A Breath of Scandal (39 page)

Stanhope leaped to his feet and held out his arms. Lara ran into them and they closed around her. “Lara! Thank God. I was so worried about you.”

“I’m fine, Papa.”

“Have you and Mansfield reconciled?”

Lara grinned at Julian. “Oh, yes. We’re quite happy, actually. It turns out I misunderstood Julian. I should have listened to you. Julian loves me, Papa.”

Stanhope beamed. “Of course, didn’t I tell you as much? Mansfield, I’m glad all turned out well for you and my daughter. Now that your career as an agent is over, you can settle down and give me a grandchild or two.”

Lara and Julian exchanged meaningful looks, then Lara giggled. “I’m already with child, Papa. I’m carrying Julian’s heir.”

Stanhope’s mouth flew open. “His heir?” Then his brow cleared. “Ah, I understand. Your grandmother has already predicted a son for you and Julian.”

Lara couldn’t stop smiling. Her hand settled over her stomach. “Grandmother says my child will be a boy and she’s rarely wrong.”

Julian came up behind her, enfolded her in his arms, and pulled her against him. “Son or daughter, it matters not. There’s time for both.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now if you’ll excuse us, I’m taking Lara home.”

“Home,” Lara repeated softly. “Oh, yes, let’s go home.”

Hand in hand they left Stanhope Hall to begin the first day of forever.

Scotland
1770

T
he sun was high in the cloudless sky and the scent of wildflowers wafted through the air on a balmy breeze. Glenmoor Castle stood like an ancient sentinel against a backdrop of mountains and heather-covered moors. The inner bailey rang with children’s laughter and adult chatter. Clansmen wearing kilts and bonnets mingled with their English guests. The clansmen had gathered to celebrate the birthday of their laird, Christy Macdonald.

Lara placed a platter of roasted partridges on the long table set up in the inner bailey and exchanged a smile with Christy, who was arranging a basket of bread beside the meat.

“There’s enough food here to feed an army,” Lara quipped.

Christy rolled her eyes. “Have you ever seen a Highlander eat?”

Julian strolled over to join them, his small daughter perched on his shoulder.

“Have you seen Charlie?” Julian asked.

“Our son is probably charming one of his female cousins,” Lara said. “The little scamp is such a rogue. I fear he’ll be another Sinjun.”

Julian raised his eyes heavenward. “God forbid.”

“Sinjun has reformed,” Christy reminded them. “I couldn’t ask for a better husband for myself and father for my children.”

“Put me down, Papa,” the little girl on Julian’s shoulders squealed. “I want to go play with Lizzy.”

“Emma’s Lizzy is an adorable little girl,” Christy remarked. “And Lizzy’s brother Trevor is every bit as mischievous as my Niall and your Charlie. I wonder how Gordie will turn out? He’s still too young to get into trouble.”

Julian lifted Serena, named for Lara’s mother, off his shoulders. Before she scampered off, Lara admonished, “Try to keep your dress clean, Serena. I’ve already changed you once today.”

Serena made a face. “Lizzy never stays clean.”

“Serena is right,” Christy chuckled. “Lizzy, Serena, and my own Althea are incorrigible tomboys. Sinjun says Althea reminds him of me when he first met me. Oh, speaking of Sinjun, there he is now. I need to speak to him about the bagpipes. Rory and Gavin want the pipers to play when the birthday cake is carried out, but playing bagpipes is against the law.”

“I wouldn’t worry,” Julian said. “Kilts have been outlawed, too, but every clansman, including Sinjun, is wearing one.”

“Nevertheless, I still feel that I should to remind Sinjun of the ban. Excuse me.”

“ ’Tis good to be back in Scotland,” Lara said after Christy left. “ ’Tis like coming home again. I’m glad Father and your Aunt Amanda decided to join us.”

Julian grinned. “It took some persuasion to convince Aunt Amanda to travel to the Highlands. She considers Highlanders barbarians, you know. But the prospect of seeing all the children together in one place convinced her that the trip was worth the discomfort of travel to this savage country.”

