Questions for a Highlander

by Angeline Fortin

  A painful ache clenched his chest and Vin knew it was envy. Despite all his uncertainties regarding marriage and its ugly tendency toward failure, these men, who once had some of the strongest reasons not to marry, were content in that state. It almost saddened him to think he would never have that same feeling.

  “Are you having a good time, Vin?” Eve asked, turning from her sister.

  Vin nodded his assent. "I am, thank you, Evelyn."

  His lovely sister-in-law laughed. "You may call me Eve. Most everyone does."

  "I know someone who doesn't," Jack teased her.

  "Oh, you just be quiet!" her voice became cool when she addressed Haddington. "Don't think for just one moment that just because you are in my house that I like you in any way."

  "I wouldn't dream of it," Jack returned with a brash smile.

  "Just so we have that settled."

  "We do." Jack laughed as she nodded coolly. "Could I persuade you into a dance, countess?"

  Evelyn sized him up through narrowed eyes before nodding curtly. "Very well. If my lord Glenrothes will let you."

  “If she’s willing,” Francis shrugged though his eyes twinkled with merriment.

  "There, you see? Shall we?" Jack held his arm out to her and after a moment of cool consideration, she took it and let him lead her to the dance floor.

  Vin watched them go wondering at his warm-hearted sister-in-law’s cold reception of her sister’s own husband. "They don't like each other much, do they?"

  Kitty chuckled merrily as she watched them go, "Oh, Jack likes her very well, but Evie doesn't have much tolerance for him!"

  "Why ever not?"

  "Because he tried to pursue her once and she did not take it very well,” Francis laughed but his eyes told another story. “You might not believe it but had things gone differently, my Eden might have been his wife instead of my own.”

  “I find that hard to believe,” Vin replied.

  “I’m surprised you hadn’t heard that story. I will have to tell it to you,” Francis told him.

  “Why don’t you let me tell it while you dance with Mother, Francis? I know she would enjoy being rescued from those old biddies in the corner,” Kitty begged him prettily. “Besides, I believe this is my dance, is it not, Lord Clarendon? I am not feeling up to another romp but perhaps a stroll around the room while I share the story with you?” Kitty smiled up at him showing a charming dimple in her cheek.

  “I should enjoy that, Lady Haddington,” he held his arm out gallantly. “Shall we?”

  Chapter 32

  One of the surprises of her unoccupied state was the discovery that time, when it is left to itself and no definite demands are made on it, cannot be trusted to move at any recognized pace.

  - Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth

  The evening moved along slowly for Moira as she watched Vin dancing with Abby and then Eve with an unconsciously appreciative eye. While occasionally he forgot a step – he’d been so long absent from Society who could blame him? – his movements were smooth and graceful. Thinking back on the one waltz she had shared with him years before, Moira could hardly wait to be held within his lead once more.

  The night was dragging for her as she anticipated the moment.

  Of course, he still didn’t look as though he were truly enjoying himself. Oh, his face was set into a pleasant enough expression, but she could see by the look in his eye that he found no joy in the dance. He talked with her friends but did not smile. Would he remain this solemn for the rest of his days, she wondered. Or would there come a time when he would or even could recover from the trauma of his imprisonment? Moira wished she could help him. While it made her feel good that he took joy in her, she wished she could find a way to bring the light back to his eyes, a genuine smile back to his lips in his day to day life.

  “He’s been watching you all night,” Aylesbury whispered in her ear. “I think a jealous rage is imminent.”

  “You weren’t here this morning, Harry. I fear you are doomed to failure,” Moira sighed.

  “Then you will be mine instead.”

  “Would you want me still, Harry?” she wondered. “I know your hopes for marriage runs higher than that.” Since they had all gone riding together the previous day, Moira had sensed Harry’s withdrawal though he continued to play the part of avid suitor. It was for the best, of course, Moira knew she could not wed him loving another as she did, much less after the loss of her virginity. While she savored the moments she had with Vin physically, she regretted losing her alternatives should Vin refuse to come up to snuff.

  Should? Would! Moira’s mind argued with her. Already she could feel Vin pulling mentally away from her. He was spooked. There was no other way to describe it. Soon she would be left alone once more and without options.

  “Don’t sound so disheartened, Moira darling.” Harry squeezed her about the waist. “I think everything is coming along famously. I see an end to your troubles coming within a few days time.”

  “He’ll never propose, Harry.”

  “Small steps first, darling girl. First, he must want. Desire is a powerful motivator.” Harry analyzed Vin critically. He was disappointed, of course, Moira wouldn’t be his bride but he felt no jealousy, no pain in the realization. It was just as he told her; he would not have a broken heart in losing her but hoped to maintain their friendship in the years to come. Vincent MacKintosh, however, was not only a brotherly friend to Moira. He looked as if he’d like to pummel Harry for touching Moira. Each time, even the tiniest caress, deepened that anger just a bit more.

  He was close to bursting. Aylesbury could sense it. He just needed a little nudge. Vin fairly reeked of jealousy and possessiveness.

  The marquis raised a brow to Moira. “Vin has the look of a man whose favorite toy is being played with by another. Does he think we..?”

