Courting the Scot

by Jane Charles

  Davina bit the corner of her bottom, plump lip, which put Ian’s mind to kissing her. “I hope ye are wrong because he is goin’ to be spendin’ time with her.”

  Ian jerked back. “In Edinburgh?”

  She blinked at him, somewhat surprised and then answered, “So he willna be available to meet with ye yet and maybe not for a sennight.”

  “So Fiona is recovered?”

  “Aye, why?”

  “Well, he wouldna be off to Edinburgh to do courtin’ if she were still ill.”

  Davina brightened and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “And, hopefully ye are wrong and Uncle Aiden will fall in love and be open to ye courtin’ me.”

  He just prayed Aiden wasn’t in a foul mood when he returned from Edinburgh because Ian couldn’t imagine Lady Bentley and Aiden being a decent match in any sort of way. But it gave him hope that Aiden didn’t intend on remaining unattached for the rest of his life, and if he did marry, Davina would be much more comfortable leaving her home for his.

  Chapter 10

  A bit of guilt niggled at the back of her brain, but Davina hadn’t exactly lied to Ian. Not really. She just let him assume that Uncle Aiden had met Rose in Edinburgh and that he would soon be visiting her there. Though the lady Ian described couldn’t be Rose as far as her being demure, quiet and sweet--Aiden’s gruffness hadn’t deterred her once. Nor had Rose ever cowered, but rather she had stood her ground. In fact, Rose was perfect for Uncle Aiden, and Davina hoped he realized that as well, before it was too late. Furthermore, she intended to do everything in her power to leave the two alone and see that romance bloomed when possible.

  Ian led Davina further into the woods, where she knew a clearing awaited, but when they stepped into the sun of the small pasture, the beauty nearly stole her breath. The ground was carpeted with hundreds of lavender bluebells. “I think this is one of my favorite places,” she spoke quietly.

  “I ken.” Ian pulled her to a small patch of grass where a blanket had been laid.

  “Did ye do this?”

  “Even if ye will not allow me to court ye officially, it doesna mean I doona plan on courtin’ ye properly.”

  Davina settled onto the blanket and Ian sat beside her. It was a perfect day to be outdoors with the sun shining, the air warm and a gentle breeze blowing. It was almost as if they were completely alone in their own little world of trees and bluebells.

  Ian picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles, his lips nearly burning her skin as tingles ran up her arm. Then he threaded his fingers with hers, palm to palm and his green eyes looked into hers.

  Her heartbeat increased with anticipation, even though Davina wasn’t certain what to expect from Ian.

  “Maybe this is a bad idea.”

  Her breath hitched. Had he changed his mind?

  “I shouldna be alone with ye.”

  “Why?”

  “All I can think about is kissin’ ye.”

  “I have no objection,” she returned with a smile.

  With his other hand, Ian cradled her cheek then leaned forward, his lips brushing hers, and Davina sighed.

  His kisses were sweet, gentle and loving, unlike his earlier passionate ones, but Davina enjoyed them just as much. But the longer they kissed, the more demanding he became, and she willingly gave as he delved, until he let go of her hand and slid his arm about her waist and pulled her close. Davina clung to Ian as he lay her back until she was resting on the blanket with him leaning over her. She held him near as his lips continued kissing her lips, cheek and neck. Her body grew warmer and her breasts tightened when his hand caressed from hip to ribs. Aches she was unfamiliar with began in her nether regions as her bodice grew uncomfortably tight, and with that, he cupped her breast, the momentary relief so great that Davina moaned and arched. His thumb caressed across her tip as his lips blazed a trail along her skin just above the edge of her gown. She’d never experienced the like and had an intense desire to disrobe so that she could breathe and so he could touch her skin directly.

  As he rolled away she blinked open her eyes, and he brought his hand away from her breast and rested it on her abdomen. At least his breathing was as harsh as hers and his eyes dark with desire.

  “This isna righ’,” he said.

  “It feels righ’.” It was the most right thing she’d ever experienced, especially of late.

  “I’ve taken liberties that are not mine to have.”

