Edie turned to fix Fergus with the cold, practiced stare that had reduced many an impertinent fellow to jabbering apology.
Fergus blushed a dull red and tugged a nervous finger at his cravat, rumpling its precise folds. “Ah, I . . . I don’t know what I meant,” he stammered, looking at Mr. Gilbride. “I think I was simply muttering to myself.”
“I thought as much,” Mr. Gilbride said cheerfully. “No harm done. Now, Miss Whitney, I’m pleased to hear that you’re comfortable.” He smiled across the table at Mamma. “And I trust everything is just as you like it, Lady Reese? I believe his lordship put you in the Green Room. I’ve always thought it quite the loveliest bedroom in the castle.”
“Thank you, sir,” Mamma said in a gracious tone, clearly quite taken with Mr. Gilbride. “I am exceedingly comfortable.”
“Splendid. I’m hoping you’ll allow me the honor of giving you and your daughter a tour of Blairgal tomorrow.” Alec’s father gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “I don’t like to boast, but I believe I have a better knowledge of the castle’s history than anyone in the family, even though I am a mere in-law.”
Lord Riddick, apparently restored to a better humor, let out a gruff laugh. “Mere in-law? Walter is the grandnephew of a duke and one of the finest scholars in Scotland. Nobody knows the history of Blairgal and the clan better than he does. A tour of the castle with him will be quite a history lesson for a pair of pampered English ladies.”
Edie saw rather than heard Mr. Gilbride’s sigh. She couldn’t fail to hear, however, Mrs. Haddon’s malicious titter at the earl’s ill-mannered remark. Mamma was annoyed again, but Edie could only be grateful that Lord Riddick hadn’t trotted out the Sassenach label, too.
“You’re welcome to take Lady Reese on a tour if you like, Father,” Alec said. “But I already promised to take Miss Whitney around the castle myself.” When his gaze jumped to her, going dark and smoldering, Edie had to resist the urge to fan herself.
“Especially the dungeons,” he added in a voice as smooth as sin. “You do remember asking me to show you the dungeons, don’t you, Miss Whitney?”
That voice suggested there were other things besides the dungeons he wanted to show her—things generally not mentioned in polite company. Only by a supreme effort of will did Edie manage to keep her mouth from dropping open. Alec was deliberately flirting with her, blast him. She was no prude, but his behavior this evening could only be characterized as provocative, especially since he was sitting right next to his betrothed.
Predictably, Fergus looked ready to kill Alec, his fork and knife clutched in his hands like weapons. “Alasdair, I’ve warned you not to insult my—”
“Miss Whitney, I’ve been meaning to ask you a question,” his sister interjected in a loud voice. “Have you ever been to the Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey?”
The bizarre but timely question cut Fergus off at the knees and brought the conversation sliding to a halt. Edie mentally scrambled to formulate an answer. “Ah, yes, I believe so,” she hedged. There were so many chapels and crypts tucked away in corners of the Abbey that it was difficult to remember exactly what they were called or where they were.
“I’m wondering if you recall seeing the tomb of Mary, Queen of Scotland,” Donella said with an encouraging smile. “I understand it’s very beautiful.”
Edie couldn’t remember one royal tomb from the next, but she did appreciate the woman’s attempt to deflect impending mayhem.
“Yes, it’s very imposing and beautiful,” she said, casting about in her mind for details. “If memory serves, there’s even a Scottish lion at her feet.”
For the next few minutes, she babbled on about marble canopies, double aisles, Gothic vaults, flying buttresses, and any other detail she could extract about the Abbey from her increasingly frazzled brain. All through her demented lecture, Donella regarded her gravely, occasionally nodding her head, while everyone else at the table looked either confused or annoyed.
Except for Alec, confound him, who studied her with growing amusement. By the time Edie finally ran out of ideas—and breath—she felt as ready to kill him as Fergus had a few moments ago.
“Thank you, Miss Whitney,” Donella said in a solemn tone. “That was extremely interesting and informative.”