  “No, of course, not!” Moira blushed. “Despite your attentions, I don’t believe Vin thinks that we’ve…er, anticipated our engagement in any way.”

  Aylesbury could see Vin’s fist clenching at his side as Moira blushed and ducked her head. Another nudge in the right direction. Vin would be wondering what Aylesbury had said to prompt those pink cheeks. “I have a question for you,” he teased, whispering in her ear. “Your knight-errant wouldn’t admit as much, but has he bedded you yet?”

  Moira’s blush deepened. “How can you ask me such a thing?”

  “Ahh, he has!” he chuckled. “And...?”

  Moira shot him a venomous glare and Aylesbury’s brows shot to his hairline. “I gather you could imagine yourself in bed with someone then, yes?”

  “Oh, Lord,” Moira moaned again. All the years she had teased her friends about their lovers! She had been brazen and brassy giving them no mercy. Never had she imagined it would be so horrible to be on the other end of that teasing. She just might owe her friends an apology!

  “Shall I challenge him to a dual for your honor then?” Harry continued unrelenting. “Force the issue on him?”

  “I don’t want to marry him that way, Harry,” Moira shook her head. “I want him to marry me because he wants to. Promise me you won’t say anything.”

  “Very well.”

  A moment of silence stretched between them before Moira added, “Do you hate me, Harry?”

  “Should I?”

  “I hope not.”

  “I do not.” Aylesbury shrugged. “I hope your sacrifice wasn’t in vain. I just want you to be happy.”

  “I want you to be happy as well, Harry.”

  “Dance with me then.” Aylesbury performed a courtly bowed, his eyes dancing merrily once more. Moira returned with a curtsey waving her fan with a flutter of her eyelashes and Harry burst out laughing. “You are a jolly sort, Moira my girl. Morose devil doesn’t deserve you.”

  Chapter 33

  I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.

  - Benjamin Disraeli

  “This is my dance, I believe,” Vin’s deep brogue
whispered in her ear and Moira nearly jumped. Not because of any surprise but rather to a shiver of desire that ran through her just because of the sound of his voice.

  Moira turned and waved her fan lazily. “Is it?” She checked her dance card with blasé indifference though her heart was pounding furiously. She had been completely aware of what dance was next, waiting breathlessly for him to fetch her. A waltz. Her second waltz ever with him. A rush of excitement filled her but as she looked up into Vin’s face, she saw the fatigue etched there. “We needn’t dance if you’re too weary, Vin. Why don’t we just sit out or take a stroll around the room?”

  Vin clenched his jaw in annoyance. Must she sound so uncaring? She’d not spoken a word to him all evening and rarely left Aylesbury’s side for anything but a dance with another. He’d noted every one, every partner, determined to show her a better time than the others did. Aye, he was dog-tired but he had one more dance in him and it would be for her. “Not at all. I’m looking forward to our dance.”

  “You are?” Moira allowed him to lead her to the center of the floor, tensing against the moment when his arm would slide about her waist lest she melt into him.

  “I am.” The orchestra started playing and Vin took Moira in his arms, stepping into the waltz. He held her close watching her close her eyes. The look on her face brought an ache to his heart as he recalled a similar dance years ago. That waltz! She charmed him with her enthusiasm for it, as if she were savoring every moment, making him feel as if it were her first one. Then he took her out to the terrace for some fresh air needing to cool off some himself. He looked down into her smiling face, her luminous eyes and felt a nearly overwhelming urge to kiss her.

  He’d almost forgotten about that. Or rather forced himself to forget about it just as he forced away those first stirrings of attraction when she was seventeen. Were there even more moments buried in his memory hinting at this attraction? Had he truly wanted her for years, only to deny the magnetism because of his friendship with her brother? What would have happened if she hadn’t been Jason’s sister? Would he have acted differently? Would she?

  Moira opened her eyes and met his gaze so seriously Vin had to wonder what she was thinking about. “Smile, lovey. You’ve been animated all evening with others. Is the solemn face just for me?”

  “I wouldn’t want you to think I am becoming too attached, Vin,” she replied acerbically. She had almost begun to lose herself in the dance, to lose herself in the nearness of his body, the awareness of their attraction before she recalled his suspicions. “That’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it?”

  “I just don’t want what has happened between us to ruin our friendship, that’s all,” he countered. “Has it?”

  “Only if you let it.” Moira frowned up at him. “As I recall you were the one who didn’t want to escort me tonight.”

  “But your Aylesbury came straight to your rescue.”

  The words had an edge that made Moira looked up at him curiously. Was that jealousy? Perhaps Harry was right because it certainly sounded like it. Her heart skipped a beat. “He did,” she agreed. “I don’t believe it was his sense of duty, however, that prompted him to do so. He enjoys my company.”

  “As do I.” Vin ground his teeth in frustration as he swept her around the floor. “I think he knows about us, you know?”

  Moira looked at him in surprise. “Yes, he does.”

  “And he doesn’t care?”

