Page 20 of One Forbidden Kiss with the Laird (The Cinderella Shepherd Sisters #2)

‘I f I ask you a question, do you promise to tell me the truth?’ Selina said, looking up at the bear of a man beside her.

Mr Bruce had been a perfect companion all evening, introducing her to dozens of people, organising her dance card as if he were an ambitious mother seeking out the best suitors.

He had ensured she always had a drink in her hand and a smile on her face.

Never had she expected this evening to be anything other than an ordeal, but she had enjoyed almost every minute of it.

‘Of course.’

‘Did Lord Leven ask you to watch over me?’

Bruce puffed out his cheeks and shook his head. ‘There’s not getting much past you, is there?’ He must have seen her expression for he rushed to reassure her. ‘Not that it wasn’t a wonderful evening. I have not had that much fun in a decade.’

‘I did enjoy myself,’ she said, smiling, but finding it difficult to banish the disappointment.

‘Callum is a little rough around the edges. Any man who lives that long on his own with just a dog for company, they lose a little of their refinement, but he is a good man, a kind man. I do not know what passed between you, but he told me you would not wish to spend the evening with him, but he did not want you to be left standing in the corner.’

‘He thinks I am incapable of speaking to people without someone to guide me.’

‘We can be an intimidating lot. Everyone knows one another but you.’

Selina had to concede he was right. Without Mr Bruce guiding her through the evening, she would have likely spent her time wishing away the hours and wondering when she could make her escape.

‘Do you wish to go home? I can arrange for someone to take you back to Taigh Blath if you would rather.’

It did not take long to make her decision. Her evening might have been carefully choreographed by Lord Leven, but that did not mean she had to cut short her enjoyment just to spite him.

‘You promised me a proper Scottish celebration,’ Selina said, eliciting a huge grin from Mr Bruce.

‘That I did, follow me.’

It was dark outside and Selina was aware she should probably not step out into the unknown with a man she had met only once before, but she had drunk three glasses of strong wine over the course of the evening and she was feeling reckless.

Besides, Mr Bruce had been nothing but a gentleman all night, never once glancing at her in a predatory manner.

They walked from the village hall, which had half-emptied of people now, to another building that was on the outskirts of the settlement.

In the darkness Selina couldn’t be completely sure, but she thought it might be a barn.

Light spilled out from within and there was the sound of lively music and the hum of dozens of people talking and laughing.

As she opened the door Selina felt a rush of warmth and happiness.

The dance in the village hall had been fun, but there was a sense everyone was holding back, aware they were to make a good impression on the man who owned most of the property in the local area.

Here there were no restrictions, no one watching over them and judging.

‘Miss Shepherd,’ a young woman called out on seeing Selina. ‘Come join us. We are gossiping about all the fine young men in Ballachulish and we need a newcomer’s point of view.’

Selina allowed herself happily to be swept into their fold, feeling a glow of happiness and belonging that she hadn’t for a long time.

The past year living with the Kingsleys had been difficult, but until recently she had struggled to see how unhappy it was making her.

Convinced that with a little time Sir William would see her worth, Selina had felt a little bit more of a failure every day he treated her barely any better than the housemaids in his employ.

It had eaten away at her self-esteem and made it even harder for her to realise she needed to leave.

Here, with the young women of the remote Scottish village, she was reminded how it felt to be surrounded by people who didn’t actively want you to disappear.

Every day was a battle to stay out of Catherine’s way and to ensure she did nothing to anger Lady Kingsley.

Every word she said had to be carefully chosen, every action scrutinised and judged.

The feeling reinforced her determination to finally give up on the idea of Sir William as a loving father, as a man who wanted to provide even his illegitimate daughter with a good start in life.

He had shown her his true character right from the very start, but until now she had refused to believe him.

Now she had accepted he was an uncaring, selfish, social climber, she could look at the whole situation much more objectively.

‘I cannot wait for your brother to come home, Agnes,’ one of the young women was saying. ‘He has the nicest smile in all the Highlands.’

‘Hands off our Robert,’ Agnes said laughing. ‘Poor man hasn’t even set foot back in Scotland yet and you’re all set to scare him off.’

‘Your brother has been away?’ Selina asked the young woman beside her.

‘Working in Newcastle for the last three years. He’s only been home once in that time when our dad died.’