“It was indeed,” Alec added with a teasing grin. “In fact, you are a veritable fount of architectural information, Miss Whitney. I’ve never thought of you as the scholarly sort.”
“I should certainly hope not,” Mamma exclaimed. “Although I suppose one might be tempted to think so, given that she is wearing the spectacles you were so kind to bestow upon her. But I assure you that Eden is no bluestocking.”
“Thank you, Mamma,” Edie said with a sigh.
Mrs. Haddon peered at her. “My nephew gave you that pair of spectacles? Why would he do that?”
Lord Riddick barked from the other end of the table. “What the devil do you mean buying presents for an unattached young miss? Have you no sense of propriety, boy? A gentleman doesn’t go around giving gifts to other women when he’s engaged.”
Edie had to resist the urge to drop her head into her hands and groan. She thought she’d steered them away from this particularly touchy topic, but her mother’s ill-timed remarks and Alec’s persistent attempts to flirt with her—which she rather thought was an attempt to annoy his relatives—had laid waste to her good work.
Every person in the room was acting deranged—except, ironically, for Alec’s fiancée.
“I got them for her because she’s as blind as a bat,” Alec said in a blighting voice to his grandfather. “And since she will insist on riding and other outdoor activities, I thought it best to take defensive measures before she kills herself or one of us.”
“How considerate of you,” Edie said. “For your information, I’m quite skilled at any number of outdoor activities, with or without spectacles. For instance, I’m quite a dab hand with pistols. Perhaps you’d allow me to use you as target practice. I could put an apple on your head and pretend I was William Tell.”
Alec had been scowling at his grandfather, but her comment brought his focus back to her. He looked startled for a few seconds then broke into a grin.
“I’m loath to correct a lady, but William Tell was an archer,” he replied. “He used a crossbow to be exact. Have you ever used a crossbow?”
“No, but I’m adept with a regular bow. I might, however, make an exception in your case and decide to miss. Although I suppose it would be best not to wear my spectacles in that case, so as to avoid a charge of murder.” She gave him her sweetest smile, even though she felt like sticking out her tongue. “Of course, my defense could always argue that it was justifiable homicide.”
Donella laughed, although she tried to cover it up with a cough.
“Goodness, Donella,” exclaimed her mother. “Please do not encourage such foolish raillery. And it’s very unseemly to laugh at one’s fiancé in polite company. I insist you apologize to Alasdair right this second.”
Edie could barely keep herself from gaping at the confounded woman. As far as she was concerned, Lord Riddick and his family were the least polite people she’d ever met.
When Donella flushed a dull red, Edie’s heart went out to her. She hadn’t expected to like Alec’s fiancée. And although it was too soon to make that assessment, the young woman had treated Edie with friendliness and respect, unlike the rest of her family.
“Of course, Mamma,” Donella replied in a flat tone. “Forgive me, Alasdair. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Alec gave the girl a truly kind smile. “Lass, you didn’t offend me, and you don’t owe me any apologies. I’m happy to see you laugh.”
His cousin gave him a shy but sweet smile in return, as if basking in the genuine warmth of his regard. Edie barely managed to repress the surge of jealousy that tried to bore a hole right through her chest.
“Now, that is what I want to see,” Lord Riddick said. “You and your cousin hav
e been apart for too long, Alasdair. You simply need a little time to get to know each other again.”
“I hope not too long, my dear Riddick,” Mrs. Haddon said. “After all, we do have a wedding to plan. Before Christmas, if possible. If we wait too long, the weather will turn severe, and it will be harder for the clan to gather.”
“Aye, you’re right about that,” replied his lordship. “The clan will certainly wish to gather for the union between the Master of Riddick and the finest flower of Clan Graham.” He directed a broad smile down the table at his niece. “We’ve all been looking forward to this for a long time, lass. I promise we’ll give you and Alasdair the grandest wedding you’ve ever seen.”
Busy wrestling down the unpleasant emotions evoked by that announcement, Edie almost missed the change that came over Donella. The life seemed to drain out of the girl, leaving her pale and still.
