Page 81 of Highland Renegade
“Where’s Rory?”
“He wanted to wait a minute to make sure nae one followed us.”
“Good point.” Although Ian didn’t want to stand around in the hall where servants were sure to be coming through, he also wanted to make sure their temporary departure was not noticed. It felt like minutes passed before Rory finally entered the hallway.
“This way,” Ian said. “If I remember, there is an office of sorts off the kitchen that the housekeeper uses.” Luckily, the door was unlocked. He motioned them through, checking to make sure no servants had seen them. Then he closed the door, leaned against it, and looked at Devon.
“What?” his brother asked.
Ian was holding on to his temper by a thread. “Doona play me for a fool. What transpired between ye and the Cameron lass?”
“Ye heard Margaret. Nothing improper, she said.”
“I ken what I heardhersay. I also ken thatyesaid nothing.”
“There was nae need.” Devon shrugged. “If her kin willna believe her, why should they believe me?”
“Herkin is nae here,” Carr pointed out. “Yourkin is. Answer Ian’s question.”
A corner of his mouth quirked. “Why, brother, ye ken ’tis nae honorable to kiss and tell.”
“’Tis nae the time for jest,brother,” Carr replied. “Did ye take advantage of the lass?”
“Nae.” He grew defiant. “I took only what Margaret freely offered.”
“Jesu!” Rory exploded. “Are ye a complete eejit?”
Devon drew his brows together. “Only a fool would turn down what she asked me to do—”
“Lucifer’s horns!” Somehow Ian managed to keep his voice down. “If ye got her with child, ye will have to—”
“We did nae go that far.” Devon looked at each of his brothers. “Ye have my word on that.”
“Still. If ye had been caught in a compromising position, ye would have had to marry the lass,” Carr said.
“And we would have hadCameronsfor kin,” Rory added. “Ye want that arse of her brother to be a part of us?”
“That is nae going to happen,” Devon shot back. “I told ye, there will be nae bairn.”
“Thank God for that,” Ian replied. “And thank God nae one saw ye in the garden.” “Aye.” Carr nodded. “Had there been a witness, ye would be in deep trouble.”
Devon was quiet for a moment. “I suppose I would.”
It wasn’t like his brother to acquiesce so easily, but they’d already been gone long enough. “We’d best get back to the festivities.” He gave Devon a warning look. “I hope ye learned yer lesson.”
To which his brother didn’t reply.
…
Emily watched as Ian disappeared through the door at the far end of the hall, followed by two of his brothers. In another minute, Rory left as well. She suspected they were going to give Devon a stern dressing down, but at least he didn’t need to admit to more than he wanted to. Guilt niggled at her for telling a lie, but the consequences of his behavior would have had far more serious repercussions if she had admitted the truth. Besides, if she hadn’t been so naïve to think an animal had been hurt in the folly, she wouldn’t have stumbled across the tryst in the first place. Neither Devon nor Margaret were innocents, obviously, but it truly was not her business.
“What has you so contemplative, my dear Lady Woodhaven?”
She turned abruptly to see Lord Bute standing a few feet away. She’d been so wrapped in thought that she hadn’t heard or seen him approach. Not that she could tell him what she had been thinking about.
“I must apologize, Lord Bute. I fear I was simply woolgathering.” She dipped a quick curtsy. “How good of you to attend the ball.”
He made a small bow. “Well, one does not often refuse a duke’s invitation.”
