Rumors Among the Heather

by Amanda Balfour

  “What shall we read today? Let me see what we have not read lately,” Julie said, looking through the bookcase. “How about one of my favorite poems by Christopher Marlowe? You could read ‘The Passionate Shepherd to His Love’ just for me,” Julie coaxed.

  “Well, I guess I could. I don’t know why you like all that love stuff. I’d much rather read about battles and shipwrecks, or pirates,” Ian said with a sparkle in his eyes.

  “To be well-rounded you must be well-read in many different topics. Besides, when you’re older and find a special girl, you will thank me.”

  Ian made a face, which said he did not believe Julie, but he picked the book up and began to read.

  “Come live with me and be my love / And we will all the pleasures prove…”

  He lacked enthusiasm, but he read beautifully.

  While Ian continued to read, Julie moved to the window seat and looked out, lost in her own thoughts.

  “The shepherd swains shall dance and sing / For thy delight each May-morning: / If these delights thy mind may move, / Then live with me and be my love.”

  Startled, Julie came back to earth at the sound of Matthew’s deep, smooth voice. She spun around to look into his amused eyes.

  Not one to be outdone, she countered with Sir Walter Raleigh’s “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd.”

  “But could youth last and love still breed, / Had joys no date nor age no need, / Then these delights my mind might move / To live with thee and be thy love.”

  “Bravo, Miss Hastings,” Matthew said as he clapped his hands. “Spoken like a true woman. From the purest virgin to the most experienced courtesan, there are always conditions set on love.”

  “It’s also true for a man, you know. He asks you to love only him, when he loves where he finds it. He goes off on grand adventures and asks you to wait for him and be a constant lover, but he does not always return. Years later, when he chances to come your way, he is married with a family, and he can’t understand why you waited, but if you did not wait, and he came back unmarried, he would feel he was the one wronged. Love has its own restrictions put on it equally by men and women,” Julie said passionately.

  He walked over to where she sat. “Tell me, Miss Hastings, would you be a constant lover? Would you wait for this wandering man to return?”

  She felt her face heat in spite of herself. “There’s no demand for constant lovers, your lordship. Once I would have, but I’ve been out of the classroom for some time, and I know better,” she said, looking him in the eye defiantly.

  Matthew said nothing but continued to stare at her. Finally she tore her gaze from his and looked out the window. Unable to control his impulse, he reached out with two fingers and turned her to face him. He knew it was unwise, but he only wanted to see those flashing emerald eyes again. She looked up at him like a caged animal and tried to look away.

  He let his fingers drop.

  Shocked, he realized he wanted to taste her kiss—to feel the fullness of her delicately molded lips. He wanted them warm and open and pliant against his own.

  When he remained motionless, Julie spoke. “No. Please, Lord Bonnleigh, this is an unwise conversation to have. Ian and I have lessons to complete. I’m sure you understand.”

  Without waiting for him to say anything, Julie moved past him quickly and stood beside Ian. As if finding safety in his small presence, she calmed her trembling hands and picked up another book. Matthew left the room quickly.

  I must be in my dotage to let a slip of a girl do that to me.

  Matthew tried to put Julie out of his mind. She was under his protection and alone in the world. He knew he should not take advantage of her, but he knew he could easily cross the line he had drawn. He had acted in an imprudent manner, and he chastised himself, but that did not prevent the unaccustomed feeling he experienced nor the unfamiliar flutter of his heart whenever she passed by him. She showed a gentle side with Ian, and there was a soft light about her in unguarded moments. Yet when she looked at him, a curtain shuttered her face. He did not understand why it mattered so much to him.

  Usually, he did not have any trouble with any woman he desired. If his looks did not turn their heads, then most certainly the size of his bank account did. Those sorts of things meant nothing to Julie. This new experience puzzled him. For some odd reason he could not explain, it made him want her all the more.

  Bringing his attention to the present, he decided to hold a rout and invite all of his nearby clansmen and neighbors. The gathering would be a perfect cover for the discussion he would have with the Highland chiefs. They would need to decide in less than a month’s time their fate and the fate of Scotland. He would get Julie to send out the invitations, and no one would guess the intrigue behind this simple country dance.

