Page 34 of The Scottish Earl (Winston Siblings #3)

“Mama,” Isla called, “Have you seen my feather?”

In the ten years since they had adopted Isla, she had adapted very well to life in England. Adam hadn’t considered living there, but as she grew older he realized that it would be quite necessary. She had to learn all of the customs at a younger age than he was when he started. Fortunately, her mother was an excellent teacher.

“It is here, Dearest,” Beth smiled, helping to fix it in her hair.

It was presentation day, and they had been excited about it to varying extents. Adam was terrified that she would be rejected. It was not through any fault of her’s, only that she was not of legitimate birth and she was Scottish. However, he was the only one that seemed concerned. The other seven members of his household, including Isla herself, were quite certain that she would do well.

Adam paused to count once more. Beth, Isla, Matthew, Oliver, James, Rose, and Jane. Yes, he was correct. They were now a family of eight. Beth had asked him if that was the end of their family, and Adam had said it would be at the time. Isla was now of age, ten years having passed since they adopted her, and since then they had also taken in the others one by one. Nobody seemed to question why their children were of similar ages, likely because they knew perfectly well how they had come to be.

They were seen as a charitable family, which Adam had never quite understood. They were a family. That was all there was to it. For him, his greatest thought about his children was that he did not need to have another child debut for five years, as Rose and Jane were only three-and-ten. Once Isla was out in society, it would be nothing short of bedlam, but with how happy they all were to go along with it, Adam couldn’t help but be swept up in it himself.

“Are you ready?” He asked, and he saw how his daughter blushed.

“I believe so,” she nodded, “Though, even if I were not, it is not as though I could do anything about it.”

“Ye can wait another year, if ye wish! We need not push ye out if ye’re not ready.”

“Papa, you always seem to fall back to Scottish when you are concerned,” she laughed, “But you need not be. All will be well. I am prepared, and I have every faith in myself. I like to think that you also have every faith in me.”

“I do, of course.”

“Then we shall have nothing to worry about. I always thought Mama would be the one to worry this much.”

“No, she is certain that you will do brilliantly. After all, she was the one to prepare you for all of this.”

“Yes, and I must admit that she did very well.”

“She did, indeed. Now, if you wish to see the Queen by the end of the year, we ought to leave.”

She laughed softly, leaving the room before coming back quickly and embracing him.

“Thank you, Papa.”

“Whatever for?”

“Everything. You have given me the very best in life, as has Mama, and I do truly believe that I am the luckiest young lady in the world.”

“There are many young ladies like you.”

“Perhaps, but how many of those ladies can say that their father chose them? I am far more fortunate than any of them in that regard.

Adam couldn’t help but smile. He had worried that he wouldn’t truly be seen as their father, but he had worried for no reason. It had never been in question; they adored him, as well as Beth. They were every bit as loving as any other family. In fact, he dared say that they were even more so.

Adam’s newfound confidence only grew stronger as Isla was introduced to the Queen. She did everything perfectly, curseying deeply and smiling sweetly, and the Queen only gave her compliments. Matthew nodded proudly as he watched, and Adam knew that of all of the little boys he could leave the family name and title to, he had chosen the very best.

What he also knew, which nobody else had been aware of, was that they were to celebrate that evening. In spite of his nerves, he knew that his daughter would do brilliantly, and so he planned a celebration in advance. He ensured that all of Isla’s family was invited; her aunts, her uncles, and all of her cousins. They were all waiting for them upon their return, and the children all ran to join them in an instant.

“So much for proprieties,” Beth sighed, laughing.

“They seem to forget all about those when presented with their cousins. It is quite strange, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” she mused, “Your family is a terrible influence, truly.”

They could both clearly see that it was Beth’s cousin, Theodore, who was causing the trouble. He had arrived with his own wife and children, and they were always the ones to invent games that caused chaos.

Not that either Beth or Adam cared, that was. What mattered to them was that their home was filled with laughter, and that was certainly the case. After a while, Diana seemed to pull herself away from it all, and she took Adam to one side.

“You know,” she smirked, “I had thought that my children would debut first.”

Diana’s eldest daughter was still only seven-and-ten, and would not debut for another year even if she hadn’t asked to wait a while longer. They had made the same joke for years that Adam had adopted a girl so that he could be the first to have a daughter take her place in society, even though he had always made it quite clear that he would rather have watched and learned from his oldest sister.

