Page 3 of Kilgannon #1

They continued, but I was only half-listening now, my attention focused on the blond man as he bowed over my aunt’s hand and said something that had her laughing and playfully smacking his arm with her fan.

Why had Louisa not mentioned him before?

He was certainly more interesting than any man I’d seen in London.

Well, at least more handsome. I lost sight of them as people moved between us, then I saw the Scot standing alone, scanning the room as though looking for someone.

Our eyes met and he smiled. Without thinking, I smiled in return.

He began to walk toward me, but Lady Wilmington stopped him, tilting her head and laying one fleshy hand on his arm.

He looked at her hand, then at me, and then smiled at her.

Will said something to me then and I gave him my attention.

When he and Betty left me a few moments later to dance, I turned to look again for the stranger. And found him standing in front of me.

My eye level was at his collarbone, and I looked at his silver buttons and lace collar before I met his gaze, aware of the curious stares directed our way.

I tried in vain to control the flush that stole into my cheeks and wondered if I was now the same color as my gown.

His hair was a golden blond, thick and shining.

Prominent cheekbones and jawline and a straight nose complemented a well-defined mouth.

His eyes, surrounded by dark lashes, were a midsummer’s sky blue, his expression pleasant as he spoke.

“Miss Lowell? I am Alexander MacGannon of Kilgannon. Yer aunt suggested I make yer acquaintance.” His accent was noticeable, his tone light.

He did not sound like a madman. I offered my hand and he bowed over it.

As he straightened, a lock of his hair slipped out of the band that held it and framed his face, and I had the ridiculous urge to brush it away from his cheek.

I pulled back from him more strongly than I had intended.

He brushed his hair back while he looked at me intently, but something had flickered in his eyes and I knew he had seen me flinch.

“It is customary, Kilgannon, to have a third person introduce you,” laughed the Duchess, suddenly at his side. The small plump woman looked up at him affectionately.

“It is also less direct than I wish to be, Your Grace,” he answered, bowing to her. “But I bow to yer wishes in all things.”

“In all things, sir, or just those you wish to?”

I was astonished. The Duchess was flirting with a Scotsman?

I studied him as they bantered, pretending as I waited for them to finish that I was not noticing every detail about him.

At last the Duchess turned to me. “My dear Mary, may I present Alexander MacGannon, the tenth Earl of Kilgannon. Kilgannon, Miss Mary Lowell. Two years ago in France, Mary, the Duke made the Earl’s acquaintance.

My husband reports that the Earl was charming and deadly.

” She placed a small jeweled hand on his arm and smiled up into his face. “Such an interesting combination.”

The Earl laughed. “Aye, madam, we Scots are always charming and deadly. When we’re not acting like savages.”

“Oh, Kilgannon,” she twittered, “take Miss Lowell for a walk.” She smiled at me. “He’s currently unmarried, dear.” I felt my cheeks flame again as she waddled away, but before either of us could speak, one of the Whigs was at my elbow, staring aggressively at Lord Kilgannon. The man spoke abruptly.

“Kirkgannon, is it? What do you think of the Union?”

“Kilgannon, sir.” Kilgannon bowed stiffly and spoke coldly. “I think it’s the law now. Has been for several years, I believe.”

“So you Scots will obey the law this time?”

“As always, sir. If ye will excuse us now, Miss Lowell has expressed her wishes for a bit of fresh air.” I made no protest as Kilgannon took my hand and pulled it through his arm.

He led me silently to the opposite side of the ballroom and out onto the porch, ignoring all the eyes watching us.

Outside, he released my hand with a sigh and leaned against the stone railing.

The night was gentle, the moon a crescent in the black sky.

A slight breeze ruffled our hair and brought the scent of roses as I watched him by the light of the lamps beside the door.

He glanced over his shoulder at the darkness before turning to look at me.

“I’m sorry, lass. I dinna mean to drag ye off.

I was afraid I’d say something unforgivable and yer aunt would ban me from her house.

And …” He turned and looked out over the gardens, his cheeks coloring slightly.

“I’m sorry if I was too direct. I just thought it was the simplest way to meet ye.

” I looked at his profile and tried to think of an answer.

When I did not respond, he shot me a sharp glance. “Are ye angry? Shall I leave?”

I looked at him for a long moment before answering, then smiled.

Anger was not what I was feeling. “Am I angry that you wanted to meet me, sir?” I asked.

“Or am I an gry that you refused to be drawn into an argument with a boor? Or am I angry that you flirted outrageously with my aunt and the Duchess? Or am I angry that a Scotsman would attend a party like this when we all know you’re likely to burn London down at any moment? ”

He turned to me, surprised at first, and then, reading my expression, he started chuckling. “Yer a one. All right, which is it?” His smile played around the corners of his mouth.

“I’m deciding. Hmmm. I’m not angry you wanted to meet me.”

“And?”

“And I’m not angry that you wouldn’t argue politics. And I’m not angry that you would attend this party, assuming, of course, that you were invited.”

“I was. And?”

“And I am outraged that you flirted with my aunt Louisa and the Duchess.”

He laughed out loud and turned back to the garden. “Yer aunt said ye were bright as well as beautiful.”

“My aunt always says I’m bright and beautiful, sir,” I said. “In truth, I am neither.”

“I disagree, Miss Lowell. She dinna say the half of it.” He stole a look at me again, his expression softening. “Thank ye for being kind to a stranger.”

“My lord, it was easy to be kind to you.”

