by Jane Charles
Ian stared at him. “You want me to seduce her right then and there?”
“Well, maybe not completely seduce, but a bit more of what she’s experienced before,” Lachlan offered.
He could do that. Bit by bit, he could seduce Davina until she finally gave in.
“But, take the list with ye, just in case she is through with ye.”
That blasted list. “I told ye I wasna goin’ to use another lass to make Davina jealous.”
“Ye doona have to. She just needs to think ye may have moved on.”
Ian thrust his fingers through his hair. “I’m not sure I want to be with a lass if I have to work so hard to get her to come around to my way of thinkin’. Will I have to seduce her every time I want somethin’?”
Both Lachlan and Jordan grinned.
“Once the seducing has been done, she will be yours.” Jordan lifted a glass in toast. “And that is how you manage a lady.”
“But be warned, that is also how she’ll manage ye,” Lachlan added. Then he looked at Jordan. “It’s the best part of bein’ married.”
The two clinked glasses and grinned. Ian just stared at them. He didn’t want to manage Davina any more that he wanted to be managed by her. However, if hours of bed sport were required to come to any agreement, he was certainly amenable to such negotiations.
Chapter 30
A fortnight ago, anxiety had infused every fiber of her being at the fear of Uncle Aiden going to the gallows, and the appearance of the Grants at the ball had only intensified her fear. Though Davina no longer feared the gallows, anxiety had once again taken over and Ian Grant was the cause.
Today was not what she’d expected, nor what Rose’s stepdaughters had originally planned. Neither Rose nor Uncle Aiden wished for a large celebration as they’d both been married before, but it was Rose’s stepsons, daughter, stepdaughters and their spouses who insisted that Rose deserved a large celebration to begin her new life. One that would be filled with love and happiness—everything she had lacked in her first marriage.
There was to have originally been a small ceremony at their local church, followed by a traditional wedding breakfast, then a ball that evening. Uncle Aiden didn’t wish for such formalities. In fact, he argued often that an anvil was all he needed, usually delivered with a wink to Rose. But, he also wished for his children to participate, as they were just as important, if not more, than the rest of his family and thus, a simple wedding had been held before the vicar in the gardens of Annagburn. Casks had been taken from the distillery and the whisky tasting that had been planned before Uncle Aiden kidnapped Rose would be held today as well.
On the back lawn there were games of croquet, cricket and an archery contest, along with other entertainments. An orchestra was set up for dancing on the terrace. There was nothing traditional about this wedding celebration, but Uncle Aiden claimed that they had no need to follow tradition when his courtship had been anything but customary.
Their neighbors, entire families with babies and children were in attendance. Some were seated on blankets on the back lawn and others under tables in the shade. People were everywhere, enjoying a number of activities, including the whisky, as well as food that was set up on the buffets. No time had been set aside to dine, but everyone could eat when they chose and as often as they wished.
It was a beautiful day and Annagburn the perfect setting for such a celebration. Few clouds lingered in the azure sky, flowers bloomed and the slightest of breezes cooled those who danced upon the terrace. Davina sighed and took it all in. It was as if nature worked to make this a perfect day for Uncle Aiden and Rose.
Not only were their closest neighbors here, the Grants included, but friends from Edinburgh and more Trents than she could count. Bentley had sent for his wife’s siblings, which included a sixteen-year-old girl, Leigh. Since Leigh’s arrival three days ago, she and Sheena had spent nearly every waking hour together, and the two were making plans for a London Season.
A London Season, something they never thought they’d experience, but Rose was determined to see Davina, Arabella and Sheena presented next spring, though Davina wondered it if was a waste of time for herself. First, she’d be twenty, and rather old to be brought out. But truly, she hoped she’d be married to Ian by then.
Along with Leigh were her younger brothers, Ethan, Timothy, Paul and Jamie, who was only eight, and they were getting on famously with Uncle Aiden’s sons. Lady Bentley had the sole responsibility of her younger siblings until she had met Bentley, and now he provided a home to the younger children and was seeing that the boys received an education they would not have had access to prior to the couple marrying.
