Page 11 of Highland Renegade
…
The whisky had definitely been excellent…and a bit potent. Emily left the library with a rather fuzzy feeling and wished the hallway wasn’t tilting.Uisge-beathaIan had called it. Water of life. A much better description than the blue devil that Londoner’s commonly called gin. But then, thisuisge…oosh-ka.something—she forgot the word—was so much smoother than gin. Why, she had hardly noticed the whisky slide down her throat like liquid silk. No indeed. And it left her all warm and tingly inside. Or maybe she’d felt all warm and tingly when she’d gone to pick up the bottle to check the label. For just a moment, she’d gotten the impression that Ian had moved closer to her, his body heat wrapping around her like a warm blanket. And oddly, she had felt safe.
What a ridiculous notion. Her head was finally clearing as she walked back to her room. She—and her sisters—were hardly welcome guests here. The apology and offer to move to the modern part of the castle had been a ploy, not a change of heart. She was quite adept at recognizing ploys. Albert had used them often when he’d needed something from her—usually a piece of her mother’s jewelry to pawn to pay for his habits—and she’d learned early that his compliments were not sincere. Slowly, she’d built a wall around her heart as she also learned the hurtful consequences when she didn’t acquiesce to his wheedling and cajoling. The fewer feelings she allowed herself, the less pain she felt.
In this case, Ian had wanted her to agree to keep her ownership of the castle quiet. He had not threatened her in any way nor did she think he would. He had simply made his point, albeit with a practiced smile that she was fairly sure worked on a vast majority of women. Not that she would be taken in by such. However, it wouldn’t hurt her to keep the deed under wraps for now, until she learned the things she needed to know. It wasn’t as though King George was going to rescind the title to the lands. She could agree with Ian to bide her time. So, for now, she’d let him think his beguiling smile had worked to persuade her.
Her sisters nearly pounced on her when she entered her bedchamber.
“How did your conversation with Mr. MacGregor fare?” Lorelei asked.
“No need to pussyfoot around.” Juliana gave Emily a direct look. “Did he finally decide the deed was legal? That you own this place? And that you intend to run it as you see fit?”
“Is that all the questions you have?” Emily smiled at Juliana, used to her directness.
“For now.”
“Yes, for now,” Lorelei repeated. “And the answers? Was he rude? Were all the brothers there? How did they react?”
“That’s three more questions. The brothers were gone when I arrived, so—”
“You were alone with Mr. MacGregor?” Lorelei’s eyes grew round. “Did you leave the door open?”
“For pity’s sake,” Juliana said. “Emily’s awidow. She does not need a chaperone.”
Her sister was right, although the emphasis onwidowmade her feel like she was ancient. She was only four and twenty, although to her young, unmarried sisters that probably seemed like she was doddering on old age. “I closed the door because I did not want our conversation to be heard.” The moment when she’d stood close to him flashed through her mind, but there was no reason to mention it. Or the instant tingle she’d felt when he’d handed her the glass and his fingers had brushed hers. She certainly wasn’t going to admit that easy smile of his had any effect, either. That was very dangerous ground she wouldn’t tread upon. “And, no, Mr. MacGregor was not rude.”
Juliana lifted one brow skeptically.
“In fact,” Emily went on before her sister could remark, “he apologized and offered us accommodations in the newer part of the castle.”
“Thank God,” Lorelei exclaimed. “These rooms are horrid.”
“Agreed,” Juliana said, her voice wary, “but why would he do that?”
Emily grinned. “It was a bribe.”
Lorelei looked puzzled. “A bribe?”
“He asked me not to mention that the deed had been transferred and let his people think we are just on a visit.”
“I knew it was too good to be true!” Juliana snorted. “I hope you set him to rights.”
“Actually, I did not.”
“What? Does that mean we have to stay in these rooms?” Lorelei all but wailed. “I did so love that room all done in blue that Fiona showed us—”
“And you may have it if you wish,” Emily replied. “Or any other of your choosing. Both of you.”
“Why would Mr. MacGregor be so considerate all of a sudden?” Juliana narrowed her eyes in consternation. “What did you do?”
She hoped her sister wasn’t implying that she would act inappropriately or, worse, seduce the man. Lorelei looked at her with wide-eyed innocence, but Juliana had, unfortunately, had firsthand experience with propositions and she knew, more than Lorelei, how Emily had had to act to appease Albert.
“I did not do anything other than agree that it would be wise to give his people some time to get used to us before giving them all the details.”
“But why delay?”
“Is it not better they know why we are here?”
