Edwina (20 page)

She needed a cup of tea and dragged herself
to the kitchen. Everything seemed to echo too loudly. Even the
clinking of teacup against saucer irritated her.

Fifteen minutes later, she felt a little
better. Mother had always said a cup of weak tea was the best
medicine for a weary soul. Thoughts of her mother crept in, sending
her into a deeper funk. She missed her and was just about to start
feeling sorry for herself when the phone jingled slicing through
her nervous system with a vengeance.

“Hello,” she whispered.

“Are ye ill, lass?”
Oh no, the Scot.

“Yes, I am.” That ought to send him running
to Cecelia.

“
Ah, then I’ll call later
tonight. I’m flying home in two days and need a bit o’ yer
time.”

“Tomorrow then?” She put him off.

“Aye.”

Mr. Dunnegin hung up. For some reason,
strange to her understanding, she felt sad. Her knight in shining
armor had dumped her for her beautiful sister. Cinderella’s story
didn’t end like that.

At that moment, Edwina knew
something she had not realized until this minute. She had romantic
feelings for the Scot.
How
absurd
, she scolded herself. Now
that
was a Cinderella
story. She almost laughed.

Chapter 34

T
en minutes later they pulled up in front of the Palmer House
Hotel. “What are we doing here?” Edwina asked Alex Dunnegin. He had
come for her.

“Come up. I want to talk with you. Don’t
worry—my secretary and three employees are there even as we speak.
They’ll be reworking contracts all night long. I need some quiet.
It’s been a very productive day.”

A strange smile appeared on Alex Dunnegin’s
face, something like the cat caught with the bird in his mouth.

“Don’t protest, lass. If ye don’t want to
stay after we’ve talked, ye can go.”

The Scot turned his keys over to the valet
and came around to open her door. She followed him into the
beautiful lobby.

“Evening, Mr. Dunnegin,” the doorman greeted
him. “Your employees are in your room, as you requested.”

“Thanks, Mac. Another Scot,” he said
proudly.

Once at his room, he unlocked the door, and
she reluctantly followed. They were met with greetings from several
people right away. Shoulder claps, high fives, and congratulations
were flying.

Finally, he turned to her. “Closed a deal
today.”

“I see.” She also noticed the elegant
furnishings in the large hotel room.

He announced to the group that they were to
take over the dining table and finish their work, but he and his
guest were not to be disturbed.

One woman gave Edwina the evil eye. She
counted it as jealousy. And who could blame the woman?

“We’ll sit in the front room.” Edwina
followed nervously. “I would like to propose an idea to ye. A
business idea.”

Oh no, not another business proposal...

“I couldn’t possibly...”

“Lass, if ye’ll quiet yourself, I’ll
explain.” He sounded tired. “What I would like more than anything
is a companion for dinner. We have worked for two years on this
contract, and tonight we have finished it. Would ye be
willing?”

“What about...,”

Alex Dunnegin put up his hand. “I would have
asked Cecelia if I had wanted her company.”

How did the man know what she was
thinking?

He had helped her so many times. She knew her
answer.

“Yes. I’ll be your companion, but just for
tonight.” She felt her face grow warm.

It was almost like a dream. Companion to her
knight. Perhaps she could be of assistance to him one last time
before he started dating Cecelia.

“I’d love a nap, but I can go to
Cecelia’s.”

“Nay, it would be better if ye did not.”

“Why?”

“Do ye have a change of clothes?” he asked
gently.

“No. So you see, I will have to go to
Cecelia’s after all.”

“Well, I’d rather ye didn’t.”

“
Why not?”

“
It was my unfortunate duty
to turn down a date with your sister this evening because I thought
we would still be negotiating the contract. As ye can see, that did
not happen. I do not wish to explain.”

“I see.” Edwina smiled. No one liked crossing
Cecelia.

“Now, off to a nap for ye. I’ll get ye a
dress at Marshall Field’s.”

Edwina stood. No thank you. My sister just
recently bought me a black dress. I will take a taxi, it’s just a
few blocks and be back before you know it. I’m assuming we’re going
to a nice restaurant?”

