Page 19 of One Forbidden Kiss with the Laird (The Cinderella Shepherd Sisters #2)

‘I think you are wanted by the Kingsleys. I suggest you take Miss Kingsley her lemonade.’ Before Lord Leven could say anything more she stepped away, thankful for the crowd.

‘Miss Shepherd,’ a booming voice called out and Selina turned to see the giant form of Mr Bruce.

‘I hear you had quite an adventure after I left you last week. I am glad to see you recovered.’ He took her hand and pumped it hard up and down as if they were two businessmen settling on an agreeable deal.

‘Thank you. And thank you for assisting Miss Kingsley last week.’

‘It was my pleasure. Always glad to help a friend. Ah, can you hear the music? I think it is time for a dance. Will you step with me?’

‘You want to dance with me?’

He shrugged. ‘I may look like a bear, but I dance with the grace of a doe.’

Selina smiled, feeling her spirits lift a little for the first time in days.

‘A doe, you say…’

‘You’re tempted, admit it, Miss Shepherd. Come, I promise not to step on your toes.’

He led her to the dance floor, joining dozens of other couples as the music started in earnest. It was not a tune she recognised and she was glad when Mr Bruce leaned in close and told her just to copy him. ‘No one here cares how anyone else dances. It is just about having fun.’

* * *

All evening Callum had struggled to stay present in the moment.

His eyes constantly roamed across the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Miss Shepherd.

He knew this obsession with searching her out was unhealthy, but he could not help himself.

For the first hour he had dedicated himself to Miss Kingsley, hating every moment he stood stiffly by her side.

They had nothing to talk about, no shared interests.

She was constantly on edge, trying to impress him with her grace and elegance without realising they were not qualities he was searching for.

Now he had made his excuses, telling the Kingsleys he needed to spend some time with the other guests. In truth, he had retreated to a corner and watched Miss Shepherd.

‘Your expression could scare a warrior,’ his mother said as she emerged from the crowd, cheeks pink and her dress crumpled from the dancing.

‘Good evening, Mother.’

‘I’ve been watching you this past half an hour,’ she said, coming to stand beside him. ‘And it is not your future wife you have not been able to take your eyes off.’

Callum hated that his distress was so obvious. He prided himself on being a stoic, unreadable person, his emotions kept hidden.

‘The young lady you can’t keep your eyes off is a pretty little thing.’

Callum didn’t say anything. His mother could have a job as royal inquisitor in the Tower of London, but he had learned over the years how best to withstand her probing.

‘She is connected to the Kingsleys, I believe. The official story is she is some distant relative—you know how the English like to pretend they are charitable by taking in destitute relatives and having them fulfil some odd role halfway between family member and servant.’

‘That is not the truth?’

Lady Leven shrugged. ‘Take a look at Sir William. He is a fine-looking man for someone of his age. A full head of brown hair, good cheekbones, clear skin. In his youth I expect he was popular among the young women. Now look at Miss Shepherd. There is a certain resemblance, is there not?’

‘They do proclaim her to be a relative, if somewhat distant.’

‘What do I know, my dear? I am just a foolish old woman who has too much time on her hands and a penchant for intrigue.’

‘You think Miss Shepherd is his daughter?’

‘I do. I think he got some poor young woman pregnant years ago and Miss Shepherd was the result. What I cannot fathom is why he has brought her here to Scotland with him. High Society is full of wealthy men hiding their illegitimate children, some are more open about things than others, but Sir William shows no affection towards Miss Shepherd, so why is she here?’

Callum thought of her enthusiasm for life, of the way she threw herself into everything.

He did not know for certain his mother was right about Miss Shepherd’s origins, but it would explain some of the odd dynamic within the Kingsley household.

Lady Kingsley found it hard to hide her disdain for Miss Shepherd, which was a little more understandable if she was Sir William’s illegitimate daughter than if she was merely a poor relation.

It also explained some of the rivalry between Miss Kingsley and Miss Shepherd.

His eyes fixed back on to Miss Shepherd as she spoke with Mr Bruce and Miss Scott.

Bruce had swooped in and brought her into the heart of the dance, introducing her to all the locals, leaving her to dance with the men of the village, only to pick her back up once the dancing was done and guide her to the next group. He was a good man, a good friend.

‘She is keen to get back to England.’

Lady Leven regarded him with sadness in her eyes.

‘You look at her as if you were starved, my dear. Yet on the few occasions you have looked at Miss Kingsley there is only pain and panic in your eyes.’ She held up her hands to ward off his protests.

‘I know you are doing it for the family, for the locals. It is a very selfless thing to do, but no one wishes to see you unhappy.’

‘I know,’ he said softly. No one wished to see him unhappy, but that did not mean he could abandon them and selfishly indulge his own desires instead. That would make him no better than his father.

‘Perhaps you could dance with Miss Shepherd. One dance would not hurt.’

‘She will not dance with me.’

‘Ah. Something has happened between you.’

Callum closed his eyes, remembering as he had a thousand times in the last week their kiss in old Mrs Douglas’s cottage.

He had relived the kiss again and again, fearful he might forget what her lips tasted of or how her skin had felt underneath his fingers.

It was ridiculous, to think of something that could never be repeated so often, to live through it again and again.

‘I expect she’ll forgive you if you showed her why you’re doing all this.’

‘I have told her. She knows I must choose my duty.’

His mother looked at him with a raised eyebrow. ‘I hope you were not as blunt as all that.’

‘There is no other way to say it.’

‘Good lord, Callum, did I really raise such an insensitive fool? You want her forgiveness, I take it, for some…transgression?’

He grimaced. Sometimes it was highly irritating having such an astute woman as his mother. It was hard to hide anything from her.

‘Aye.’

‘And you have apologised?’

‘Aye.’

‘Then you need to show her why you cannot follow your desires. Don’t just tell her, show her the people you are doing this for, the land you are trying to restore.’

‘That is a little hard if she will not speak to me.’

‘I did not only see how you looked at her. I saw how she looked at you, Callum. You are a difficult devil to resist.’

She squeezed his arm affectionately and then turned away, disappearing into the crowd and leaving him with his thoughts once again. After a few seconds he found his eyes roaming the room, searching for Miss Shepherd, the sense of alarm building when he could not see her or Mr Bruce anywhere.