“Yes, I’m fine. If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” She rose clumsily to her feet.
“Ainsley, wait,” Royal said, starting to drag himself up.
“Leave me alone,” she snapped, then all but fled the table.
Because she’d been conversing with Alec and the twins, Edie hadn’t heard the ugly exchange. She turned as Ainsley rushed off. “Where’s she going?”
Victoria stood. “Just to the retiring room. I think I’ll join her.”
Edie gazed suspiciously at Royal, who stared after Ainsley with a perplexed expression.
“No need to worry,” Victoria said. “I’ll check on her ladyship.”
As she passed Royal, she jabbed him in the arm. “Sit down and behave yourself,” she said in an undertone.
Surprisingly, he complied without argument.
Victoria threaded her way through the crowded supper room, smiling blandly at anyone who looked curious. When she reached the relative quiet of the hall that ran the length of the classically designed building, she breathed a sigh of relief. Music filtered down from the upstairs ballroom, and a few couples and sets of girls strolled along the corridor, but the high-ceiling space was blessedly calm.
She hurried toward the back of the building and the ladies’ retiring room. But when a man stepped out from a shadowed window alcove, she bit back an exclamation and pulled up short.
“Pardon me, miss,” the man said. “I surely didn’t mean to startle you.”
His accent suggested London with a hint of the East End. Dressed neatly and with propriety, he was neither tall nor particularly handsome, although his features were pleasant enough. At first glance, he seemed entirely bland and inoffensive.
But as he continued to smile and block her way, Victoria felt the hairs prickle along the back of her neck. For a man who appeared harmless, one word bizarrely jumped into her mind.
Menacing.
She forced a smile. “No harm done, sir. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
When she made to go around him, he smoothly slid into her path.
“Please forgive my forward behavior, ma’am. Believe me when I say I have no wish to offend.”
She ignored the stirrings of fear in her belly. He couldn’t do anything to harm her with so many people within calling distance. “Then I suggest you move aside, sir.”
“You are Miss Victoria Knight, are you not?”
She hesitated to answer. Was this the man who’d been watching her?
It would be easy enough for him to discover her identity. Anyone in the other room could tell him. “I am. Why do you ask?”
“And you are the governess to Lord Arnprior’s brother?”
She frowned. “May I know your name, sir, and why you would ask?”
“My name is Mr. Archibald Pence,” he said, giving her a slight bow. “I am acquainted with one of your previous employers.”
Victoria’s stomach all but leapt into her throat. “Which one?”
“Mrs. Havergill. She spoke very highly of you.”
“I see,” she said, feeling relieved. “Are you interested in hiring me, sir? If so, I am afraid I will not be available for some time.”
Or ever, if Arnprior had his way.
He held up his hands. “No, I simply wished to satisfy my curiosity. Forgive me if I alarmed you.” He glanced toward the front of the building. “Ah, it appears the earl is coming to fetch you. Have a good evening, Miss Knight.”
He stepped around her and quickly walked away.
Turning, she saw Arnprior striding toward her, a scowl marking his brow. When Pence came level with him, the earl slowed and gave the man a hard stare. The Londoner merely doffed his hat and proceeded on his way.
“Was that fellow bothering you?” Arnprior rested a gloved hand protectively on her shoulder, the leather cool and smooth on her bare skin. “I can follow and thrash him, if you like.”
She smothered a laugh. “Your generous offer won’t be necessary, sir. He wasn’t truly bothering me.” Still, she couldn’t help moving closer to his reassuring warmth.
He tucked her against him. “He did make you nervous. Who was he?”
“No one, really.”
“Victoria—”
“His name is Mr. Pence. He knew one of my previous employers, that’s all.”
“I’m not familiar with the name. I’ll see what I can find out about him.”
“Thank you, but I’m sure it’s nothing.” Though he could be ridiculously overprotective, she was secretly glad of it.
Arnprior tipped her chin up with a finger. “By the way, what are you doing wandering the halls by yourself, waiting to be accosted by strange men?”
Now he was just being silly. “The Glasgow Assembly Rooms are hardly the stews of London, sir.”
“Still—”
“I believe she was looking for me, Lord Arnprior,” said a clipped voice.
They turned to see Ainsley regarding them with her usual imperious manner.
Victoria went to her. “My lady, are you feeling better? You looked a bit unwell when you left the table.”
She scoffed. “That’s one way of putting it. But I’m perfectly fine now.”
Victoria winced. “I’m sorry if—”
She held up a hand. “No need to apologize. If you don’t mind, I’ll rejoin the Gilbrides.” She gave them a brusque nod and sailed off in the direction of the supper room.
“What was that all about?” Arnprior asked.
“I’m afraid Royal insulted her.”
“Good God,” he said, sounding disgusted.
“It wasn’t entirely his fault. Lady Ainsley was just as rude. More so, actually.” She studied his frown. “I didn’t realize they knew each other.”
He nodded. “They seemed to get along quite well when they first met, but then they had a falling out. Royal refused to talk about it.”
She pressed a dramatic hand to her chest. “I’m deeply shocked to hear that.”
