"Would you? I would be forever grateful. I have but one more question. Suppose the man a woman wants does not ever say he loves her? What then?"
Donnel exchanged knowing looks with her sister before she answered, "She must wait until he has his wits about him. 'Tis all she can do…just wait."
The day had been filled with excitement and all the way home, they laughed about some of the fun things that happened. The summer night air was warm and the sunset illuminated the sky in shades of pink and lavender, as if to add a touch of majesty to their almost perfect day. This time, the butlers sat next to Millie and Sarah, instead of having the men on one side of the wagon and the women on the other. That meant Hannish was on the end, and he was the first to jump down when the carriage and the wagon finally stopped.
Hannish didn't see her until after he and Keith helped the women out of the wagon and the men began to gather the blankets, and the empty lunch boxes. The women had walked to the front of the house, but curiously had not yet gone in, so he went to see what the problem was.
The young woman wore a crooked hat, held a sleeping baby in her arms and had tears in her eyes. "Margaret Ann, what is wrong?" Hannish asked.
Her lip quivered when she answered, "I have come to give you my boy, Mr. MacGreagor. I know you will take good care of him."
"Give him to me? Why?"
"I cannot keep him if I am to have my position at the Hotel. He is six months and wants to crawl, not stay in his bed all day. He cries, Mister MacGreagor, and they don't allow crying babies in the hotel, except for guests."
"I see," said Hannish.
"May I hold him?" Sassy asked, sitting down beside her on the step. "I sorely miss taking care of babies in the orphanage."
Margaret Ann nodded and carefully handed the sleeping baby to her. "You will take him then, Mr. MacGreagor?"
Hannish sat down on the other side of Margaret Ann. "Of course we will care for him, but on one condition."
She brushed a strand of golden hair away from her face and sniffed her nose. "What?"
"You must stay with him and work for me," said Hannish. "They do not complain, but the ladies at Marblestone Mansion are a might weary of washing clothes. We could use a lass like you. The pay is good, you'll have plenty to eat, a warm bed, and the laddie can crawl anywhere he likes -- so long as it is safe." He waited, but she didn't return his comforting smile. "Have we a bargain?"