Page 75 of When the Rogue Returns
Rupert shot Isa a furtive glance. “She would never have married me anyway. She made that very clear just now.”
“Shecouldn’thave married you without breaking the law,” Victor countered. “But it’s just as well. Because Mr. Gordon drove up with Mary Grace as I was arriving, and she’s waiting for us outside. Waiting foryou.I daresay she would be very unhappy to see you married to anyone.”
Rupert gazed at Victor for a long moment, then sighed. “Oh, all right, I’ll go to the house party. But only on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Victor asked.
“You take my curricle, and you let me drive your phaeton there.”
“It’s not my—” Victor caught himself. “Of course.” Even as Isa was wondering if she should warn Victor about Rupert’s driving, Victor asked, “But why?”
Rupert colored. “Miss Gordon is sure to be impressed with a phaeton.”
Isa doubted that Mary Grace knew a phaeton from a dogcart, but if it made Rupert happy, why not?
“Ah.” Victor stepped forward and held out his hand. “Well, then, we have a bargain.”
Rupert stared down at Victor’s hand and hesitated. When he shook Victor’s hand, Isa let out a long breath. A friendship between Victor and Rupert would go a long way toward making her deception a bit more palatable in Edinburgh society once it became widely known.
Victor turned to her. “If Lochlaw is driving Miss Gordon up to Kinlaw Castle, there’s no point in Mr. Gordon driving you there. You can ride in Lochlaw’s curricle with me.”
“That would be wonderful, thank you,” she said and took the arm he offered.
“Is the estate far?” Victor asked as he headed for the door. “Will we need a picnic basket?”
“It’s a couple of hours away,” she told him. “And I’m sure they’ll have a big dinner waiting for us when we arrive.”
“Wait!” Rupert cried from behind them, his voice sounding panicked. “What do I say to Miss Gordon?”
“About what?” Isa asked.
“About anything.” Rupert came up to her. “I don’t know how to talk to women.”
Isa smiled at him. “You talked to me perfectly well. And I didn’t even understand all the nonsense about atomic theory, whereas she finds it fascinating. So why not start there?”
“I don’t think you’ll have to speak much, anyway,” Victor said dryly. “A lovely bouquet of roses showed up at her house this morning, courtesy of the Baron Lochlaw. She’ll be happy just to sit beside you and blush.”
Rupert’s eyes went wide. “But I didn’t send her any flowers.”
“I know,” Victor said with a wink at Isa.
When Rupert still looked perplexed, Isa said gently, “Victor is saying thathedid.” She shot her husband an arch glance. “It was the least he could do, after deceiving you at the florist two days ago.”
“Ohhh.” Rupert glanced at Victor, his gaze friendlier this time. “Thank you, old fellow!” Then he cocked his head. “Are yousureyou need my help at the house party?”
Victor chuckled. “Trust me, it wasn’t my brief sojourn in society that taught me the fine effects of sending flowers.” He patted Isa’s hand. “I learned that from my wife years ago. All women like flowers.”
“Do they?” Rupert said. “I shall have to remember that.”
Isa had no doubt that Mary Grace would make sure he did. “One other thing you should remember.” She flashed him an encouraging smile. “You are the Baron of Lochlaw and a fine young man. Both Victor and I think so. Don’t let your mother’s machinations keep you from having a life of your own, on your own terms.”
Rupert gazed at her uncertainly for a moment, thennodded. “All the same, I don’t think Mother will approve of my riding out to the house party on my own instead of in the carriage with her, even if it is in a phaeton.”
“Which is precisely why you should do it,” Victor said, clearly suppressing a smile. “It will show her that you mean to behave as you please from now on.”
“Yes!” Rupert said, squaring his shoulders. “It certainly will.”
When they walked outside, Rupert surprised Isa by taking their advice to heart. He very graciously asked Mr. Gordon’s permission to drive Mary Grace in the phaeton, as long as Victor and Isa were right behind them. Then, true to Victor’s prediction, he escorted the furiously blushing young woman to the duke’s equipage.
