Questions for a Highlander

by Angeline Fortin

Francis looked thoughtfully into his drink. “She does deserve more.” He downed the rest of the drink and thunked the empty glass to the table. The burn of the alcohol matched the fire of his resolve for he wasn’t going to stand apart from his destiny any longer. “That’s why I am going to marry her.”

  The two other men exchanged a shocked glance. “You’re not serious!” Jack retorted, choking on his shock. “After all that bitch put you through.” Haddington waved them off when the brothers both started in protest. “Not the countess, the other one! Nessa made your life hell for nearly a decade and you would voluntarily put your head in the noose again? You must be foxed.”

  Disbelief was evident in his friend’s expression, but Francis merely nodded thoughtfully, settling back into his chair. “Not foxed at all, merely… awakened. Aye, I believe I would do it. For her.”

  “Unbelievable!” Jack huffed and downed his port in one swallow. He glanced down the table where the remainder of the MacKintosh brothers and other men had gathered, before lowering his voice. “I would and will do it because I must, lest I lose my estates, but old man, you have options! Have an affair with her and get her out of your system! You needn’t marry just to get under her skirts.”

  Francis leveled a look upon his oldest friend that had Jack reconsidering his words.

  “Umm, Francis?” Richard tentatively asked. “You realize that Eve is a woman of unimpeachable propriety? Have you forgotten the scandal of your divorce?”

  “Of course not,” he tapped the empty glass on the table and lolled it from side to side. “Eve told me something today which I will relay to you in the strictest confidence.”

  “Aye?” Richard prompted him to continue.

  “It seems her husband Shaftesbury was not the best of husbands. He was abusive to her.” The other two men raised their eyebrows in surprise. “Indeed, the countess was planning on divorcing him before he died.”

  Both men’s eyebrows shot farther up. “Really?”

  Francis nodded. “Damn the bloody consequences, damn the scandal. She was going to do it, and it got me thinking that perhaps my scandal would not mean so much to her. You see, she was planning on doing it herself.”

  “That scandal has been so harsh that you’ve become a veritable hermit these last years,” Richard reminded him. “Added to that, Westmoreland practically tore the earldom apart financially.”

  Francis considered his first marriage and his damned wife. All ten of the MacKintosh siblings had taken to that name for his wife within the first couple years of their marriage fifteen years ago, when Vanessa had been caught in the embrace of the earl’s secretary. Francis’ damned wife. Even wee Fiona from two years of age had called her that.

  None of the MacKintosh clan could truly understand why Alec MacKintosh and Vanessa’s father, Jamie Fane, had forced this marriage on Francis. He had wanted the line secured to be sure, but why Fane’s daughter? None of them had known. Vanessa had been the terror of Glen Cairn; impossible to live with and impossible to please. Though none of them tried to please her much anyway once her duplicity was known.

  Francis’ damned wife was quite adept at finding her pleasure without any of their help. She would sleep with any man who cared to make the effort and had cut a wide path through the male servants and crofters before the end of their second year of marriage. It wasn’t until she tried to seduce their brother Vincent a year later that they discovered the whole truth of her exploits. Vin had been nineteen at the time and so obvious in his rejection of her that her rage had nearly shaken the castle walls.

  When she had taken up her public affair, that had been enough for Glenrothes. Determined that he could take no more, Francis had attempted to petition a divorce only to be visited by Vanessa's father, the powerful Earl of Westmoreland. He had slapped the divorce petition down before Francis and told him that if Francis ever attempted to divorce his daughter again he would ruin the entire MacKintosh clan. Westmoreland was a powerful man; his connections were so deep that he’d managed to secure the petition before it had even reached the courts.

  But by that time, Francis was not a callow youth any longer. He was Glenrothes! He was no longer cowed by Westmoreland and his threats to ruin the MacKintosh family. Glenrothes had become a power of its own since he had taken over the earldom. Francis had taken the matter all the way to the crown on grounds of adultery, even bringing in his brothers and others before the courts to stand witness.

