Undaunted Love (PART TWO): Banished Saga, Book 3.5 (21 page)

Aidan rose, a harshness lighting his eyes. Jeremy moved to stand between him and Savannah. “Please, Jeremy, let me speak with Savannah,” Aidan said. Jeremy nodded, moving to the side but remained standing next to Savannah.

Aidan reached forward, touching Savannah gently on her shoulder. “Your husband beat you?”

She nodded jerkily.

“Took pleasure in tormenting you? Took your daughter from you?”

“Yes,” Savannah rasped.

His hand tightened for a moment on her shoulder before releasing it with a soft caress. “I’ll ensure to never undertake any business with him, and I’ll endeavor that no one with any association with me does either.”

Savannah gasped, and a sob escaped before she turned away, covering her face with her hands. Aidan watched as she leaned into Jeremy, sobs racking her. He shared a solemn look with Jeremy and turned to face Richard and Florence.

He took a deep breath and attempted a smile. “When will you make me a great-uncle?”

“Soon,” Richard said with relief. “In a few weeks.”

“A few days, if God be kind,” Florence said with another soft pat to her belly. She shared a rueful glance with Richard and Aidan. “I’m not looking forward to the birthing of the baby, but I’m excited at the prospect of no longer feeling like an overripe pumpkin.”

Aidan laughed. “It’s a joy and a time of absolute terror.” His smile dimmed as his gaze became distant.

“Uncle?” Richard asked.

“Ah, just memories, Richard. I might remain in Boston until the baby is born, if that is acceptable. I’d like to meet my grandniece or grandnephew before returning to the West.”

“We’d like that very much,” Richard said.

“I’m sorry to have interrupted your Christmas,” Aidan said. “I know I should have written, but I’ve always enjoyed surprises, and I thought seeing me might bring you joy.”

“You can’t know what it means to have you here with us, Uncle,” Jeremy said, Savannah still cradled in his arms. “To have family with us again on Christmas.” Jeremy shook his head. “It’s like a miracle.”

Richard leaned back against his chair. “Do you remember all those Christmases with Aunt Masterson where we were relegated to the bedroom we shared, with no presents?”

Jeremy nodded. “Yeah, and often no food. We were always fighting with our cousins, and she loved to punish us.”

“Even on Christmas?” Savannah asked.

“Oh, it was her favorite thing. To tell us for weeks about the special treats we would eat, the presents that would be waiting for us and then to deny us everything,” Richard said. “That first year was the worst.”

“For some reason I always believed she’d change and it would be different,” Jeremy said, stroking a hand down Savannah’s back as though soothing her would ease the pain of the memory. “But it never was.”

“Things only improved because Gabe found ways to buy us little gifts. He’d barter a piece of whittled wood for chocolate. After that first year, he always ensured we had something to open on Christmas morning,” Richard said.

“Do you remember the time he sweet-talked Kathleen Cleary into knitting him a scarf?” Jeremy laughed. “She made him one to match his eyes. But seeing as he and Rich have the same coloring, more or less, he gave it to Richard. I’d never seen a woman on the verge of murdering a man until that point.”

Richard laughed. “I had no idea. She came up to me, tried to rip it off me, nearly choking me in the process. And Gabe, acting all nonchalant, as though it were perfectly natural.”

“Ah, the poor girl. He didn’t mean any harm, but he hadn’t been able to think of another way to obtain a gift for you that year,” Jeremy said.

“What did you give Gabriel?” Savannah asked, easing out of Jeremy’s arms and turning to fully join the conversation.

Richard and Jeremy flushed.

“I’m embarrassed to admit the first few years we didn’t think to get him anything. Then, even though we wanted to, Gabe insisted he needed nothing and that we see to ourselves,” Richard said.

Florence smiled sadly. “That sounds like Gabe, protecting you even to his detriment.”

Aidan glowered. “If I ever see that woman again, I cannot be held responsible for what I’ll do.”

