The Scottish Bride (Sherbrooke Brides 6)

“Max was teaching us Latin,” Theo said.

“Vos amo,” Ryder said, and kissed each of them.

“What does that mean, Uncle Ryder?” Linnie asked.

He gave each of them another quick kiss and a hug. “It means ‘I love you.’”

“Vos amo,” each of them said, then repeated it again and again, until it became a chant. Ryder rolled his eyes, knowing that Sophie would hear nothing else from any of the sixteen children for the next month. As for Jane, the directress of Brandon House, which stood only one hundred yards from Ryder and Sophie’s own home, Chadwyck House, he didn’t doubt that all the children would be chanting it to her in unison until she was ready to throw up her hands and run from the room. Of course, she would be smiling because it would also wring her withers.

Theo said, “Max taught us ‘Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem!’ ”

Linnie said complacently from Ryder’s armpit, “That means ‘the devil made me do it.’”

“He said that never failed to make adults laugh,” Theo said. “He said any mischief followed by that would likely save you a hiding.” Theo frowned. “But how could that be true if the adult didn’t speak Latin?”

“It couldn’t,” Ryder said and laughed. He didn’t stop laughing for a very long time.

He looked up to see his own daughter, Jenny, standing in the doorway, her head cocked to one side, listening carefully, a smile on her lovely face. She was seventeen now, looked like him, nearly mirrored his expressions, only she had her mother’s soft green eyes. She was slow in her thinking and in her speech, but she had a beautiful soul and a very sweet disposition. She also loved all the children.

“Vos amo,” Ryder called out to her. “That means ‘I love you.’ ”

Jenny gave him her sweet smile, and said softly, to all of them, “Vos amo, too.”

Ryder moved Ned and brought Jenny down on his legs. Ned, without hesitation, climbed up on Jenny’s lap. Ryder closed his eyes. He was blessed. He also had a feeling that he would probably be losing his daughter to Oliver, now in Scotland, managing Tysen’s Kildrummy Castle. He also believed that Oliver loved Jenny more than anything, even more than himself, and that was an excellent basis for a marriage. They’d grown up together. As far back as Ryder could remember, Oliver had always protected her. As for his Jenny, he fancied she quite worshipped Oliver.

Everything would be fine.

He hugged her closely to him and felt her soft laughter against his neck. “I miss Jeremy,” she said. “When he comes home from Italy, do you think he’ll stay here or go immediately to Scotland to visit Oliver?”

Ryder thought of Sophie’s younger brother, born with a club foot, and it didn’t matter a bit. He was a bruising rider and fighter, a fine young man.

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “We’ll just have to see.”

Jenny missed Jeremy? Not Oliver? What was this?

Ryder sighed and closed his eyes. Life, he supposed, would always be life and that meant twists in the road and surprises to hit you in the eye.

Jeremy? Not Oliver?

Eden Hill House

Glenclose-on-Rowan

Credo fatum nos coegisse.

I think fate brought us together.

He loved to kiss her belly. He loved to rub his cheek against the soft, warm flesh. He would sigh with pleasure even as she giggled at the feel of his scratchy morning beard against her. And then, in such a short time, she would be free to yell his name as she climaxed because his palm covered her mouth. No chance that the servants or any of his children would come running.

He was smiling at her as he watched her sip her tea, knowing she was worried about their visit around the town, to bid all his parishioners hello and for them to meet her. Meggie was coming, insisting that everyone had to see that Mary Rose was very welcome at the vicarage. He was also thinking about nibbling her crooked toe.

An hour later, Tysen was still smiling, for most folk wished him well, because they liked him, he supposed, and believed that Mary Rose would be a helpful addition to the town.

“Mrs. Bittley is a fishwife, Papa,” Meggie said and squeezed his hand.

“Yes, but she has always been one. There is no change there. That is gratifying, I suppose. At least it’s expected, so one is never surprised.”

“I like change,” Meggie said, giving her father a sideways glance.