“She looks happy enough now,” Lara noted, gesturing to where Julian’s venerable aunt was engaged in earnest conversation with Emma and Rudy. “Do you remember how angry you were when Emma married Rudy? You feared Rudy couldn’t reform and be a good husband to Emma.”

Julian nodded. “I was wrong to judge him so harshly. Thank God you set me straight. He’s proved an exemplary husband.” He held out his hand. “Walk with me. I feel an urgent need to kiss you without a crowd watching.”

Lara grinned and placed her hand in his. “I’m a pregnant woman, my lord. Mind your manners.”

“You’re glowing,” Julian replied, leading her away from the crush of people. “You’re always beautiful, but when you’re carrying my child you’re especially lovely. This will be our last, love. Childbearing is no easy task. Too many children can ruin your health. Your life is too precious to be burdened with a child every year.”

Lara thought she’d never loved Julian as much as she did at that moment. Which was saying a lot, for she loved him to distraction at all times.

“Sinjun has been trying forever to get us all together, and Christy’s birthday was a perfect time,” Julian remarked. “ ’Twill be the best family reunion ever. I’m glad Emma, Rudy, and their children could join us.”

“Aye. Ramona and Pietro are camped nearby, making everything perfect. ’Tis a good thing for the cousins to get to know one another. Sinjun and Christy’s London visits are always so short. Our children barely know their kin.”

Hand in hand they walked to the cliff overlooking the loch. Then Julian turned her into his arms and kissed her, pressing her as close as her stomach allowed.

“There,” he said when he broke off the kiss. “I wanted to do that all day. I can’t wait until we can make love again.”

“Neither can I,” Lara agreed, her eyes sparkling. “The worst part of being pregnant are those weeks of not being able to be as close as we’d like.”

Julian sent her a mischievous grin. “Fear not, love, I’ll make up for lost time as soon you’ve healed from childbirth.”

He kissed her again, long and hard, until Lara broke it off, laughing at his eagerness. “I could stand here all day kissing you, Julian, but Christy needs me.”

“Very well,” Julian sighed, turning her back toward the castle. “Let’s rejoin the party.”

They returned to utter chaos. The children were running about like miniature whirlwinds, while the adults were trying to calm them. Julian and Lara laughed aloud at their exuberant antics.

“Look at them,” Julian exclaimed. “There’s not a handsomer brood anywhere in the world. Sinjun’s Niall has dark hair like his father, and Althea is a red-headed hellion every bit as wild and undisciplined as her mother was at that age. And little Gordie already has Christy and Sinjun jumping through hoops.”

“Emma and Rudy’s pair of urchins are darling,” Lara noted, “and no less mischievous than their cousins.”

“Are you calling our two mischievous, sweeting?” Julian teased. “Charlie handles himself quite well for a five-year-old. He’s already aware that he’ll inherit the earldom.”

Julian’s gaze found his daughter. Serena looked as he suspected Lara might have looked at her age. A wild, unruly Gypsy lass with an abundance of curly dark hair, dark eyes slanted at the corners, and a beguiling smile. He feared his lively daughter would steal countless hearts before she settled down to marriage. But for now, he just wanted to sit back and enjoy his growing brood.

His gaze settled on Lara. Ramona predicted this third child would be another boy. As he’d told Lara a few minutes ago, this would be their last. He wanted to fill Lara’s life with more than children. Sinjun was of the same mind, for he’d remarked that he was more than satisfied with the size of his family.

Lara must have noticed his intense look, for she smiled up at him. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking I’m the luckiest man alive … and the happiest. You taught me how to relax and enjoy what God has given me. Honor and duty are fine, but they’re not the stuff dreams are made of. You are my dream, my life, and my future, Lara. You and the children.”

Lara beamed and planted a kiss on his lips. “That’s for being the kind of man you are, the best husband and father to your children a woman could hope for. You never cease to delight me, Julian.”

“God willing I never will.”

He never did.