Monsoon Mists (37 page)

She threw her arms round his neck and buried her face against him. ‘Yes, oh yes! I’ll put up with anything in order to be with you. Just don’t leave me, please.’

Jamie smiled. ‘Never. If I need to come back to India to trade, you’ll be going with me. We’ll keep a house here. I’m sure Kamal and the other servants will look after it for us, then we can come and go as we please. How does that sound?’

‘Wonderful! Just wonderful.’ Zar looked up at him, her eyes shining. ‘I love you too, Jamie, so very much.’

‘Then that is all that matters. I don’t give a tinker’s cuss what anyone else thinks! Now please, may I ravish you, my lovely wife-to-be? I’ve been gone for what feels like years and I really don’t want to wait any longer.’

‘Mmm, please do.’

The smile she gave him told Jamie everything he needed to know. All was well and the future was suddenly very bright indeed.

Epilogue

Småland, Sweden – December 1760

‘Rosh, sweetheart, please sit still. You’re letting all the cold air in underneath the furs.’

Jamie tried to sound stern – putting on what he’d privately dubbed his ‘fatherly’ voice – but he couldn’t help a smile from tugging at his mouth. He, Zar and Roshani were travelling by sled towards Askeberga, his parents’ manor house deep in the Swedish forests, and it was as cold as it could possibly be. He’d tried to warn Zar and Roshani of what awaited them, but he wasn’t sure they’d believed him – until now. Kutaro, dressed in a little padded coat that Zar had made for him, was snuggled up somewhere by Jamie’s feet. Although at first he’d seemed as enchanted by snow as his young mistress, he had the sense to burrow deep inside the furs that lined the sled now.

Another sled followed with some of their belongings – they’d left a lot more in Gothenburg – but Jamie was glad to be huddled with his little family. A family which had increased a few months previously, which was why it had taken them over a year to finally arrive in Sweden. He put a gloved hand on the bundle of furs Zar held which contained young Thomas, named after his incredibly proud grandfather Evans, whom they’d left in London on their way north. In reply, he received a kick and a whinge which told him it was very close to feeding time. It was a good thing they were nearly there. Master Thomas did not like to be kept waiting.

‘Don’t wake him up,’ Zar murmured. ‘It was so peaceful while he was keeping still.’

‘He’ll soon have to emerge to meet his Scots-Swedish grandparents. Although my guess is he’ll be more interested in his next meal. I’ve never known such a glutton in my life.’

Zar smiled. ‘Just as well if he wants to grow up big and strong like his father.’ She leaned her head against Jamie while grabbing the back of Roshani’s cloak with one hand to make her sit down. ‘Rosh, for heaven’s sake. We’re nearly there, your father said. Please, don’t make me any colder than I am already.’

The little girl was beside herself with excitement. ‘But I can’t sit still. I can’t wait to meet my sister.’

Jamie felt anxiety swirl inside him. ‘Remember what I said, Rosh. She might not take to us straight away. She doesn’t even know we’re coming.’

With all the snow, it hadn’t seemed worth it to try and send a messenger when they could travel as quickly themselves. Jamie hoped his parents wouldn’t mind them descending on the place en masse.

‘I know, Papa, I know. I will take it slowly, like you told me. But I just know I’m going to love her and she me.’

Jamie wished he was as certain, but at least he was willing to try his best. If only Margot could forgive him for abandoning her for so long …

Before he knew it, they were making their way up that long avenue of ash trees, the one he’d last travelled all those years ago with a different baby in his sled. The yellow manor house looked warm and inviting, smoke coming out of several chimneys and the windows all lit up. It was nearly Yuletide, so perhaps his parents had other guests? Jamie suddenly wondered if they’d be welcome.

He swallowed down his doubts. His mother, at least, would be thrilled to see them. He’d had yet another letter from her before leaving India and her last words had been ‘Come back soon, please!’

Well, here he was.

They got out of the sled on cold feet and Jamie lifted both Zar and Roshani in order to speed up the process. Kutaro shook himself and jumped out after them, yawning hugely. Jamie knocked on the door and waited, his heart thumping painfully, but the last thing he’d expected was for it to be opened by his brother. They stared at each other in shock, before Brice’s face split into a huge grin.

‘Jamie, by all that’s holy! Welcome home, you rogue.’

To Jamie’s surprise, his big brother enveloped him in a bear hug which almost cracked several of his ribs, but he returned it with feeling. Somehow it seemed his brother really had forgiven him completely and it was as if Elisabet had never existed, never come between them. This was how it had always been with the two of them before she came along and spoiled things.

