Back In England

D aisy found it ironic that her brother now seemed intent on escorting her to every social event in London. She was engaged at last, despite Kenneth's lack of effort in that regard. Everywhere they went, she danced with older gentlemen who trod on her feet and insisted on sharing their opinions of Napoleon Bonaparte and Wellington. She endured musicales featuring tone deaf singers and mediocre musicians.

She would have preferred to stay home and start preparations for when Rowan returned from the war.

Occasional shopping excursions with her sister-in-law provided some relief from the constant worry about Rowan. Cat wasn't really a shopper but Daisy discovered she was a lively companion who understood the torment of being separated from a beloved. She began to see why Kenneth was so smitten with his wife.

The depth of her longing surprised her. She took to sleeping naked and fell asleep every night craving Rowan's mouth on her breasts. When morning came she often woke with her fingers in a place they shouldn't be.

Fretting about his sons was impeding William Halstead's recovery, but lying to his daughter was tearing him apart. At her insistence, he'd gone to the docks, ostensibly to inquire about Niven, then lied to her about no one having seen him there.

She ate very little and seemed to be getting thinner by the day. She confessed her intention to elope with Niven and was convinced he couldn't have rejected her. Something untoward must have happened. William wondered how long it would be before the clever girl figured out who was responsible for his disappearance. Without asking his advice or permission, she made the journey all the way across London to Ramsay House. Kenneth Hawkins would send a message to Niven's brothers in Scotland. William didn't relish a confrontation with Tavish King if he decided to look into the matter for himself. If the Scot didn't come, Kenneth was certain to investigate.

Willow balked at her father's suggestion they attend social events to which they'd been invited. She flew into a rage when he hinted there were plenty more suitable husbands to be found.

He was obliged to spend hours at the dockyard dealing with matters Niven normally took care of, but knew nothing about the operation of the bonded warehouse where Uachdaran whisky was stored. His absence left Willow alone in the townhouse. He suspected she spent most of the day wallowing in misery. He'd always enjoyed the challenge of running his company. Now, he felt everyone who worked for him knew his sons had played a role in Niven's disappearance. They still treated him with respect but suspicion lurked in their eyes.