Page 49 of Tess and the Highlander
His wife and son looked at him as if he’d justentered the chamber. Something told him this was probably not thebest time to mention his tendency to become seasick.
“Go on. Go on,” Alec encouraged his wife.
She turned back to her son. “It matters naught whatyour father did or didn’t do. What aboutyourdreams?Yourplans?”
“We change, we grow, and we dream new dreams.” Colinresponded passionately. “Whoever I was before and wherever I wantedto go was shaped by what I had seen and where I had been. No dreamI ever had looked beyond the here and now. Permanence played nopart in my dreams. I know now that is because I had never foundanyone who affected me as Tess has. I have no regrets for lettingthose dreams slip away. They could never make me happy now.”
He started pacing again impatiently before them. “Iknow ‘tis difficult for you to understand, considering that I amyour youngest son. I know that the immature antics of my youthcould cause you to think I am not serious. But I love her. Thefuture means nothing to me if…”
“Stop right there. You should save this,” the lairdsaid solemnly, moving across the room and standing beside hiswife’s chair.
Colin’s expression showed his puzzlement as Alecreached for Fiona’s hand and the two exchanged a knowing look. TheMacpherson chieftain recalled he had once been here himself, inthis same room, twenty-seven years ago, presenting the sameargument to his own parents.
“Colin, it makes us quite proud to hear how much youhave come to care for this young woman.” Fiona’s gray eyes sparkledas she smiled at her husband before turning back to their son. “Andyour arguments are very convincing.”
“When the right time comes, I believe you should usethese same words to win her over,” the laird added.
“I’m ready—”
“But considering her situation, if you were topropose now, Tess might think you are acting out of a sense of dutyor honor.” Fiona shook her head. “And I do not believe that is anybasis for a lasting relationship.”
“Not to mention that ’twould be impossible toexplain any of this to Tess’s mother so soon.”
“Not that you are lacking in merit in any way.”Fiona’s tone sharpened with maternal defensiveness. “True, Tess hasinherited a great deal of land, but you are a Macpherson and aDrummond, and royal Stewart blood flows in your veins. You will notlack for a fortune of your own, either, and you and Tess willtogether lift the Lindsay clan out of the difficulties they havelong endured.”
“We’re not saying that your brothers wouldn’t beglad to be rid of you.” The laird smiled at his son encouragingly.“Nonetheless, you should wait a bit…at least until Tess is reunitedwith her mother. The lass needs to settle her past before she plansfor the future.”
“Come now, child. This is not the end of the world!You are going to visit your mother, and then you shall return tous.”
Tess wished she possessed Lady Fiona’s certainty.Wiping at her tears, she looked with embarrassment at the trunkfull of clothing that had been prepared for her departure. Her gazewandered to the velvet dress laid out on the bed, ready for her towear during her last dinner at Benmore Castle. These good peopleplanned everything for her—did everything for her.
When Tess had refused all help from the maidservantsin getting ready for dinner, Lady Fiona herself had come up to seeif she was well. And this was where she had found Tess, curled upin the window seat, lost in her misery and unable to stop theunending tears.
“Why don’t you talk to me?” The older woman sat downnext to Tess in the window. She wrapped an affectionate arm aroundher shoulder. “Don’t you want to see your mother?”
“I do. I do!” Tess cried. “Please forgive me. I ambehaving like an ungrateful wretch. I need to stop all this.”
“Tell me, child, are you afraid that once you godown into the Lowlands, you shan’t be allowed to come back?”
Tess nodded once before shaking her head. “I…I don’tknow. I’m certain that Lady Evelyn will want me to stay. But I havemade up my mind. I have been independent for too many years for herto tell me…or force me to do anything against my will. The Lindsaysneed me, m’lady. And I need them.”
“But you are so upset.” Fiona pushed the loosetendrils of hair back off Tess’s face. A thoughtful expressionsettled on the older woman’s beautiful face. “Have you had a chanceto talk to Colin since speaking to my husband and me today?”
Tess shook her head. After their moments together atRavenie Castle, she had found herself daring to hope that perhapshe shared some of her feelings. That perhaps they might somehowhave a future together. Still, though she knew in her heart themain reason for her misery was leaving Colin, she also hopeddesperately that the truth of her feelings would not come outnow.
Riding back from Ravenie, he had been constantlyattentive of their surroundings. She knew it was her safety that hewas concerned about, but as a result they had not had much chanceto talk. And since hearing the news about her mother’s message,she’d not seen him at all…with the exception of passing by him asshe’d left Lord Alec and Lady Fiona. A horrible thought pierced herheart like an icy spike. Perhaps he wanted her to go. Perhaps, asfar as he was concerned, Tess should pursue her own life and leavehim to pursue his dreams.
“I heard that he had some errands that he was seeingto this afternoon,” Colin’s mother offered.
Tess was grateful for Fiona’s explanation. “I havealready taken so much of his time. ‘Twas very kind of him…andJames, too…to come with me to Ravenie Castle. I don’t know what Iwould have done without their help.”
“James told me how magnificent you were in facingyour clan. He said you were quite impressive in both your courageand your eloquence in asking for their acceptance.”
Tess shook her head shyly. She was hardly preparedto accept any praise in light of how weak she’d proven to be sincereturning.
“James is far, far too generous. But with the helpof your sons, things have already changed on my father’s land. AndI realize now that the reason for this silly display of hystericsthis afternoon—” She tried to smile. “—the reason is that you arethe first true family that I have come upon for a long time.” Sheshook her head. “The first true family that I haveevercome across.”
“I love you, child.” Fiona Macpherson gave her anaffectionate squeeze. She placed a kiss on her forehead, and Tessfound herself trying desperately to contain her own surgingemotions. “Tess, you are the daughter I have been waiting for. Now,come. Come and let’s not allow this fine night to go to waste.There are people waiting for us downstairs. We have somecelebrating to do.”
