The Heir lf-1
Page 13
"I think if Lord Neville wants it known that she's not here by his invitation, then he'll let it be known. It's not up to us to correct any false assumptions in that regard. Let everyone think what they like. You know as well as I that they will anyway."
That was a touchy subject that Sabrina immediately regretted mentioning, so she quickly added, "I heard there is to be dancing tonight. Has that been confirmed?"
"Indeed it has," Alice replied. "But there's no need to rush home to break the ball gowns out of storage. It will be quite informal."
"It has to be," Hilary pointed out. "At gatherings this large, it's almost impossible to set anything to a schedule, where everyone would need to prepare at the same time. Can you just imagine eight women in the same room, with eight ball gowns laid out, and eight maids trying to dress their ladies all at once? Can't be done, not without mass confusion and tempers flaring."
Sabrina did imagine it and smiled. "I don't know, the flaring tempers might be amusing to witness." "Have you met Lord Archibald MacTavish yet, m'dear?" Alice asked next. "No, but I've heard he's here," Sabrina replied. "Have you?" "Not yet, though we were hoping to today."
"She was hoping to," Hilary corrected her sister. "She has the silly notion that the widower MacTavish could use a new wife himself."
Sabrina raised a teasing brow. "Why, Aunt Alice, are you thinking of getting married?"
Alice blushed and humphed in her sister's direction. "Certainly not. It merely occurred to me that with his grandson moving to England, he'll be alone up in those Highlands of his now."
"We don't know what his home is like," Hilary argued back. "It could be filled to the brim with other relatives of his, for all we know."
"Actually, it's rather empty, according to Duncan," Alice said, smirking at Hilary in triumph that she had that information.
Sabrina decided to nip their bickering in the bud before it got seriously started by satisfying her own curiosity. "You spoke to Duncan?" she asked Alice.
"Yes, just after lunch, though not for long. Poor boy seemed rather upset about something. He did ask where you had got to, and I couldn't answer him. I presume this was when you went home to change?"
"Possibly," Sabrina replied uncomfortably, and even more uncomfortably, tried to sound nonchalant in asking, "Did he say if he was looking for me for a reason, or merely wondered where I was?"
"No, but it's all right for you to seek him out to find out," Alice said.
"Yes," Hilary confirmed. "It's quite acceptable for you to do that in a gathering like this. You are his neighbor, after all."
Sabrina gave both of her aunts a narrow look, aware of what they were doing. "If it's important, I'm sure he'll find me. But in the meantime, stop imagining there is more there than there is. He sees me merely as a friend, something neighbors tend to do."
As they watched Sabrina leave the room, Alice said, "She stressed that rather nicely, didn't she?"
"Yes, rather overstressed it, actually. He likes her, you know."
"I thought as much, but apparently she doesn't," Alice said, frowning thoughtfully.
"Can you blame her for being less than confident after the disaster London turned out to be?"
"It wasn't a disaster, merely a—"
"Disaster."
"I swear, Hilary, could you not disagree with me for once, when we do happen to be in agreement about Duncan MacTavish? If Sabrina thinks he only wants to be friends with her, then she's not going to notice any hints to the contrary that will come from him. We need to convince her that she has a chance at a fine match here."
Chapter Twenty-seven
Ophelia wasn't overly embarrassed to be the only woman there that evening wearing a ball gown. She would have changed her clothes, however, if she'd noticed it in time, rather than after she was already halfway into the ballroom. She'd been too busy trying to locate Raphael Locke, though, to see what everyone else was wearing.
But she ignored it after her initial surprise and momentary discomfort. She knew how splendid she looked, after all, and that was all that mattered. She would merely shine even brighter compared to the other women there, which was fine by her and as it should be.
She didn't see the Locke heir yet, but she did see that Mavis was still there, and was exceedingly annoyed by it. The hateful bitch should have left Summers Glade already, but apparently being labeled a lying, backstabbing traitor to her friends wasn't enough to shame her into going. Ophelia would have to think of something else to send her running home in tears.
