Her brother’s rage didn’t make Elspeth falter. Brody admired her courage. “Hamish, it’s Christmas, we’re all family and friends here, and I’m not a child anymore. A few harmless kisses with an old acquaintance aren’t an unforgivable sin. You’re a hypocrite if you say they are. Don’t forget, you’ve told me plenty about what you get up to in Edinburgh and London.”
Hamish had the grace to look abashed for a moment, before his temper flared again. “It’s different for men. For pity’s sake, Elspeth, you’re my sister.”
“And Brody’s your friend.”
Before Hamish could disavow that relationship, Brody spoke. “Hamish, leave it.”
“Leave what?” Elspeth’s formidable mother sailed into the room, her striking face alight with curiosity and disapproval. “What on earth is all this noise about? Explain yourself, Hamish.”
“There’s nothing to explain,” Marina said quickly, but not quickly enough.
Hamish turned on Lady Glen Lyon. “I caught Brody seducing Elspeth.”
“You liar! You did not!” Elspeth protested, before facing her mother. “Mamma, he’s making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“Non è niente. Just overflowing Christmas cheer,” Marina said, although she must know by now that a scene was unavoidable. “Hamish, you’re overreacting.”
“I’m bloody well not.” Hamish was back to looking like he was set to ignite. “I saw them both when I came in.”
“When we were standing several feet apart and fully dressed,” Elspeth pointed out. Brody commended her persistence.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Hamish retorted.
“You have my word that I did nothing to injure your sister’s reputation,” Brody said in an emphatic tone, knowing that it wasn’t true and would have been even less true ten minutes later.
“What’s all the commotion?” Fergus appeared in the corridor behind Lady Glen Lyon.
“Will ye shut the damned door?” Brody grated out. “Every bugger between here and Glasgow doesnae need to know our business.”
Elspeth’s mother bustled over to her daughter. “Elspeth, are you all right?”
Brody appreciated hearing some expression of concern for Elspeth, although his wee wren seemed capable of standing up for herself. As if to prove that spirit, she shook her mother’s hand off her arm.
“Of course I’m all right, Mamma. As Brody said, nothing happened. There’s no need for theatrics. Let’s all go back to the great hall and get on with celebrating Christmas.”
“Hear, hear,” Marina said, moving to shut the door at last. But it was too late. A crowd filled the room, shouting questions over each other. Through the chaos, Brody returned a blistering glare from Diarmid and decided this fracas had gone on long enough.
“Stop it, all of you,” he said, with an authority he’d never managed to achieve before, even at Invermackie where he still felt like an inadequate substitute for his father.
He turned to Elspeth and caught her hand. Despite her defiant stance, she was shaking. He knew that this public exposure was a horrible ordeal for her. Only a blockhead would imagine it could be anything else. At heart, she remained shy, despite new clothes and blossoming confidence.
“Elspeth, my bonny lassie, I grant that the circumstances are no’ ideal.” He gentled his tone. “I’m sorry I have to do this in front of a rabble, but I’d consider it the greatest honor if ye would agree to become my wife.”
Astonishment widened her big brown eyes, and the color leached from her face, leaving her as pale as new paper. His fingers tightened on hers as for one awful moment, he feared she might faint.
“Th-thank you for your proposal, Brody,” she stammered, after a pause that threatened to shatter his heart. Her unblinking attention didn’t waver from him. He wished he knew to Hades what she was thinking.
Brody summoned an encouraging smile and spoke in the low, soothing voice he used on a skittish horse. “We’ll have the banns called on Boxing Day, and we can marry in a couple of weeks. I promise I’ll be a good husband. You’ll never regret saying yes.”
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Prudence said, clasping her hands over her bosom and sending Elspeth a misty smile. Diarmid looked ready to erupt with fury. Everyone else showed various degrees of surprise and curiosity.
To Brody’s consternation, Elspeth didn’t look anywhere near as delighted with his proposal as her sister did.
His vague foreboding solidified, when she straightened and tugged her hand free. “I haven’t said yes yet.”
Brody frowned at her, not understanding her hesitation. “We must marry.”