  Davina knew he was correct, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. Especially since she’d never enjoyed intimate moments with Ian like this before.

  “Ye have no idea how much I want ye.”

  Davina started to pull him back to her.

  “Nay, lass, ye’re a temptation I may not be able to resist and I will no’ dishonor ye.” With that he pulled away from her and sat up.

  Now that he was no longer blocking the breeze, Davina’s skin began to cool and a shiver shot through her.

  “I willna meet ye in the woods tomorrow,” he said with determination.

  She couldn’t meet him at all tomorrow, not this close to the ball. She shouldn’t even try to sneak away until after. “I am not free until Saturday,” she blurted out.

  “Saturday? That’s four days away.”

  Davina sat up. “Aye, but with Uncle Aiden…” she couldn’t mention the ball, nor that he would be home, so she didn’t finish the sentence. “There is just so much to do.”

  He brought his hand up to caress her cheek. “Saturday?”

  “Aye.” She didn’t want to wait that long to see him again either, but what else could she do? Every time he came to Annagburn, she risked him seeing Lady Bentley.

  “Well, I survived while I was in London, I’ll live until Saturday.” He winked at her and Davina inwardly sighed. Once the ball was over, she’d be able to manage her time much better between saving uncle Aiden’s neck and meeting Ian in secret.

  Something was not setting well with Ian, but he could not determine exactly what was wrong. Davina was up to something, yet what it could be was beyond his comprehension.

  Perhaps it was simply that she was not ready to announce to her family they were courting, and if she wasn’t as passionate as she was when they were together, he’d doubt her intentions. But, it didn’t feel right. None of this felt right. Only rakes and rouges planned secret meetings in hopes of not getting caught, not lasses.

  One thing was certain, he would not allow her to put him off again. He would meet with Aiden on Saturday, no matter what his mood. If he had to go to Edinburgh, so be it. Ian needed permission and would not continue to disrespect the MacGregors by carrying on behind their backs.

  Determined, he mounted his horse and rode across the MacGregor land toward the road, only to stop when he spied Donovan and Alistair approaching the distillery. Slowing his horse, he rode toward the two cousins.

  The three were friends, and had been for years, but when they saw him, and realized who Ian was, shock registered in their expressions.

  “What are ye doin’ here?” Donovan demanded.

  Well, he couldn’t exactly tell him that he’d just been kissing Davina in the woods. “I thought to visit,” he offered slowly.

  “Why?”

  Why? He had never needed a reason before. “To collect my winnin’s.” He grinned. They did owe him.

  “The Season’s not over,” argued Donovan. “Why are ye not in London?”

  Ian dismounted. These two were acting just as strangely as Davina had. What the blazes was wrong with the MacGregors all of a sudden? “We returned early, for which I’m grateful.”

  “Why?” Alistair demanded, as if there had to be a reason, which there was, but not one he’d tell them.

  “My sisters werena bringin’ anyone up to scratch and Lachlan wanted to return so Maddie could rest for her confinement.”

  Their eyebrows rose. “Confinement?” Alistair asked

  “Aye, confinement. I’ll be an uncle come September.” />
  “And she’s havin’ the babe here? Why not at Lachlan’s estate?”

  “He wants his child born in Scotland,” Ian answered, though why it should matter to these two was beyond him.

  “Everyone has returned to Grant Manor? Everyone?” Alistair asked, as if they should be somewhere else. True, they had intended to be in London through June, but they had been gone two months, and not all families remained in London for the full Season.

  “Aye,” he finally answered. “And, further, you each lost yer bet.”

  “We heard.” Donovan narrowed his eyes on Ian. “Ye dinna sneak away even once?”

  “There was no one of interest.”

  Alistair snorted. “I find that hard to believe.” Then he looked at Donovan. “Further, nobody kent what he was doin’ while his sisters slept, the perfect time and opportunity for a man to seek female companionship for an hour or two.”

  “I dinna visit any houses of ill-repute,” Ian argued.

  “We dinna say ye did, but many widows can be quite accommodating to ye from what we’ve heard in the past.”