“What did you think of her?” He asked, “I know that you were not there for the ceremony, but you saw her before all of the games began and she made a mess of herself.”

“She looked perfect, I assure you. From what I have heard from your children, she was the most beautiful young lady there.”

“She may well need that on her side, given her status.”

“Oh, Adam, you can concern yourself with that later. For now, she is a lovely young lady, she has a sizable dowry, she is from a good family, and she is talented in many ways. There will be a gentleman who believes all of that to be enough.”

“I truly do hope so. I simply don’t want her to have the same struggles that I faced. I know that I fared well in the end, but it wasn’t without issue, and I want to protect her from it all.”

“You cannot protect her from everything,” Diana reminded him, “But you can be with her when things do become difficult. Besides, should she need someone by her side, I can always ask my lovely daughter to debut at the correct time, and then she shall have a friend.”

“I do not believe that will be necessary. I cannot ask that of her if she is not prepared.”

“If you ask me, it would be the perfect reason for her to debut. She adores your girls.”

“That certainly makes things less daunting. There are simply so many of them. They are bound to make friends with someone.”

Diana laughed, motioning for them to join the others. Adam preferred to observe his family than to be too involved; he found more joy in seeing their happiness together than he did being in the middle of it all, but he never could say no to his sisters.

Thankfully, his wife knew him better than everyone else, and eventually she slipped a hand in his and pulled him away.

“You,” he sighed, “Are the greatest lady in the world.”

“That is just as well, given that you will be with me for the rest of our lives.”

“The greatest gift of all.”

She sighed, leaning into his chest. He stroked her hair, feeling her relax in his arms.

“Now that all of this is done,” she said, “Can I confess something?”

“Of course. What is it?”

“I was terrified about today. I knew that she would do well, but I was afraid that our standing might affect her. I am so pleased that it did not.”

“Why did you not tell me?”

“For the same reason that you did not tell me! We both knew that she would do well, and that it wouldn’t do any good to worry in front of her. What matters is that she has done incredibly well, and now she shall be the enemy of every other young debutante in London.”

“The common adversary of them all,” he nodded, “It is good that she has your spirit, for she will need it.”

“Her ferocity comes from you, I shall have you know.”

“Ah, then her intelligence is from who?”

“Myself, of course, as well as her knowledge of customs, and her ability to dance, and her passion for reading.”

“Very well. Did she receive anything else from me?”

“Of course. She has your voice, and that is one of the best things you have given her.”

“But, in essence, she is like you.”

“Yes, and I deserve one! The others are all just like you, and you know it.”

Adam had to concede. It was true that their youngest five were all remarkably similar to him, even trying to copy his Scottish brogue at times despite the youngest ones being English.

“We truly are fortunate, aren’t we?” She asked after a while.

“I must admit that you are correct. We have a beautiful home, wonderful children, and a home waiting for us when the season is over with and we can go back to Glasgow.”

“Would it make me a terrible mother if I said that I was dreaming of that?”

“What do you mean? You have always loved London!”

“And I still do, but you were right. There is something about Scotland that is so different from England, and I miss it terribly. I cannot wait to return, and the children feel the same. In fact, Isla has told me she hopes to marry a Scotsman, so that she can return there.”

“And here I am at last enjoying my time here. Truly, I cannot win.”

Beth giggled, kissing him gently.

“I like to think that you have already won,” she reminded him, “Given just how happy we are.”

“Oh, you do not know the beginning of it. Beth, I know that we tell each other often, but I want you to know just how much I love you.”

“You do, indeed, tell me often, but I don’t suppose it would hurt to hear it once more.”

“I love you,” he repeated, “I love you, and it has been the beginning of everything. You are a wonderful wife, and an incredible mother, and I never would have thought that I could have been this blissfully happy.”

“Nor did I.” She replied, “And I had resigned to my fate of being unloved, but that was the most foolish thing that I could have done. My life only became better when I began to love you, and that will not change.”

“That is to say that your life will only continue to be better?”

She nodded, her large eyes tempting him to kiss her again, and he gave in almost instantly.

“We might have to return,” she whispered, “Lest they wonder where their hosts have disappeared to.”

“Or,” he replied, “We could allow the chaos there to continue and enjoy our peace here.”

She smirked at him.

“Very well. You have yourself a deal.”

The End