Page 20 of Laird of Twilight
“Hardly that,” he murmured, feeling warmth seep into his own face.
She giggled, then reached for the whisky glass to down the last of it. Then she dropped her skirts to cover her ankles, the cold mucky folds covering his hands as well. “It is just a slight twist. I can manage. My home is just eight miles from here. I should leave before dark.”
“Eight miles?” He looked at her, incredulous. “You walked eight miles to get here?” He still meant to ask why she had been in the garden at all.
“Not so far a distance in the Highlands. I was going to my cousin’s home, just three or four miles from here. I could go there instead of back home tonight.”
“You should not be walking anywhere just now.” He still held her foot under the hem of the gown, and it seemed improper, exciting, warm and real. Nor did she protest. “Your ankle is badly swollen, Miss MacArthur. Until a doctor sees you, a bandage will help support it. Anyone can see you must avoid walking for a while.”
“Perhaps I could borrow a gig or a pony cart from you, then.”
“I will be happy to drive you once the weather eases up. At the moment, the landau and gig are both in use by the ghillie and a groom, who took the housekeeper to her daughter’s home, and the servants elsewhere.”
“Ah, they are going away for now. I understand,” she murmured.
He frowned. So they all knew? “There is a cart here, I suppose, or I could take you home on horseback. Let the rain clear a bit.”
She looked through tall windows at the lashing rain. “When it ends, aye.”
James set her foot on the stool and rocked back on his heels. “Miss MacArthur, I feel I must tell you something.”
“Aye, sir?” She tilted her head prettily, eyes sparkling, cheeks a perfect pink. Was that her natural beauty, or was it whisky? This situation was not good, he thought.
“Ah, we, uh—you should be aware that we are alone here just now.”
“Utterly alone?” She kept her head tilted—most young ladies would be shocked, but she seemed only curious.
“For a little while. The ghillie took the maidservants to Stirling, and other servants have gone to see kinfolk for a few days. A few have quit my employ altogether, to be honest.”
“The banshee can make some anxious.” She smiled calmly.
“So you know about that too? Mrs. MacKimmie is gone as well, tending to family for a day or two, but will return soon. She left the house in good order with food in the cupboard. A local girl will come in briefly to do chores, perhaps tomorrow. Alone for now, aye. I apologize for not telling you sooner.”
“We were distracted. Truly, no one will return before tomorrow?”
“Quite possibly.” He met her eyes directly, and she glanced away.
“My grandfather is away from home at present, and I told our housekeeper that I would go to visit my friend across the glen. But she is not expecting me, exactly. To be quite honest, sir, no one knows I came here.”
His heart thumped harder, and a quick shot of excitement—or dread at the situation—drove through him. He ignored it. “An unfortunate set of circumstances.”
She sat up, smiling brightly. “It is a perfect set of circumstances.”
“Miss MacArthur, please be assured that you are safe in my company.”
“I know.” She leaned forward, silvery-green eyes twinkling, cheeks flushed high. Kneeling, James felt the softness of her breath between them, felt the allure of her closeness. “Sir, it is a rather compromising situation.”
“Some might think so. But that is not the case,” he said firmly.
“But I think...I do not mind being compromised.”
What? He frowned. Did she think to catch a wealthy man and oblige him to marry her? First, he was not wealthy. The girl was wasting her time. Second, he did not intend to threaten her virtue. “I promise you are in no danger from me.”
Her smile was like sunshine blooming. Two dimples, impish indentations, appeared low in her cheeks. Her lips were full, winsome, rosy. He knew their taste. In a way, he had already compromised the girl under a rhododendron in Edinburgh.
He stood quickly. “Miss MacArthur, I apologize, but—”
“Lord Struan, it would be very convenient if a scandal resulted from this.”