“Thank you, Uncle,” she replied in a colorless voice. “But I don’t think we need to discuss this in front of our guests.”
Walter Gilbride finally stirred. He cast an anxious glance at his son, whose face had gone almost as stone-like as his cousin’s. “Of course not. There’s plenty of time to make plans. No need to settle everything the first night home, now is there?”
Mrs. Haddon let out another of her annoying and artificial laughs. “I disagree, Walter. We cannot begin planning soon enough.” She shot Edie a glance full of malicious triumph. “And, Miss Whitney, what a piece of luck for you and your mother. You will be able to attend the wedding of my daughter, the niece of the branch chief, to the Master of Riddick. Weddings are always so enjoyable, and Highland weddings are a particular treat.”
Eden forced down her anger at the woman’s rudeness. She flicked a quick glance at Alec, whose gaze had gone narrow and frigid as he stared at his aunt.
But when he looked at Edie, she saw something else in his stormy gaze. It was a silent plea, a look so compelling that it seemed to reach across the table and grab her by the throat. And she finally understood that he was asking for help.
The idiot. Why in blazes hadn’t he come right out and asked her ages ago? It was a question she’d have to defer until later.
Right now, she had no choice but to ignore his plea, since Mrs. Haddon had backed her neatly into a corner. Right now, Edie couldn’t help him any more than she’d been able to help herself a few weeks ago, after she’d pitched herself headfirst into scandal.
She turned and gave the wretched woman her most charming smile. “Indeed, ma’am. After all, who doesn’t love a good wedding?”
Chapter Thirteen
Edie’s mother was ensconced in bed with a huge pile of pillows supporting her back and her portable writing desk on her lap. It was almost eleven o’clock in the morning, but she didn’t appear ready to venture forth from her bedroom anytime soon.
“Mamma, are you sure you don’t want a tour of the castle?” Edie asked. “I’m sure Mr. Gilbride would be more than happy to give us one.”
Her mother looked up over the half spectacles she wore only when attending to her correspondence. “Mr. Gilbride is a very kind and genteel man, but I prefer not to have to interact with the family any sooner than I must, after that gruesome excuse for a dinner party last night.”
Edie leaned against one of the scrolled posts at the foot of the enormous bed. “I’m sorry, Mamma. If not for my idiotic behavior in London, we wouldn’t find ourselves in this mess. It’s not fair that you have to spend the entire winter with a band of lunatics.”
When Mamma studied her in silence for a few moments, Edie had to resist the urge to shuffle her feet. She’d been managing her mother since she was a child, and rather deftly, too. It was disconcerting to know that, for once, her mother was managing her.
“What’s done is done, Eden,” Mamma finally replied. “Besides, there is no sacrifice I am not willing to make on behalf of my children.”
Because there was no way Edie could respond truthfully to that comment, she settled for what she hoped was an appropriately grateful expression.
“Thank heavens I am such an attentive parent,” her mother added, “since I could not tolerate the idea of you having to bear the company of Lord Riddick’s insufferable family without the support of your mamma.”
Edie wrinkled her nose. “They’re not all bad. Mr. Gilbride is a lovely gentleman, and I’m sure I can bring his lordship around soon enough. And you know you’re very fond of Captain Gilbride. You’ve said on more than one occasion that he’s almost like family.”
“That was before I met his real family. I do hope the captain has the good sense not to be forced into marriage with that dreary Miss Haddon. What a tragic mistake that would be.”
Edie felt her throat go tight. She’d lain awake for hours trying to sort through the complicated obligations and relationships of Alec’s family. Unfortunately, she kept returning to the fact that he was well and truly betrothed, and it was highly unlikely that he would be able to free himself from that long-standing commitment. Alec might be reckless, but she knew he would never wish to dishonor his cousin or his family, no matter his personal feelings.
That depressing conclusion had kept her awake until the wee hours of the morning.
