When Love grows doubt

by Barbara Eckhoff

  Laughing, he let go of her, turned to the table, and picked up the box.

  "Here, this is for you. In two days I’m invited to Lord McCormick's ball and you will accompany me. You will wear this dress for the occasion. A carriage will pick you up in time. Until then you have time to prepare for your role."

  He pressed the box into Moira's hands, gave her a wet kiss on the cheek and turned to leave. When he got to the door, he turned to her once more.

  "It goes without saying that you must not say

  anything about this conversation to a soul. After all, you don't want the lord to find outabout your intentions."

  Smirking and absolutely satisfied with himself, he left the room and left a devastated Moira behind.

  Chapter 5

  Robert entered the entrance hall after his morning inspection ride, where he found Albert carrying two bags of clothes and the mail in his arms walking up the stairs to the second floor.

  "Albert!"

  The butler paused when he heard his name and turned to see Robert standing at the foot of the stairs.

  "Yes, Mylord? The tailor has just delivered the new tailcoat and full plaid in your colors. In addition, I have received several invitations for you to attend this year's ball season."

  "Ball season?"

  Robert came up the stairs and walked with Albert toward his room.

  "Yes, every new year begins with the ball season. The lords and dukes of the area invite each other to strengthen bonds of friendship and to broaden or deepen business interests. Your uncle has hosted one of these balls every year. In view of the situation, we have not planned our own ball for this year, but Mylord should still participate in this forum to present yourself as the new master of Shepherds King. The first invitation would already be for the day after tomorrow with Lord McCormick. He owns the Lands around Loch Tay."

  While Robert with Albert in tow, entered his room, he wondered whether he should take part in it. He had never been to a festive ball before.

  Such formal festivities had not existed in his homeland but Albert was right. He had to present himself to the others as the new lord if he wanted to do business with them in the future. So he didn't think twice and gave Albert the task of packing everything for his stay there. Albert immediately set to work in Robert's closet for the right clothes to wear. Robert, on the other hand, got rid of his riding shirt to freshen up. For a brief moment he hesitated and stopped at the door to his bathroom. One question was still

  burning in the back of his mind.

  "Tell me Albert, what do you know of Sir Fergusson?"

  If Albert was surprised by the question he did not let it show, because he answered without equivocation.

  "Sir Fergusson was for years a very good friend of your uncle. That is also the reason why your uncle has always supported the orphanage. Lady Fergusson started it a few years ago. Her daughter has now taken it over. You remember, just before Christmas she had been here."

  "Yes, I remember. But you just said that he was a good friend of my uncle's - does that mean, that he isn't now?"

  "Sir Fergusson and his wife were the victims of a fire almost two years ago. Their house was completely

  destroyed on that horrible night. To this day, no one can explain how such a catastrophe could happen. The daughter survived the inferno because she had spent the night in the small orphanage next door. Since that day, she has been taking care of it."

  Thoughtfully, Robert looked at Albert. He had not expected this answer. That was the reason Sir Fergusson had not contacted him. He had died before his uncle.

  "How exactly did my uncle die, anyway?"

  Albert hung the new tailcoat on a hanger in the armoire, and laid out the matching pantaloons on the bed.

  "Well, he was visiting friends in Edinburgh. Your uncle came home from a ball with a slight indisposition. At first we thought that he must have eaten something wrong, because he complained of stomach pain and nausea during the night. But it didn't get any better the next few days, so we had to consult the doctor."

  Robert leaned with his naked chest against the door from the bathroom , his shirt forgotten in his hand. And listened to the report of his butler.

  "And what did he find?“

  "That's the strange thing. The doctor couldn't find anything wrong with him, except that he had an upset stomach. But your uncle could still not keep anything down. No solid food and also no water.

  The doctor prescribed medication but it did not seem to help, because he became visibly weaker and one morning when I went to his room to check on him, he was dead in bed."

  "Did you hear if any of the other guests were also having problems or if they had eaten or drank anything unusual?"

  "I asked the service staff afterward whether other guests had had any problems, but there was nothing known. Is there anything else you would like, Mylord? Otherwise, I would continue to pack your suitcases later and tell Samuel to prepare the carriage for tomorrow."

  "Thank you Albert, that is all. Oh and please tell Samuel that I expect him in my office in half an hour. I would like to discuss with him his tasks while I'll be away."

  "Very well, sir."

  When Albert left, Robert was still leaning against the doorjamb. A fire in which two people had died and a death that had no explainable reason. Three people who knew each other and had even been close friends, had died in a short period of time. Was this a coincidence or was there more to it?

  Robert ran his hand through his pitch-black, short hair. He absolutely had to find out more about the circumstances of the deaths. It was time to pay a visit to the Fergussons' daughter. He planned to do this right after the ball at the McCormick's.

  Moira was amazed when she entered the ballroom. Countless couples were already crowded in the large, brightly lit room, whose walls were adorned with large candelabras with thick candles. The parquet floor had been polished to a high sheen and the light of the large, heavy chandeliers that hung from the ceiling were reflected in it.