She shook her head, and a stubbornness he’d never suspected she possessed settled over her delicate features. “No, we mustn’t.”
“Your reputation—”
“I appreciate your noble sacrifice, Brody.” Her slender throat moved as she swallowed. When she went on, her voice emerged raw but steady. “But I won’t marry you.”
Chapter 13
Elspeth’s stomach contracted into a tiny walnut, as she watched disbelief flood Brody’s face. His proposal jangled in her mind like a tuneless distortion of a thousand immature, extravagant fantasies. His visible shock made it clear that he’d never imagined that she might refuse him.
“What the devil…” When he stepped forward, she backed away on wobbly knees. She couldn’t blame him for looking bewildered, given that a few minutes ago, she’d been half-naked in his arms.
“Elspeth, don’t be a fool.” Mamma marched up to stand beside Marina. “Brody’s trying to save you from a scandal.”
Her mother was always organized, always in control, always in charge. Except for right now. She, like Brody, looked completely at sea. That would have made Elspeth laugh, if the situation had been less dire, and she didn’t feel as if she was about to bring up her dinner.
Elspeth squared her shoulders and told herself crying and whining would do no good. She didn’t underestimate the battle on her hands.
“Why should there be a scandal?” she asked, attempting to play down the night’s events.
“Because I caught you with bloody Brody.” Hamish sounded like he was strangling.
“No, you didn’t,” she said, struggling to keep her voice steady. As she looked around the circle of people surrounding her, she saw that nobody was on her side.
Then Marina sent her a smile. Relief flooded her, as she realized one person at least wasn’t ready to ring a peal over her head. That silent show of support bolstered her failing courage, so she sounded more confident when she spoke to Hamish. “You barged in when I was talking to Brody and Marina. Hardly cause for gossip, let alone anything more drastic.”
“Don’t give me that rot, Elspeth,” Hamish snapped, glaring at her. His expression said that he wanted to give her a good shaking. “You looked like you’d been…”
Yes, she could imagine what she’d looked like. Her cheeks stung with humiliation, but she made herself raise her chin and stare her brother down.
“Hamish, I’d thank you to speak to your sister with respect.” Brody angled his body between her and her brother. She’d appreciate his protective action, if he wasn’t trying to protect her into an unhappy marriage.
“You’re a great one to talk about respect,” Hamish retorted. “You had your filthy hands all over—”
“A few kisses at Christmas don’t make me a scarlet woman, Hamish,” Elspeth interjected, to break the dangerous tension rising anew between the two friends. “Anyway, we’re all family here. Even if there was a small indiscretion, why should any talk reach beyond Achnasheen?”
Elspeth stifled a pang at her hypocrisy, given how close she’d come to giving herself to Brody. She might tell herself she wouldn’t have let things go that far. But she hadn’t intended to let him touch her bottom or breasts either, and she’d made not a whisper of a protest when he did. His hands conjured magic, and she’d been helpless to resist him.
“Elspeth, I don’t understand. Are you sa
ying you dinnae want to marry me?” Brody asked, and if she didn’t know better, she might wonder if his hurt went deeper than a blow to his pride.
What nonsense. Of course it didn’t.
She sucked in a breath, struggling to ignore the devastation darkening Brody’s chiseled features. “No, I don’t.” The three words stabbed her heart. “Although I know that you’re trying to save my reputation.”
“It’s nae just that, Elspeth.”
She shook her head and even summoned a smile. “You’re very kind to say so.”
“Elspeth, you’re being a foolish, ungrateful, headstrong girl,” her mother said, folding her arms over her bosom and regarding her youngest daughter with a bellicose expression. “Have a thought to your future. If you won’t consider yourself, consider your family. Consider me. I have a role of great influence in this country. How will anyone in politics respect me if I can’t control my own daughter?”
Oh, no, this was getting worse and worse. If her mother got far enough up on her high horse, she would be immovable. Elspeth cursed the recklessness that had created this mess, although even now, some wicked, female part of her couldn’t regret the kisses.
