Page 76 of Highland Renegade
Or maybe your uncle did, she thought, although she didn’t voice the words. However, she’d spent five years in London Society observing how gossips gleaned their information. “But what kind of mission, do you suppose?”
“I… It could be any number of things. Highwaymen. A clan dispute. Cattle-reiving, even.” He kept his smile in place. “These are the Highlands, you know.”
Emily gave him a wide-eyed look that would have done Lorelei proud. “Forgive me for not understanding—I am still learning about Highland ways—but are those not trivial matters? I thought—and I may be wrong—but are the dragoons not here to ensure there are no more uprisings or rebellions?”
He nodded. “That is one of their duties.”
“I have not heard any such rumors.” She touched his arm briefly. “Surely, nothing nearby?”
Gavin looked at his sleeve where her fingers had been and then put his hand over hers for a moment. “I have not heard any rumors, either.”
She withdrew her hand as casually as she could. Obviously, this conversation wasn’t getting her any useful information, so perhaps it was best to change the subject. She knew the dragoons had stopped at Inveraray and that some of them had ridden south toward Bute, but had they gone there? That was the real information she wanted.
“Well, since the earl is here, I might ask him later if he has heard of any disturbances that we might be concerned about.”
Something flashed in Gavin’s eyes, but it was gone quickly and replaced with another smile. “I was not aware that you knew the earl.”
“Oh, yes,” Emily answered with her own smile. “We met on several occasions when my husband was still alive.” She didn’t add that on those occasions she was usually paying off markers. “It will be good to renew our acquaintance.”
Gavin’s smile wavered, but before he could respond, the younger Cameron spilled his wine. Unfortunately, most of it landed in Juliana’s lap, since she’d been seated next to him.
“You bloody oaf!” She stood and started blotting the stain on her skirt with a napkin to no avail. “If you cannot—”
“What did ye call me?” He rose, too.
“Juliana.” Emily gave her sister a warning look. Conversation had stopped and everyone was watching.
Her sister chose to ignore her. “I called you a bloody oaf.”
He looked nonplussed, his face turning momentarily white before reddening. Out of the corner of her eye, Emily saw Ian disengage from a woman who had been holding on to his arm and push his chair back. She didn’t have time to consider who that woman was other than she was very pretty. She just hoped Ian would reach Juliana before Neal turned violent.
“Ye called me a bloodyoaf?” he repeated as if his ears had not heard correctly.
“I did and you are…umph!” She didn’t finish as Ian pulled her out of harm’s way.
“Ye’ll nae strike this woman, Cameron,” Ian threatened, “or ye’ll answer to me.”
Neal blinked, as if considering the fact that he might actually be harmed, and Emily sighed. Foxed as he was, it would take only a mere push to put him on the ground. She could probably do it herself, so she hoped Ian would restrain himself now that the immediate danger was past.
And then Neal Cameron did the strangest thing. He laughed.Laughed. As Ian raised a fist, he held both hands up. “Ye misunderstand, MacGregor. I’ve nae met a woman who dared to call me an oaf. Let alone abloodyone.” He wobbled a little, then gestured toward Juliana. “I think she will make me a fine wife!”
Juliana stared at him, speechless for once. Then her eyes narrowed and she made a sound very much like a hissing cat before turning and running from the room.
His father yanked him into his chair. “Shut yer mouth.”
His son just grinned. “Aye, a mighty fine wife.”
…
Ian switched his focus to Emily, who’d gotten up and was hurrying out of the room after her sister. If the look of distress on her face hadn’t been so dire, he would have laughed at the pure fury on Juliana’s as she’d stormed from the room. He suspected it didn’t have to do so much with her ruined gown as it did with Neal’s announced intention. Of course, the man was well into his cups and probably wouldn’t remember a word he said, but Juliana’s indignant reaction was near priceless. Ian doubted even Rory could have goaded her into such a temper.
“I daresay our entertainment has begun.” Gavin took a sip of wine. “And quite impromptu as well.”
Ian turned his attention to him. What had Campbell been talking to Emily about that, judging from how often she’d smiled at him, hadentertainedher? He’d been sitting too far away at the other end of the table to be able to hear what was said. It hadn’t helped that Breena Buchanan had managed to seat herself next to him and had not stopped talking. It had taken him less than five minutes to remember why he’d ended his very brief courtship of her a year ago. The lass chattered more than a cluster of squirrels amassing acorns.
Still, he didn’t need to hear the exact words to know that Gavin Campbell had been flirting with Emily. He had actually put his hand over hers. Ian felt a muscle in his jaw flex as he tried to ignore the fact that she had actually touched Campbell first…and had she leaned in just a little bit? Breena had plucked his own sleeve about that time asking, with a pout, if he was paying attention. He was, but not to her.
The Cameron laird looked up at him. “Do ye have another point to make?”