  On the left side of the room were several seats, which would later serve guests who wanted to rest

  between dances. The wall itself was decorated with portraits of old family members who had long since

  passed away. On the other side large patio doors invited you in the summer to stroll through the park-like garden.

  Now in winter they were closed with heavy red curtains. In the back of the hall, a small ensemble played soft music. Moira felt the hand on her arm that pushed her further forward. The new impressions had almost made her forget that she was Sir Charles Dumfrey's company. Before she could say anything in reply, he had taken her to the hosts and was just about to introduce her as his hosts.

  "Lord and Lady McCormick! This is Lady Moira Fergusson, my companion for this evening. This is her first time as a guest at a ball."

  Politely Moira lowered her head a little, made a curtsy to the couple and looked up into the gentle eyes of Lady McCormick, who smiled encouragingly at her.

  „Lady Fergusson, it is an honor to meet you. My husband and I were well acquainted with your parents. God have mercy on their souls. It’s nice that today we have the honor of introducing you to the society."

  As the two men talked, Lady McCormick took Moira aside.

  "I know that on the first night of the ball everything is exciting and often frightening. One doesn't want to make any mistakes. Rest assured, though, we are not at court here and therefore it is quite casual. Enjoy the evening, I'm sure your dance card will fill up quickly."

  "Thank you very much, Lady McCormick. I am actually very nervous. My parents were to introduce me to society this year, but it all turned out differently."

  "Well, you have a very experienced companion with you. nothing will go wrong, my dear."

  Moira wasn't so sure about that. If Lady McCormick knew for what reason she was here and that the so called Sir Dumfrey was in fact the devil himself, she would certainl
y not have been so friendly to her. A little later, Moira was standing among the other guests in the presence of this devil.

  While Sir Dumfrey was busy making conversation with the gentlemen present, Moira stood with the ladies and only noticed what they were talking about in passing, because her mind was somewhere else.

  Cautiously, she looked around. Was Lord MacIntyre already in the room? Perhaps it was the young man standing a little away from her in his brown pantaloons, the jacket and the golden brocade waistcoat, constantly wiping his forehead with a white cloth. He seemed to be sweating heavily, although it was not too warm in the room . Or was it rather the one with his artificial laughter and movements who tried to

  entertain a few ladies? He had to be here somewhere. There were no more guests coming and the food would be served soon. So why didn't Sir Dumfrey introduce them to each other? She was about to address this question to him herself, when another guest entered the room. For a brief moment he lingered at the door, letting his gaze wander briefly over the room until he found the hosts and took long

  strides toward them. The manner in which the young, tall man moved, caused the people he passed to pause in their movements. The looks followed him unabashedly, but he didn't seem to mind. Self-confidently he continued his way and greeted Lord McCormick with a slight bow, then

  immediately introduced himself to his wife with a formal kiss on the hand. Moira couldn‘t see more from her position, because in the meantime, the other couples had gathered closer around the hosts to see the newcomer. She was about to ask one of the ladies next to her if she knew the name of the gentleman, when Lord McCormick began to speak.

  "My dear guests. Now that the last of them has found his way to us and gives me the honor of being my guest today, I would like to introduce to you all the new master of Shepherds King. Lord Robert MacIntyre."

  A murmur went through the room when the name was mentioned.

  So, that was Lord MacIntyre. Moira didn't know whether she should be happy about the fact that he did not seem to be one of these dandies, or whether she should be afraid of him. For the little moment, when she had had a clear view of him, he had not made the impression that he was easily fooled. Before she could think any further about it an arm hooked itself from behind her and a familiar voice whispered over her shoulder to her.

  "Well, do you like him? I think you could do worse."

  "You're a creep," Moira returned in a whisper.

  Charles Dumfrey only laughed and joined her in the crowd of guests who had now been invited by the host to follow him into the dining room. Moira was only peripherally aware of the dinner. She ate like a sparrow and only talked to her seat partner on the left. Sir Dumfrey was sitting to her right, seemingly enjoying the evening to the fullest.

  He seemed to be having a splendid conversation with the lady to his right. Moira, on the other hand, could not help but look cautiously in the direction of the young lord, who was sitting several seats away from her on the opposite side of the table.

  Lady McCormick was sitting on his right side and on his left a young lady of her own age, an absolute beauty in her eyes. Whatever the three of them were talking about, it was a lively conversation and even the gentlemen and ladies from the opposite side joined in. Somewhat envious of not also being part of this group and to be able to talk so casually, she lowered her head and concentrated on the main course, which

  consisted of roasted pheasant with a truffle sauce. The meal was a poem and deserved a little more attention from her, because since the death of her parents, she had not been able to eat as well, but she could hardly get down a bite. Not only was the order from Sir Dumfrey a pain in her stomach, it also seemed sacrilegious to her to indulge in such a sumptuous meal, when she knew what Eileen and the children would find on the table tonight. In general, for the first time in her life, she had to lie to her best friend. Eileen had not understood why she had gone to the ball with Dumfrey today.