John Trent and his wife, Elizabeth, had asked that her sister Louisa, who was married to Viscount Marston, remain. The sisters had arrived with their grandfather, the Duke of Danby. The MacGregors had never had anyone of such high ranking in their home and Davina worried at what he would think of this odd celebration. A duke, especially the Duke of Danby, did not dance on terraces or frolic on the lawn, but he seemed to be enjoying himself, and his affection for Rose was apparent, especially after he insisted on speaking with Uncle Aiden in private before he’d determine if he approved and allowed the match.
It never occurred to Davina that anyone would object until His Grace arrived. That meeting had gone well, apparently, though Uncle Aiden was a bit put out that His Grace preferred the whisky distilled by the Grants over the MacGregors’. At least Danby had given his blessing when none of them realized it was required. Not that Uncle Aiden would have stepped aside had His Grace insisted, but Davina was thankful that the interview with Danby had ended peacefully. He’d even brought a special license, even though such a requirement was not necessary in Scotland. Apparently, His Grace was known to have a partiality for them and Davina wasn’t certain she wished to know why, or if she’d even want to have someone so exalted and powerful meddling in her life.
The exchanging of vows had been sweet and short, and their guests seemed to be enjoying themselves this afternoon. Davina only wished she could feel half the joy of those in attendance.
Perhaps she would if Ian would just look at her once, or even acknowledge her presence, but he was too busy charming the other lasses. If she didn’t know better, Davina would believe that Ian had reverted to his rakish ways with the way he danced, charmed and spent time with the lasses. All the lasses except for her.
Worse, he’d danced with Alana Lennox, Elspeth Thomason and Rhona Murray twice, and all three watched him hopefully.
Hopeful! As if they expected him to ask a third time. Why would they anticipate that he’d make a silent announcement of a courtship by dancing a third time if he hadn’t been courting them? Was that why he’d not been around? He was too busy courting Alana, Elspeth and Rhona?
I will wait for ye, but not for long, Davina. It is up to ye to court me, or we willna court at all.” His voice played in her head. Had she miscalculated, pushed him too far? Waited too long? It had only been five days. As Davina willna do as she’s told, I thought to consider others. That was what he’d said to Uncle Aiden.
Plus, he had stormed out of the manor, determined to be done with them all, yet he was here, just not for her.
She narrowed her eyes on Ian. Had he done nothing but call on those three these last five days? Had he been kissing and holding them?
Davina didn’t want to believe it was true, but feared that it might be. It was as if he’d completely put her from his mind because not once had he even acknowledged her.
It was difficult, but Ian managed to look at Davina without her catching him doing so. In his determination to prove his point that she must court him, he’d shown attention to the other lasses in the area. Perhaps too much, he worried. He should have never danced twice with Alana, Elspeth or Rhona, now they hoped for more. In the end, he hadn’t agreed with Lachlan to find a lass to make Davina jealous. Instead, he’d thought that simply dancing with a number of lasses and not noticing
Davina would do the trick. It hadn’t, and now Alana, Elspeth and Rhona watched him hopefully.
His stomach tightened, reminiscent of his days in London, before he was determined to have Davina and needed to win the challenge. He’d gone about showing partiality to the lasses who had caught his eye and many of them had looked at him as those three did now. In the past, he would have walked with them, individually of course, and possibly stolen an offered kiss, even when he knew they were not the one for him. He had done much more with the widows. He’d entertained many women. Of course, their status had determined the depth of entertainment.
The MacGregor cousins were correct. He had been a rake of the first order and fully enjoyed his time with the ladies, all ladies, whether it was a conversation at the side of a ballroom, or a widow’s bed. All had been equally pleasurable because he loved women.
Such was no longer the case. He still appreciated women, but there was only one with whom he wished to converse, dance, kiss, and bed, and she’d not reacted to his attention to the other lasses as he’d hoped.
