Page 53 of Highland Champion
Lorelei tried not to let her emotions show. Alasdair thought of her as asister?
“’Tis my duty to look after both of ye,” he added. “Ian and Emily will nae forgive me if something happens to ye.”
Hisduty? She was hisduty? Her eyes stung and she looked away before he could see tears well up. He’d just made clear how he felt and why he was so intent on keeping track of them. She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. She would do well to remember that.
He sank into an armchair across from the sofa, apparently not aware how much his words had stung. “I doona like Erik Taylor.”
Fiona frowned at him. “Why nae?”
“I just have a bad feeling about him.”
“’Tis nae a reason.”
He grunted. “All right then. The man is a sore loser.”
“No one likes to lose,” Lorelei said and then could have bitten her tongue. Hopefully, Alasdair wouldn’t think she meant herself, because that’s what she felt like right now.
“He has a temper as well. Remember how he stormed out of the whist party?”
At least Alasdair hadn’t made the connection, but it did confirm she probably wasn’t even in the game. Lady Melissa had managed to turn his affections away from her after all. She pushed the thought away lest she become a watering pot.
“He apologized to Louisa for his behavior,” she said.
“’Tis what cads do,” Alasdair answered. “He kenned he’d overstepped—”
“I like him,” Fiona interrupted. “And he’s invited me to go for a sail.”
“Ye will nae be doing that.”
She lifted her chin. “Ye canna stop me.”
“We will see about that.” He glowered at his sister. “The man wants to take advantage of ye.”
She glared back. “I will nae let anything happen that I doona want—”
“Doonawant?” Alasdair narrowed his eyes. “Have ye already let him kiss ye?”
Lorelei inhaled sharply and looked away once more. Why did he have to mentionkissing? She could still recall—quite vividly—what had transpired that evening in Scotland when they’d danced. How wonderful his kiss had felt. She felt her cheeks warm. Lord help her. He’d just referred to her as asister.
“Nae, I didna, but doona ask again.” Fiona wagged her finger at him. “Mayhap I should ask if ye’ve kissed Lady Melissa?”
Dear God. Lorelei felt the blood drain from her face, not daring to look at him as she waited for his answer. It seemed like minutes passed as he paused, but when he finally replied, his voice was expressionless.
“I will nae discuss what I do—or doona do—with a lady.”
“Then doona think to ask me!” Fiona shot back. “And, for that matter, doona be sniffing around trying to find out what Lorelei does, either!”
There was a stunned silence. Lorelei prayed at that moment that the floor would crack open beneath her and she’d disappear from sight. Could this conversation get any worse?
Then she heard the opening of the front door and female voices. Perhaps Fiona’s faeries had decided that enough was enough and decided to take pity on her by having Louisa and her mother return home just now. At least, it put an end to the conversation.
But…had Alasdair made a confession or hadn’t he?
…
Why the hell had he brought upkissing? Alasdair managed to plaster a smile on his face as Louisa and her mother entered the room, ending any possibility of trying to smooth things over.
Then again, perhaps their arrival had been a godsend. He’d certainly bungled everything he’d set out to do with this visit. His intent had been to make sure Fiona and Lorelei did not take risks. Going to the docks, even in daylight, was not particularly safe, but to go aboard a ship? Taylor’s especially.
