Page 78 of Highland Renegade
Which reminded Emily of the woman who’d been sitting next to Ian. She was pretty, too. Could it be the same woman? “Is the girl here tonight?”
Fiona shook her head. “Her father married her off to a Hamilton widower of some years who needed a young wife to look after his eight children. They moved to Glasgow.”
Emily felt empathy for the girl. She hadn’t had to take care of a nest of children and her father would never have forced her into marriage, but the results had been similar.
“Are there no MacFarlanes here tonight then?”
“I doona think so.”
“I noticed two or three other ladies seated at the table. Are they all Campbells?”
“Nae,” Fiona answered. “one is Neal’s sister, Margaret, and the one sitting next to her is her cousin.”
“And the other?” Emily finally asked when it seemed Fiona was not going to volunteer any information on the woman seated next to Ian. His sister looked uncomfortable, and Emily felt a sudden chill.
“That would be Breena Buchanan.”
“And who is she?” Lorelei asked.
Emily silently blessed her sister at that moment. Lorelei no doubt was just curious, but it saved her from having to ask the dreaded question.
Fiona fidgeted with her sleeve. “Last year, Ian paid her some attention.”
Juliana glanced at Emily, then at Fiona. “It seems he still does.”
Emily felt her face heat and quickly looked down to smooth her skirts. Trust Juliana to be so blunt. And yet…she wanted to know if it was true.
“Nae, Ian is only being polite tonight,” Fiona answered. “He decided she was nae the one for him shortly after that.”
Emily fussed with an invisible wrinkle and wondered if he’d told Breena. She certainly didn’t act as though she’d accepted it.
Quite the opposite.
…
By the time the trestle tables had been put up and the benches set aside to make room in the Great Hall for the actual ball, Emily’s nerves were frazzled. A carriage had been brought around for Juliana, since she was adamant she did not want to see or speak to Neal Cameron again. Fiona’s revelation about Breena hadn’t helped, either, especially since the woman was clinging to Ian when Emily finally reentered the hall.
“Is all well?” Gavin asked as he joined her.
No,she wanted to say. While she’d made Juliana’s apologies to the duke, Neal Cameron had overheard and said it was a ridiculous excuse. Before Emily could stop her, Lorelei had then picked up a glass of wine to toss on him. His reflexes were quick for a drunk and he blocked her hand, which unfortunately resulted in the contents spilling onto Lorelei instead. She was now accompanying Juliana home in quite a high temper. Alasdair had gallantly offered to escort them. Emily only hoped he’d still be on speaking terms with her sisters when that journey ended. But Gavin was obviously waiting for an answer.
“As well as can be expected given the unusual circumstances.”
“Most unfortunate for your sisters,” Gavin replied. “Cameron can be quite the oaf, indeed.”
That was the mildest word Juliana had used. While they were waiting on the carriage, she’d added others…lout, cad, swine, buffoon, and cur to name just a few. Perhaps it was just as well she had gone home, since Emily was quite sure the Duke of Argyll would not appreciate her inciting a brawl.
“The music has started.” Gavin broke through her reverie. “May I have the first dance?”
She could hardly refuse, since this was his home. As she laid her hand atop his offered arm, she saw Breena tugging Ian along, and an unfamiliar sharp pain shot through her. Regardless of what Fiona had said, it didn’t look like Ian was making that much of an effort to decline. At least it was a country reel, which would keep them separated much of the dance.
The dance was livelier than those in London, but she picked up the steps quickly enough. She passed Ian several times throughout the turns and twirls and each time their hands touched, however briefly, a tingle ran up her arm. It was not a reaction she had with any other. She wondered if Ian felt it, too. His whisky-colored eyes seemed to darken each time they met.
A good half hour passed before the music finally stopped. Emily was hot and out of breath, although none of the Scots women seemed to be affected. Obviously, they were used to dances lasting four times longer than what she was accustomed to, but it also made her aware that life in the Highlands required a certain amount of fortitude.
“Would you care for some refreshment?” Gavin asked. “There are several beverages to choose from, if you care to walk over.”
Emily glanced toward the far end of the hall where a table had been set up. Ian and Breena were standing near it, and the last place she wanted to be was near them. Before she could politely decline, a servant hurried over and whispered something to Gavin. He scowled slightly, then turned to her.