“Of course, lass. We’ll be celebrating.”

“Then I’ll be on my way. What time should I
be back?” She grabbed her purse before he could change his mind. He
was so chivalrous she feared he might insist on driving her.”

“I’ll drive you myself. A lady needn’t be out
alone.”

“I’m used to the area, Mr. Dunnegin. Really.
Besides I hate shopping and could not allow you to spend money on a
dress I would hardly ever wear. As you know, I already have one. Be
about your business.” She said with a smile.

“The very words I would have spoken.” His
lopsided grin, which she had never seen before, caused her heart to
flip-flop.

Edwina dashed for the door.

“I’ll drive down and pick you up at...” he
paused and checked his watch, “seven-thirty.”

“Seven-thirty,” she repeated on the way
out.

Within minutes she was crashing through
Cecelia’s door and heading for the shower. Tonight she would watch
for nuances of the Scot’s personality. The hero of her story was at
her beck and call and it would likely be her last chance to observe
the man closely. Besides she needed the diversion.

Thankfully, Cecelia was out celebrating with
her friends, since her date with the Scot had been broken. She had
seen her sister’s disappointment. Cecelia was unused to being
cancelled.

The black dress fit well enough. But her
hair. It took extra long to dry and caused her a moment’s worry
when she heard the clock in the living room chime seven times.

The hair dryer was working
at high speed and she was hustling to get it dry.
Time for a shorter haircut.

Edwina’s impatience reminded her she was just
going as a friend. She need not worry so much. Except that she
didn’t want to embarrass the man if they were going to a nice
restaurant, which she knew they were. And he was celebrating some
good business deal. Her duty tonight was to enjoy the time. For
tomorrow...

The door bell chimed at a quarter past seven.
She ran a brush through her hair and quickly put it atop her head
and ran for the door.

“Your dress is nice.” He complimented her
with a slight smile.

“Thank you. Suitable for the restaurant?” she
asked.

“Suitable.” He said quickly and fished for
his key. “Are you ready then?”

“Yes.” Then she remembered. “Cecelia is out
on the town with friends tonight, celebrating as well.” She could
see him visibly relax.

“Ah, well and good, then.”

“Not to worry. Cecelia doesn’t count me as
any kind of competition.” Edwina said lightly.

The man’s eyebrows went up. She didn’t catch
anything else for he was opening the door.

“My car is waiting below stairs.”

In a moment they were driving down Michigan
Street. He said nothing, so she watched people walking along the
streets as darkness settled over the Windy City and wondered what
proposal he had in mind, now.

She shook the thoughts from her head. It was
likely the Scot wanted to know more about Cecelia and used the
business success thing as a ruse to cover up his detective
work.

Twenty minutes later Edwina found herself in
a black plush chair overlooking Chicago’s skyline. “It’s so
beautiful.” She mused.

“That it is.” He agreed.

“Miss Blair, I leave for Scotland tomorrow.
There is a problem I wish to resolve before I go.” The Scot was
talking. “It is of utmost importance, lass, that our conversation
be confidential. Do ye give me yer word?”

Edwina hesitated. This sounded very much like
their conversation at the fish and chips shop. What could he
possibly want to share with her? Nerves aquiver, she kept folding
and refolding the pure white linen napkin as it lay across her
lap.

“Sir... I am not in the best situation at the
moment. I would rather not... not be taken into anyone’s
confidence... at this moment. I’m overly tired, and with everything
that’s happened... I . . .” She couldn’t finish. Off went her shoes
under the table.

The Scot’s eyebrows lifted slightly,
signaling the fact he hadn’t expected her refusal to listen.

“It’d be quiet ye need, lass?”

“I’m sorry... yes.”

“No need to apologize. I could use a bit o’
quiet myself.”

“Business has been good, then, if you have a
new contract for whatever it is you do.” Edwina felt the strain
lift at the change of topic.

“Business is good, but it is not the only
reason I am in America.”

