“On her way back to France.”
Glynis met his gaze, and he was grateful she asked for no further explanation.
“I thought perhaps your family here might know of a good woman I could hire to look after my daughter on the journey home,” he said. “I haven’t the slightest notion how to take care of a bairn—especially a lass.”
“I could do it,” Glynis said in a rush.
Alex stared at her, wondering if he had heard her correctly.
“I have three younger sisters, so I know how,” she said, her voice unnaturally high. “And ye wouldn’t have to pay me.”
It was one shock too many before breakfast. “What are ye saying? Have pity on a hungry man and speak plainly.”
“I feel foolish after all the trouble I put ye to bringing me all the way here to Edinburgh,” she said.
“I enjoyed it quite thoroughly,” he said, causing her to blush. “But ye just arrived. Why would ye be wanting to go back so soon?”
“I didn’t know what it would be like here, with all the people and the noise and so far from the sea,” she said, worrying the skirt of her gown in her hands. “And my mother’s family is dead set on wedding me to a merchant.”
“To a merchant? Are they mad?”
“Nay, but they are short of money.” Glynis gripped his arm and looked up at him in a most appealing way. “I’d rather be unhappy at home than unhappy here. Please, Alex, don’t leave me in this city.”
“Get your things,” he said.
“Thank ye.” Glynis threw her arms around his neck. Too soon, she released him.
“Best not tell your relatives,” he said, catching her arm before she could fly up the stairs. “We don’t want an argument.”
He and Glynis both turned to look at the maid, who was still standing behind Glynis.
“I’ll tell ye the same as I told your mother,” the woman said. “You’ll find no happiness in this house, so go with your handsome Highlander as quick as ye can.”
“Bless ye, Bessie,” Glynis said, picking up her skirts and heading toward the stairs.
“But take me with ye, mistress,” the maid said.
The two women turned pleading eyes on Alex.
“Can Bessie come? Please?” Glynis asked. “It won’t be proper if I don’t have a maid with me when I arrive home. We can tell my father that she traveled with us both going and coming.”
“Aye.” God help him, he’d be traveling with three females now. He did not point out that a serving woman was what he’d asked for in the first place.
As Alex watched the two women disappear up the stairs, he felt an unfamiliar tug on his hand and looked down. By the saints, he had forgotten his wee daughter already. What kind of a father was he going to make?
Sorcha gave his hand another tug and pointed at the stairs, as if asking for an explanation.
“Mistress Glynis is coming with us,” he said. “She’ll take care of ye.”
His daughter gave him the faintest of smiles—her first—and it made his heart go all soft like butter on a hot day.
“So ye like Mistress Glynis?” he asked her.
Sorcha put her thumb in her mouth and gave him a solemn nod.
Alex sighed. “I do as well.”
CHAPTER 25