The Doctor's Proposal. Marion Lennox

me he was dead. I was so…sorry.’

      So maybe Kirsty had been telling the truth, Jake thought. Maybe she did know nothing of Angus. For a moment he regretted he’d made her angry. But then he remembered the flare of crimson in her cheeks and the flash of fire in her brown eyes and he didn’t regret it. He found he was almost smiling.

      This was looking good, he thought. This was looking excellent. Angus had been fond of Rory. Rory’s widow was at the gate, and if Rory’s widow was anything like her sister…they could be a breath of fresh air in this place. A breath of life.

      ‘They’re outside, waiting,’ he said. ‘I told them to give me a minute and then follow.’

      ‘Who?’ Angus was lost in his thoughts, and was suddenly confused.

      ‘Rory’s widow and her sister.’

      ‘Rory’s widow,’ he repeated.

      ‘So it seems.’

      ‘Kenneth didn’t tell me he was married.’

      ‘Maybe Kenneth didn’t know.’

      Angus thought about that and then nodded, understanding. ‘Aye. Maybe he wouldn’t. Rory learned early to keep things to himself where Kenneth was concerned.’

      ‘But you’d like to see them?’

      ‘I’d like to see them,’ Angus agreed.

      ‘Could you give them a bed for the night?’ Jake asked—diffidently—and held his breath.

      The old man considered. He stared through the window down at his garden—his vegetable patch, where Jake knew he was longing to be right now.

      Since his illness he’d drawn in on himself. He barely tolerated the housekeeper being here. Could he accept strangers?

      How much had he loved Rory?

      Jake held his breath some more.

      ‘Rory’s widow,’ Angus whispered at last. ‘What would she be like?’

      ‘I don’t know,’ Jake told him. ‘I only met the sister. Kirsty. She seems…temperamental.’

      ‘What does temperamental mean?’

      ‘I guess it means she’s cute,’ Jake admitted, and Angus gave a crack of laughter that turned into a cough. But when he recovered there was still the glimmer of a smile remaining.

      ‘Well, well. Signs of life. Time and enough, too. That wife of yours has been gone too long.’

      ‘Angus…’

      ‘I know. It’s none of my business. You’re saying these women are at the gate now?’

      ‘Yes. I’ll go and let them in if it’s OK with you.’

      ‘You think they should be staying here?’

      ‘I think they should stay.’

      Angus surveyed his doctor for long moment. ‘She’s cute?’ he demanded, and he seemed almost teasing.

      ‘Not Rory’s wife,’ Jake said stiffly. ‘I’ve only met—’

      ‘I know who you’d be talking about,’ Angus said testily. ‘Rory’s wife’s sister. She’s cute?’

      ‘Yes, but—’

      ‘And if she’s staying the night…You’ll be back in the morning.’

      ‘Yes, but—’

      ‘Let’s leave the buts,’ Angus said, and his lined face creased into mischief. ‘I’ll not be flying in the face of providence. Cute, eh? Well, well. Of course they can stay.’