“La povera ragazza.” Marina spoke before Mamma’s harangue could proceed past the point of the unforgivable. “How can Elspeth make a decision, with everyone glaring at her as if she’s committed murder? As she says, a few kisses at Christmas aren’t a mortal sin. There’s no need for all these bitter recriminations. Lady Glen Lyon, I know I’m not family, but why don’t you leave me alone with her for a wee while?”
“No, I need to talk to Elspeth on my own,” Brody said, his tone dogged.
Diarmid shoved his way through the crowd in the doorway, his impressive jaw stuck in a belligerent jut. “By God, that’s the last thing we want.”
This far, Brody had kept control of his temper, so Elspeth was surprised at his flaring anger as he turned on her cousin. “You stay out of this, ye interfering bastard.”
“I wish to hell you’d kept out of this and far away from her.”
“What Elspeth and I do is no concern of yours.”
Two large, powerful males faced up to one another. Fear joined the wild turmoil of emotions already churning in Elspeth’s stomach. If anyone she loved was hurt as a result of her misbehavior, she’d never forgive herself.
“She’s my cousin, and I willnae stand by and watch a rake debauch her,” her cousin growled.
“Diarmid!” Elspeth protested. “Will you listen to me? Nobody has debauched anyone. You’re letting your imagination run away with you.”
“And your bloody mouth as well,” Brody said, still squaring up as if preparing to throw a punch.
“Stop it, both of ye.” Fergus stepped in between the two men. “All this huffing and puffing isn’t helping.”
“You’re wrong there,” Diarmid said stiffly. “Pounding this bugger into the ground would help me a lot.”
Brody’s lip curled in a sneer. “I’d like to see ye try.”
“I wouldn’t,” Marina insisted.
“Nor would I,” Elspeth said.
“Elspeth you’re too young to realize what this lout is capable of,” Diarmid said, without looking at her.
“Diarmid, stop it. Brody’s your friend, and he deserves better from you. You’ve said quite enough, even though I appreciate your defense of my virtue.” Which wasn’t entirely true. She was biting back the impulse to clout her cousin. Not only was he making a bad situation worse, but he hovered close to calling her a mouse. She’d rather be seen as a loose woman than the nonentity she used to be.
“Elspeth—” he began, but she spoke over him, tired of the battle of male egos, tired of the accusing looks, just…tired.
“I think you’ve all said quite enough.” To her surprise, she didn’t sound like she was about to scream.
“You cannae—” Brody wasn’t giving up.
Nor was she. “Right now, I’d like all of you to leave me alone. I’ve said I won’t marry Brody. No harm’s been done.” Except to her heart, and she just had to live with that. “The matter’s at an end.”
“Far from it,” Hamish objected. “You mightn’t care for your good name, but I do.”
“Then stop acting like a buffle-headed idiot and making such a ridiculous scene,” Elspeth snapped back.
Her hard-won composure was disintegrating. She couldn’t take much more of this—she’d spent her life avoiding conflict; shouting always made her feel sick—but if she showed the slightest sign of weakness, the family would fall on her like jackals attacking a wounded antelope. They’d insist that she accept Brody as her husband and as she weakened under the pressure, she might fall in with their plans. That meant disaster.
“Unless you marry Brody, you’ll be a pariah,” her mother said, in a portentous voice that sent foreboding oozing down her backbone.
“But, Mamma, nothing happened,” she said, knowing that her mother had gone past the point of listening. “You’re overreacting.”
“Overreacting, am I?” Her mother’s lips tightened in self-righteous anger. “See if you feel the same when you no longer have a home to come to.”
The buzz of whispers in the room faded to nothing, and everyone turned in shock to Lady Glen Lyon. Elspeth’s mother’s face was set like stone and indicated that cannons wouldn’t shift her on this issue.
“Are you threatening to disown me, Mamma?” Elspeth asked, appalled and incredulous. How on earth had everything come to this?
“I don’t see why you should take things that far, Lady Glen Lyon.” Marina once more put an arm around Elspeth’s shoulders. “I promise you that when I came in, I saw nothing beyond a little harmless flirtation.”