  "After the way he has behaved, how can you offer yourself as an escort for the ball?"

  Those had been her words and she had replied that he had asked politely and that she had agreed,

  because she hoped to be introduced there into the circles of the upper class, in order to find donors for the

  orphanage. With this white lie she had reassured Eileen, but she could not reassure herself. The entire evening she had a sinking feeling in her stomach and she knew that it was her conscience, which could not be appeased. She threw a furtive glance again in his direction and this time was startled when he returned her gaze and nodded his head slightly to signal that he had taken note of her.

  Embarrassed she immediately turned her head away, only to look at him a little later, realizing that he was still looking at her.

  An hour later, the ball was in full swing. Most of the couples had arrived on the dance floor.

  After an opening polonaise and a square, they were just dancing a quadrille. The older ladies and

  gentlemen had taken their places on the chairs and listened to the music. Moira's dance card had filled up quickly. She had danced the polonaise with the Kensington's son, who had stepped on her skirt twice.

  The square with a young man, whose name she had already forgotten; and was now dancing the quadrille with Flynn Haggert, who was more skillful in his dancing, but who talked incessantly about the various sheep shearing techniques, which he said he was a master of.

  While Moira listened politely, asking questions now and then, so as not to appear disinterested, she risked a glance at Lord MacIntyre. He, who had not yet missed a single dance and was apparently regarded as a free prey by the singles, was immediately surrounded by a number of ladies.

  Moira had to agree with them. In his tailored black tailcoat with a white shirt and starched collar, the matching black silk vest and the black pantaloons that accentuated his height, he looked stunningly handsome. She had never seen a man who appeared so self-confident without seeming arrogant. On the contrary, the ladies seemed to love him and the gentlemen listened animatedly to his words.

  Despite his young age, he seemed to integrate into society. Was that the advantage of having the name MacIntyre, which was well known in Scotland?

  The clan of Baron Killian Macintyre was a large one and he owned large estates on the east coast of

  Scotland and Robert was his grandson. And now the possessions of this family would become even greater, as he would inherit the estate of Lord Kenneth Dunbar, the brother of his mother.

  "Don't you agree the posturing that is being done around Lord MacIntyre is a little too much? Moira?"

  "Excuse me? What did you just say?"

  "I was just saying that I think the fuss being made about Lord MacIntyre is a bit too much. What does

  anyone know about him? Just look at how concerned everyone is about him. It's just as if he were the only man on earth."

  "Are you jealous, Flynn?"

  Moira couldn't help but tease this arrogant youngster.

  "Not at all. My father's lands are at least as large, and it remains to be seen whether he knows how to manage such an estate."

  "Yes, just like you," Moira replied promptly.

  Flynn Haggert looked at her a little puzzled but Moira did not care. The music had just stopped playing, and before another boy asked her to dance, she apologized to Flynn with the excuse of wanting to powder her nose. She gathered her skirts and was about to leave the room to get some fresh air, when she was held by the arm of Sir Dumfrey.

  "Don't you want to finally put your plan into action? Think of what's at stake for you."

  "Let me worry about how and when and now let go of me, I want to get some fresh air."

  A little stronger than necessary, she tore herself away and hurried out of the hall. Robert, who had been watching the scene from a distance, wondered, freed himself with a pretext to his followers and left the hall as well.

  "I hope you don't want to leave yet!" />
  Moira was startled to hear the male voice coming from the darkness. She looked around searchingly but couldn‘t see anyone. Then, the young lord suddenly appeared out of nowhere in front of her.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, but I saw you leave the room and did not want to miss the opportunity to meet the lady who has been watching me all evening."

  Slowly he approached her until he stopped directly in front of her and looked at her.

  "That – You noticed that? I'm very embarrassed. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare at you so openly, that's normally not my style at all."

  Moira would have liked to sink into the floor. Had the other guests also noticed the stares? If so, what kind of person they must have thought she was, and what kind of person did he think she was? As if he could read her mind, he replied:

  "Don't be too hard on yourself, and since you already know my name, it would be more than fair if you told me yours as well."

  "Oh, yes of course, your lordship."

  Moira curtsied and then said," My name is Moira Fergusson. I'm your neighbor."

  Astonished, Robert looked at her.

  "You - are Lady Moira Fergusson? The director of the Orphanage?"

  "Yes, that very one. Your uncle was a good friend of my parents."

  Robert had to laugh inwardly. She didn't look like an old governess at all and he was mighty glad of it.

  "Has the hustle and bustle in there," he pointed toward the brightly lit ballroom, "also become too much for you?"

  "I just wanted to get some fresh air."

  "Will you allow me to escort you for a bit?"

  "Gladly."

  Together they strolled in silence through the garden. Moira thought frantically about what she should talk to him about. She didn't know him and had no idea how she was supposed to manage to make him desire her. Her experience with men was nil and therefore she did not know which trivial topics would interest him. In the hall, she had watched the ladies as they had behaved toward him, but this seemed to her to be too brisk an approach and she did not see herself in a position able to use such tactics.