Filling his glass again, Alex asked, “So what brings you here, David? Curiosity?”
“Alexander!” May-Jewel reprimanded while Katherine frowned at his lack of deportment.
But David Hawes brushed the comment lightly aside, saying, “I was just passing. I’ve been to the family that lives south of the estate. John Mackey found a foreign child out on the moor. She’s desperately ill.”
Alex motioned for David to take a seat. “And I hope you left her feeling better.”
“Thank you,” he replied sitting across from Katherine. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid that there was little, beyond prayer, I could do for her.”
Katherine started to make a sympathetic remark, but Alex cut in.
“Care for a drink?”
“No, thank you. I only stopped by to pay my respects and to welcome the ladies to Lanarkshire. I hear that,” he directed to May-Jewel, “that this is your first time in Scotland.”
“Why, yes.” It didn’t matter to her how the gentleman had heard she was there. She was just pleased that he had, and she gave him her brightest smile.
But David’s attention was already elsewhere. “And that you, Mistress St. Pierre, were born here. It must have been a wonderful childhood.” Then he saw her smile fade and darkness flash across her face, like a door closing to him. He withheld further comment, wondering how to correct his apparent faux pas.
“Of course it was!” agreed Alex quickly, ignoring the looks of concern on their faces. “After all, this is Wistmere!”
The woman’s features transformed from openness to guardedness and, sensing that Alex was wrong in his assessment, Vicar Hawes moved beyond remarking about her childhood and said instead, “I heard that you’ve recently come from Edinburgh. Had you lived in that city long?”
Katherine wasn’t sure whether to answer him for her guard had indeed been raised. Then, as she felt there wasn’t any need to remain so private, certainly not from a servant of God, and one who appeared to have asked honestly and good-naturedly, she replied quietly, “I’ve lived there since I was eight, when I was first sent to school.” Noting his sincere interest and the inviting twinkle in his eyes, she relaxed a bit and started to tell him more, how, even though she started primary school three years late, she excelled and then continued into secondary school.
“Was that the Leith Wynd School?” he asked.
“No, it was a private school.”
“Oh, of course.”
Unable to believe that she was now being totally ignored by both men, the vicar to Katherine and Alex to drink, May-Jewel, interrupted, “Yes, yes. We’ve all been to school. Now Mr. Hawes is there a Mrs. Hawes on whom we might call later in the week?” She batted her eyelashes.
“Oh, no, I’m not married,” he answered, then brought his attention back to Katherine. “It would be an honor to show you the vicarage. We have quite an extensive library.” Then not wanting to appear rude by excluding May-Jewel, he added, “Perhaps Mistress Belwood and you would like to visit to see what volumes we own. We lend books to those parishioners who know how to read.”
May-Jewel rolled her eyes, but answered, saying, “That sounds lovely. However, Alex and I have made plans to go riding, if it doesn’t rain.” She looked over at Alex to see if he had understood the ploy to get her out of a boring trip to a dusty, old library. But Alex didn’t answer her. He had gone sullen and quiet, staring into the fireplace. “I’ve noticed that it rains a lot here.” She continued trying to hide her embarrassment as it didn’t seem as if Alex had even heard her. “The rain plays havoc with my hair.” She brought her hands, cupping the curls around her face.
They all fell silent, and the silence became strained. No one was sure how to begin another line of conversation.
Feeling the awkwardness of the moment acutely, Vicar Hawes rose. “I must be getting back to the manse. I have… some papers to copy.”
Rising, Alex bowed, almost losing his balance in the process. The ladies rose as well.
“It was nice to meet you both,” David said, moving toward the door. “I hope to see you again soon.”
Nodding, May-Jewel resumed her seat.
Katherine, disappointed that the vicar had to leave so soon, moved ahead of him. “Allow me to accompany you to the door. It was very thoughtful of you to stop by,” she said as she headed for the entrance. “I would like very much to see your library. Perhaps we will drop by tomorrow. That is if the invitation still stands, and you’re at home.”
“I don’t recall any prior commitments and look forward to your visit,” he answered affably. He paused, not knowing what to say but knowing that he wanted to say so much more.
Reaching the entrance door, Katherine opened it and stood aside to let him exit. “Thank you again for coming, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.” She blushed, realizing how bold that sounded.
“As do I.” He stepped out into the evening and, hoping to continue the conversation, turned back again. But he saw that the moment was lost, for she had already closed the door.
Coming back into the sitting room, Katherine took her seat, her mind replaying David Hawes’ visit. She liked his openness and the kindness of his smile. His build was slight, and he had a small clef in his chin. His face was oval and his light sandy hair fell around it boyishly. The vicar, she decided, was
