Page 1 of Harrowing Hall
Chapter One
October 1815
Scotland
Maude had neverbeen so excited, and perhaps a tad bored as she traveled from London to MacLauchlin Castle. Excited because she would see Blake MacLauchlin, Viscount of Lorne, again. Bored because she had no one to talk to but herself. Not that she was opposed to such, but it did become rather dull when nobody responded.
“I would respond, and we would enjoy many lively conversations if I were there,” her dearest friend Lady Clara Ainsworth would have said, but alas, she had married Lord Isaac MacLauchlin, Marquess of Durham, so she was quite busy nowadays.
It had been upon their meeting that Maude met Isaac’s cousin, Blake. A dashing and entertaining fellow, she had hit it off with him straight away. A pleasant and unexpected surprise considering she carried no title and was past the blooming youth of those freshly introduced into thehaut ton.
Not that she was all that old. She just was not all that young, either. Likely around Blake’s age. Despite how unorthodox, he had insisted she call him by his given name, and she agreed. But then, she had never been one to follow decorum all that well. In her opinion, life was better enjoyed with a big smile and a bit of fun than the ever-proper hint of a smile. Relished with as much spirit as she could get away with, much to her sister Lady Prudence Barrington’s chagrin.
“You cannot mean to go visit Lord MacLauchlin without a chaperone,”her sister had written in one of her more recent letters. She could almost hear the disappointment in her sibling’s perfectly written words.“That is unacceptable, even for you.”
“Even for me?”she had written back.“Dear sister, I am lowborn and past my prime in some circles, so I worry little about what others think.”
She could just see her sister’s eyes widen and her cheeks flush at theutterindecency of that reply. Especially considering their mother had married up after having Maude, so her sisters had been born titled. Something Maude best keep in mind, Prudence reminded her at every turn. As it were, tainting her own reputation could very well taint theirs through affiliation.
Suffice it to say, and yes, adding to her bouts of boredom now, Maude had not brought a chaperone. Not, as she would have her sister believe, because she meant to break the rules, but because she could not find anyone to join her. Besides, Blake had assured her his friend Jane would chaperone them if need be.
“Which seems a bit much,” she had replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Quite right,” he had agreed, equally amused. “We have spent plenty of time alone at Hastings Castle, and your good reputation is still intact.” He had chuckled. “So what difference will it make if we are alone at my castle?”
“None.” She had warmed at the look in his eyes. “Absolutely none.”
Where they had started their acquaintance as friends, it had morphed into a coconspirator sort of relationship as they played matchmaker and steered Lady Clara and Lord Isaac together. If she were to put it properly, Mrs. Dove-Lyon, a renowned matchmaker who arranged marriages of convenience, had brought them together first, but she and Blake most definitely saw it through.
After that, or perhaps even during it, Blake had started to look at Maude differently. With interest she had not expected from a man like him. While she supposed her looks were passable, she was by no means a great beauty like her sisters, nor, again, was she titled. But he had not seemed to care and started courting her in London.
Since then, every moment of every day, she had been afloat, her feet barely touching the ground. Now here she was several months later, finally going to visit Blake, who was consideredlaird, as the Scots said it, of a castle that had been in his family for over five hundred years.
Maude could barely contain her excitement when the carriage turned down a long, winding drive lined with vibrantly colored trees. This was her first visit to Scotland, and she was already in love with the wild feel of it. It suited Blake, as did the medieval castle that appeared ahead.
“Oh,my,” she exclaimed, fanning herself. She wished she could jump out right now and walk the rest of the way. Feel the cobbled dirt beneath her feet. Explore the grounds before the castle. Or so she felt until she spied Blake standing on the stairs waiting for her and realized the carriage would get her to him faster.
Every time she saw Blake, he stole her breath. Tall with broad shoulders, a thick crop of dark hair, and pleasing facial features, she found him remarkably handsome.
The carriage had barely come to a stop when he waved off the footman, flung open the door, stuck his head in, and smiled broadly. “Welcome, lass.” Ignoring decorum every bit as much as she would have, he hopped in, sat beside her, and took her hand. “How was your journey?” His stunning green eyes flashed with concern, and his Scottish burr warmed her. “Did it go well? Were you comfortable enough?”
“I was, thank you.” As usual, she was a bit tongue-tied around him for a breath or two before she found her voice. “How could I not be in this lovely carriage you sent?”
“Only the verra best for you, m’dear.” When he kissed the back of her hand, his lips lingered a bit longer than usual. As if he cherished the very taste of her. “How have you been?”
His tone softened, and his eyes did that thing that made her stomach somersault. As though she were some great beauty he intended to ravish before she could say another word.
“It has been too long,” he murmured.
“It has been but a week.” Though the longest they had gone without seeing each other since meeting.
“Aye, but still too long.” He glanced from the door to her and frowned. “I did so mean to do this right with you. To take your hand when you got out of the carriage, then lead you into your new castle, like the proper lady you are.” He flinched. “I hope you do not think me callous, but I could not help myself.” He winked. “You have a way of making me break the rules.”
Hernew castle? If only. As to rule-breaking? May he never stop.
“I would not want it any other way.” She could not help but smile. Or had she been smiling the whole time? “You know I am not one to stand on formalities. I much prefer that you act as you have always acted with me.”
“Good.” His appreciative gaze lingered on her face, then solely on her lips as though he meant to kiss her before he blinked and seemed to catch himself. “Then let us be alone.” He grinned. “What I mean to say is, let me show you around the castle unchaperoned, aye?”