But she’d also reached another conclusion—that he’d been up to something last night with his obvious attempts to flirt with her. Edie fully intended to tackle him on the subject as soon as she got her wayward emotions under control. She had no desire to make a fool of herself by revealing how easily he could obliterate her common sense just by casting her one of his famous smoldering gazes.
More than one suitor over the years had accused her of lacking a tender heart, simply because she wasn’t stupid enough to succumb to empty flattery. Perhaps she had developed a bit of a varnish over her heart these last few years, but it was a necessary and practical defense. That Alec had penetrated that coating was beyond a doubt.
“I don’t think he has a choice in the matter,” Edie said, determined once more to be that practical person. “Surely you can see that he must honor his commitment to Miss Haddon. And from what I observed last night, his family certainly expects him to do so.”
Her mother gave her a patently condescending smile. “We’ll see, my dear.”
“Mamma,” Edie said in a warning voice.
“Run along now, Eden.” Her mother made a shooing motion. “I promised your father a letter on our arrival to Blairgal, and I have several other notes I must write as well.”
When Mamma decided a conversation was over, it was generally over. Besides, Edie didn’t really feel up to the task of talking her mother out of foolish hopes when it came to Alec.
“Are you still here, Eden?” Mamma asked without looking up from her lap desk.
“All right, I’m going,” she grumbled in reply.
She turned on her heel and marched out to the long gallery, where she came to a halt, wondering what to do next. Although she wasn’t yet ready to see Alec, Edie wasn’t inclined to talk to anyone else either. What she truly needed was fresh air and a visit to the stables to see if she could find a suitable horse. Right now the castle made her feel caged in. A walk in the brisk Highland air—or a ride across the pretty glens she’d seen on their arrival yesterday—would no doubt do wonders in clearing her muddled brain and helping her think.
When she turned to go back to her room to change, she had to repress a startled shriek. Alec stood only a few feet away, his arms crossed over his brawny chest, a shoulder propping him against the wall. He’d clearly been waiting for her, and that made her heart thud even harder against her ribs.
“What in heaven’s name are you doing, skulking about in the hall?” she demanded.
He let out a low, rumbling laugh. “I never skulk. It’s undignified.”
“You were a spy, remember? Of course you skulk.”
He shrugged. For a moment, she stood transfixed by the sight of his broad, beautiful shoulders moving under the fine wool of his coat.
Irritation feathered its way into her brain. Was he really going to pretend that his behavior last night—or his family’s—was in any way acceptable? He must either think her dicked in the nob or one of the silly society misses who trailed after him.
Edie might be halfway to falling in love with him, but she had no intention of giving Captain Alasdair Gilbride the upper hand.
“And did ye now, laddie?” she retorted as she propped her hands on her hips. “I would have thought ye had other things to do—like spending time with yer fiancée.”
He winced as he pushed away from the wall. “I suppose I deserved that,” he said ruefully.
“You certainly did, and a great deal more besides,” she said.
“I need to speak with you,” he said bluntly.
He’d dropped the charming rogue routine, at least for the moment, but Edie didn’t know if she was quite ready to discuss what she thought they were going to discuss.
“About?” she hedged.
He looked slightly annoyed. “It would appear I owe you an explanation for my behavior last night.”
“Really? I thought you owed me an apology.”
He stared blankly at her for a few seconds before breaking into a grin that charmed her all the way to the bone. “As bad as that, was it?”
“You know it was,” she scoffed.
He started to answer then clamped his mouth shut as he looked past her. Edie glanced over her shoulder to see a housemaid reach the top of the stairs, her arms loaded with freshly pressed linens.
With a slight flush to her cheeks the girl hurried by them, murmuring an apology in a soft Highland accent. Alec smiled back at her, and Edie couldn’t help but notice the interest in the maid’s eye and the way she dimpled at him. In fact, she even darted a look back, slowing down to inspect him from the rear. The back view was just as nice as the front view, so Edie couldn’t blame the girl for wanting to look, but she narrowed her gaze nonetheless. The maid took the hint and scurried down the hall to disappear into one of the bedrooms.
How to Marry a Royal Highlander Page 16