  * * *

  “Miss Hastings, his lordship would like you to meet him in his study,” the maid announced.

  Julie put down Ian’s geography test. “Tell his lordship I’ll be there as soon as Mr. Dunne comes for Master Ian’s riding lesson.”

  Julie hoped Mr. Dunne would decide not to come today. She did not want to meet with Lord Bonnleigh, and she especially did not want to be alone with him. She fought against the way he made her feel. Whenever he came within fifty feet of her, she felt dizzy, hot then cold, and extremely confused. Even Geoffrey had not made her feel this way. Lord Bonnleigh made her uncomfortable, and she feared he enjoyed it. She would have to leave if he continued to stay at the castle, but she hated the thought of parting from Ian and her new home.

  Julie’s simple life had suddenly grown complicated and left her with no clear purpose. She always knew her mind, knew what she wanted and how to get it. Upon quiet reflection, she felt torn apart by her indecision. She did not know what to do next. How she dreaded the thought of applying for a new position. This one had been so hard to find, and if his lordship refused to give her a good reference then the next position would be even harder. The situation looked hopeless.

  Blue-deviled, Julie stared out the window. Mr. Dunne strode across the lawn, and she could put off the meeting with Lord Bonnleigh no longer. After sending Ian off to the stables, she slowly walked down several flights of stairs to his study. She busied her hands with smoothing her skirt. He did not look up as she entered but motioned for her to have a seat. Julie sat primly, waiting for him to speak.

  “Miss Hastings, I’m going to give a rout, and I would like you to take care of the invitations and invite everyone I have on this list. I know this is short notice, but if you could do this for me in, say, three or four days, I would be most grateful.”

  Relieved, she answered him, “I would be delighted. I’ll arrange with Mrs. Highet to take care of the refreshments. Is there anything else you would like me to do?”

  A devilish twinkle appeared in his gaze. He looked her up and down in that annoying and appraising way she so abhorred. She stared back stonily.

  “I would be pleased if you attended also. It will be a country dance, but you might enjoy yourself.”

  “That’s very kind of you, my lord, but as you know, I am still in mourning.”

  “Is that why you drape yourself in those ridiculous dresses? That particular black and white contraption makes you look like a magpie without it’s beautiful blue sheen. You’re away from home. I see no reason to carry on with tradition when colors would become you.”

  “I have no intention of giving up tradition. I mourn for my father. I would not defile his memory.”

  “As you wish, but I still would like you to attend. Consider it an order, Miss Hastings. You will bring Ian down, and at the appropriate time send him off to bed. After that, my Aunt Marie will be here, and she requires a companion. I wish you to sit with her.”

  “Lord Bonnleigh, your other guests might object if they learn your English governess has been invited. I would not want to cause you any embarrassment.”

  “Stuff and nonsense. There could be nothing you could do to embarrass me. I insist
you come. No one will object to a beautiful woman attending a country dance, surely. Although I do still object to the black,” he said as his eyes raked Julie from head to toe, causing her face to burn.

  Trying her best to ignore him, Julie dropped her eyes to the list. Her heart skipped when she noticed one of the names.” You have invited Dr. Siddons. He is away in Germany, at a spa trying to recover his health. A new doctor is taking his place. May I cross off his name?”

  “No, you may not. If you’re through rearranging my guest list, I’d like to discuss my nephew. How do you think he is coming with his lessons?” Matthew asked sharply, making Julie stand to attention.

  “Ian is doing very well. As you heard, his reading has greatly improved. He could read all along, but I think his parents’ deaths depressed him, and anything associated with them caused him to be afraid. His mathematic skills are also on par with his age group. Overall he does an excellent job, and I believe his other teachers failed to look at anything else when they thought he couldn’t read. He is quick and clever,” Julie said, as proudly as if he were her own.

  “I see. What’s this about riding lessons? He refused to go out of the castle before I left, and when coaxed out, he cried at the thought of a horse.”

  “That’s all true, but when we moved past his reading blocks, all his other walls started to crumble.”