“Then why was Hamish so exercised about what he discovered?”
Mamma had the bit between her teeth. She might relent in time but right now, she was determined on making her position clear. She’d see that everyone suffered the torments of the damned before she stepped back from her ultimatum. If she stepped back.
Elspeth wanted to retort that Hamish had been in a rage because he was an idiot. But that wasn’t fair.
“He misunderstood,” she said, knowing she was wasting her time.
“Lady Glen Lyon, your daughter is as pure as a lily,” Brody said. “Ye have my word as a gentleman.”
“That’s all very well, Brody, but appearances are what count. I have my political influence to worry about,” her mother said. She directed an implacable stare into the space above Elspeth’s head as if she couldn’t bear to look at her erring daughter.
Elspeth blinked back stinging tears. Tonight had been wonderful—up until it wasn’t. One of the saddest parts of this quarrel was that over the last few days, she’d hoped that she and her mother had grown closer. She should have known better.
If her mother imagined that bullying would change Elspeth’s mind about marrying Brody, her mother didn’t know her at all. Once Elspeth made her mind up, nothing would shift her. Look at her ill-fated penchant for that handsome rogue Brody Girvan.
She’d inherited that strong will from her mother. If Mamma really decided to turn her back on her daughter, she’d cut Elspeth loose from the family. Her stomach had been roiling since Marina had come in. Now she raised a shaking hand to her lips and prayed that she wouldn’t be sick. That would be the final beastly humiliation.
“Elspeth, listen to me. Dinnae get your hackles up. If ye do, you’ll never listen to sense,” Brody said. “This issue is between you and me. Please say you’ll marry me.”
She gave him credit for injecting such desperation into his voice. She also had to give him credit for knowing her well enough to understand that beneath her unassuming exterior, she possessed a formidable obstinacy. It seemed her mother didn’t know her half so well.
“It’s not just between you two, though, is it?” Hamish said. “Elspeth’s ruin is a family matter.”
Brody shot him a furious glare. “If you dinnae shut your mouth thi
s minute, I’ll shut it for ye.” His fists clenched at his sides, and the threat of incipient violence vibrated in the air.
“This is my house, and I willnae have it turning into a bear’s den,” Fergus said sternly.
“Elspeth, please?” Brody turned back to her with a pleading expression that almost made her wonder if refusing him was the biggest mistake she’d ever made in her short life.
Oh, dear Lord, he sounded like he cared about her, and she knew he didn’t. Everything would be different if he did.
She braced to answer as she must. “No, Brody. I said I won’t marry you, and I’m standing by that.”
Her mother gave a furious huff and whirled toward the door. “Then you’re dead to me, Elspeth.”
“I won’t be coerced, Mamma,” Elspeth said, fighting the urge to run after her mother and beg her to reconsider.
“You know she won’t, Mamma. She’s like a mule when she gets her mind stuck on something,” Charity chipped in. “You’re going about this all the wrong way.”
Her mother stopped but didn’t turn around. “She’ll listen when she starts to wonder where she’ll sleep tonight.”
“Elspeth has a home here as long as she likes,” Marina said in an uncompromising tone that to Elspeth’s surprise matched the strength of her mother’s. “She’s not a child. She’s almost twenty-one. She has a right to wed where she wishes.”
Elspeth wanted to hug her, while relief as powerful as a tidal wave swamped her. “Thank you, Marina,” she mumbled.
Marina’s kindness undermined her show of strength. She felt closer to crying now than she’d felt since Hamish had come in.
Fergus glanced at Hamish, Diarmid and Brody and must have decided that they’d retreated from the brink of a brawl. Hamish and Diarmid looked disgruntled, but in control of their impulses. Brody, blast him, still looked desolate as if all his hopes had crumbled to nothing. She didn’t believe that was true for a minute.
“I dinnae think there’s anything to gain from continuing with this tonight,” Fergus said. “Why don’t we all go to bed? In the morning, I doubt circumstances will seem as desperate as they’re painted right now.”
The Laird’s Christmas Kiss: The Lairds Most Likely Book 2 Page 10