  Richard was right, it had cost him dearly both in reputation and monies. Westmoreland had fought the proceedings vehemently and stretched it out over years before finally, four years ago, the commitee had finally found in Glenrothes’ favor and a Parliamentary divorce had been granted.

  “He did,” Francis agreed gravely to Richard’s point, “but we have recovered and grown even greater.” Glenrothes now had influence, it was true. Through his business and political connections, Francis had grown the earldom to easily rival that of Westmoreland. Were it not for Vanessa’s occasional presence in Edinburgh, the scandal would have all but died, however the woman did not have the decency to flee to the continent and stay away. At least she was in London for now. “There will be a greater scandal if I remarry,” he added. “Do you not think our family could withstand it?”

  Richard knew the men of the family could. The older ones especially remembered how Francis had suffered from his marriage and would all give an arm or leg to have their brother find peace. The revelation that Francis wanted to achieve that serenity through remarriage would shock them all no doubt. But what of Fiona? He raised the question to his brother.

  “Fiona will have a dowry large enough to make any man forget and forgive such a scandal. If I make this happen now, she can have her debut next Season and most will be forgotten,” Francis voiced his plan. “With a new Countess of Glenrothes, a woman of impeccable reputation, to see her through it.”

  “You mean to do it then?” Richard asked.

  “I had my solicitor draw up a marriage contract this afternoon.” Francis pushed away from the table and stood as Richard clapped him on the back. “All I have left to do is propose.”

  “We’ll stand by you, old chap.”

  “Thank you, and until then I mean to take your advice and merely court Eve properly until we are wed,” Francis grinned. “It will be hard to resist temptation though.”

  Jack was a bit slower to get up from the table as he shook his head in disbelief. “Are you actually saying that you’re going to do it? I mean you are actually going to marry again? You want to get married again? To the ice…the countess, of all people? You barely know her!”

  “Aye, my friend, that is exactly what I mean.” Francis grinned and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “And believe me, I know her very well.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me.” Jack walked toward the stairs. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Richard and Francis watched him go in amusement. “Abby will want to collect on her bet, you know?” Richard reminded him.

  “I will be glad to pay,” Francis told him in all honesty. “I knew all along there was an exception to every rule. I should have known better than to bet against her.”

  Chapter 22

  Journeys end in lovers meeting,

  Every wise man’s son doth know.

  - William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

  Moira and Eve were again ensconced in the corner chatting after dinner when Jack joined them some minutes before the other men. The look he gave Eve roused her curiosity but, rather than question him about it, Eve brought up another topic that had been niggling at her in the back of her mind. It had occurred to her that if Jack wanted a wealthy heiress then Moira should be just the ticket for him, and asked him about it after he joined them.

  Surprisingly, Jack shuddered. “Alas, as wealthy as she is, I could no more marry Moira than my own sister!” he admitted. “She is a brat to say the least and I have known her since she was a young child. Having seen her in short s
kirts and with her hair in plaits, I cannot contemplate the prospect of taking her as my wife.”

  “Yet Richard had no problems taking Abby as his wife and he had known her just as long,” Eve pointed out. “Perhaps you should reconsider?”

  Jack arched a brow as he eyed Moira and she stuck out her tongue at him. Shaking his head, he laughed, “It would simply not do, but fear not, fair maiden, I will pursue you no longer.” He put a hand to his chest and gave her a semblance of a bow from his seated position.

  “You won’t?” Eve asked skeptically, somewhat ashamed that he saw so readily through her blatant attempt to provide him with another fox to hunt.

  The other men joined them in the parlor then and Francis made a beeline for them not bothering to look casual about it in time to hear Jack’s response.

  “It has come to my attention that the bonds of friendship are stronger than the needs of my pocketbook,” he intoned dramatically, but Eve understood the implied message. For his friendship with Francis, he would leave her be. If nothing else, that was something for which she owed Francis her thanks.

