Kilgannon by Kathleen Givens Read Free Book Online Page A

father. Matthew's greeting was warm, and I felt my smile widen in response. At least he was glad to see me.
    Bronson led us to the terrace, where Louisa and Will waited. Alex bowed over Louisa's hand, and his cousins followed suit as Alex introduced them, Matthew awkward but earnest, Angus silent and watchful. Louisa nodded stiffly as Angus and Matthew bowed over her hand, and Alex turned to me with dancing eyes, grinning as though we had accomplished something remarkable.
    "Well, we've that done," he laughed, and turned to Will, asking where his beautiful wife was. Will explained that Betty had complained of a headache, and Alex extended his wishes for her recovery. Will smiled and said Betty would improve soon. I doubted Betty would ever improve, but I kept that to myself. When Bronson reappeared with a tray, we seated ourselves and chatted about trivialities. Louisa thawed enough to smile occasionally, and to my surprise Angus and Will grew engrossed in a discussion of hunting, which continued even when Louisa suggested we walk in the garden.
    Louisa's gardens were large by London standards, but still small, divided into the formal garden that surrounded the house and the informal one through which she led us now. If it were a walk of any duration we'd cover the same ground several times. At the foot of the stairs she linked her arm in Alex's, drawing him ahead of the rest of us. Within moments they were out of earshot, talking earnestly. In front of us Will and Angus were deep in conversation, and Matthew and I fell into step. We walked beneath a row of trees in full bloom, slowing our steps to enjoy the cool shadows.
    "Do you like London, Mr. MacGannon?" I asked.
    Matthew smiled at me. "Oh, yes, Miss Lowell. I've been to many other places, but London seems more comfortable." He puffed his chest out and tried unsuccessfully to sound sophisticated. "Trading, ye ken. We travel often."
    "I see." I tried to hide my smile. "And where do you go?"
    "Paris. Alex and my da go to the Low Countries and Ireland. I've been to Ireland, of course, many times."
    "Of course," I said. "Does your father go on all the trips?"
    "Aye, and Malcolm—that's Alex's brother—often goes too." "Your mother must miss you terribly when you both travel."
    He glanced at me. "My mother's dead these three years."
    "Oh, I'm so sorry." I felt like an idiot as I looked at the boy next to me. "I've lost my mother as well. It's very difficult."
    The blue eyes so like Alex's clouded. "Aye, it is. My da misses her terrible." He glanced at his father and then met my gaze without guile. "I'm sorry about yer mother too."
    I thanked him, touched by his sincerity, and we walked for a moment in silence. Alex and Louisa had drawn even farther ahead, and I assumed that Louisa was explaining in great detail how unsuitable any relationship between us would be. I wondered if Alex was agreeing. They walked out from the shade of the trees and Alex's hair caught the sunlight, gold against the scarlet of the hat he now wore. As though he felt my gaze he turned, found me, and grinned. I felt immensely cheered. No, I thought, Alex MacGannon would not be sent away, Louisa or not. I smiled back at him, my heart much lighter. "Matthew," I said, my eyes still on Alex. 'Tell me about your family. Tell me everything."
    Matthew was happy to talk. Alex was his father's first cousin, and the two had grown up together. Matthew's mother had been Mairi MacDonald from Skye, and his parents' marriage had been very happy. Since Mairi's death, Matthew had been traveling with his father and Alex on their trading journeys and he enjoyed it, but he was always happy to go home. "Do you all live in Kilgannon?" I asked.
    "It's the home of the MacGannons. Where else would I live?" "Of course." I laughed. "Where else?"
    Matthew said that Alex's sons were lively and a lot of fun, but that they didn't travel with their father. I asked about Alex's brother, hoping I didn't sound like Rowena. Matthew,