Page 19 of Kilgannon #1
T HE DINNER WAS WORSE THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED .
I felt quite incapable tonight of dealing with the gossip and political discussions and sat woodenly as the lively guests chattered around me.
Rowena was here, just to make the evening complete, and Janice as well, but she did not help.
It was a disaster. Before dinner Edmund Bartiett approached me with his usual oily manner.
“Ah, Miss Lowell,” he said, bowing over my hand and studying my clothing. “I am so surprised to see you here unaccompanied.”
“I am with my aunt and uncle, sir,” I said, taking my hand from his and resisting the urge to wipe it on my skirt.
“But of course I meant your Scotsman, or I should say, one of your Scotsmen. You seem to have a strong affinity for our northern neighbors.” I forced myself to smile.
Of all topics, this was the one I least wished to discuss.
“I hear that Lord Campbell has been quite displeased,” Edmund continued, tilting his head.
“Has he?” I smiled, no doubt looking like a gargoyle.
“So I hear. But, of course, you would know that.”
“What would she know?” asked a voice from behind me. It was Rowena, looking more beautiful than ever.
Edmund smiled and stepped back to allow Rowena to join us. “She would know that Lord Campbell is displeased that the Earl of Kilgannon pays so much attention to Miss Lowell.”
“Or” —Rowena smiled like a cat—“is it that Miss Lowell pays so much attention to Kilgannon? No wonder Campbell is annoyed.”
“Yes,” Edmund said, sharing a smile with her. The evening cannot last forever, I told myself. It will just feel like it does.
“Of course,” Rowena laughed as she watched me through half-closed eyes, “many women pay him undue attention. You should have seen them today in the shops.” She waved her hands airily.
“They were peeking out of windows to see him. They look so small next to him. It was charming to see him among them.” Charming, I thought, wondering if they had practiced this conversation beforehand. “And he enjoys the attention so.”
“Do you think so?” Edmund asked, watching my reaction.
“Of course he does,” Rowena said, turning to glance over her shoulder, then lowering her voice as if what she was about to say was confidential.
“He gives the shopkeepers that smile of his, and they fall all over themselves trying to help him. Today he was looking at a white silk nightdress and robe.” She paused for effect.
“So thin you could see the light through it. Very beautiful. I assisted him in his search. It was very pleasant.” She smiled archly and fanned herself as if overwhelmed.
Edmund laughed, and they exchanged a confederate smirk. I hated them both.
Dinner was announced and I breathed again, but my comfort was short-lived.
I could not concentrate on my meal or on the conversations around me.
I spilled my wine and dropped a fork on the floor.
By dessert I was exhausted and sat silently with the women when we withdrew.
It was all lies, I told myself over and over.
But I wondered. I did not sleep well, wondering how I could be so wrong about Alex.
He was obviously nothing more than a handsome philanderer, and I his willing fool .
I was still in that frame of mind the next morning, alone in the library with my foul mood, when Ellen popped in, giving me a conspiratorial look as she announced that the Earl of Kilgannon was here.
A moment later Alex stood in the doorway with two packages in his hands and Randolph, already talking about horses, just behind him.
“Alex,” I said, offering my hand and trying to keep my annoyance under control.
“Mary.” Alex grinned as he bowed over my hand, his eyes merry.
Obviously he saw nothing wrong with his behavior.
“I realized I’d not given ye the chocolate I promised.
I’ve been carrying it with me all this time.
” He handed me the smaller package. “And I had something made for ye,” he said, adding the larger one.
“I canna wait to see ye in it.” Before I could respond, Ellen leaned into the room and told Alex that someone was asking for him at the door.
Eyebrows raised in surprise, he went to see who it was.
I looked at the packages in my lap while Randolph moved around the room and chatted to me.
The smaller one held the familiar shape of a chocolate box, and I put it on the table next to me while I examined the larger of the two.
I was certain that it contained a white silk nightdress and robe.
Apparently seduction was in fact on his mind.
Had we but world enough and time indeed. His arrogance knew no bounds.
