Page 76 of Highland Champion
“Well, doubtful, but a possibility,” Louisa answered. “After all, that is why my brother has been encouraging yours to stay in good graces with His Grace.” She grimaced. “So sorry for the pun, but the duke does have some influence.”
And so does Melissa,Lorelei thought as she looked around but didn’t see her. For all of the duke’s rather rigid and grim demeanor—Randolph had mentioned once that Melissa’s father considered duty of priority importance—he clearly doted on his daughter. Probably not surprising, since she was his only child. The only time Lorelei had seen him smile was when Melissa had said something supposedly witty at the dinner table. She’d been too far away to hear what it was, but Alasdair had smiled, too.
But had he smiled because he wanted to or because he had to?
Thankfully, Louisa’s voice broke into her annoying thoughts. “I think Mr. Campbell is headed this way.”
“Probably to ask Fiona to dance.” Lorelei grinned at her. “Again.”
“He does seem to be rather attentive this evening,” Louisa said.
Fiona scoffed. “He is probably doing it to annoy Alasdair. They’re like two bairns sometimes.”
Louisa gave her a skeptical look. “Did Mr. Campbell not go with you to find Lorelei as soon as you asked?”
“Aye, but that was different,” Fiona said. “’Tis the Scottish way to help a neighbor.”
Louisa raised a brow slightly. “He waited until Lorelei came back downstairs that evening, even though he already knew she was all right, and he did not have to stay.”
“Hmmm. I had not thought of that.” Lorelei tilted her head. “Maybe he likes you, Fiona. I meanlikes—”
“Shhh!” Fiona’s cheeks turned slightly pink. “He will hear ye!”
Obligingly, Louisa made some remark about decorations as Gavin approached, but Lorelei couldn’t stop her lips from twitching as he did indeed ask for a dance and Fiona accepted.
“I wonder if she likes him, too,” she quipped to Louisa after they’d left.
Louisa looked thoughtful. “I think he would be a better match than Captain Taylor.”
Erik wasn’t present tonight, but then there was no reason he would have received an invitation to an event that was clearly limited to aristocrats. “Are you saying that because Gavin is the nephew of the Duke of Argyll and the captain does not have a title?”
“You know me better than that.” Louisa shook her head. “It is just that the captain would be gone so much. If she married him—”
“Fiona is not planning on selecting a husband this Season,” Lorelei replied, “but she does like sailing. Maybe she would go along on his voyages.”
“She would be that adventurous?”
“I think she would love it.”
“May I have this dance?” A man Lorelei didn’t know was bowing in front of Louisa. “I did not realize you would be in attendance this evening, Lady Louisa.”
“And I did not know you were back in London, Mr. Villiers.” She smiled and took his hand. “You must tell me about your travels.”
Lorelei’s mouth nearly dropped open. Apparently, Louisa had been keeping a bit of a secret from them. As she watched her friend walk toward the dance floor, she caught sight of Alasdair near the terrace windows and remembered theadventureshe had planned for this evening. That he was already near the open French windows would make it so much easier to lure him outside.
She put down the empty punch cup she’d been holding and started making her way across the floor. Since it was so crowded, she lost sight of him by the time she got to the doors. He wasn’t anywhere to be seen so maybe he had already stepped out for some air, too. That would be perfect. She could make this look accidental…
The light from the ballroom dimmed quickly as she stepped out onto the terrace. She could see several couples strolling along the garden paths, but she saw no single man. Then she heard a slight shuffle to her side and turned in that direction.
That portion of the terrace was deeply shadowed but would definitely be an advantage. Taking a few steps toward the corner she stopped when she heard a giggle and then gasped as her eyes adjusted to the dark.
Melissa stood entwined in Alasdair’s arms.
…
Alasdair’s head whipped around at the sound of someone gasping and froze when he saw it was Lorelei. Before he could say anything, she spun around and fled like the hounds of hell were nipping on her heels.
And he felt like a miserable cur.