  “How extremely clever you are, Miss Hastings. Is there nothing you can’t do? I believe you could walk on water if you set your mind to the notion.”

  “I can’t walk on water, but I’ve been known to wade in too deep,” she shot back. They eyed each other, with neither batting an eyelash. At last she broke the standoff. “If that is all, my lord, I will get started on the invitations.”

  He dismissed her with a nod.

  Julie turned to leave but suddenly remembered another matter they should discuss and turned back. “By the way, I’ve told Mr. Dunne to send his bill to you. I hope you don’t object to my engaging him for Ian, but you weren’t here when Ian decided to ride, and you said to use my initiative.”

  “From what I’ve seen, you could handle the task of teaching him yourself,” Matthew said softly, reminding Julie of the last time he’d seen her ride.

  “I did think about it, but I didn’t think you wanted your nephew to ride in my style, exactly. You see, I taught myself. I thought you would want Ian to ride correctly, since you’ll probably be taking him on hunts when he’s older,” Julie responded.

  “I certainly hope my nephew has better sense than to ride at breakneck speed across the open countryside.”

  She ignored her employer’s well-aimed barb. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, but it slipped my mind until today. Would you be so kind as to buy Ian a horse of his own to ride?”

  “He has a pony, I believe,” Matthew said flatly.

  “He does have a pony, but he has outgrown the mount. He has had a growth spurt and his feet almost touch the ground. The other horses in your stable are for more experienced riders or little old ladies. Ian needs a gentle horse with spirit. One that would make riding fun,” Julie finished.

  “Can he really ride well enough to be trusted with a proper horse?” Matthew asked, seemingly incredulous.

  “He’s having his lesson now, so you must judge for yourself. He goes riding with me, and I think he does very well, but it’s a little hard for him to keep pace on a pony.”

  “Good lord. I hope you’re not taking him on wild rides.”

  “You don’t have to look so worried. I set my pace to his. I don’t plan on teaching him any bad habits. I’ll leave that part of his education to you, Lord Bonnleigh,” Julie spoke sharply but with a grin.

  “You are an impertinent young woman.”

  “Yes, my lord, it is one of my failings.”

  Lord Bonnleigh dismissed her once more, but the next day a little black mare with a white star on her forehead found her way to the island. She was small, no more than fourteen hands high—well-bred, with just enough spirit to make Ian jump with joy.

  * * *

  The routine of the castle went on as usual until the day of the rout. The hectic atmosphere made it hard to find a moment of quiet. Mrs. Highet assigned Julie the task of arranging the flowers. Servants ran everywhere, polishing this or that. All the linens had been aired, and all the guest bedrooms turned out. Even with the hour of the rout almost at hand, Ribble was kept busy bringing supplies back from the mainland.

  In the midst of the disorder, Ian ran into the garden room. He was out of breath, and his eyes were wide with excitement. He stood close to Julie and whispered, “Miss Hastings, there’s a mysterious guest in the castle. I’ve just come from seeing him. He arrived not more than twenty minutes ago. He’s in the best bedroom.”

  “He’s probably just someone important, but I don’t think it can be a mystery,” Julie said discouragingly.

  “You don’t understand. He arrived farther down the island, and Uncle Matthew brought him here personally. I wasn’t permitted to see him. Uncle Matthew rushed me out of the room, but I stopped and looked back from around a corner.”

  “Just like Lot’s wife. I wonder you didn’t turn into a pillar of salt,” Julie teased.

  “I’m trying to be serious. I couldn’t see anything much when I looked back. He wore a cape with a hood and in this hot weather,” Ian said with a knowing nod.

  “How very odd, but I’m sure it’s nothing,” Julie said, with growing interest despite her denial to the contrary. “Well, Mr. Nosy, who do you suppose it could be?”

  “I dare not say his name, but I think it’s Prince Charles,” Ian answered in an almost frightened whisper.

  Julie could see the concern written on his face. Faced with the sobering thought it could be the prince took away her excitement for the rout.

  “Even I know what his presence here means,” Ian said.