I was sitting stiffly on my chair, staring into the fire and paying little attention to my uncle, when Alex returned. He moved to stand in front of me, his manner much subdued, his face pale. “I must leave immediately, Mary,” he said hoarsely.
“Indeed you must, Lord Kilgannon. Perhaps we do not know each other as well as you had thought.” I gestured with the package. “Or as well as intended. How could you possibly give me such a thing? Do you really think a silk nightdress is appropriate?”
He looked bewildered. “Mary, it’s not— ”
“Oh, it’s not? And why not? Is it the wrong gift for me, or is it just the wrong time to give it to me?” I stood, angrier by the moment. “Were you waiting until you had successfully seduced me, Alex? Or is the nightgown a gift for another woman?”
“Neither, Mary. Please listen—”
I thrust the package at him and stormed across the room, turning at the door.
Alex held the package in his hands, his eyes wide.
Randolph’s mouth hung open in shock. “I will not be seduced, Alex MacGannon, so if that’s what you had in mind, you’d better think again.
And if it’s for another woman then. … then damn you.
” I burst into tears and turned blindly out of the room.
In the hall I bumped into Bronson, who sniffed and stepped back.
“You hideous man,” I snarled. “Go listen at another door!” I ran upstairs.
Eventually I cried myself to sleep. When I woke it was early afternoon.
I had no tears left, but I was still angry.
I went downstairs to find Louisa, but both she and Randolph were gone.
As I stood in the foyer trying to decide what to do next, I saw the packages on a table by the door, a folded note sticking out from beneath them.
Miss Lowell, Alex had written. I am leaving these packages for you as I have no use for them. One is the chocolate that I’ve mentioned and the other I had made for you. Keep it or not, as you will. Alex ’ r MacGannon.
“Bronson,” I called without turning around. He was there at once, and I knew he’d been watching me. I thrust the packages at him. “Have these delivered at once to Kilgannon’s ship. It’s called the Gannon’s Lady. ”
“Is there a message, miss?” he asked.
“None.”
Two hours later, curled up with a book in the library, I was startled to hear a banging on the front door and the sound of loud voices.
Ellen burst into the room, followed by Bronson.
And Alex. All three spoke at once, Ellen trying to warn me that Alex was here, Bronson telling me he tried to stop him, and Alex, his anger obvious, saying that he wished a word with me.
I rose to my feet and slowly put the book down before turning to them.
I put a hand on Ellen’s arm to reassure her and told her and Bronson that I understood but that all was well.
I would, I said, speak with Lord Kilgannon alone, and I thanked them for their concern.
They nodded, moving to the door, but at the threshold Bironson turned.
“Miss Lowell?” he asked quietly. “I will stay with you if you wish it.” I met his eyes across the room and for once saw no derision or disapproval, only concern. Ellen peered over his shoulder, her face pale.
“That is most kind of you, Bronson,” I said. “But I have no doubt that Lord Kilgannon will behave as a gentleman.” I turned to Alex and met his eyes. “Won’t you, sir?” I asked frostily.
He stared at me for a moment, then turned to Bronson.
“Leave us. This is not yer concern. Miss Lowell will call ye if she needs ye.” At my nod Bronson left us and I turned to Alex.
He watched me with a stony face, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked very large.
And very angry. And very handsome. The silence stretched unbearably and at last, weary of the tension between us, I moved to stand before the fireplace, my back to him.
It was difficult to remember to hate him when he looked like that.
I sighed and tried to stay cold and disciplined.
“Mary,” he said, his voice tight with control. I didn’t turn, and he didn’t speak again. At last I glanced over my shoulder to see him looking down at his watch with a frown.
“If you need to go, sir, please, don’t let me delay you,” I said, turning fully. He looked up at me with an unreadable expression, his hands falling to his sides.
“I do need to go, Mary, to see my shipping agent. He says he may have more news and I’m to meet with him in half an hour. I dinna realize it was so late.”
“Then, by all means, go, Alex. A meeting with your shipping agent is much more important than talking to me. ”