Derek and I stayed in Scotland for two months. We were blissfully happy in our little world. I know that Derek said he would wait until I was comfortable to consummate our marriage, but I don't think I can. I feel like he is holding out on me. There were several days while in Scotland I would not see my husband at all. He would come back sometime during the night and the next morning he would tell me he went hunting. But his nose would twitch when he said that. That was his telltale he was lying to me.

We left the summer house November 4th, 1815. It had been unseasonably cold for November, so winter was coming early that year. He promised me that we would stop at my village before returning to my new home. Derek took my hand and kissed my fingers lightly. I was wearing half gloves with my thick, plain dress.

"Imogen, do not fret, we will make it before night fall." Derek soothed. I gave him a warm smile in return.

"I know, Derek. I am just anxious to see them." I admitted. "I wonder if my mother is expecting a grandchild."

"Well, I believe your mother is a fairly reasonable on waiting for us to get better acquainted. My step-mother, Annabeth, and Bambi, on the other hand, will be expecting a small bump on your belly upon our return." Derek said, lacing our fingers together. "But as we agreed, we want to wait."

"You are correct, my dear." I said, putting my head on his shoulder. "D-Do you think that we'll be good parents?" Derek remained silent. What was he considering would happen? Did he think that I would die giving birth to his children? Would he reconsider having a nanny? Did he change his mind about having children?

"You, Imogen, will be the perfect mother. I, on the other hand, am not so sure about my parenting abilities." Derek admitted. "Raising Edna and Edmund for the past four years was wonderful, but they are not my own children. I fear I will raise them wrong."

I pressed my face into his neck for a few moments. I knew he would be a wonderful father, no matter how scared he would be. "I believe that all fathers are scared at one point or another. I think you just need to hold our first born in your arms." I told him. "Now husband, I believe we should rest or when we reach the house, my siblings will surely drain us." Derek shifted his body so I could use it as a pillow, and I fell asleep.

When I awoke, I was in my childhood bed. It was still light out so the children must have been running about in the yard. I heard voices in the kitchen, three to be exact. I got up and padded down the compact dirt floor and stopped just before the corner. Mum, Derek and Johnny were seated at the kitchen table, deep in conversation.

"Jack Peddleton, Derek, his name is Jack Peddleton. Da took me to a meeting with him just before he passed. The bloody bastard demanded Imogen's hand in marriage t' solve all our debts with him." Johnny muttered angrily.

"He would have killed her, John. I know this man. I fought with him in the war, well, until he turned on us. He blames me for the murder of his wife and brother." Derek said.

"Did ye?" Johnny asked.

"No. My troop did. I was in a meeting with my superior when it happened." Derek muttered. "I know how to protect Im. No one will like how, including me. She shall be in complete isolation from the time we leave here until I can dispose of him."

"Why? You cannot keep my daughter away from me!" Mum cried. My heart broke.

"Mum, I have to. If I don't, you will never see her again! Jack will kidnap and murder her!" Derek growled. "I care for Imogen, Mum, I never want to lose her, but the only way I know to protect her is isolation. No letters, no visits, and I suggest you get the hell out of Ireland. Go live with your brother, somewhere that Jack does not know."

"She'll hate you, Derek." Johnny said, looking at my husband. I watched Derek's shoulders rise and fall rapidly.

"I know." He rasped. "I will take every word of hatred, every backlash from her, just as long as she is safe." I bit my lip. He does care for me. I tousled my hair and exaggerated a yawn.

"Derek?' I mumbled, moving into the room. "You did not wake me when we arrived." Derek stood and moved over to me, snaking his arms around my waist.

"I am sorry, my love." Derek said, kissing my nose. "You looked so peaceful." I relaxed into Derek's body and let him hold me up

"Johnny, go get your siblings. Tell them Immy is awake." Mum ordered Johnny as she stood. "My baby," Mum cooed, pulling me from Derek's arms.

"Mummy," I sighed, relaxing into her comforting arms. "I missed you."

"Tell me, my blossom, have you and Derek...?" She trailed, moving a hand to my flat stomach.

"No, Mummy. We want to wait." I said, pulling back. "He has been nothing but respectful." The children entered with Johnny at their heels. They all stopped when they saw Derek.

"Immy, why's he here?" Bridie asked quietly. "He scares me." I knelt down and let Bridie run into my arms.

"Why does he scare ya, Little Bird?" I asked.

"He took away from me." She mumbled. "An' he doesn’t smile." I bit my lip as I looked at Derek. She was afraid of losing me.

"Derek, come 'ere." I whispered. Derek crossed the short distance to us and knelt beside me. "Give 'er a smile." Derek gave me a dimpled smile as Bridie nuzzled my neck.

"Bridie, will you please look at me?" Derek asked softly, running his fingers through her dark curls. Bridie shook her head and tightened her arms around my neck.

"No, you’re scary." She mumbled.

"What is so scary about me?" Derek asked, moving closer to the two of us.

"You take me Immy 'way from me." She sniffed. "Just like me Da was taken 'way."

"I will never take Imogen away from you, Bridie. I care for your sister just as much as you do." Derek told her. "I know that she loves you so much and it would hurt her very much to never see you again."

"You’re not taken 'er 'way?" Bridie asked, lifting her head to look at her brother in law.

"Never," Derek confirmed. Bridie smiled and crawled into his lap.

"You’re not scary anymore." She told him. The rest of my siblings came and hugged me, telling me how glad they were that I was home. Margaret handed me Keegan as she ran over to Mum and hugged her tight.

"Well, Mum, how 'bout we go tae the tavern." I suggested, rising to my feet.

*

*

*

Derek and I spent a couple of days with my family. This time I knew that he was holding out on me. I would not press him until we arrived back to the manor. Derek was wonderful with my siblings. And they adored him. Bridie hardly ever left his side, same with the twins. Margaret was a bit more skeptical of Derek, but I knew that she was slowly starting to like him. It pained me to leave my family, but I was a grown woman now, I could not live like a child forever.

The day we left was filled with tears. Bridie detached herself from my husband and clung to me until the first light of day break. My Mum was filled with tears that morning, I never wanted to make me Mum cry.

"Immy, write to me." She whispered as Derek and our driver filled up the carriage. "I do not care how the letters get to me, just write to me."

"Mum, I'll be fine. I'm an adult now. Derek is a good husband. Da would be proud." I told her. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a hug before moving on to my siblings. Johnny and the twins did not say a word as I hugged them. Margaret cried as I attempted to wipe away her tears. Bridie was heartbroken as I kissed away her tears and Keegan cried as well.

It broke my heart as I stepped into the carriage and watched my family roll away. I was no longer a wild Irishwoman. I was an Englishwoman.