‘Brice, I didn’t expect you to be here. Did you bring your family?’

‘But of course! I don’t go anywhere without them.’ Brice looked past Jamie. ‘Looks like you don’t either?’

Jamie remembered he had a very cold wife and daughter waiting to come in and hastily brought them forward and into the large hall. ‘No, me neither,’ he confirmed. ‘This is my wife, Zarmina – Zar – and our daughter Roshani.’ He smiled at the others and added, ‘This is my brother, Brice.’

Zar gave him a shy smile. ‘Pleased to meet you.’ She looked as though she wasn’t sure how to greet him, but he solved her dilemma by giving her a hug too, although Jamie could see Brice had taken in the fact that she was holding a baby as he treated her like a glass ornament.

‘And who is this?’

‘Thomas, our son,’ Jamie replied. ‘I wouldn’t talk to him right now though, he’s about to scream the place down. Supper time.’

‘Oh, I know all about hungry babies, trust me. We’ve just had a new arrival – named after you, actually. Then I’ll talk to this little lady instead.’ Brice gave Roshani a much more robust hug and lifted her high in the air. ‘My brother’s daughter, eh? Well, this is a nice surprise. I’m your uncle Brice. You’ll have to come and play with your cousin Ailsa, my little girl. She’ll love that.’

He stood up again and smiled at Jamie, who shook his head. ‘Brice, I … there’s so much I want to say to you, and you have no idea how sorry I am that—’

Brice cut him off and held up a hand. ‘Don’t. There’s no need. Mama has explained it all, many times over, and really, it’s fine. I never realised Elisabet’s true character – I must have been completely blinded by love – but I know now. And I understand that you were the victim, not me. She manipulated us both and you paid the price. As for me, I escaped to find something far better. Believe me, I couldn’t be happier.’

‘You’re sure?’ Jamie had thought about this meeting for so long. Had believed it would be awkward in the extreme, but here was Brice, acting like nothing had happened. Smiling, relaxed, the older brother Jamie had always known and loved. ‘You’re really willing to forget everything?’

‘Absolutely. You were right in that letter you sent me. No matter what, we’re brothers and best friends first and foremost, and no one can take that away from us. We won’t let them. Trust me, it’s all in the past. And now—’

He was cut off by a bark and Jamie belatedly remembered Kutaro, who had followed them inside. He was staring up at a much bigger dog, grey and shaggy, who’d come into the hall on silent paws. ‘Kutaro, behave!’

‘Don’t worry, Liath won’t hurt him.’ Brice bent to stroke both dogs. ‘He’s my wife’s dog and he’s the gentlest creature on earth unless you threaten his mistress. There now, be friends you two. Good boy, Liath.’ He chuckled. ‘But what the hell is he wearing, poor thing? I’ve never seen anything like it, ha ha …’

‘He feels the cold, like the rest of us. You would too if you’d spent your life in India,’ Jamie defended Kutaro, who admittedly did look rather silly. He joined in the laughter. ‘Come here, boy, let me take that off. We can’t have the local dogs making fun of you.’

To Jamie’s relief the canines began to wag their tails and circle each other, before starting some strange doggy game of chase. ‘Oh, hell, I hope they don’t break anything,’ he muttered. ‘Brice, maybe we should—’

He wasn’t allowed to finish his sentence as the hall was suddenly crowded with people and echoing with cries of welcome. Jamie’s parents, Killian and Jessamijn, Brice’s wife Marsaili, daughter Ailsa and her two younger brothers all had to be introduced and hugged in turn. Then Jamie noticed that behind his mother’s skirts hid a dark-haired little girl, peeking out with enormous brown eyes. ‘Mother?’ he prompted, and Jessamijn nodded and pulled the girl forward.

‘Margot, love, aren’t you going to greet your Papa? You’ve been wanting him to come back for ages and here he is at last.’

Margot bit her lip and looked at Jamie, who decided to do what felt most natural. He got down on his knees on the floor and opened his arms. ‘Hello, Margot. I’m really sorry I’ve been away for so long. Have you a hug for me?’

It was as though a fence was torn down and Margot ran forward, straight into Jamie’s embrace, throwing her little arms around his neck. ‘Papa, you came!’ she whispered, as if she couldn’t quite believe it. Jamie blinked hard, emotion clogging his throat. He knew now how wrong he’d been to leave her and he didn’t deserve her forgiveness. That she was willing to give it to him was a minor miracle and he was incredibly grateful.