When she did finally spot Raphael Locke, it was to see him standing with Sabrina—again? How intolerable! What did he and Duncan find so interesting about that girl? It certainly couldn't be her looks. Amusing, Mavis had said. What nonsense. It was more likely they were getting something from her that they shouldn't be, yes, that must be it. And who would have thought the little country mouse would have loose morals? But why not? It wasn't as if she had any hope of ever marrying, so she wouldn't really care if she got a sordid reputation, now would she?
Ophelia strolled near them, hoping no gentlemen would stop her along the way. She was in luck, for once, and arrived without anyone trailing behind her. She offered Sabrina a brief smile before giving Lord Locke a demure look that she knew was exceptionally flattering, since she had practiced it enough before her mirror.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," Ophelia said. "Would you do the honors, Sabrina?"
"Certainly," Sabrina said, grinning impishly. "Lady Ophelia, may I present to you Raphael Locke, scion of the Locke family, from a long line of dukes and sure to carry on that line someday— if some woman doesn't shoot him first for his outlandish flirting."
Lord Locke, instead of being insulted as Ophelia would have expected him to be, laughed. But what else could he do, without being rude? Yet he must be mortified over that bizarre introduction. Whatever could have prompted Sabrina to say something so ridiculous?
"I don't believe a word of it," Ophelia offered, gaining his attention again.
"Oh, it's quite true, the 'flirting' part, at least. I object to the 'outlandish' part, though, 'deed I do. My
flirting is quite refined, I'll have you know."
He was being kind. How nice of him. He should have put Sabrina in her place instead, as Ophelia would have. She turned to do just that, but Sabrina chose to leave at that moment, and since that was what Ophelia had been hoping she would do, she held her tongue.
"If you'll excuse me," Sabrina said. "I believe my aunts are in need of rescuing."
Raphael, who'd met her aunts earlier, saw them across the room and protested, "From whom? They are standing there alone together."
Sabrina chuckled. "Exactly. If you knew them better, you'd know that they frequently need rescuing—from each other. Even in a gathering like this where they should just be enjoying themselves, not five minutes can pass that they won't start arguing about something. Doesn't matter what. Pick any subject, and they'll disagree over it."
"Well, if you must play the angel of arbitration, then you must," he said with an exaggerated forlorn sigh. "But do keep in mind that I haven't forgotten how skillfully you evaded my request to dance. You can be sure that I'll mention it again later."
Sabrina still left them, though she did so now with a blush on her cheeks. Ophelia snorted to herself, would have done so aloud if it weren't such an indelicate sound. They wouldn't be dancing together later if she had anything to do about it, she promised herself.
But she was alone now with Raphael Locke, and far enough from any of the other guests that they wouldn't be overheard. And he was finally behaving as he should, his blue eyes now taking in every inch of her in a slow, thorough examination. She wasn't the least bit embarrassed by it, was quite used to being stared at, even methodically as he was doing, had in fact expected it much sooner.
"You really are exquisitely beautiful," Raphael told her at last, not in awe, though, more in belated surprise. "But then you probably hear that so often that it has lit
tle or no meaning to you."
That was true, but hardly circumspect to say so, so she demurred, "On the contrary, a lady can never hear such compliments too often, particularly from such a handsome gentleman as yourself."
For some reason, her own compliment made him tense and his look turn wary. She found out why when he said baldly, "Don't look here for another conquest, m'dear. The men in my family do the pursuing, they do not tolerate being pursued by marriage-minded females."
She could have taken offense easily enough, but that wouldn't suit her purpose. "Why, Lord Locke, whatever can you mean? Surely you aren't implying that you think I want to marry you, just because I find you handsome? I find many men handsome, and if they compliment me, I might return the compliment as I just did with you. Perfectly innocent, I assure you, with no hidden motives."