  Francis clapped him on the back. “The bonds of friendship must indeed be strong,” he joked. “I still cannot imagine you would give up on the fortune of Lelan Preston!”

  “Lelan Preston?” Jack’s brow creased. “The American?” His brow cleared and he looked Eve over again. “No! You’re that…”

  Francis could easily see where his friend’s thoughts were racing and winced at supplying new incentive for his friend to resume his pursuit. “You didn’t know?” He shared a look with Eve who cringed at the prospect of a renewed courtship from the earl.

  “Of course I didn’t know!” Haddington contemplated Eve again stroking his chin.

  “Bonds of friendship, Jack.”

  “But…”

  “Don’t even think about it.”

  “Well, I thank you for ruining my evening,” Jack huffed miserably. “Some music would be welcome, I think. Do you play the piano, Lady Shaftesbury?”

  “Only very badly,” Eve admitted honestly.

  Jack rose slapping his knee and held a hand to Moira. “Come then, brat, play for us. I know you can do so well. Something with a spiritual uplifting would be appreciated. I will even turn the pages for you.”

  “Oh, very well,” Moira replied with playful reluctance, taking his hand and leaving Eve and Francis to themselves.

  “I hope he doesn’t decide to forsake your friendship and pursue me once more,” Eve said at length.

  “You really don’t like him?”

  “Not one bit.”

  “He probably wouldn’t make a very good husband anyway.”

  “Most definitely not.”

  Eve sat in silence for a moment, aware that she and Francis were essentially alone here in the corner of the room. It was not an uncomfortable silence, indeed it was almost too comfortable. He was lightly caressing her hand where it lay hidden in the folds of her black brocade skirts. He toyed with her fingers and caressed her palm, sending shivers of excitement through her. How amazing that such a simple contact could so disturb and yet calm her!

  Francis’ thoughts were not so calm. Here was his opening. Jack might not make a good spouse for Eve, but Francis knew that he would and surely she would recognize that as well. Drawing a deep breath, he started to form the words, but…

  “What is it P.T. Barnum said? There’s a sucker born every minute? That’s what a marriage makes you. And really, why would any woman marry again if they didn’t have to?” Eve asked softly staring across the room. “Putting oneself voluntarily under the thumb of another? Becoming another’s possession once more?” A little shudder ran through her before she turned her attention to him. “You feel the same way, don’t you Francis? After all the sorrow your marriage brought you, surely you would never want to wed again?”

  The earl could do little more than offer a half-hearted shrug. “I don’t know anymore, Eden. There might be possibilities that you aren’t considering.”

  “I can’t imagine what might motivate one to do so.” A corner of her mouth quirked up in a slightly sad smile. “We’ll be going back to Edinburgh in the morning and you will return to Glen Cairn.” She turned the conversation. “From there I will leave to return to England by the end of the week. I have so enjoyed the time we have spent together, Francis. In all these years I never dreamed of seeing you again.”

  With that, all of Francis’ plans seemed to have been neatly sidestepped, though she couldn’t possibly have known what he intended for them. She wrapped it up with a tidy retreat back into her safe world where there was no chance anything would change. But a new resolve hardened Francis. She might think this was the end for them, that he would just let her walk away from him again, but Francis had no intention of letting that happen. She was his! And if he had to breech every defense Eve had built around her since her husband’s death, he would. He was willing to fight for a future with her.

  Their future. One that would not be about possession or ownership, but one of love, respect and passion.

  Let the campaign begin!

  Part 3

  Chapter 23

  Glen Cairn Manor

  Glenrothes, Scotland

  Francis ambled into the front hall of his manor at Glen Cairn early the next afternoon. It had been a pleasant morning. After taking his breakfast with Eve, they had taken a short stroll down to the beach to say their goodbyes. The dear lass actually thought he was going to let her move on with her life without him! He had revealed nothing of his plans, just kissed her hand softly as he had handed her into the carriage that would take her and the rest of his family to the train station and back to Edinburgh. He imagined her surprise when he would catch up with her there in a couple of days, but first he needed his mother’s ring so that he could propose properly.