  “I pray you are wrong. If it is what you believe, then we’ll be in the middle of a war. Surely it isn’t. No, no, it couldn’t be. Lord Bonnleigh wouldn’t bring him to a party. What could he be thinking?”

  “His luggage did have a crest on it, or at least I think it did,” Ian inserted.

  “Whoever he is, it’s none of our business. Just ignore whatever is going on and don’t ask questions, Ian. You should never have stayed to look back. If your uncle wants us to know, he will tell us,” Julie said somewhat uncertainly.

  For a few moments they both reflected on the possible repercussions, until Julie heard the faint strands of music.

  “Ian, the musicians are tuning up, and we’re not dressed. We must hurry. Your clothes are laid out on your bed. Go dress, and I’ll meet you in the schoolroom. We’ll go down together.”

  Julie and Ian were seated before the first guests arrived. She had modified a dress belonging to her mother, of black velvet with a black lace inset down the front. She wore her mother’s pearl necklace and earrings with a small pink flower in her hair. She had styled her hair in the Greek fashion and held it in place with pearl hairpins. Julie was glad she’d taken extra pains with her toilette when Lord Bonnleigh walked into the drawing room. His stare waffled over her like the warm breeze of a summer day.

  Matthew could not take his gaze off of Julie. The velvety softness of her skin beckoned to him. The low-cut bodice showed off Julie’s curvaceous and regal figure to perfection. From her slender white shoulders to her well-rounded, high-perched breasts and her narrow waist, she mirrored the image of an innocent seductress. When the last of his guests arrived, he tore himself away to Ian’s beautiful governess. What a pity he would be too busy to dance. He would have loved to hold her in his arms, if only for a moment, and to feel the warmth of her hand in his.

  Bowing low and brushing a kiss across her hand, he said, “Miss Hastings, may I congratulate you. You put all the other ladies here to shame with your radiance.”

  Matthew watched with annoyance as Julie shuttered her expression. She always did this when he paid her a compliment. I
rritably, he wondered why it made a difference to him, but it did.

  “You are too kind, my lord,” Julie said icily.

  “You remind me of a diamond. Brilliant and fiery to look at, but cold to the touch,” he said with a sneer. His confusion and hurt at her attitude gouged a wound in his heart.

  “I’m reminded of a legend my mother told me once about diamonds. Diamonds are really teardrops. Tears which have been shed for lost love. The tears drop to earth and are forged by fire to form diamonds. I don’t think tears of fire would suit me. I much prefer pearls of wisdom,” Julie countered.

  “I never cross swords with you, Miss Hastings, without feeling the cut of your rapier tongue. Now, may I get some refreshment for you?” Matthew smiled into those wide expressive eyes. He stood motionless, despite his unsettled feelings, lost in their beauty.

  “Thank you, but Ian has taken on that task.”

  Matthew stiffened and turned away abruptly.

  His sudden departure left Julie surprised and confused. She tried to put her emotions out of her mind, and concentrated instead on her charge. Ian seemed to be enjoying the excitement of his first rout, but before long he grew tired and wanted to leave. Julie took him up to bed and came back to sit with Lord Bonnleigh’s widowed aunt, Marie MacDonald.

  Julie found Mrs. MacDonald to be a tiresome woman at best, who enjoyed her poor health to the limit. She feigned interest as she recited all her ailments in great detail. It took all of Julie’s concentration not to fall asleep.

  Mrs. MacDonald’s intimate friends stopped by, so she had fresh ears to hear her latest ailments. Julie was forced to give up her seat. Mrs. MacDonald finally remembered her disenchanted companion and gave Julie leave to go.

  She wandered outside for some fresh air. Aimlessly, she strolled along the terrace until a young man walked over to her. This was the first time she had noticed him. Perhaps he was the mysterious guest. There was something charismatic about his demeanor. He carried himself with the assurance of one who never lacked for attention.

  He bowed and said, “Permit me to introduce myself, mademoiselle. I am a guest of Lord Bonnleigh, so I feel I need not stand on formalities. Charles Edward Louis Stuart, at your service,” he said and clicked his heels in a formal salute. “May I claim you for the last dance?”