Chapter 7

Dearest Delia,

My poor child, I am so sorry for the dreadful ordeal you have undertaken and so relieved to hear you are none the worse for your experience. Of course, I know you well enough to understand you are putting a brave face on, but please know you do not need to do so with me. I am your brother, and I am here to support you, no matter what.

Muir Anderson is an honourable and brave man, and I shall forever be in his dept for what he did for you. That he offered for you only elevates him further in my estimation, but my dearest sister, please know that you do not have to marry him. The scandal is quite appalling, but we will survive it, no matter what you choose to do. If you wish, we could go back to the continent for an indefinite time until the worst of it has died away. Think on it, sweetheart. I will abide by whatever you decide to do.

We are making plans to come to Wildsyde and hope to leave by the end of the week. I have only hesitated because Emmeline is once again in an interesting condition, and I wish for the doctor to assure me she is fit to travel before we leave. In the meantime, do write back and assure me of your wellbeing and that you are being treated kindly.

Yrs etc.

―Excerpt of a letter from The Most Hon'ble Leander Steyning, The Marquess of Wrexham to his sister, The Lady Cordelia Steyning.

28 th March 1850, Wildsyde Castle, The Highlands of Scotland.

"I hope… I mean… I'm very sorry…" Luella began diffidently on their walk back to Wildsyde.

"Oh, don't, please!" Delia said, mortified to have been caught in such a position. "I cannot imagine what you must think of me."

Luella only shrugged. "I think you were trying to discover if Muir is a man you can imagine yourself married too. Very sensible too, in my opinion." She smiled at Delia's obvious surprise. "I'm really not a stickler for propriety, so don't worry your head over my good opinion. I should be more shocked if you did not wish to see if you suited before you make such a big decision. Dare I ask if you came to any conclusions?" she added with a glint in her eyes.

Delia let out a huff of laughter. "If you'd have asked while he was kissing me, I'd have said I was certain he would be a wonderful husband."

"Ah, yes, but the Anderson men all have a deleterious effect on a female's ability to make sensible decisions. They're so big and rugged and… and I think it's the kilt, or at least, it's definitely the knees."

"Yes!" Delia exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "How is one to concentrate on a proper conversation when they're all so—"

"I know," Luella said sadly.

"And s-so—"

"Yes," she agreed, nodding with amused sympathy in her eyes. "You don't need to tell me, love. I quite understand. So, what was it he did when he stopped kissing you that made you uncertain again?"

Delia sighed. "He said he wouldn't be able to see much of me because of the lambing, and so I asked if I could come and help."

"And he said no, this is manly man work and not for mere females to dirty their hands with?" Luella guessed, making a face that showed she too disapproved of such behaviour.

"Yes, and I was so vexed," Delia admitted. "And it was worse because before that I was so—" She sighed, giving an expressive wave of her hand that Luella seemed to understand.

"The rat," Luella said in disgust. "Honestly, men think they are so big and strong and we're the ones in need of protecting, when half the time it's the other way about. Do you know Lyall fainted when I was giving birth?"

"No!" Delia said, finding it impossible to imagine the hulking great Highlander passing out.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Don't say anything to anyone," she begged. "He'll murder me if he knows I've told anyone."

"Oh, I wouldn't," Delia said at once.

"Well, to be fair, the poor man was not supposed to be in the room, for the midwife had shooed him away, but I was screaming my head off, calling for him, and so he came rushing in, and then fainted dead away. If I'd not been so furious with him when I was the one who needed the support, I'd have laughed. I have done a fair bit since," she added conspiratorially.

Delia snorted and the two of them burst out laughing.

"Thank you," Delia said, wiping her eyes once her mirth had subsided. "I feel a lot better now."

"And so you should. Don't you heed Muir. If you want to attend a lambing, I'll do my best to arrange it for you when he's not about, and then when you're prepared, you can show him what you're made of."

"You'd do that?" Delia asked, delighted by the idea.

"Of course," Luella said at once. "Many of Lyall's tenants keep a few sheep. I can't promise I can do it, for Muir is not the only man with such ridiculous opinions, but if I can, I shall. Just leave it with me."

Delia gave a squeal of delight and hugged Luella, who grinned at her and hugged her back.

"I like you, Delia," she said firmly. "And I hope to goodness Muir doesn't mess things up, for I'd love to have you for a sister."

Too overwhelmed to know what to say to this, for once Delia was sensible, and kept her mouth shut.

"Afternoon, sis. Good lord, don't tell me you're breeding again?"