"Excellent," he replied jauntily. "Glad to hear it, 'deed I am."
He should have been embarrassed now over his mistake, but he wasn't. Instead, he was smiling in a way that implied he was skeptical. Well, no matter. She would marry him. She made the decision right then and there. He was young and very handsome, and the dukedom and wealth that he would inherit would suit her well enough. But she wouldn't tolerate his association with Sabrina any longer, sordid or otherwise, and would nip that in the bud right now.
"You shouldn't be so obvious, you know," she said to him in a conspiratorial whisper. "Obvious? Pray tell about what?"
"That you've been bedding Sabrina. Or don't you care that her reputation is in danger?"
His reaction wasn't what she anticipated at all. Any other man would have immediately assured her that there was nothing between him and Sabrina. Whether there was or wasn't, that would have been the gentlemanly response. And then henceforth, he'd make sure to avoid Sabrina if only to support his claim. Either way, he wouldn't be hovering over the girl again.
Instead, Raphael Locke took a step back from Ophelia, gave her an incredulous look as color slowly climbed his cheeks, and in what was apparent anger, actually started to walk away from her without any response at all. He changed his mind, though, swung about, and the anger was most definitely there—and turned on her.
"Good God, what an appalling rumormonger you are," he said in an amazed tone. "I had heard that it was so, but hadn't believed that any female could be quite as spiteful as you, but apparently it's true. But I warn you, Lady Ophelia, if you attempt to spread that particular rumor about Sabrina, which isn't the least bit true, I will ruin you myself. Do you understand? I will see to it that you are never accepted again in polite society. Your superficial beauty will not save you, m'dear, I promise you it won't."
Now he did walk away, back stiff, fury contained—he hadn't once raised his voice—and left her in shock. The very idea that he would talk to her like that, her, and threaten her, just to protect a nobody like Sabrina, she simply couldn't comprehend it. Well, she wouldn't have him now. The stupid man had quite ruined his chances.
And that left Duncan MacTavish.
Ophelia sighed inwardly. She didn't really want to marry him, but he wasn't as bad as she had feared. He was different, with his brogue, his red hair, his unpredictability, but he was handsome enough, and every other woman there seemed to find him a fine catch, which made all the difference as far as she was concerned.
But dealing with that Scot again and his denseness—he hadn't even grasped that she was apologizing to him yesterday—as well as his offended pride, was going to be a lesson in patience for her. Yet he did want her back. That was obvious, at least to her, or she wouldn't be here now. He was just pretending otherwise, nursing his grudge, she supposed, and probably quite at wits' end, trying to figure out how to get her back without it appearing that he was willing to forgive her.
She could help in that regard by pretending that the incident was forgotten as far as she was concerned. It might be more amusing to let him flounder about, no more than he deserved for not immediately forgiving her, but there were all these other young hopefuls in attendance who needed to realize that they didn't stand a chance with him, now that she was here. She didn't want to see any more simpering looks and eyes batting his way than she already had.
As for Sabrina garnering Duncan's attention as she'd apparently done last night, he was obviously just trying to make Ophelia jealous, since he knew she'd hear about it, which she did. As if Sabrina could. So absurd. But at least Ophelia had figured out what he was up to now, and she knew just how to counter such nonsense.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Now that the guests at Summers Glade had been in residence for several days, and Duncan had been introduced, and in some cases reintroduced, to all of them, they were no longer wary of him as being the "outsider^ in their midst. The simple passing of a few days acquaintance had elevated him into being "one of them."
This began a phenomenon that he discovered late that day. It was now increasingly difficult for him to pass from room to room, or even just across the hall, without being stopped by guests who wanted to chat with him. He found he much preferred it when he'd been the "stranger" and most of them were leery of approaching him.