‘All three of my brothers have left,’ another young woman said. ‘Two went voluntarily on the ships, another moved to a fishing village on the coast, but he’s no fisherman. I doubt it will be long before he goes overseas as well.’

‘Why have they left?’ Selina asked and all the faces in the little group turned to her.

‘There is no work here, not since the estate was sold. Rents are going up and Sir William does not want tenants farming his land. He makes much more profit with sheep.’

Another woman spoke, her voice quiet but filled with passion.

‘Sir William is no fool, he does not want the unrest many other landlords have had with the forced evictions, but he can get the same result by not providing work for our men and by not renewing the leases on our houses when they come up.’

For a moment there was silence and then Agnes rallied. ‘Enough of this maudlin talk. Tonight is a celebration. Soon Lord Leven will be in charge and our fortunes will be changing.’

‘And your brother will be coming home,’ one of the women said to shouts of laughter from her friends.

‘Can I ask you a question?’ Selina said, leaning in so they couldn’t be overheard. ‘Why does Lord Leven not wear a kilt? Many of the men here do…’

‘He used to,’ one young woman volunteered. ‘Even as a young lad he had good legs.’

‘Imagine him in a kilt now,’ another woman said, flushing red in the cheeks.

‘The rumour is that ever since losing his ancestral lands he does not feel worthy to wear the family tartan,’ Agnes said.

The door behind them opened and Lord Leven walked in.

There was a momentary pause in conversation until he shut the door behind him and called out, ‘If someone doesn’t pick up their violin and play a tune in the next ten seconds, I’ll be up at the front myself and you’ll all have to put up with the screeching of my bow. ’

There was a roar of laughter and the music started again, as did the chatter.

The young women around Selina seemed to melt away as Lord Leven approached, all flushing and giggling as the handsome lord greeted them with a smile. When he turned to Selina his expression was serious.

‘I see that reprobate Bruce brought you to the real party.’

‘He did,’ Selina said. The ire she had felt towards the man earlier in the evening had dissipated somewhat and she did not immediately turn to go.

‘I told the Kingsleys I was going back to Loch View Lodge—Taigh Blath,’ she corrected herself.

‘I doubt they would even think to check I got back safely.’

‘I should insist you go home…’

‘But you won’t.’

He looked at her for a long moment and then smiled softly. ‘You have one hour, Miss Shepherd, then I will see you home myself.’

‘I know you asked Mr Bruce to ensure I had a good time this evening,’ Selina said. Lord Leven’s eyes were searching her face, trying to work out why she had lost the fierce animosity she had harboured towards him earlier in the evening.

‘I did not want it to be a terrible evening for you and I was aware you likely would not wish for my company.’

‘And you needed to be with Miss Kingsley.’

He didn’t answer for a moment. ‘And I needed to be with Miss Kingsley,’ he agreed eventually.

‘It worked,’ Selina said.

He raised an eyebrow.

‘I had a good time. Despite being completely and utterly convinced I would not, I enjoyed myself more than I ever have at a social event.’

‘High praise indeed. Bruce could make even a wake entertaining.’ He paused, seeming to consider whether to say what he was thinking next. ‘Indulge me, Miss Shepherd. The last time we spoke you looked at me as if you wished someone would boil me in a cauldron of hot oil.’

‘That isn’t quite true,’ she said, allowing herself a little smile. ‘I looked at you as if I wished to boil you in a cauldron of hot oil.’

‘Why the change of heart?’

‘You are very direct, has anyone ever told you that?’

‘You forget I have never been part of gentle London Society.’

‘Nonsense. Nor have I and I know the civilised way to do things is to skirt around a question, asking it in a dozen different ways except the one that will actually get you a direct answer.’

He shrugged. ‘I think my way is better.’

Selina sighed, looking around the room for a moment. ‘I was hurt. I am hurt. Do you know how humiliating it is for your first kiss to be followed by such a look of revulsion and horror that you wondered if you sprouted a deforming facial growth halfway through it?’

‘Not revulsion,’ Lord Leven said quickly.

‘Certainly horror.’

He did not deny this one and Selina had to push away the prickle of hurt that threatened to take hold.

‘I admit I did not handle things well.’

‘I was hurt and that was all I could think about, but this evening do you know what I have heard over and over?’

He shook his head.