Chapter Twelve
Amy sat on the couch while the fire crackled in the fireplace and she sipped on the tea that the TARDIS had left on the tray near the couch.
(I guess you are wondering when Anne and I realized that we loved each other. Honestly, for me, it was the day I woke up after Culloden. Imagine my surprise when I found out when she fell in love with me.)
8 August 1749
You would think, with all the ponds and lochs around the highlands, I would have learned to swim, but I never did and for me to slid off the side of a ship into a lifeboat was very gusty on my part.
(It was during Culloden after the Doctor, Ben, Polly, (Ask the Doctor who they are.) and I fought those slavers and got safe passage for my laird and his daughter to Paris.)
Zoe had taught me how to swim in the TARDIS pool and I was glad to see that I remembered how to swim because it was a very hot day and the water of the pond on the grounds of Heatherfield looked so inviting. I had stripped out of my clothes and boots and the water felt wonderful. I was floating on my back when I had a feeling that I was being watched and looked up, seeing Molly on the shore.
"Och, Suhr, I am so sorry," she said as I rolled over and dived under the water. She had moved behind the large rock as I came to shore and wrapped the towel I had brought with me around my waist.
"Is there something you wanted, Molly?" I asked as she peeked out from behind the large rock and was blushing.
"Aye, Suhr, his Lordship sent me tae come for you. Said something aboot a big announcement," she said as she started gathering my clothes and boots and I brushed the wet hair out of my eyes. We headed back to the house while she kept her eyes on the ground and handed me my shirt. Slipping the shirt on, I tapped her shoulder and she looked at me, but was still blushing.
"Do you ken why he wants tae see me?"
"No, Suhr, he didnae say," she said as we came to the house and went inside.
"Wonder what he wanted with Jamie," Amy said and nibbled on one of the biscuits.
My hair was still wet when Molly led me into the main parlor and she took the towel, leaving the room.
(Don't get any naughty ideas. I was dressed when she took the towel.)
"I was wondering," Amy said then went back to her reading.
"Please sit, James," Commander Watertin said as I saw the rest of the family was present and sat on the couch next to Lady Pamela. She smiled at me when she noticed my wet hair and touched it.
"What have you been doing?" she asked.
"I was swimming in the pond," I said and she nodded. Commander Watertin made a little cough as we all looked at him and he placed his hands behind his back.
"Yes, well, I guess you're wondering why I wanted to see all of you. It has to do with Anne," he said and Anne gave him a confused look.
"Me?" she asked and he nodded.
"Well, as you know, Anne is of age, so I have decided to arrange a marriage for her," he said and Anne shot off the chair she was sitting on like a rocket.
"What?!" she bellowed and glared at him. I felt a little sick as I held onto the arm of the chair and Commander Watertin walked to Anne, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Darling, you have to understand…"
"Oh, I understand alight," she growled and he sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Sister, please, there is no need for these theatrics," Malcolm said, sipping on some brandy from the glass in his hand.
"Oh, what do you know about it? You're never going to get married!" she bellowed and I blinked. I had wondered why Malcolm wasn't married and he gave her a cold look over the rim of the glass.
"That will be enough!" Commander Watertin shouted and Anne frowned.
"Well, you can just put a stop to this marriage. I already have someone."
"WHAT?!" everyone asked at the same time and she gave them a calm look, turned on her heels and walked out of the room, slamming the door.
"What does she mean that she has someone?" Lady Pamela asked as Commander Watertin balled his hands into fists and his face was turning beet red. Looking at the door, I slowly got up then left the room and headed down the hallway. I found Anne sitting on the stairs when I sat down next to her and the air turned colder. I turned around, seeing Daniel sitting on the stair behind us, and he pointed from me to Anne and wrote TALK TO HER with his finger.
"Och, you really ken how tae stun a room," I said with a grin, but she just looked down at her hands and sighed.
"Is everything a joke with you?" she asked, glancing up at me.
"No, but what is wrong with arranged marriages? Your sisters' marriages were arranged and look how they turned out."
"Oh, yes, they worked out just fine," she snarled and I coughed.
"Right, I ken aboot Deedrie and her marriage, but that wasnae her fault."
"That's not what I mean. I really do have someone," she said then sighed and balled her hands into fists. "The problem is that he doesn't want me."
"Then he is a fool," I said as I turned her face toward mine and looked into her eyes.
"Yes, I know he is, but that isn't the point. I think he already has someone. They're always together, laughing and such, and I'm afraid that I was the one that pushed them together."
"How did you do that?"
"Oh, it's silly," she said then stood up and looked at Daniel sitting on the stair. He pointed at her then at the stair and arched his eyebrow at her. "No, I am not going to sit down."
"Anne?" I asked as I stood up and she turned, looking at me. I moved closer when she looked down and I lifted her chin up. "What did you do?"
"Tell me something. Do you like Molly?" she asked and I thought for a few seconds.
"Aye," I said with a nod of my head and she moved back, heading up the stairs. Daniel shrugged as we followed her up the stairs then down the hallway and she slammed the door in our faces when we came to her bedroom. Daniel grinned when he walked through the door and I heard her shout for him to leave her alone. Opening the door, I walked into her room when she looked at me and growled.
"How dare you come in here without permission!" she shouted and walked to the window. Daniel pointed his hands toward her while his eyes went wide and I nodded. Walking to Anne, I stood next to her and she folded her arms over her chest.
"Why are you so upset aboot me liking Molly?" I finally asked and she sighed, brushing some hair from her eyes.