"Leo!" Arabella, the Marchioness of Bainbridge, set the book she was reading aside and sat up. Though how she could concentrate on reading in the din carrying on around her was anybody's guess. There appeared to be children everywhere. "Were we expecting you? I thought Mama said you were in Warwickshire?"

"I was, and now I'm back," he said, catching a small child by the wrists before she could smear her sticky fingers over his boots. "How are you, sweetheart?" he asked the child, not entirely certain which one this was.

"That's Leona," Arabella said with a sigh, guessing as much. "The one we named for you, remember? Do keep up, Leo."

"How can I when you keep producing more every time I turn my back?" he protested.

"If you visited us more often, it would not be so difficult to keep track," she retorted. "Now go and ring the bell and I'll send for tea. Then you can tell me what you want of me," she added sagely.

"What makes you think I want anything?" Leo demanded, going and giving the bell pull a tug.

"You're here," Arabella replied.

"Fair point," Leo allowed and looked around for a place to sit that wasn't covered in children or their accoutrements. "Don't they have a nurse?" he asked, watching the younger twins, Rayne and Gabriel, squabbling because Rayne had pushed over the castle Gabriel had been building out of wooden bricks onto the floor.

"Gabriel, if you didn't want your sister to interfere with your construction, you ought not to have provoked her," Arabella said sternly, before turning back to her brother. "Yes, but the poor dear looked to be at her wits' end, so I sent her for a lie down. There's usually two of them, but the children all had vile colds last week and so now Sarah has gone down with it too. I only hope Rachel doesn't succumb or we shall be in the basket. Ava! Don't do that," she said, wagging a finger at the child.

"Where's Bainbridge?" Leo demanded. "He causes all this trouble, the least he can do is help you with it."

Arabella gave a gurgle of laughter and stroked her burgeoning stomach fondly. "Oh, he does, my dear, he does."

Leo shook his head, wondering if he was truly considering settling down and having children, though he could never imagine Violette among such a chaotic scene. A footman appeared and Bella ordered their tea, momentarily halting their conversation.

"Bainbridge had some business to attend to this morning," his sister said, finally answering his question. "He'll be back shortly. Is it him you wanted, then?"

"No, or at least, no, I don't think so. I want your advice, Bella."

His sister's eyes grew round with astonishment. "You don't say! Truly?"

"Yes, and don't make a fuss or I won't ask. Especially don't make a fuss when I do ask," he added hastily. "I mean it, Bella, no crying or carrying on, and you're not to say a word to anyone. Anyone," he repeated, glaring at her.

"But darling, I'm the soul of discretion," she said, returning his glare with an expression of indignation.

"You tell Bainbridge everything," Leo said flatly.

Bella waved this away as immaterial. "Oh, well, yes, of course, I'll tell Bainbridge, but that's not the same thing at all," she protested. "Do stop being mysterious and tell me, Leo!"

Leo rolled his eyes. "I knew this was a mistake," he said with a sigh.

"Stop being dramatic. What's the trouble?" Bella demanded, before her expression shifted to one of delight. "Oh! A woman! It's a woman! You want to know how to propose to her. Is that it, Leo?" she asked, practically bouncing on the spot.

"Steady on, Bella," Leo protested. "I'm sure all that jigging about isn't good for the baby."

Bella's eyes twinkled and Leo guessed she was about to say something outrageous, so he hurried on, "Don't say it, and if you must know, I've not got that far yet."

Bella squealed with delight. "At last!" she crowed. "I had almost given up hope. Who is it, darling? Shall I like her?"

"Well, I should think so," Leo said wryly. "It's Violetta."

Bella went very quiet and then burst into tears.

"Bella!" Leo said, horrified, and having no clue about what to do about it. The children, seeing their mama sobbing piteously, all decided they ought to follow suit, and suddenly the noise level rose dramatically.

Leo stared around at six children, the older ones having run over to clutch at their mother while the others huddled about her legs, tugging at her skirts and wailing with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

"What the devil is going on here?" boomed a masculine voice from the doorway.

"Oh, thank God," Leo muttered, never more relieved to see the Marquess of Bainbridge than he was at that moment.

"Leo! What have you done?" he demanded, advancing on Leo with fury in his eyes.

"Bainbridge," Bella sobbed. "Don't murder him, he's… he's… he's in love," she said, hiccoughing and hefting her bulky form upright as she threw herself into his arms.

"Oh, is that all?" Bainbridge said with a sigh. "Lord, Bella, I've grown used to you weeping over kittens and puppies when you're breeding, but Leo? It's a bit much, love."

