by Fiona Faris
“Aye well, I thought I would simply sign Alasdair Buchanan – it’s my name too.”
Georgiana sighed, shaking her head. “And how were you planning to explain your family’s absence at the ceremony?”
Ethan shrugged again. “Distance?”
“And you thought I’d be content with that?”
Ethan grinned. “Before I met ye, I assumed ye were a vapid, shallow lady, desperate to be wed.”
Georgiana lifted her hand and slapped him, hard. His hand rose slowly and covered his stinging cheek.
“That hurt.”
“Good. It was meant to. Serves you right for attempting to use me in such a manner.”
“Forgive me. I was a fool.”
“Just like that? You expect that just because you tell me the truth that everything is now square.”
“No, ma’am. I dinna think that.”
There was a pregnant pause.
“So tell me, Ethan or whatever your name is, now that you’ve met me, what do you think?”
“I see that ye’re intelligent and discerning and beg ye to help me if ye would.”
Georgiana bit her lip to keep from smiling. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“I dinna mean to flatter ye, my lady. I meant every word.”
Georgiana’s lips twitched in the tiniest smile. “Well, then…thank you, kindly. My point still stands. Your plan will not work in its present form.”
Ethan frowned, “And by that ye mean…? It can work in another form?”
“Yes. First of all, if you’re as destitute as you say, I assume you have no other clothes? You’re going to need access to my dowry quite fast.”
“Oh no, I couldna…Fergus says ‘e’s got enough to see us-”
“You mean with these clothes?” Georgiana gestured towards his jacket and breeches, “these will not do.”
Ethan stared at her helplessly. “Well then…what can we do?”
Georgiana sighed. “Leave it to me. I’ll take care of it.”
“Why?”
“Because… I know how it feels to be a helpless spectator in your own life. If I am to be married to escape the shame of something I did not do, I would like a say in that marriage. I feel that I have a better chance of getting that with you than with…”
Ethan nodded, his eyes shining with understanding. “I give ye my word.”
“Well,” Georgiana added, turning back towards the manor house, “your word is not worth much at the moment. We shall just have to see if it becomes more trustworthy going forward.”
“Ye shallnae be disappointed. I swear it.”
“Actions always speak louder than words.”
Ethan hurried to catch up to her. “What will ye have me do then?”
“Just keep your mouth shut for now and let me handle this. I shall send you to a tailor who will make you some suitable clothes. Can you dance?”
“I beg yer pardon?”
“Can. You. Dance?” Georgiana said very slowly, as if Ethan might be slow.
“Aye.”
“The Cotillion?”
“Uh…”
Georgiana sighed. “Never mind. I shall teach you. I hope you learn fast.”
“That I can do. But honestly, Georgiana, ye dinna want to get mixed up in this chicanery. It willna bode well for ye if’n my faither found out.”
Georgiana stared at him. “Well, then, you shouldn’t have told me.”
Ethan sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “Everything I try to do seems to make things worse.”
She watched him, her gaze – and her heart – softening at the sight of his despair. She reached out and squeezed his hand. “You’re not alone anymore. You have me.”
He opened his eyes and covered her hand with his. His face brightened as he smiled. “Aye, I suppose I do.”
* * *
“Your by-blow has left,” Lachie said, barging into the laird’s study. Barclays looked up, his eyebrow raised.
“How d’ye ken that?”
“His hovel is empty. His belongings are gone.”
“Did you ask his neighbors where he might be?”
“Ha. As if they would tell me. They coddle him as if he were a bairn.”
“Aye, that’s so.” Barclays stood up. “Weel, maybe they wouldna tell ye, but they will certainly tell me.”
Lachie frowned. “Why d’ye even want to ken where he went off to? Good riddance, I say.”
Barclays did not bother to reply, but simply walked out of the room, took up his coat, and went to investigate.
* * *
Georgiana was preparing herself for dinner when there was a soft knock at the door, and her mother poked her head through with a smile. “May I come in?”
Georgiana put down her hairbrush. “Of course, mother.” She smiled, turning in her seat, so she was facing her mother, and waited. She was pretty sure she knew what her mother wanted to talk about.
“So, what do we think of the young lord?”
Georgiana felt her cheeks coloring. She and her mother had a very close relationship. To lie to her went against everything Georgiana believed in, but to tell her the truth was to involve her in a conspiracy she need not be part of.
“I like him,” she added truthfully.
The duchess lifted a surprised eyebrow. “You do?”
“Yes. He is a good man with a good heart. I think we shall be happy together.”
The duchess took a deep breath. “Well…that is a relief to hear. I fear, however, that he might not be as…well off…as previously believed. Are you sure you can live like that? I can speak to your father to increase the size of your dowry?”
Georgiana opened her mouth to refuse but then thought again. Ethan was essentially a pauper. It would not hurt to have more of a nest egg.