  “Does my word mean nothin’?” he demanded. Not even Davina questioned the possibility that what Ian’s sisters reported was not true. Then again, she might not consider that when he was meeting with widows in the past it wasn’t just to steal a kiss or two. Those relationships were far more intimate than anything he’d ever experienced with a miss.

  “Nay, we believe ye,” Donovan finally said. “I just wonder what the hell is wrong with ye.”

  “Nothin’!” Ian yelled. “Yer sister issued a challenge and I met it, now pay up.”

  Alistair chuckled. “Come inside. There’s money in the desk.”

  He followed the cousins into the small distillery where only small batches of whisky were produced Everyone knew it was here, even the excisemen. Neither Aiden, nor his older brothers had ever tried to hide the fact that they distilled whisky for personal use and a small bit for sale. However, beneath the structure was a tunnel that led to a cave where much larger batches of whisky were made for the single purpose to smuggle into England. It was much like the operation at Grant Manor. Ian also had a small distillery, which he gladly showed the excisemen, when they stopped, but they knew nothing of the extent of his distillery.

  “Getting careless.” He nodded to the door that opened to the set of stairs that led to the caves.

  Donovan shrugged. “A gauger hasna been by in nearly a year. They arena concerned with us. They’re watchin’ the borders and the ports.”

  It was true. Ian hadn’t been visited in a very long time and he’d not been as diligent or careful as he had in the past, but he also didn’t leave his secret passage open for anyone to see either.

  As Alistair opened a deep drawer in the desk, Donovan poured some glasses of whisky for the three of them.

  “What the blazes are ye doin’ here?” Cameron demanded as he walked in.

  It was almost the same greeting Donovan and Alistair had given when they saw Ian.

  “He’s come to collect his winnin’s,” Donovan said tightly.

  “Ye’re supposed to be in London,” Cameron argued.

  Why did it matter that he’d returned early? It was as if he’d committed a crime the way they carried on.

  “We returned early.”

  “Did ye ken that Maddie is expecin’?” Alistair said brightly.

  Cameron took a step back. “Nay. Is that why ye’re back?” Then his eyes grew wide. “Are Maddie and Lachlan with ye?”

  “They are at Grant Manor, where she will remain until the birth,” Ian answered slowly as he accepted the glass of whisky from Donovan.

  Cameron gave a quick nod. “I wish her well.”

  The cousins each glanced at each other as they sipped, but tension practically rolled off them. What the hell was going on? First Davina had acted strangely at seeing him, and now these three. The MacGregors could be an odd lot, but they were behaving even stranger than normal.

  “Is all well?” Ian finally asked.

  “Aye,” they answered in unison.

  “Why would ye ask?” Donovan said.

  “Ye are all a bit anxious, as if something is wrong.” Was there something that Davina hadn’t told him? Fiona being ill wouldna cause this trio to be tense. Besides, if Aiden was headed to Edinburgh, the child was recovered.

  “Nay.” Again they looked at each other as if they were keeping a secret, or keeping something from him. Just like he knew Davina was keeping something from him. Of course, he couldn’t tell them that Davina was acting strangely since he’d promised to keep their meetings secret.

  “Thirty pounds.” Alistair set a small bag on the desk.

  “I thought ye were each going to pay for yerself, not take it from yer uncle’s coffers.

  Alistair chuckled. “We’ll pay him back, not that he’d ken.”

  This time Ian narrowed his eyes. Aiden would certainly know if thirty pounds was missing from his funds. He kept track of every single shilling related to his whisky trade.

  Aiden! The strange behavior all came back to Aiden in some manner. He was the man Davina was keeping Ian from speaking with. First with the excuse of Fiona being ill and now his trip to Edinburgh. Well, whatever they were trying to hide, Ian would learn what it as on Saturday when he called because he was not going to let Davina put him off another day.

  Ian tipped back the glass and drained the whisky. Then he set it on the desk and lifted the pouch. “Thank ye.” He grinned. “Now I must be gettin’ back home.”