When he laughed, she took his arm and started forward. “We’d best go back and try to prevent further hostilities from breaking out.”
He gently reeled her back into his embrace.
“Lord Arnprior!” She glanced around the hall. Fortunately, no one was about at the moment. “This is most inappropriate.”
He ignored her objection and feathered a kiss across her lips. “I think you’ve had enough of my family for one night.”
She had to swallow before she could reply. “Sir, your family is my job.”
His smile was infinitely arousing. “Not tonight, lass. Tonight, your job is to take care of me.”
Chapter Eighteen
His seductive smile was all but impossible to resist. Still, Victoria felt compelled to make an effort. “Lord Arnprior, I do not believe that falls under the description of my duties.”
“Then I suppose I should amend them,” he said with a roguish twinkle. When she disengaged from his loose embrace, his smile faded. “Lass, I’m only teasing. You never have to do anything you don’t wish to do.”
“Thank you,” she said, now feeling foolish.
He studied her for a long moment. “Tell me what troubles you.”
She hesitated for a moment before answering. “I suppose I’m not sure of my standing in your household anymore.”
“You are the woman I hope to marry. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already a member of the Kendrick family.”
She read only sincerity in his gaze. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Not to me. And right now I wish to be alone with you, without my blasted family taking all your notice.”
Victoria wavered, tempted more than she cared to admit. Still, there was a great deal to consider before taking their relationship further, starting with the fact that she was keeping some exceedingly troubling secrets from him.
He flashed her a rueful smile. “You’ve been avoiding being alone with me since we came to Glasgow, lass.”
“Not delib
erately.”
When he raised an eyebrow, she sighed. “It’s just that it feels rather confusing at the moment. I’ve never been . . .”
“Compromised before?”
“That works.”
“Then spending time alone might be the best way to clear up any confusion.”
She’d been telling herself for days not to succumb to her feelings, but perhaps he was correct that the most sensible course of action was to spend time together like rational adults. What more harm could it do?
“Well, Miss Knight?”
She gave him a tremulous smile. “I admit I would like that.”
When his mouth curved up in a satisfied grin, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “At least spending time with you is bound to be more restful than running herd on the twins. Or keeping Royal and Lady Ainsley from murdering each other.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” he said, taking her arm and steering her toward the front of the building. “One I will be most happy to rise to.”
When he comically waggled his eyebrows, Victoria tried to look shocked. Fortunately, she was spared the need to reply when Edie emerged from the tearoom.
“There you are, Victoria. I was beginning to worry.” She nodded a greeting at Arnprior.
“Good evening, Mrs. Gilbride,” Arnprior said. “Miss Knight is feeling rather fatigued, so I’ll be taking her home.”
“Will Royal and the twins be going with you?” Edie asked.
“No,” Victoria and Arnprior said in unison.
Edie grinned. “Ah, I thought not. Very well, Alec and I will both chaperone the twins and make sure that Royal and Ainsley keep a safe distance.”
Victoria winced. “Oh, dear. They’re still fighting?”
“At the moment they’re just glaring at each other, so perhaps we’ve reached a state of armed truce.”
Victoria glanced at the earl. “Maybe we should go in.”
“God, no,” Arnprior said.
“Not to worry,” Edie said. “We have everything in hand.” She made a shooing motion. “You two go off and have fun.”
Victoria blushed at the knowing look in her friend’s eye before she allowed Arnprior to lead her to the cloakroom.
He eyed her feet. “I thought we’d walk home, but those dancing slippers will hardly do the trick.”
“Actually, the twins and I came on foot.” Kendrick House was only a short walk from the Assembly Rooms. “My half-boots are with my cloak.”
“I thought you didn’t like being out in the cold.”
“It would appear I’ve gotten used to Scotland’s climate.”
Much to her astonishment, she’d found herself missing walks and rides in the bracing Highland air. She missed drafty Castle Kinglas, too.
After an attendant fetched their various outer garments, Victoria sat in a convenient alcove to change to her boots. When she struggled to stuff her slippers into an inside pocket of her cloak, Arnprior plucked them from her hand and stowed them inside his greatcoat.
He offered her an arm. “Ready?”
As she gazed into his handsome face, she realized she was more than ready for whatever was to follow. “Yes, my lord.”
They went down the shallow stairs to the street, where he paused to carefully pull up her hood.
“Don’t want you getting a chill,” he murmured.
She appreciated his thoughtfulness. “It’s impossible to catch a chill in this cloak. It’s the best Christmas present I’ve ever received.”
The Scots didn’t fuss about Christmas, reserving most of their celebrations for Hogmanay. But Edie had insisted on having a special holiday dinner a few days ago, with the traditional foods and English customs. Afterward, she’d pulled Victoria aside and given her the sumptuous, fur-lined velvet cloak. Victoria had protested, claiming that no governess would ever wear such a garment. Edie had replied that she wouldn’t be a governess much longer, and that she needed sturdy clothing to survive the gruesome Highland winters.
“Besides, you’re family,” Edie had added, hugging her. “And there’s nothing wrong with family giving each other nice presents.”
Victoria hadn’t been able to resist such impeccable logic.