The phenomenon continued into the evening. He had tried to get to the ballroom sooner, where he expected to find Sabrina and could attempt to correct the blunder he'd made with her on the terrace that afternoon. But not all the guests were interested in dancing, however informal it was, and so many of them were still spread out in the other rooms. And they thought nothing of dragging him into the drawing room to settle an argument, or into another room to join what they considered a discussion he shouldn't miss.
Unwilling to be outright rude, which he was striving not to be, Duncan had been detained again and again, so it was several hours into the evening before he did finally escape long enough to slip into the ballroom. But it didn't end there as he'd hoped.
His eyes went right to Sabrina on the far side of the room, passing over Ophelia without really noticing her, though she noticed his oversight. But there was quite a trail of people between them, each determined to stop him to say something, so that he was actually annoyed by the time he reached Sabrina and his tone a bit surly in his greeting.
But insightful as she usually was, she took one look at him and laughed, guessing, "You're not used to being so popular, are you?"
" Tis no' that, lass. In the Highlands we dinna talk just tae hear ourselves talk as these English do, we talk o' real concerns."
"I understand," she replied, still grinning. "It must have been difficult for you, the conversations you and I have had, which were for the most part quite frivolous."
He blushed to his roots and tried to quickly amend, "I dinna mean tae imply—"
"Duncan, stop that," she chided gently. "You should know by now when I'm teasing."
He sighed. She was right. He should have known. But then he'd been expecting a more reserved attitude from her after what had passed between them on the terrace, possibly even anger. Yet, now that he thought of it, it was almost impossible to imagine Sabrina angry, truly angry, with raised voice, flashing eyes—that would be something to behold, violet eyes filled with hot passion . . .
He glanced away from her so she wouldn't see what his own thoughts were doing to him. Unfortunately, his eyes did light on Ophelia this time, and he couldn't miss the smile she was sending him as she started his way.
It didn't take much for him to realize that standing with Sabrina, who knew Ophelia quite well, gave the blond girl an excuse to join them. This had him quickly moving off in another direction.
"I'll be back, lass," was all he tossed at Sabrina before he hurried off.
It was more than an hour later before he managed to work his way back to Sabrina. He'd realized after the fact that running from Ophelia because he couldn't tolerate her wasn't going to work, when she was going to be in the house every day. He was simply going to have to make it clear to her to stay away from him, since trying to ignore her didn't seem to get that message across.
It was the odd number she used, and her straight face, that made him think she was serious for once. "Och, what else have I done?"
"Well, one, you haven't asked me to dance yet. Two, you should apologize for thinking you have anything to apologize for, when you don't. Three, you shouldn't look so surprised when someone is pulling your leg, because they might get the idea that you're in need of a lesson in the art of silliness and walk off with it."
"Walk off wi' what?" he asked in exasperation after trying to follow her strange trail of thoughts. "Your leg, of course."
It was because she was still looking at him so seriously that his laughter, when it burst out, was so loud and sudden. Not that he cared at the moment if he was drawing eyes their way. Once again she had managed to put him at complete ease, to more or less wash away all his aggravations of the day as if they'd never been.
"One o' these days I'll be asking you for the other four things I was tae apologize for."
"Oh, good, I just love having extra time to be creative in my endeavors. I can be really, really silly when I put my mind to it, you know."
He grinned at her and stressed, “But I'll still be apologizing for leaving you tae your own devices this afternoon, when I should have taken you home m'self for a dry change o' clothes. There's nae excuse for such thoughtlessness on my part. I went back tae the ballroom when I realized it, but you were already gone."
"And now who's being silly? It's not as if I had to go to London to change. Easy enough to find my way home when I live just around the corner, more or less. Is that why you were upset today?" At his own raised brow, she added, "My aunts mentioned that they sensed you were."
"Och, well, that among other things. Wi' both o' my granddas hoping I'll find a wife afore this party ends, I'm feeling a wee bit o' pressure. Disappoint them, or disappoint m'self in a hasty decision, makes