Was it possible Davina had not noticed? He’d watched as she moved among the guests—conversing, then moving onto the next grouping. When she wasn’t interacting with the servants, she was checking the food on the buffet, or supervising an archery contest. Perhaps she was too busy to note that he’d gone out of his way to make her jealous.
Well, he certainly couldn’t dance with any of those lasses a third time because they’d expect more. Everyone would, except Davina who hadn’t seemed to even notice he was there.
Blast! The lass was more aggravating than any he’d ever met, but what was he to do about her?
Perhaps it wouldn’t bother him so much if it was because she was playing mistress of Annagburn and focused on everyone having an enjoyable time, but she’d managed to step away from those duties long enough to dance with Brice Campbell, Graham Kier, Rodrick Hamilton and Conall Mitchell. Did she really believe one of them would be better for her than him?
They would make a fine husband to any number of lasses but never Davina as they’d have no better luck in managing her than Ian did. If anything, she’d have complete control over them and the household before a week was up. Hopefully, Aiden realized that as well before any of them came a calling, which they would.
Blast! He could not stand by and let the likes of those four court Davina when she was supposed to be courting him.
“It’s a celebration.” Jordan Trent pushed a glass into his hand. “And the MacGregors make a fine whisky.”
By the high color in Jordan’s cheeks, Ian suspected that he’d been enjoying the whisky far too much already.
“If it were me, I’d just take her and head off to Scotland, don’t give her a choice.”
Ian lifted an eyebrow at Jordan. “We are in Scotland.”
He frowned and stared down into his empty glass. “Well, you cannot take her to England, you’d have to cry the banns or get a special license.” He blinked at Ian. “So, what do you Scots do when you want a lass?”
“Court them, like all other civilized countries.”
Jordan grinned. “But you can’t since you need to save face and all of that rot.”
Ian stiffened. “All of that rot?” Was he now calling his manhood into question? “It is Aiden MacGregor who ordered me to prove that I can manage her.”
“As my step-stepfather will soon learn.” Jordan frowned. “Exactly what relationship is he to me now? Rose is my stepmother, and now he is her new husband, does that make Aiden my step or step-step?”
“I think ye need to stay away from the whisky.”
“I’m not so far gone into my cups,” Jordan assured him. “My point is, it is impossible to manage a woman. The Rose I knew before Aiden was easily managed however, but only because my father was a beast of a man, bullying and terrorizing everyone beneath him, which is a totally different kind of managing and one I don’t hold to.”
“I should hope not.” He’d need to tell Alistair and Donovan, who were pouring the whisky, not to given Jordan any more.
“However, Rose has found her spine and determination and released her heart to Aiden.” He smiled at that. “So, he will not ever be able to manage her.” Then Jordan put an arm around Ian’s shoulders and pulled him close. “Once married there is only one way a man can ever get his way.”
They’d already had this discussion, but Jordan had probably forgotten, given his inebriated state.
“The bedchamber, my friend. That is where we yield the power, and where happiness in a marriage truly begins.”
“As Davina and I arena married, I’m certain her relations would object to my using your methods in managing her.”
Jordan leaned back and looked around as if to check that nobody was near. “Me and my brothers all anticipated the vows,” he whispered. “As have Aiden and Rose.”
He’d already suspected that of Aiden, and had since he’d first seen the couple at the ball, but Ian couldn’t believe Jordan was telling him matters that should remain private. However, perhaps seduction was the key and it wasn’t the first time it had crossed his mind where Davina was concerned. Perhaps if he gave her a very thorough loving, one that she wouldn’t soon forget, she’d surrender and agree to court him only to win Aiden’s approval.
“What do the two of you have your heads together about?” Audrey asked as she slipped her hand into her husband’s.
“I was giving him advice on how to manage Davina,” Jordan boldly announced to her.
The color rose in Audrey’s cheeks. “Yes, well, I can only imagine what that advice included, though I can assure you, Ian, that Jordan has yet to manage me.”
