“I do. At first, I felt guilty about it. But now I think life is what it’s meant to be, you know? I think we all are exactly where we were meant to be.”
She sighed and nodded. “I suppose. But I do wish it had not been quite so difficult to get here.”
Evelyn placed her hand on her stomach, a smile on her lips. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps they were exactly where they were meant to be.
From outside, voices rose, and she turned. Nathaniel and his stepfather, along with their party, were returning.
“I’ll go greet them outside,” she said, and her mother-in-law smiled at her. Outside, Nathaniel spotted her and parted from his stepfather. He was at her side almost immediately.
“Hello, Lady Evelyn,” he said.
“Hello, Mr. Sinclair,” she replied, as he wrapped his arm around her. “I thought perhaps we could take a turn about the garden.”
“I would adore that.”
“How was the shooting?”
“It was good. Although I missed several times, so perhaps not that impressive. But it was enjoyable to be with my father and some of my old friends again. And you—how are you and my mother?”
“Getting along famously,” she said. “I wish I could bring Aunt Eugenia here sometime so she could meet your mother.”
“You are too kind.”
She glanced up at her husband. “Are you happy with the silence?”
“What do you mean?” he said with a chuckle.
“Well, I know it has not been exactly quiet at home, what with Aunt Eugenia, Charlotte, and Marianne all in our business.”
“Oh, that,” he said. “Yes. But I adore it. They are wonderful.”
After her last argument with her father, she had decided to do exactly what needed to be done. She had told her sisters and Eugenia that they should come and live with her and Nathaniel. Their father had to learn that he could not use them as pawns.
To her surprise, there had been very little opposition. She expected that Charlotte, at least, would argue, but she likely also knew she would be a prime target for their father’s plans and schemes. Thus, they had all moved into their home. Their father hadn’t been able to do much about it. Nathaniel faroutranked him, and if her father cared about one thing, it was his reputation. He would not have wanted to be known as the wretched man who put his children after his business desires.
Even though that is exactly who he was.
She hadn’t seen her father since, but she thought of him often—alone in his house, stuck with nothing but his servant and his own thoughts.
There had been some movement recently. He had approached Nathaniel at the House of Lords and asked him if they could talk about their proposal. He hadn’t yet, because they had planned this trip to Scotland. But once they returned, Nathaniel would sit with her.
“Do you think my father will agree to everything we have demanded?”
“I think so. He looks a picture of misery every time I see him in Parliament. I think he misses you—all of you.”
“I hope he does. You don’t think I’m being too harsh?”
“No, not at all. After everything he has done to you? No. You are kind and generous, my dear. More than he deserves.”
“Do you think it is a mistake to take over his holdings?”
“No. Something needs to be done before he spends it all. And if he’s willing to put me in charge, there might be a real chance. At least he may not bankrupt himself.”
“At least there is that,” she said. “I think Marianne and Charlotte miss him. Aunt Eugenia, too. Sooner or later, they will want to go home.”
“I know it. Once we have made peace with your father, they will be able to. I certainly shall not keep them prisoner if that is where they want to be.”
“I would never make them stay.”
