Page 77 of Highland Renegade
Ian very much would have liked to make another point, only one directed at Campbell to leave Emily alone. But he was drawing attention to himself now that the wine episode had passed. Neither Argyll nor his brother had made any attempt to intervene, although they were watching from their end of the table, as was Lord Bute.
He sighed. If there was one person here tonight that he needed to curry favor from, it was the former prime minister. Getting into a verbal altercation with either the young Cameron or Gavin Campbell would only make the MacGregors seem more like outlaws. Certainly, it would not help his cause in any way.
“Nae.” He looked at the blurry-eyed son. “Just a bit of advice, though.” He doubted the man would remember, but he felt an obligation to Emily’s sister. “Miss Caldwell tends to mean what she says. If I were ye, I’d let that fish swim away.”
Neal winked at him. Or attempted to, anyway. Because of his inebriated state, it looked more like he’d gotten something caught in his eye. But his next words were clear, so he wasn’t quite as drunk as Ian thought.
“I do like reeling in a fightin’ fish.” He grinned rather crookedly.
“How interesting,” Gavin said.
…
“I cannot go back in there!” Juliana stopped stomping around the room that served as a ladies’ retreat and looked at Emily, Lorelei, and Fiona, all of whom had followed her out. “Have a carriage brought around. I am going home.”
Emily took a deep breath. “Remember that our host is the Duke of Argyll. He might consider it rude for you to leave.”
Lorelei looked at her, horrified. “Surely not after her gown has been ruined!”
Fiona tilted her head. “The stain could be removed if we could get some cold water and soap.”
“Then she’d have to walk around in awetgown,” Lorelei said.
“’Tis better than to have it ruined.”
Juliana rolled her eyes. “The dress does not matter that much. I simply do not want to have anything more to do with that nasty man.”
Fiona nodded. “Neal Cameron is right spoiled, he is. Likes to have his way, since in Scotland, he is still considered the laird’s son.”
“Well, he will not have his way with me,” Juliana answered.
“Doona fash,” Fiona said. “My brothers will protect ye.”
Juliana gave her a skeptical look. “All your brothers?”
“Well, truth be told, I am nae sure about Devon.”
“Or Rory,” Juliana said drily. “He’d probably be more than happy to give me to that bloody oaf.”
Fiona laughed. “Ye have that all wrong. Rory despises Neal.”
Juliana shrugged. “All the more reason then, I would think.”
“Why does Rory not like Neal?” Emily asked before her sister could start to rant on.
“’Twas a girl. Three years ago at a gathering of clans, Rory had his heart set—or at least his eye—on a neighboring MacFarlane lass. When Neal realized it, he decided to win her away.” Fiona paused. “A proscribed MacGregor didna have much chance against a Cameron.”
“If she was that shallow, then Rory should count his blessings,” Emily said.
“Och, aye. He didna pine for long.” Fiona paused once more. “But the lass came to Rory the next day with bruises on her arms and told him Neal had raped her.”
Emily could practically hear the silence around her. “What happened?”
“Nothing. When Rory went to confront him, he denied it and said the girl was lying. His father vouched for him.”
“So nothing came of it?”
“She didna get with child and the laird of Clan MacFarlane let it go.” Fiona sighed. “Right pretty she was, too.”