Savannah moved toward the stove and pulled out a well-done roast. “I’m afraid this is a little bit overcooked. With your arrival, Mr. McLeod, I didn’t take it out on time.”

“It will be delicious,” Aidan said as they settled at the table for dinner.

After dinner, Savannah and Jeremy rose. “I must return to Sophie’s,” Savannah said. “I live with a friend of mine, near the Boston Common.”

“I can escort you home. I’m staying at the Parker House which is not too far from there.”

“I always escort her in the evening, Uncle,” Jeremy said.

“If you wouldn’t mind my company, I’d enjoy spending more time with you, Jeremy,” Aidan said. They rose to don their coats before emerging into the cold evening air.

***

“WHY DON’T YOU JOIN me for a drink?” Aidan said as they approached the Parker House Hotel after escorting Savannah to Sophronia’s. Jeremy nodded his agreement, and they entered the hotel. Electric wall sconces lit the foyer, and paintings of Boston and New England were scattered along the walls. The mahogany paneled walls gleamed as though recently polished. When Aidan and Jeremy moved toward a side room off the foyer into a gentleman’s bar, their boot heels sounded on the marble floor.

The bar was largely empty, with only a few men ensconced in overstuffed wingback chairs near the roaring fire. Dim lights mounted on the dark mahogany paneled walls did little to alleviate the shadows of the room. Jeremy followed his uncle toward a pair of chairs in an unoccupied part of the room.

“You can’t know what it means to see you again, Jeremy. Have you fully recovered from the malaria?”

Jeremy flushed. “Yes, I think this last doctor’s advice to give me a larger dose of quinine was correct. I haven’t been ill for three months.”

“Thank God,” Aidan said. He nodded his thanks to the bartender who brought them their drinks. After taking a sip, he said, “Tell me about Savannah.”

“I love her, Uncle. Divorce or no divorce, she’s the woman I want to spend my life with.”

Aidan sighed. “If you don’t sound like Ian. It’s extraordinary how the trait he passed down to you three boys, besides loyalty, was obstinacy.”

“What was Da like, Uncle? I’ve so few memories of him.”

Aidan smiled, a distant look in his eyes. “Loyal, kind, determined. He was a man who knew he’d do whatever he needed to ensure those he loved were well cared for. Even if that meant digging in the dirt for years on end, he’d work without complaint. He believed hard work could lead a man to a successful, meaningful life. He took such joy in his boys and his wife.”

“Did my mum ever regret marrying him?”

“Well, I can’t say I was privy to the secrets that come with marriage. And there are things that are only known between spouses. But I can tell you from everything I witnessed, your parents loved each other deeply. Your mother was content in her life with your father.”

Aidan shook his head with impatience as he added, “Content isn’t a strong enough word. She loved the life she created with him. The home she helped to provide for her three boys. She never tired of writing me about you, of all your triumphs. I never had reason she doubted her decision to marry your father.”

Jeremy nodded. “That’s how I remember her too. She was always so proud of us, even when the most amazing thing we’d done was learn the alphabet.”

“Ah, but she knew—when you learned that—she’d have the chance to shape you into tremendous thinkers and readers. She always wanted her boys to be men of the world. To help shape it for the betterment of mankind.”

Jeremy flushed and looked away.

“Jeremy? What is it?”

“I know she would be disappointed in me. Hearing you say that only confirms it.”

“Because of what you did in the Philippines?” At Jeremy’s nod, Aidan lowered his head for a moment as though deep in thought. “I can’t lie and say that your mother wouldn’t have been confused. She’d have hoped you’d use your talents in a different way. However, I refuse to believe the woman I knew would ever have ceased loving you.”

He waited until Jeremy met his eyes. “And when she saw how you’d suffered, she’d have done everything in her power to ease your torment. She would only have known joy to have her Little Pop home.”

Jeremy’s eyes flashed at the use of a nickname not spoken since the death of his parents.

Aidan studied him, nodding his understanding at Jeremy’s emotions. “Whatever you do, don’t let your doubts about what you’ve done tarnish your memories of your mother and father. They would have been proud of their son.”

