in rags, but still the handsomest little boy she’d ever seen.
He had been wary of her, of course, but had confessed that his maw had explained everything to him before he’d left. He understood that he was being brought to live with his brother and his wife and daughter, and that he was to have an education and a far better life than the one his sire would have provided. He’d been quiet and reserved, though had enjoyed the new clothing and bedchamber that had been given to him. Far too thin upon arriving on their doorstep, he was now beginning to fill out, his love of the food at Dunvar House giving him the additional weight.
Not long after Gawain had come to live with them, they had received a letter from Adam. He’d returned to Dunnottar after Bertram’s execution and wished for them to come visit right away. Apparently, there was news he must share with them in person. There had not been time to apprise him of the situation concerning Gawain, so Adam did not know that four of them had come from Edinburgh instead of three.
Thus, Gawain’s grave expression as they alighted the front steps of the massive, ancient castle her brother had acquired and renovated five years prior. The keep was a piece of Scottish history, having once been a holding of William the Lion, an ancestor of Adam on his mother’s side. Built upon the edge of a steep escarpment with the ocean beyond, it might just be the most beautiful place she’d ever seen.
She watched the boy stare up at the massive double doors leading into the keep, and she wanted to reach out to touch him, reassure him. Yet, she refrained. The lad liked her well enough, but still missed his mother. He did not care for displays of affection, and she did not want to make him uncomfortable.
“Do all earls live in castles?” he asked, gazing up at Niall, who had just knocked upon the door.
Niall, who held Serena’s hand, and the puppy Daphne in the crook of his opposite arm, smiled down at his brother. “No. Only the eccentric ones.”
Gawain frowned and turned to look to her. “What does ‘ecc-cen-tric’ mean?”
He always turned to her with such questions, seeming to think her the more knowledgeable between them, being a noble lady and all.
“It means strange,” she told him with a little laugh. “And my brother certainly qualifies as that. But, I have a feeling he will like you.”
Gawain relaxed a bit, adjusting his coat and then smoothing his hands down the front of his waistcoat. He had been quite fastidious in dressing himself this morning, wanting to look his best to impress the earl.
The door swung open, and a servant Olivia recognized as a former footman greeted them. It appeared he’d been promoted to the post of butler. As he ushered them in, they found Adam already waiting for them. He stood just within the vestibule dressed as he always did when in the Scottish countryside—indecently, without cravat or waistcoat, his hair unbound and hanging wild down his back.
At the sight of them, he came forward, a slight smile curving his lips. “Butterfly.”
She practically flew into his arms, finding that she’d missed him, even after so short a time apart. “Hart.”
He embraced her, then stood back to inspect the rest of the family. At the sight of Gawain, he frowned. “Who’s this?”
Niall come forward, pulling Gawain along with him. The boy stared up at Adam in awe, a bit of curiosity gleaming in his eyes as he took the earl’s measure.
“Adam, this is my brother, Gawain,” Niall said, beaming proudly as he indicated the boy. “He has come to live with us at Dunvar House. Gawain, this is Lord Adam Callahan, my brother-in-law.”
“And the only friend he’s ever had,” Adam quipped, offering the boy a hand. “Pleased to meet you, Gawain.”
He did not bat an eyelash at being so suddenly introduced to Niall’s brother, though she could see the questions in the depths of his stare. She nodded to indicate they would explain in good time.
“And where is my little princess?” Adam asked, glancing about the vestibule as if he could not see Serena standing just before him. “Oh, dear … did you leave her in Edinburgh?”
Serena giggled, jumping up and down to capture his attention. “I’m right here, Uncle Adam!”
He pretended to be startled by her, glancing down with a gasp. “Well, now, there you are. How does Uncle Adam’s princess fare today?”
She leapt into his arms, giggling when he kissed her, his stubble tickling her cheek. “I’m hungry!”
“It just so happens that luncheon is being served in the dining room,” he declared, motioning for them all to follow him. “The news I wish to tell you … well, it will all become evident once we get there.”
Curiosity had Olivia practically tearing off her coat and gloves to hand them off to a footman. Whatever was going on, Adam had been deuced secretive about it, insistent that they come immediately. She wondered what it could be as they followed him to the dining room, Serena still held in his arms. It must be good, considering Adam’s fair mood. He was a far cry from the man they’d left in London after the events of Bertram’s arrest and trial.
The answer became evident as they stepped into the dining room to find the table laden with several dishes and footmen ensuring everything was in readiness for them. A figure seated at one end of the table caught her eye—a woman dressed in a sprigged muslin day gown of white and lilac, a bit of matching ribbon tied about her throat in the style of a choker. Shock rippled through Olivia as she stood to greet them, a wide smile crossing her face and mirth twinkling in her eyes.
“Daphne!” Serena cried, leaping out of Adam’s arms and rushing to her aunt.