“I’m rather annoyed about that cloak,” Arnprior said. In the light of the streetlamps, he did look a little disgruntled.
“Whatever for?”
“Because you wouldn’t let me give you a Christmas present.”
He’d tried to take her shopping last week, but Victoria had steadfastly refused to countenance a public display of Arnprior lavishing gifts upon her. Glasgow was already gossiping about them enough as it was.
“The Scots don’t exchange presents on Christmas, remember?” she said.
“You made an exception with Edie and Alec.”
“But they’re family. It’s different.”
It was lovely to be able to acknowledge that Alec was her cousin, and Victoria had been astounded by the earl’s easy acceptance of her scandalous parentage. She’d been sure he would be horrified by the discovery.
“And I will be family sooner rather than later, Miss Knight,” he said with mock severity. “As such, I claim the right to give you a present whenever I wish.”
“Perhaps you can give me something for Hogmanay. I do need some new supplies for the schoolroom.”
“Saucy minx,” he said as he guided her across the street.
Victoria smothered a grin and changed the conversation to the twins and their new friends.
Despite the chill, it was a lovely night with a clear sky and a crisp feel to the air. The streetlamps cast a soft glow over the cobblestones, and the chimes of a nearby church rang out the hour with solemn grace. As they strolled along, Victoria allowed herself to breathe in a quiet joy. It was the most common of things to walk down the street on the arm of a man, and yet it felt magical. Because, in defiance of all common sense and social convention, the wonderful man who walked by her side wished to marry her.
Her, Victoria Knight, a perfectly ordinary woman, despite her royal father. She’d always been content to be ordinary. Her greatest wish had been to spend the rest of her life in sensible obscurity as a schoolteacher, finding her happiness in meaningful work.
Now, though, an entirely different path had opened before her, one she’d never thought possible. The idea of spending her life with Arnprior was more exciting than anything she’d ever imagined.
It was more frightening, too, because she wanted it so much.
A few minutes later, they climbed the steps to Kendrick House, a spacious mansion built in the last century. Initially, Victoria had been struck by its stylish furnishings and modern conveniences, which posed a stark contrast to the antiquity of Kinglas. When she’d asked Arnprior if he spent much time there, he’d frowned and tersely replied in the negative, saying Braden was the only regular inhabitant of the house.
Victoria was certain young Braden was not responsible for the mansion’s decorative flair.
“Tea in the study?” Arnprior asked once they’d handed their things to the footman.
“I’d rather a whisky.” Although not one for strong spirits, she’d developed the taste for an occasional dram, especially on a chilly evening.
Humor gleamed in his eyes. “Spoken like a true Scotswoman.”
“I know it’s not very ladylike,” she said sheepishly.
He paused, his hand on the doorknob. “Victoria, you can have anything you want. Anything I can give you.”
His quiet sincerity warmed her more than any liquor could. Arnprior was not one for casual promises or flip remarks. His words were spare and always trustworthy.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
She must have appeared like a lovestruck schoolgirl, though Arnprior didn’t seem to mind. He moved close, as if to kiss her, but when the study door opened, he jerked away.
Angus almost barreled into them. “Why the devil are ye lurking about like a pair of rum coves?” he barked as he fumbled to
hang on to the ledgers he carried.
Arnprior helped his grandfather restack the ledgers. “We were about to enter my study to have a drink, in point of fact.”
The old man snorted. “After a bit of canoodling in the hall, I ken.”
“I was hoping for a little more privacy before we engaged in the canoodling,” Arnprior calmly replied.
“We were not . . . never mind.” Victoria frowned at the earl. “And you’re as bad as he is.”
“Ye could only hope so, lass,” Angus said, giving her a wink as he backed out the door.
“Good night, Angus.” The earl firmly closed the door in his grandfather’s face.
“What did he mean by that remark?” Victoria asked as he towed her to one of the needlepointed wing chairs by the fireplace. “Or do I even want to know?”
“I’m sure we’d be horrified to find out,” he said. “Almost as horrified as I am to see him mucking about with the ledgers again.”
“He just wants to help you.” She settled into the chair and tugged off her boots, stretching her chilled feet toward the roaring fire. It was rather shocking behavior on her part, but she was feeling bold tonight.
“Angus is incredibly old-fashioned and controlling,” Arnprior said as he fetched their glasses from the drinks trolley next to his desk. “Some days he treats me like I’m still in short pants.”
Victoria smiled at the thought of the earl as a little boy. She imagined he was a little too solemn for his own good, but thoroughly adorable.
He handed over a glass and settled into the chair next to her, glancing at her feet with a smile. “Getting comfortable, are we?”
She wriggled her toes, luxuriating in the heat pouring from the fireplace. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. In fact, I’m hoping to get you out of the rest of your garments by the end of the evening.”
She slopped some whisky onto her hand.
He reached over to take her glass, putting it on the round table next to his chair.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Helping you to clean up.”
When he drew the back of her hand to his mouth and licked away the drops of whisky, Victoria gasped. And when he turned it over and dragged his tongue across her palm, she went positively light-headed.
The Highlander's Princess Bride Page 24