"I should say it is," Leo said in disgust.

"You stay out of this," Bainbridge retorted, handing his wife a handkerchief so she could blow her nose. "There, all better. Now sit down and tell me what's been going on."

Leo watched with resignation as Bainbridge settled his wife back in her seat, withdrew another handkerchief and went around the room, blowing his children's noses one after another. Any hopes of having a quiet word with his siste r — which had admittedly not been hig h — died an inevitable death.

"He's in love with Violetta," Bella said with a sniff.

"Well, of course he is. Didn't I tell you so the year before last?" Bainbridge said impatiently.

"Good heavens, so you did. I remember now. How clever you are, darling, to have noticed such a thing,' Bella said, gazing at him with such admiration Bainbridge swelled visibly.

"Nothing to it. Takes an understanding of human nature, that's all," he said with a modest smile.

"Excuse me," Leo said, the familiar sensation of vexation Bainbridge usually engendered creeping over him. "But I do not see how you could have known it because I wasn't in love with her the year before last."

"Yes, you were," Bainbridge said firmly, turning back to his wife. "I suppose he wants to know how to court her. He'll make a mull of it, you mark my words."

"I am here!" Leo protested.

"I know that, but we're talking about you, not to you," Bainbridge explained with excessive patience before adding. "Ava, don't do that."

He scowled at his daughter sternly before subsiding as the tea tray appeared. The conversation was adjourned for long enough for Bella to provide them both with tea and give each of the children a biscuit. Bainbridge swiped three for himself before they all disappeared before turning his attention back to his wife, who smiled at him and nodded her agreement.

"Yes, that's just what he needs to know, darling, how to court Violetta, and we must be very clear, for I agree, he's bound to mess it up if we don't give precise instructions."

"Oh, now come on, that's too much," Leo said crossly. "I'm not a blasted halfwit!"

"Mind your language in front of the children," Bainbridge told him, which made Leo stare, for Bainbridge was the worst culprit for swearing. "And whilst you might not be entirely stupid—"

"Thanks so much," Leo grumbled.

Bainbridge returned a long-suffering look. "Not entirely stupid," he repeated. "But Violetta thinks you're a loose screw. She believes you've taken nothing seriously your whole life, and she's not about to give you the time of day when she thinks you're only playing games with her for your own amusement."

Leo stared at Bainbridge for a long moment, a little stunned. "That's… actually, that's precisely what it is," he admitted, wondering if he was really about to take advice from a man he'd always considered a benevolent lunatic.

"Don't look so shocked. I know what I'm talking about because I've been where you are," Bainbridge said, looking entirely sincere. He moved from the seat he'd taken and crossed to the settee, lifted a small child from the seat beside his wife and sat down again, allowing the child to snuggle against him, crooked in his arm, while he reached for his wife's hand. "It took me a long time to figure out how to have a wife, how to change myself to be worthy of the trust Bella put in me. But I did it, and I'm bloody good at it."

"Yes, you are, my darling," Bella said, her eyes shining. "But don't swear in front of the children."

"Bloody?" Ava piped up from her place in front of the fire. The child was sprawled on the floor with a doll in a state of indecent undress, and Bella sent him a reproving look.

"Don't say that word, Ava," Bainbridge said, wagging a finger at her. Naturally the little girl scrambled to her feet and set off marching about the room muttering under her breath.

"Bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody—"

"That's a bad word, sir. You ought not to have said it to Ava," piped up Bainbridge's son and heir, Aurelius, looking rather sternly at his father.

"I know, I know!" Bainbridge said impatiently, before trying to return to the point of the conversation. "Leo, the only way you're going to win that young woman is by convincing her of your sincerity, and the only way to do that is to go about it in the proper fashion. Woo her. Flowers, walks in the park, escort to whatever interminable play or exhibition she wants to go to. Prove to her you've got what it takes to be a dependable man. In short, grow up," he added firmly.

"Ugh," Leo said, slumping back into his chair. "I rather feared you'd say that."

"He's right, dearest," Bella said, helping herself to a biscuit and munching contentedly. "If you want to win her and have the most blissful kind of marriage, as Bainbridge and I do, then you are going to have to work hard at it."

Leo looked around him, at a room which looked like a small but powerful explosion had taken place, at the children alternately playing and squabbling, at Bella and Bainbridge holding hands and looking on with a look of slightly bewildered pride and happiness.

Yes, he thought, much to his own surprise. Yes, this was what he wanted too.