‘Yes, I promised I would and here I am.’ Jamie closed his eyes. It felt so right to hold her and she
was
his, no matter the circumstances of her birth. This was his daughter, just as much as Roshani was. ‘I’ll never leave you again.’

‘What took you so long?’ Margot raised her eyes to his and he could see her question wasn’t accusing, just curious. ‘And did you bring me a present?
Farmor
said you would.’

He smiled at her. ‘Of course I brought you something, I’ll show you in a minute. And the reason I couldn’t come back earlier was that I had to find you a Mama first and here she is.’ He indicated Zar, who bent down to embrace the little girl too, although more cautiously. ‘Hello, Margot, I’m so pleased to meet you at last.’

Margot nodded as if acquiring new mothers was something that happened every day. Jamie marvelled at the way children took everything in their stride.

‘I’m glad your grandmother has taught you English.
Du talar väl svenska också?
’ Jamie asked.

’Yes,
så klart!
’ Margot looked at him as if he’d asked a stupid question.

Yes, of course she did. Jamie laughed at the way she’d mixed her words – he’d done the same as a child. He had wondered if the little girl would be bilingual, but he’d assumed his mother would teach her both Swedish and English. It was just as well since he’d thought it best for Roshani to stick to learning English properly first before tackling another language. ‘I have another surprise for you,’ he told Margot. ‘Along the way, I found you a big sister too. What do you think of that?’

Margot turned shining eyes to him and her smile widened. ‘A sister? Oh, yes please!’

Roshani came forward and threw her arms around the younger girl. ‘It’s me. I’m your sister, Rosh. See, I told you, Papa! I knew Margot would want me. We’re going to be the best of friends, aren’t we, Margot?’

Her new sister nodded, but added with an impish look. ‘But sometimes we might fight because Ailsa and I do even though we’re friends, isn’t that right?’

Their cousin, who’d been watching everything, agreed. ‘But not today because now we’re going to play. Come on, you two, let’s leave the babies to Mama and Auntie.’

Taking charge, Ailsa disappeared with Roshani and Margot in tow. Jamie looked at Brice and the others and they all burst out laughing. ‘Well, that didn’t go too badly,’ Jamie said, pushing his fingers through his hair. Truth to tell, he felt rather shaken, but knew that would pass. He put an arm round his wife’s shoulders. ‘I don’t know about anyone else, but I could use a strong drink!’

‘Whisky!’ Brice and Killian shouted in unison.

‘Eeeuww,’ Jamie heard Zar mutter. ‘I don’t suppose you have tea?’

‘Of course, and trust me, that tastes a lot better,’ Marsaili told her, linking her arm with hers. ‘Come, let me take you and baby Thomas to the kitchen to thaw out while someone prepares a room for you all. Mama, are you coming with us? Let’s leave the men to their foul beverage.’

Jamie sent Zar a questioning look, asking with his eyes if she’d be all right if he left her with his mother and Marsaili. She smiled and came over to give him a quick kiss. ‘Go!’ she ordered. ‘Thomas is getting impatient.’

Jessamijn gently pushed Jamie in his father’s direction and took Zar’s other arm. ‘Yes, do.’

Killian hugged his son again as if he couldn’t quite believe he was real. Jamie knew how he felt. ‘They’ll join us when it’s time for supper,’ Killian said. ‘Come into the parlour.’

Sitting by the warm tile stove, with a whisky glass in his hand, Jamie felt as though it was all a bit surreal, but he couldn’t stop smiling. It was so wonderful to be here.

‘So you two have made your peace, have you?’ Killian looked at his sons and Jamie saw the love and pride in his eyes. He had to swallow down a lump in his throat. Why had he stayed away for so long? He should have known his family would help him face anything. He took a sip of the delicious whisky, which burned a warming path all the way down to his stomach and steadied him.

‘So Brice says,’ Jamie replied.

Brice grinned. ‘What, you don’t believe me? You think I’m about to pounce on you and beat you black and blue?’

‘No, because you couldn’t. I’m the same size as you now. Well, almost.’ Brice had always been bigger and brawnier, but Jamie was quick, with lightning reflexes. They were evenly matched.

‘Hah! No way. I’d trounce you in a flash, but we won’t be putting it to the test. I think we’ll soon have our work cut out separating our children, rather than acting like them. Ailsa may be a girl, but she’s as feisty as they come.’