“Not my lord, lass. Just Alex.”

“Not the Earl of…” I couldn’t remember.

“Kilgannon. No. Alex. Alex MacGannon. Will ye remember it?”

“Alex,” I said, meeting his eyes.

“Here you are! We wondered where you’d wandered to.

” We turned to see the Duchess standing in the doorway with Will and Betty.

She introduced everyone and turned to smile at me.

“The Earl saw you at my party last week, Mary,” she said, “and asked to meet you, but he left: before I could arrange it, so I am delighted that he has joined us tonight. ”

I watched Kilgannon watch me and Will assess him. “I see,” I said. “The Earl was most direct.”

The Duchess laughed. “And successful, it would appear.”

Will raised his eyebrows and I said something about the weather, forestalling his protective reaction.

We talked for a few moments, Will and Kilgannon polite, Betty pouting in the background.

The Duchess interrupted when the topic shifted to politics.

“No, no, not tonight, gentlemen,” she said with a wave of her hand.

“Come inside, the dancing is about to begin again.” She led the way and we followed.

In the ballroom Betty was at Kilgannon’s side at once. “Do you dance, sir?” she asked in her affected high little voice.

He nodded. “Aye, mistress, but not the minuet.”

“Oh,” she said, and a moment later was swept off onto the dance floor by Will.

I stood with Kilgannon and watched the dancers, very aware of him at my side, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound idiotic.

Jonathan Wumple stopped before us, bowing, and I groaned silently.

Jonathan, whom I had known forever, always asked me to dance.

Tonight, however, he asked Kilgannon if I could dance. The Scot glanced at me.

“It’s the lady’s decision, sir. Just dinna flirt with her. She despises flirting,” he said with an impassive expression and then laughed at the face I made at him behind Jonathan’s back.

I danced with Jonathan, but I watched Kilgannon where he stood alone at the side of the room.

In a very short time he was surrounded by women, and he laughed and leaned over to hear them speak but resisted all attempts to dance.

Nor did he move from the spot, even when joined by a beautiful redhead in a daring dress.

Lady Rowena de Burghesse, the wife of the Marquess of Badwell, looked into his eyes with a knowing look, and I felt my face flush.

How I detested Rowena. I had always disliked her but never more than at this moment.

I wondered what she said to him as Kilgannon’s expression grew remote and his eyes flickered toward me.

When the dance ended we were at the opposite side of the room, and I chatted with Jonathan and his sister Priscilla for a moment before Priscilla whispered behind her fan. “Kilgannon’s very handsome. Where did your aunt meet him?”

“At the Duchess’s party, I believe,” I said, turning as I spoke to look for him. But he was gone. The wave of disappointment I felt surprised me, and I searched the room as she whispered again.

“It’s said he has a wonderful castle on the side of a lake. And two little boys. His wife died when the second was a baby. Perhaps he’s looking for a new wife.”

“If so he’ll no doubt find one,” I said, glancing around again. “The women are very fond of him already.”

“I wouldn’t say no,” she said, her eyes dreamy. “But you, of course, have decided on Lord Robert Campbell.”

I shook my head. “There is no agreement between us.”

She smiled archly. “I have heard differently.”

“Miss Wumple,” I said briskly. “I would be aware of an engagement that concerned me. There is not one.” Priscilla smiled a meaningful smile, her lead paint cracking at the edges of her mouth.

I have to get out of here I thought, hastily giving my excuses.

As I left the ballroom I stopped to greet many that I knew in the brilliantly dressed crowd but saw no Scotsman.

In the hall I took a deep breath and turned to see Louisa returning from the dining room. My aunt smiled as she approached.

“You might have said something, Louisa,” I said. My tone reminded me uncomfortably of Jonathan’s sister.

“About?”

“The Earl of Kilgannon.”

Her eyebrows raised. “I believe I did. But goodness, child, you look as though you’ve seen a vision.”

“I have. ”

My aunt’s eyes narrowed. “He is a man, Mary, not a vision. Do guard your expression more next time, my dear.” She smiled to soften her words. “And apparently it’s quite mutual. He seems quite smitten. He has asked everyone in London about you.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That you are as brilliant as you are beautiful, that you deserve a husband who will treasure you, that Scotland is too far away and too dangerous for my niece, and that you are accustomed to the company of Lord Campbell.” She looked at me with bright eyes.

“I thought Alex’s appearance here tonight and his interest in you might bring Robert to heel.

It’s more than time that he proposed. How unfortunate that he has not yet returned from France. ”

“I see,” I said tartly. “How charming to have been discussed by the two of you so thoroughly. I feel like a prize mare.”

She laughed. “Goodness, Mary, give the man a chance to talk to you, if only because he is my cousin. Well, by marriage at least. I think you will like him, and it will be good for Robert to discover he is not the only man in the world to have noticed you.”

“All this on one night’s conversation?”

“My dear, I have known Alex since he was a child. His mother was a Keith and your uncle Duncan was a Keith, remember? Or have you forgotten that I was married to a Scot for twelve years? I met Alex many times when he was young.”

“You might have told me about him.” I sounded all often.

She patted my arm. “I was surprised at the man he’s become.

He will turn many heads in London. Yours was not the first and certainly won’t be the last. Enjoy his company for the moment.

Robert will be home soon. It’s only dinner, Mary.

I ask that you be polite for one evening.

You’ll probably never see him again.” She glided into the ballroom, leaving me alone.