Page 4 of A Scottish Lord for Christmas
“Oh yes, thank you, Lord Forres,” Lady Pepperwirth exclaimed in relief.
Forres turned his focus to Rowena and heat flooded her cheeks when he took the hand that had been resting upon his arm and pressed a lingering kiss on her bare skin. When he released her hand, Rowena clutched it to her chest as she watched the handsome Scotsman stride away into the house.
“Well, that’s certainly encouraging, isn’t it?” Her mother glanced back at where Forres had gone.
With a little exasperated sigh, Rowena stared at her mother.
“He is very polite, Mama, but I don’t think—”
“Oh hush, every man with good sense would be interested in you, dear. From the moment you were born, I knew you would grow up to be a beauty, just like your sister, but thank heavens you’ve a sweeter temperament.”
“Mama!” Rowena protested. “You know Milly is as sweet as me. She simply doesn’t suffer fools.” Rowena adored her older sister but sometimes Milly acted a bit prickly, especially to young men, because she feared marriage and the loss of her sense of self. It was a complicated notion, but Rowena understood that Milly feared a husband would repress her freedom.
Lady Pepperwirth puffed out her chest. “Yes, well, your sister has certainly gotten herself involved in a bit of trouble with her attitude. Your father and I have a fine mess to deal with getting a wedding arranged quickly with as little scandal as possible.”
Guilt clawed at Rowena’s insides and she pressed a hand to her stomach. Here she had been enjoying a walk with Lord Forres while her sister was no doubt suffering preparations for a wedding to a man she didn’t know and didn’t love.
It was my fault she was compromised.That part made Rowena feel even worse. The previous evening Milly had come to her and explained that she was worried that Owen Hadley, the handsome fortune hunter, had set his sights on Rowena. Unfortunately, Milly had been right about Owen and had been compromised when he’d snuck into her room by accident. It was their wedding her parents now had to plan.
“Does she really have to marry him?” The thought of her beloved sister trapped into a marriage because she’d been protecting Rowena…It made Rowena’s stomach roll over.
“Of course she does,” her mother said with a slight frown. “But don’t worry about her, Rowena; she can use a bit of marriage to improve her mood. Mr. Hadley might be a suitable match after all. Now come, dear, tell me how you and Lord Forres met this morning.”
Rowena rolled her eyes. Her mother was relentless when it came to marrying off her children. Unfortunately for her, Rowena wanted a love match.
“I don’t think he is interested in me, Mama. He was being polite; that is all.”
“Humph,” her mother huffed. “Well, his land holdings in Forres are immense, his temperament is good, and he’s a fine-looking man. We’d best snap him up before he takes his wife hunting to London.”
Snap him up?That was the last thing she needed. A husband. Of course she wanted one, but she’d only just come out. A girl had every right to embrace the freedom of the city in the late fall, the dancing, the balls, the gowns, the suitors…Rowena did want to experience it at least once before she made a decision.
“Mama, I want to enjoy the Season. Must we discuss marriagenow?” She knew she sounded a little childish, but she didn’t want to rush such a monumental decision.
“Well, I suppose we have plenty of time to discuss Lord Forres later.” Her mother’s lips pursed. “I’ve come to tell you that your father and I must take Milly straight home to settle the wedding plans. You are to remain here at Hampton for the duration of the party. The dowager countess will be a diligent chaperone for you.”
Her parents were leaving? Rowena clutched her mother’s arm. “But you can’t go, Mama. I need you here—”
“Nonsense. It’s time you were off my leading strings and on your own for a bit. We won’t be far.” Lady Pepperwirth patted her hand gently.
Following her inside the grand Hampton House, Rowena paused in the entry. The muted gold light coming in through the vast windows illuminated the grand staircase. Only last night she’d descended those steps as a debutante in a white gown, the eyes of every man at the party fixed on her. She didn’t revel in the attention, but it was pleasant to be noticed for once.
But the night was over, today was a new day, and she wondered what she was supposed to do without her mother or her sister here to guide her. Dinner was easy enough, discussions, courses of the meal, she’d learned it all, but…what was she to do during the day on her own?
“Oh, Milly, I wish I were you,” Rowena murmured. “You’d know exactly what to do.”
Chapter 2
Quinn MacCauley, the seventh earl of Forres, stared out of the wide French windows facing the veranda of Hampton House. The midmorning tea had just been laid out and a light luncheon was being prepared. Yet Quinn could not focus on these details. His mind, as it was wont to do this last year, drifted.
The ring finger on his left hand was bare, and he felt naked without the silver band he’d worn until a month ago.
Sweet Maura…
Had it truly been a year since his wife had died giving birth to the baby boy that had perished with her? He didn’t feel ready to move on—he doubted he ever would—but Blair, his darling, wee bairn, needed a mother. She was growing up so fast, and before he knew it she’d be presented at court and suitors would be knocking at his door. As a single father, he feared he’d closet Blair away in a tower and not let her live a full life. It would happen all too soon, and knowing that made him hurt deep inside with a heavy ache of loneliness.
It was all of this that had him traipsing through England on a wife hunt. Any Scottish lass would have been fine, but he feared they would remind him of Maura. So he and Mrs. Finch had taken Blair and left Forres to come to England to find a woman.
He didn’t expect to fall in love again, not after how he’d loved Maura. She was his childhood sweetheart, his dearest friend, his lover. The woman he’d chased through the wild heather and rode out on the grounds with every morning. The gaping hole in his heart was still raw. Absently, he rubbed his bare ring finger again as he watched Leo Graham, the Earl of Hampton, and his fiancée, Ivy Leighton, walk into the dining room. Their heads were bent toward one another as they shared whispers and secret smiles. The ache in his chest grew.
