Chapter 6: DINNER WITH FAMILY
Robert Bordon led his wife downstairs. There were two chairs left. The others had adults seated.
The children sat at a different table near by.
Robert pulled back the chair and helped his wife sit down. He scooted it forward. She was sitting beside Iain. Jessika sat across from her with her husband beside. Joerg was a quiet man. He seemed to listen more than talk.
Mandy and Jessika started talking about the colonies and living there.
"What are they like?"
"Beautiful." Mandy smiled.
"Was it hard for you to live there with all the men?"
"The men I dealt with were gentlemen, officers." Mandy smiled as she paused from eating
"She befriended many there." Robert said with a proud smile. "Including Lord Cornwallis and Banastre Tarleton."
"That dreadful colonel who lost at Cowpens. There were two. Both started with T." Georgia said a touch of disdain to her voice.
Mandy shifted and Robert's gentle hand went to her thigh under the table to calm her.
"That other colonel was William Tavington. He was a brave and fearless man. I was his Major." Robert said. "He died there. Please you upset my wife speaking of him." He said watching Mandy. She had set her utensils down and was sitting quietly.
Jessika looked at her. "He was a dear friend?"
"He was my brother." She said softly.
"You had him for a brother. You poor dear." Georgia said. "Well it just goes to show the English should not go into places they don't belong." She said. "They think they can come and rule the world."
"Georgia!" Andrew cried.
Robert took Amanda's hand. She looked at him and shivered. She knew Georgia was using that as a way to dig at her for being English, well half.
Iain saw this and looked down the table fiercely at his daughter-in-law. "And some Irish need to learn manners." He said sharply. "I asked for then to come and we could be a family. Those who will not treat Mandy with respect are asked to leave this table. Now!"
Georgia made a face and rose. "Very well father. I would gladly share a table with you, but not an English woman who thinks she is better than the rest of us." She said and walked out
Mandy made a move to rise. Robert pushed her gently back and leaned to her cheek. "Never you mind her." He whispered and kissed her softly to calm her.
Andrew wiped his mouth and rose. He walked to Amanda and bent down. "Forgive me sister that I did not stop her." He said softly. He kissed her other cheek and with a bow to his father walked out
Iain looked at Amanda. "Eat child. You need it after your journey. Tell me about this brave brother of yours." He said softly watching her reaction.
"He raised me." She said softly. She then turned to look at him. "He was such a good man. Why does she speak ill of him?"
"Because the press always reports the bad never the good." Iain smiled. "Robert spoke of him as cold, but brave and fearless in his letters. He made no mention that he was your brother."
"He passed on over there. You would never have met him. It doesn't matter."
"Mandy." He said. "To loose family hurts. When I lost my wife I thought I could never go on without her, but see you have a whole family here to talk and love. I knew your father. He was a good man before he found the bottle." He said. "I also knew your mother." He smiled. "You look very much like her. I even tried to court her once." He leaned back. "But she had caught an English noble's eye. What could a farmer give her, but a home and fat babies? He gave the world to her and I was happy for her."
Mandy listened. "I never knew her. The woman I knew as my mother was my step mother." She said quietly
"She was a good lass as you are." Iain said. "You will have to come and see Ireland. We live on a lake. You would love it I think." He said softly
Robert nodded. "You would Mandy. It is your type of spot. Trees, a lake, and hills."
Mandy smiled. It did sound lovely.
They spent several hours in the parlor talking with Iain. Jessika and Joerg were also present when their brood was put to bed.
Robert was tired and he saw Mandy nodding during one of Iain's tales. Robert quickly excused then and helped Mandy to her feet. He wrapped his arms about her and lead her upstairs.