“That might not be a bad idea, mother. Perhaps we could buy a property in Scotland to reside in; I don’t think I want to live with my in-laws.”
The duchess smiled. “And your husband would consent to that?”
Georgiana smiled. “I think that he would. He confided in me that he has no liking for his father.”
Her mother could not quite conceal her surprise. “He’s confiding in you already? You just met!”
Georgiana clutched her arm excitedly. “I know, mother. It’s unusual, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is a little unusual. Why do you think he feels so free with you?”
Georgiana closed her eyes. “He just…there was this connection between us, it thrummed like a live thing when we talked. I think he felt it too. I felt drawn to him, and yet at the same time, I could feel him holding back. I asked him not to, that if we were to be together, we needed to be forthcoming with each other.”
Georgiana opened her eyes, relieved that she had managed the conversation without lying to her mother.
“And he simply went along with you?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Did he tell you about his finances and why he arrived here with just one servant and a threadbare wardrobe?”
Georgiana exhaled deeply, her mother would know if she outright lied. “Yes, he told me that there were some debts…”
The duchess looked thoughtful. “Ah, I see. That would explain their interest in you. It felt a little too good to be true for them to want you just for an association with a duchy.”
“Oh, thank you, mother; I feel so desirable now,” Georgiana added drily.
Her mother hastened forward, putting her hand on her daughter’s shoulder, “You know what I mean, don’t you?” her voice was low and gentle as she peered anxiously into Georgiana’s eyes.
“I know. What Viscount Ashness did…it was designed to make me a pariah. And I suppose he mostly succeeded. But the joke is on him because Ethan is a good man.”
The duchess frowned, “Ethan?”
“I’m sorry, I meant Lord Buchanan,” Georgiana corrected herself hastily.
Her mother was still frowning. “Isn’t his name Al
asdair? Lachie Alasdair? And surely you are not already on first-name terms?”
Georgiana swallowed nervously. “I-it’s a nickname that his friends call him. H-he likes to go incognito sometimes, to get away from being a lord and simply mingle with the locals. His friends call him Ethan.”
“He surely did tell you a lot about himself.”
“Yes, mother, he did. That’s why I say, I think we are a good match.”
The duchess nodded. “Alright then, my dear, if you want this man, I shall support you. Your father shall meet him at dinner, and you know he has different standards than you. He will want more than to know that you are compatible with each other.”
Georgiana took a deep breath and clutched her mother’s arm. “Mama,” she whispered, “Grandma Victoria did leave me that inheritance that is to mature upon my marriage. Can we not use it to spruce Lord Buchanan up a bit?”
“Calm yourself, child. Let us just play it by ear and see how dinner goes?”
Georgiana nodded, but at the same time, her heart sank. There was no way that Ethan would live up to her father’s exacting standards.
* * *
“Would ye tie this cravat for me please, Fergus.”
His friend came and fumbled with the silk kerchief around his neck, tieing it into a fancy knot before tucking it into his jacket. The azure silk of the cravat made his blue eyes shine. Fergus had neatly combed and plaited his ginger hair into a cue and tied it with a white ribbon. He dabbed white powder on his nose to hide Ethan’s freckles and then helped him on with a blue coat.
The tailor had made him two suits, the brown, for daytime while the blue was for fancier occasions such as this dinner. Georgiana was right though, now that he thought about it; it was a very inadequate wardrobe. His host would be expecting better of him.
Ethan sighed, thanking his lucky stars that Georgiana had decided to go along with this deception, whatever her reasons. He had not told Fergus about their conversation in the grove. All his friend knew was that they had got on reasonably well.
That is all he needs to know.
Ethan was afraid that if Fergus knew what Georgiana had offered, he might get greedy. Fergus had proved to be a good friend, but Ethan could not afford to forget that the seaman was in this for profit as well.
They strolled towards the dining hall as soon as the gong sounded for dinner. Ethan’s shoes pinched him slightly, but he was determined not to show it. He was met at the entrance to the dining hall by the butler, who proceeded to guide him inside and seat him down just on the right of the head of the table. There was a tall distinguished gentleman already seated at the head, in addition to the duchess and Georgiana seated opposite Ethan and Fergus. All three got to their feet as soon as the guests were shown into the room.
Ethan tried to smile, feeling his heart quake as Georgiana’s father looked at him as if he were dirt under his shoe.
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About the Author
Fiona Faris is an American author of authentic historical Medieval & Scottish romance books. She started writing historical highlander romance after she visited the Scottish Highlands years ago with her husband.
Her books have received startling reviews about the humor, the darkness and the romance they have.
She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and their two sons. Before she started writing romance, she experienced the various occupations: translator, dog-training, and a substitute English teacher for the most part of her life... However, nothing could ever compare to writing stories depicting the majestic and mysterious Scottish Highlands!
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