Oh boy, here it
comes.
Edwina wanted to roll her eyes.
Instinct told her she didn’t need to know so much about the Scot.
Her romantic feelings, which had only surfaced recently, would only
dig deeper in a heart that could not suffer one more bout of
rejection.

A man walked up to the table interrupting
Edwina’s thoughts.

The men spoke for a few minutes.

When the maitre’d set the elegant salads on
the pristine, white table cloth, the Scot motioned for her to go
ahead.

Shortly the man left with an apology for
interrupting their meal, leaving Mr. Alex Dunnegin smiling.

“Not to worry.” Edwina swung her fork.
“Salad’s wonderful. Better eat. Your food is getting cold.”

“Aye,” he agreed and picked up his fork.

She enjoyed watching Alexander eat. He had
manners. His parents must have taught him well. She wondered about
his parents, if he had brothers and sisters, what his life had been
like as a little boy. A tall little boy.

For now she limited her thoughts to those
subjects. Later, as she drove home, she could think about a story
line. The Scot would be home in his castle by then.

“‘
Ave ye a prospect for a
job?”

“What?” How could he possibly know her
situation?

“A job. Have ye secured a position?” She
shook her head. And left it at that. “Ye don’t wish to discuss
it?”

“No.” She gave him the eye.

“I’ve a proposal for ye.”

“Proposal?” Edwina chastised herself. Wishful
thinking.

“A business proposal.” He became serious.

“Of course.” She wouldn’t let him get the
best of her.

“
I should have liked to
have the opportunity to stay in America for a couple more days, but
duties call me back to Scotland.”

Her nerves started to jingle. Why didn’t he
just get to the point?

“Lass, I’ll get to the point.” She stared at
him. He’d done it again. “Since you are unemployed you are no
longer obligated to a position – as you were before, I would like
to ask you to consider my original offer. However, I must confess
to you I withheld information that I could not discuss the first
time.”

Edwina’s fork was swinging back and forth
between her fingers. She looked at the offending thing and laid it
down.

“Sir, you can’t be asking me again?”

“I am asking, lass.”

His seriousness began to unsettle her nerves.
He meant every word he was saying.

“I am so honored that you would ask,
but—”

“Don’t say nay until ye’ve heard me out,” he
interrupted.

She waited. The dinner napkin was wadded up
in sweaty hands, and she was squeezing the dickens out of it.

“Miss Blair, my original request to offer for
a secretary has now changed. Have you a teaching certificate?”

“No.”

“And you like children?”

“Yes.”

“If you would consider it, I would like to
employ you as a nanny.”

“Nanny?” Edwina couldn’t believe her
ears.

“Let me explain.” He put his hands up. “I
have a daughter. My wife died when the child was only four months
old. She was from America, and I want my daughter to learn the
American ways as well as her Scottish ways. Can ye understand?”

“
Yes.” Her voice was barely
audible, even to her own ears. She was still stuck on the fact that
he had a daughter, and a wife? Cecelia would not like having a
child in the marriage.”

“The Gillespies have taken her until I find a
replacement nanny. And even then she had to be left with another
family while they were here. My daughter is, even now, without a
familiar face. It is not what I wish for her. And I will not allow
her to run through several au pair while I am away.”

He looked away for a moment, then
continued.

“I understand, through yer sister, that yer
job in yer town... what is it? Niles?... is no longer available to
you.”

“That’s a nice way to describe being fired
from your job.”

“Ah, I am sorry that ye have lost yer job.
But ye see, I have a large library at Castle Dunnegin that ye can
make use of.”

Like it would pay as
much
, she wanted to say.

“I will pay you whatever you ask in wages,
within reason.” He added quickly.

A spark shot through Edwina’s heart as she
saw the love for his daughter so clearly portrayed in his eyes.

“But I’m not a certified teacher by any
means.” She almost felt sorry that she wasn’t.

“Teaching requires reading and learning. I
think ye ’ave those qualities, lass. I’ve seen ye atop the railing
with ye’re books.”

Edwina allowed herself to smile.