Jeremy nodded, taking a sip of his drink.

“And never forget, Jeremy, if they had lived, you’d never have been in a position to need to go to the Philippines. You’d never have been desperate to leave. Life would have been very different.”

“I try not to expend too much energy imagining how different my life could have been, Uncle. Instead, I’m trying to focus on the good fortune I’ve found recently.”

“Very wise, Jeremy, very wise.” Aidan glanced into the fire, that distant look in his eyes again.

***

SAVANNAH PAUSED AT THE ENTRANCE to Sophie’s dining room, taking in the polished black walnut table set with crisp white linen. The silver next to each place sparkled in the light. The pair of candelabras lit with a half-dozen candles each were set in the two windows. Savannah moved into the room to take her seat next to Jeremy. Florence, Richard and Aidan sat across from her, with Sophie at the head of the table.

“Mrs. Chickering, it’s a pleasure to meet you at last,” Aidan said. “Thank you for including me in your Christmas festivities.”

“It’s a pleasure to have the McLeods with me to celebrate,” Sophie said, including Savannah in her statement. She watched as two of her maids set out large platters of food. She nodded and they left. “Due to it being Christmas and that I would like the staff not to work too much today, we will dine à la française. I hope this offends no one?”

Richard shook his head with an amused smile. “I’m sure the food will be delicious, no matter how it is served, ma’am.”

“You must call me Sophie, as your wife does.” She took small portions of the food off the platters in front of her, passing them on to the person to her left. Richard nodded his agreement.

They ate for a few moments before Sophie spoke again. “It was generous of you, Mr. McLeod, to purchase the Sullivan forge for your nephew.”

“It made good business sense,” Aidan said. “And when I learned there was something I could do for Richard, there was little that would have stopped me.”

“Although you stripped your niece’s brother of his birthright?” Sophie asked.

“Yes, Clarissa is my niece by marriage. I like to I think Colin came to understand that, if I hadn’t acted as I did, the forge wouldn’t have remained in the family, no matter how distantly.” Aidan watched Sophie with a curious expression. “As I’m sure you are aware.”

Sophie nodded her agreement. “Tell me, Richard, about the forge. How is it now that you are running it?”

“More work than I could ever have envisioned. I’m glad Colin decided to remain, and we have the running of it together. I don’t know how his father did it alone.”

“How was it after his father died?” Savannah asked.

“Thankfully a loyal man named Jameson remained and kept everyone in line. He ensured no one robbed the forge blind. It would have been very easy to do with so much equipment, especially the hand tools.”

“Seems you were quite fortunate,” Sophie said. Richard nodded his agreement.

“Is Colin settling in?” Aidan asked.

“As well as can be expected. My mother wasn’t keen on having him live with them, but Lucas and Father were, so her protests were ignored,” Savannah said.

“I was concerned about my girl traveling such a great distance alone without Colin or a companion.” Sophie took a sip of water.

“Well, she made it home fine, Sophie. And she has the most wondrous news!” Florence said.

“Ah, so she’s finally told Gabriel she’s expecting,” Sophie said with a smug smile.

“How did you know?” Savannah demanded.

“I pay attention to the signs, dear,” Sophie said. “It’s one of the reasons I encouraged her to return home and not wait for the first little baby McLeod to be born.”

“That was thoughtful of you, Mrs. Chickering,” Aidan said.

“I thought so,” Sophie agreed with a self-mocking smile. “As for my girl, I’m sure she’ll bloom with impending motherhood. I only wish I could see her and the baby once it’s born.”

“I’m sure you could travel to her, Sophie,” Savannah said.

“I’ve never had much desire to travel to the uncivilized zones of this country.”

“You may find it more to your liking than you envision,” Aidan murmured.

“I highly doubt that, Mr. McLeod.” She leaned back in her chair, finished with her meal. She looked from Jeremy to Savannah. “When do the articles come out?”