Jordan just grinned and then winked at Ian as if he knew better than Audrey.
Ian just shook his head and wondered if Audrey would soon take Jordan off to bed. Not with seduction in mind but to allow him to sleep off the whisky.
“Have you seen John?” she asked after a moment.
“Not recently, but I’m certain he’s around here somewhere,” Jordan answered. “Why?”
“Gideon Trent is here looking for him.” She nodded to the terrace where a tall man with sandy hair stood at the entrance to the ballroom.
“Good God, there are more of you?” Ian wasn’t sure he could take still more Trents showing up.
“Distant relation,” Jordan dismissed. “Though he is a little late in arriving and certainly not needed,” he added with a grumble. “I’ll leave John to deal with him.”
“And, I think it time that you eat something and drink a strong cup of tea.” Audrey pulled Jordan away and led him to the buffet.
Who was Gideon Trent and why was he here now? Had he intended on helping the Trents rescue Rose? That was the only explanation Ian could come up with, and if so, he had wasted a trip.
Ian narrowed his eyes as Davina glided up to him. Blast, the last thing he needed was another gentleman sniffing after her skirts. He took a deep drink of the MacGregor whisky and considered Jordan’s words of wisdom, which may not be wise in the end, but it was all Ian had to go with at the moment.
“There you are,” Alana Lennox slipped her hand around the crook of his elbow. “I wondered where ye ran off to.”
Ian stifled a groan. It wasn’t that Alana wasn’t comely because she was lovely, just not as lovely as Davina.
Chapter 31
“May I help ye?” Davina asked the stranger who appeared on the terrace.
“I came looking for John Trent,” he announced. “And I was told he’d be here.”
“And you are?”
“My pardon.” He bowed quickly. “Mr. Gideon Trent.”
Davina’s instant reaction was too quick to try and hide as her eyebrows rose. “There are more? I thought they were all here.”
He chuckled. “A distant, distant relative, I assure you.”
Thank goodness. Davina adored Rose’s family, but there were already so many.
“I happened to be in the area and
when I learned my cousins were here, I thought to visit.” He glanced around the gathering, from the dancers on the terrace to the families relaxing on the lawn. “I apologize. I did not realize I would be interrupting a celebration.”
Davina grinned. “My uncle, Aiden MacGregor, married Rose Bentley today.”
This time it was Mr. Trent’s eyes that grew wide.
It was then when she realized why he was truly here and it was all she could do not to laugh. Instead, she linked her arm with his and led him back inside where they would not be overheard. “Did ye come to help rescue her?”
“I’m certain I don’t know what you mean.”
“Ye are a poor liar, Mr. Trent,” she laughed. “But Rose is no longer in need of rescuing and is quite happy with her circumstances.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather confirm your observation with my cousins.”
“Of course.” She smiled. “But how did you even ken…Ye received the letter, dinna ye?”
Mr. Trent cleared his throat. “We may have received a certain correspondence.”
“Well it was my foolish brother who delivered it to the wrong Trents. But it has all worked out well.”
“Worked out well?” he asked in disbelief.
“Aye. The two are married and there is no need for anyone to be rescued.”
“Forgive me if I don’t simply take your word on the matter.”
“Of course.” Davina smiled at him then led him back to the terrace. “Yer cousins are out there, though I suspect most of them are over by the distillery tasting whisky.” As the words left her lips her eyes caught Ian walking with Alana Lennox, their heads close together as they disappeared into the gardens.
Had she truly lost him? Had she ever truly had him if he gave up on her so quickly?
Tears spiked but Davina blinked them away. Even though her heart might be shattering in that moment, she must remain strong and fulfill her final duty as mistress of Annagburn. Tonight, when all the guests were gone, she’d mourn the loss of Ian Grant, and her heart, because clearly, if she held his, he would not be walking with Alana Lennox in the garden where nobody could see them. Was he kissing her now as well? Caressing Alana as he had once caressed Davina?