Page 73 of The Stolen Diadem of a Castaway Lady
“I’m afraid we must make haste to go inside and share the good news. I assume we have good news to share, that is?” Callum asked.
“What would that news be?” Beatrix teased. “I, too, want to hear you say it.”
“The news of our pending marriage, of course,” he said. “I fear that if we do not inform the household, they will stop watching us through the windows and come outside, demanding to know.”
Beatrix whirled around in surprise, suddenly embarrassed when the flutter of several different curtains closing gave away their spies’ locations. Her cheeks flamed once more, but she smiled at Callum all the same.
“I suppose that could have gone better. Tell me that my mother was not one of the witnesses to my untoward behavior?” She cringed as she waited for him to answer.
“Oh, I’m not certain she could see all that well,” he said, the humor clear in his smile. “Isn’t she rather old and nearsighted?”
“I don’t know, I’ve only met her yesterday. Gah, now she must wonder what sort of morals and manners I was imparted with! I’ll be cast out before my trunk is unpacked.”
“Then I think we should hurry and redeem your reputation in her eyes, though something tells me she will be far more overjoyed than scandalized,” he explained.
“How can you know that?” Beatrix asked, looking up at him fretfully.
“Because here she comes. Hurry, get behind me and I will shield you from the worst of the embraces!” he said, turning Beatrix and all but shoving her into her mother’s waiting arms. “Too late!”
“My darling daughter! Are you so happily made up?” Lady Miriam cried before grabbing up Beatrix in a very similar manner as only the day before. The woman reached out an arm and took Callum into her embrace as well, nearly crushing them to her with a strength that belied her fragile appearance.
“Yes, Lady Miriam,” Callum tried to say as he fought to breathe and keep his balance. “We are to wed if you don’t cause us to suffocate.”
The woman stepped back immediately, though she continued beaming proudly as she clapped her hands.
“To think, I gain not only a daughter but now a son as well, and in only the space of a day!” She retrieved a handkerchief and dabbed delicately at her eyes, then hugged Beatrix to her once more. “And daughter, please say that I might plan a small party? For your dear mother’s sake?”
“I… that is, of course, Mother!” Beatrix replied, still reeling from the upheaval. She turned suddenly to Callum, unsure of how to manage these affairs. “That is all right, isn’t it?”
“Certainly, so long as it can be managed within three days’ time,” he answered, smiling broadly at Lady Miriam before turning to Beatrix. “I’ve already spent quite enough time without you by my side, and I don’t intend to prolong it.”
“We all have,” agreed the older woman. “There will not be enough time on Earth to make up for not having Beatrix with us!” She turned and hurried up the steps to begin at once.
“Agreed, my love,” he whispered softly, kissing Beatrix once again. “There will never be enough time to make up for it.”
The End?