  “I rather think he’s anticipating his turn,” Moira bit out in annoyance, fed up with Vin’s mixed desires. He didn’t want her for himself! Let him know that another did in every sense of the word.

  Vin almost choked on his astonishment. How could she say something so callous? It wasn’t like Moira at all to be so crude. “And are you? Are you going to marry him still?”

  A feeling akin to optimism washed over Moira as she felt the power of his disapproval. This wasn’t at all like the night a week before when they laid together in her bed talking about her possible future with Harry. Then, there had been curiosity, now there was definite irritation. It was actually working! Vin was becoming possessive, jealous. Perhaps not out of love yet but it was a good sign. When it came right down to it, she was beginning to believe her faith in him would not be in vain.

  He would want to keep her.

  She would finally be his.

  “He hasn’t asked yet,” Moira answered. “Will I if he does? That is the question, is it not?”

  The waltz wound down and ended and Vin took her arm in his to lead her from the dance floor. “You may take me over to the refreshment table, if you would,” Moira said lightly, aware that Vin was nearly drooping with fatigue. She wanted to caution him to take it easy but knew such advice wouldn’t be appreciated. Better she just urge him to take some refreshment and relax for a bit.

  Vin saw Aylesbury near the refreshment table and ground his teeth over the reason Moira wanted him to take her there. On stiff legs, he led her over getting a glass of champagne for them both before nodding at the marquis. “Aylesbury.”

  “Clarendon.”

  Moira rolled her eyes as the two faced off. Harry did know how to bait Vin with this whole ‘cock of the walk’ routine. Friends of hers they both might be, but this masculine rivalry between them was both amusing and annoying at the same time. It reminded Moira of stories she read of the America’s wild west where the sheriff would face the villain in a showdown on a dusty street at sundown. The question was which one was the villain in this scenario?

  A reluctant smile curled her lips as Moira glanced between the pair. It did feel rather nice to be fought over even if there was only one actual combatant in the conflict. What Vin didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

  For a moment the trio stood in silence while Harry rocked back on his heels with a taunting grin, Vin stood scowling with clenched fists and Moira just sipping her champagne between them.

  Catching the approach of a pair of females from the corner of her eye. Moira giggled aloud, glad for an excuse to vent her amusement. "Ooo, Harry," she cooed. "Prepare yourself."

  "Whatever for..." the marquis saw then what she had and groaned with a roll of his eyes as one Lady Stanhope sailed forward with all the purpose of a flagship, her eldest daughter held firmly in her wake.

  "Incoming," Moira whispered with laughter-filled tones, taking a step back and toward Vin. "I think I'll just leave you..."

  The marquis caught her hand as she tried to slip away and pulled her back. "No, you don't, minx. You'll stay right here and...bail me out, so to speak," he whispered fiercely and drew up with a falsely polite smile to the newly arrived ladies. "Why, Lady Stanhope! What a pleasant surprise! Charmed." He greeted the ladies politely yet hurriedly.

  “Lord Aylesbury!” the lady simpered. “Have you met my daughter as yet?”

  “I have,” he responded politely with a nod to the young girl at her side, “but, do you know? I don’t believe Lord Clarendon has yet!”

  Harry bowed to the side waving his hand at Vin. “Lord Clarendon, this is Lady Stanhope and her daughter…” Aylesbury searched his mind before adding triumphantly, “Catherine! Lady Catherine, did you know, I believe Lord Clarendon is available for this dance? I’m certain he would be…overjoyed to share it with you! I would love to, of course, but I am already promised to Lady Moira.”

  Vin ground his teeth as all eyes turned on him expectantly and he knew there was no polite way to refuse Aylesbury’s blatant entrapment. He longed to punch the fellow and glared at him with all the hatred he felt. “I would be honored. Lady Catherine, shall we?” Vin held out his hand hoping the next dance was a mild…and brief one.

  As they walked away, Aylesbury turned to Moira with his eyes agleam and a devilish smile. “Lady Moira, shall we?”

  As Aylesbury tugged her out onto the dance floor, Moira frowned severely at him. “Harry, you're awful! Simply awful! Poor Vin, he’s worn out, you know?”

  “Self-preservation, my dear Moira. Lad
y Stanhope has been trying to marry me off to one of her daughters for the past three seasons in London!” The marquis swung her about the floor smoothly.

  “Well, Catherine may be the oldest of the four, but at least she is also the prettiest.” Moira quirked her lips in renewed amusement at her friend’s expense.

  “As far as that goes.” Harry rolled his eyes again and sighed in disgust. “What is it that makes every mother believe that I long for their daughter?”

  “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Moira quoted with an evil smirk from Austen's Pride and Prejudice. “Either that or you give them reason to hope.”

  “A lady's imagination is very rapid, it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” Harry fired back from that same novel causing Moira to burst out in laughter.

  “Ahh, I see, you do not think they need any hope at all!”

  “And they have none!” the marquis added and whirled her dizzily about. “Only you, my darling girl, have any hope at all and, alas, you want me not at all! It is enough to break my poor, simple heart!”

  “‘Poor, simple heart' my foot, my lord,” she teased. “There is nothing simple about you!”