"Do you…Do you love her?" she asked softly.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "I have been in love before though."
"What was her name, this woman that you were in love with?"
"Her name was Victoria," I said then sighed and she looked at me. "She was a very sweet lass, but she wasnae able tae handle the things I got into."
"Are you talking about Jacobite business?" she asked and I didn't know how to answer her. "It was, wasn't it? I heard about the things the Jacobites got into during the Rising. What happened? Did she leave you?"
"Aye," I said, nodding. "After she left, I decided tae guard my heart so I would never get hurt like that ever again."
"So there's no one in your life then? You're not in love with anyone?"
"I didnae say that," I said as I moved closer and took her hands, looking into her eyes.
(Ok, this does sound like something from one of Polly's romance novels, she had read one to me once, but took out the naughty bits, but what I am writing is Heaven's truth.)
"This is tame to some of the romance stuff I've read," Amy said, turning the page.
Anne didn't move while I stroked her cheek with my fingers and she blinked, tilting her head to one side. I'm not sure why, but she looked so beautiful with the sunlight shining on her hair and I moved closer, kissing her lips. She gently placed her arms around my neck as we kissed when a cool blast of air made us move back and Daniel glared at us.
"Oh don't be such a prude," she said with a smile and Daniel rolled his eyes, smiled then shook his head. Anne looked deeply into my eyes then looked down at our feet and shyly smiled. "So, are you saying that you love me?"
"Aye, and have been since that morning I woke up after Culloden," I said and a blush moved across her cheeks. "The question is if you love me?"
"Of course I do," she said then looked at me.
"No offense, but when did that happen?" I asked and she looked down at our feet again and sighed.
"You're not going to believe me, but it was when you were ill. Mother had my sisters and I help take care of you and it was during the time your fever spiked so high that the doctor swore you were dying. I remember staying up all night, just wiping the sweat off of you, and you looked so terrible. I wasn't even sure if you were breathing sometimes then you would gasp for air and grab hold of my hand. I talked to you, telling you that you were alright, and you smiled at me. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. You even smiled when I fed you the milk soup that Mrs. Connolly made you," she said and I remembered someone feeding me.
"That was you?"
"Yes, you remember that?"
"Aye, I do, but why did you get all grumpy afterwards? Is it because I called you a Sassenach?"
"Well, yes, that was mean," she said and I kissed her lips, placing my hand on the back of her neck, moving her head toward mine.
"For the last time, I was teasing," I whispered and kissed her lips again. She kissed down to my neck while moving her fingers through my hair and I tilted my head back, smiling. Moving my head forward, she placed her forehead against mine as we looked into each other's eyes while the air grew warmer and I looked to see that Daniel had left. "Daniel's gone."
"Good," she said with a grin and I softly laughed.
"Is the other reason you were acting so cold toward me was because you thought I was trying tae take Daniel's place? I swear by Michael and his sword that I wasnae doing that. I was just as surprised as you were that your father brought me here and nae tae a prison somewhere, let alone become my guardian. I still have no idea why he did that, but I am glad that he did."
"So am I," she said and smiled.
"Are you sure that you love me?" I asked and she kissed my lips.
"Yes," she said with a nod of her head.
"And you believe that I love you?" I asked when she placed her hand against my heart and I held her hand against my chest. My heart was slamming hard in my chest as she smiled and I held her against me. Neither of us talked for a few minutes while my heart slowed to a soft thump and she gently rubbed my back.
"Yes, I believe that you do," she said in my ear and kissed my neck. Moving back, she took my hand as we left the room and I placed my arm around her waist.
"That was so sweet," Amy said and sipped on the tea.
The family looked at us as we walked back into the parlor and Anne held my hand tightly in hers. I felt a slight chill in the air when I saw Daniel standing next to Commander Watertin as Daniel smiled at me and winked.
"Father, James wishes to ask you something," Anne said as I let go of her hand and walked to him. Commander Watertin looked at me when I stood straighter and Daniel nodded at me.
"Sir and Lady," I started as I looked at Lady Pamela. "I thank you for all the hospitality you have shown me, but what I wish tae ask might change things."
"James, are you leaving?" Lady Pamela asked and I heard the fear in her voice.
"Och no, Lady, I'm nae. I just wish tae ask if you will allow me tae court Miss Anne," I said as I looked at Anne while they looked at her as well and Daniel grinned at me. The mantel clock ticked for a few seconds when Commander Watertin coughed and looked at his feet.
"Do you love Anne?" he asked.
"Aye, I do."
"And do you love James, Anne?" he asked while she walked to me and took my hand.
"I said that I had someone, didn't I?" she asked and squeezed my fingers. We waited for his answer while Commander Watertin paced back and forth and sweat rolled down my neck. He stopped pacing when Lady Pamela stood up and walked to him then placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Paul?" she asked when he looked at her then at us and a smile spread across his face.
"Well, it's about time," he said and we gave him a stunned look. "Oh, please, I am not blind or a fool. I see the way you look at each other when the others aren't looking. True, you barely speak or do things together, but I can see the love in your eyes."
"So it's alright then?" Anne asked and Commander Watertin sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, it's fine!" he said and hugged the both of us. "Now let's talk about the rules of courtship."
(The rules of courtship are fairly simple. There was no public display of affection and we had to have someone with us when we were together. To be honest, Anne and I did sneak off for some cuddle time every now and then.)
"Cheeky bugger," Amy said when she placed the bookmark in the journal, closed the journal, got up and left the library.