  And he intended to make her miss him a bit before he showed up.

  Francis whistled softly to himself as he tossed his coat to the waiting butler.

  “Master James arrived moments ago, my lord,” Godfrey – who had returned to the manor the previous evening – intoned dourly careful not to let any of his own opinions show.

  "Jamie’s here?" Glenrothes asked in surprise. James had left the house party the previous day to return to Edinburgh to continue the seduction of the young widow he had begun wooing at Raven’s Craig. Must be that his attempts had failed if he returned so quickly home.

  “That is what I said,” came the sour reply. “He’s taking luncheon in the family dining room.”

  The earl walked merrily into the small dining room. Flinging himself into a nearby chair, and nearly startling James out of his, he snatched a piece of beef from his brother's plate. “What are you doing here? Thought you’d gone back to Edinburgh. Did your wooing not work out as you hoped?”

  “Good afternoon to you also.” James eyed his eldest brother suspiciously. “You seem in rather high spirits this day.”

  “I have every reason to be.”

  “Richard wired me that you would be returning to Edinburgh in a few days. I thought you would remain at Glen Cairn for the Season again this year but apparently you have other pursuits on your mind,” James said with reprimand clear in his tone.

  The elder MacKintosh frowned at the tone of his brother’s words. “Why are you here, brother?”

  James shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He had ridden hard all morning from town to get here after receiving his brother’s wire the previous day that he would be travelling to Edinburgh soon. And, aye, he was tired and irritable from not yet winning the fair widow.

  Skirting the question momentarily, he asked instead, “Have you considered what your continued pursuit of the countess might do to her reputation?” He raised his hand to stop his brother from interrupting. “I'm sure you know that Abby considers Lady Shaftesbury very highly and she is concerned for the countess’ reputation. Your attention to her at the ball has already been noted around town and, given your sec
lusion of recent years, any further pursuit of a lady will cause gossip. Your very presence in the city will cause comment, I’m sure.”

  Francis knew all this was true but felt that with honorable intentions all would be forgiven when he and Eve wed. “Abby put you up to this? I have already talked to Richard about my plans. You know…”

  James interrupted him. “Soon people are going to be talking behind her back. Don’t you care how that affects her? Maybe it would be best, for her sake, if you just called it off now before things turn for the worst.”

  “Call it off?” Glenrothes leapt up from his chair knocking it over, stunning James. His entire life Francis had been a rock for the family. He had been a supportive brother after the deaths of their parents, a father to the younger ones who had never known another. He had suffered the humiliation his wife had dealt him with amazing stoicism and had always, always been a voice of calm and reason in every situation. Never had he imagined his brother to be capable of so much emotion. “Call it off! Are your wits completely addled, man! She’s everything to me!” He slapped both hands to his chest and stomped away from the table, angry at himself for making such a bold admission to his brother.

  Just before he got to the door, James’ voice cut softly through his rage.

  “Vanessa’s back in town, brother.”

  Francis stopped abruptly and turned back to face James who now stood by the table. “What?”

  “She's back. I thought you’d rather hear it from family.” James’ eyes were full of sympathy. “She’s currently ensconced at your townhouse and has been for most of the week. Quite a surprise when I got there. Had to take a room at a hotel to avoid her. I left word for everyone to stay at Richard’s for the time being, but I thought you’d want to know and perhaps spare Lady Shaftesbury her presence and sharp tongue.”

  Astonished, Francis fell into the nearest chair and covered his face with his hands. He leaned back and laughed humorlessly at the ceiling. “I thought I had finally paid her enough to leave permanently. Damn!” He picked up a nearby candelabrum and flung it across the room. “What happened? Did her latest lover abandon her?”