  At his words, all three of the MacGregor men relaxed, which caused Ian to be even further suspicious. Why were they so anxious for him to be gone?

  It mattered not. After Saturday, there would be no more secrets. At least, he and Davina would no longer be a secret.

  Chapter 11

  “And this is really what is served at a supper? There is a meal following a waltz?” Arabella asked as they reviewed the final preparations for the ball.

  “Yes.” Rose smiled. “I am surprised you have not attended functions in Edinburgh. It isn’t so very far away.”

  “I’m not goin’ to tell ye how far.” Despite the fact that Davina didn’t agree with what Uncle Aiden has done, as she could not come up with a solution as to how to save his neck, she wasn’t about to let Rose know how close or far Edinburgh was.

  “And your brother, he has hired musicians?” Rose asked.

  “Alistair arranged it yesterday, returning late last night,” Arabella assured her.

  “What of decorations?” Sheena asked. “We must have decorations.”

  Rose bit her lip in thought. “We could have flowers, but that would require cutting nearly every one in the gardens.”

  Davina would hate to see all the blooms cut and brought inside so they could be enjoyed for only one night.

  “Decorations are not necessary. However, food and drinks are.” Rose laughed. “And musicians.”

  “Let’s review so we know that we haven’t missed anythin’,” Sheena suggested, eagerly pulling a piece of foolscap before her and poising her pencil to take notes.

  “You will greet your guests, with your uncle and brothers at the entry to the ballroom.”

  Sheena’s eyes went wide. “It’s not been cleaned in ages.”

  Rose laughed. “An army of maids and footmen are seeing to it at this very moment.”

  “And the seamstresses have almost completed our gowns.” Sheena sighed. She was looking so forward to the ball more than Davina was. Of course, Sheena had no way of knowing that the Grants had returned and how dangerous that was for Uncle Aiden. Or worse, that Ian planned to call on Uncle Aiden on Saturday. Somehow Davina must make sure that Rose was out of sight when that happened, even if it required Davina locking Rose in her chambers.

  “You’ll want your hair arranged for the evening,” Rose reminded them, and herself, as the little details kept coming to her.

  “We each have a lady’s maid, not tha
t we use them for a fancy appearance, but they’ll ken what to do,” Davina assured her. It was a shame that Ian would not be able to witness that she could be turned out as fine as any of the ladies in London. Perhaps one day, but not at this ball.

  “The orchestra is being arranged. Cameron is seeing that there is enough wine, brandy and whatever else gentlemen prefer to drink.” Rose’s eyes popped open. “Dance cards. We’ve no dance cards.”

  Arabella took a seat. “Are they so very important?”

  “Why yes! It is how you remember which gentlemen you are to dance with. They write their name on your card when they request.”

  “How do we hold onto it when we are dancing?” asked Sheena.

  “A ribbon, around your wrist.” Rose looked from one girl to the next. “Have you never even been to a local assembly?”

  “Other than church on Sundays, sometimes, and shopping excursions into Edinburgh, we doona leave the estate,” Davina answered.

  “We’ll just have to do without dance cards and try to remember.” Rose dismissed. “Later in the evening there will be a supper waltz. The person you waltz with is the person you will have supper with. It is a ritual, so be very careful to whom you grant that dance.”

  Arabella looked to Davina. Davina to Sheena. And Sheena to Arabella.

  “What is it?”

  “We’ve never learned any of the dances,” Davina finally admitted.

  With that, Roses eyes grew hard and she stood so suddenly that her chair fell back. “Laird MacGregor!” she yelled. “Meet me in the music room,” Rose instructed as she quit the room.

  Davina shared another look with Arabella and Sheena. Was Rose going to teach them to dance?

  Shortly after they arrived, so did Uncle Aiden and Rose.

  “Does anyone play?” Rose sounded quite exasperated. She’d seen Rose in many moods during her stay, but if Davina was correct, Rose would like to box Uncle Aiden’s ears.

  “Nan does,” Davina answered. “Her uncle is the vicar and she plays at Sunday services when her aunt is unable.”