Page 52 of When the Rogue Returns

Lochlaw colored. “This?” He tugged at his cravat. “I wasn’t the one to wrap it. They did it at the shop.”

“The shop?” Isa asked gently.

Lochlaw’s eager look made Victor want to roll his eyes. “I bought you something I thought you could use at the house party.”

As Victor began to bristle, Isa hastily stepped forward to take the box. “Thank you, Rupert.” Sparing a warning glance for Victor, she opened the box and then stared into it, a look of complete bewilderment on her face.

Victor leaned over to see what Lochlaw had brought her. Inside a nest of satin lay a pair of delicate half boots in purple kid, with pink laces and a little red rosette on each toe. They were the most vivid shoes he’d ever seen.

They were also the smallest. Hmm.

“They’re for walking,” Lochlaw explained cheerily. “Since you enjoy it so much. And we’ll probably be walking a great deal on the estate.”

“Oh, I see,” Isa murmured. “They’re lovely, thank you.”

“And colorful,” Victor said, fighting to keep the amusement from his voice.

“You see, cousin?” Lochlaw said, triumph in his voice. “I know you were against the idea of walking shoes as a gift, but there were no hydrangeas to be had anywhere, and clearly she likes the half boots. Don’t you, Mrs. Franke?”

“They’re quite beautiful,” Isa said with a thin smile.

“Yet sturdy enough for walking,” Lochlaw said. “I was most particular about that when I saw them for sale at the cobbler’s yesterday.” He nudged the box. “Put them on. I want to see how they look on you.”

It was all Victor could do to keep a straight face. “Oh yes, do put them on, Mrs. Franke.”

Sparing a murderous glance for Victor, Isa smiled at Rupert. “I would hate to ruin them. They’re so pretty, and the workshop is so... full of chemicals and dirt.”

“Not at all like the outdoors,” Victor quipped.

Blatantly ignoring him, she told Lochlaw, “I’ll try them on later, when I’m at home.”

“Nonsense,” Lochlaw said. “My cousin is right. The outdoors is far dirtier than here.”

With a sigh, she faced Lochlaw, who was watching with happy anticipation. “I’m afraid I can’t put them on, Rupert. They won’t fit.”

Lochlaw blinked. “What do you mean?”

Victor leaned back against the worktable. “They’re too small.” And if he knew one thing about his wife, it was that she didnothave particularly small feet.

A look of horror crossed the baron’s face before his gaze shot down to her shoes. “They can’t be. Mrs. Franke’s feet are dainty. All women’s feet are dainty. That’s what the cobbler said.”

Because he was trying to sell you a pair of shoes he couldn’t get rid of.

Victor didn’t have the heart to say that. “In theory, perhaps,” he drawled, “but in reality, women’s feet come in all shapes and sizes. And Mrs. Franke’s are not... er... dainty.”

“Thank you for calling attention to that particular flaw of mine,” Isa told Victor dryly. Then noticing Lochlaw’s crestfallen expression, she added, “But they really are very pretty shoes. I’m sure I can find a use forthem.”

“Perhaps they will fit Amalie,” Lochlaw said, a hint of desperation in his voice.

Isa froze.

“Who’s Amalie?” Victor asked.

The blood drained from Lochlaw’s face. “Um... well...”

“My servant,” Isa broke in. “She does happen to have very dainty feet.”

Lochlaw’s head bobbed. “Very dainty. I know they’d fit her.” He looked absolutely terrified as he cast Isa an imploring glance. “They would, surely they would.”