Their harsh cries mingled as they came together, straining toward each other. Eve clasped him to her as she buried her face against his sweaty neck. For how long they lay there, Eve could not guess. Minutes, days, years. Connected to one another, content in one another.
“Francis? Are you here?” a deep voice came from the hall.
“Who's that?” Evelyn whispered, caught in frozen dread.
“Connor, I assume,” Francis answered nonchalantly.
“You're joking. You said no one was expected.”
“I said no one would walk right in.”
“Francis?” a lighter female voice questioned this time.
“You're not joking!” Evelyn whispered with a squeak. “For Christ's sake, Francis! Get off of me!”
“Why?” came the infuriatingly calm question.
“Because they will see us!” she told him, as if she were talking to a child.
“So?” He caught her frown. “Oh. Well, in that case…” He stood abruptly and refastened his breeches. “Connor! Fiona! In here!” he called, grinning down at her.
“Oh!” she squealed scrambling to straighten her clothing. “I’m going to get you for this!” was her furious threat. “Why didn't you tell me someone was coming right away?”
He shrugged. “I left a message for them to meet us here. And even if it weren’t them, who did you think was going to cook for us?”
Evelyn punched him in the stomach and sat down in a big wing chair that faced away from the door and hid herself in it as the earl faced the couple who came into the room.
“Francis!” Fiona skipped across the room and threw herself into his arms.
“Hullo, Blossom,” he squeezed her tight and held a hand out to his brother. “I was expecting you down at the course.”
Connor just shrugged. “Sorry, we were running a bit late then got caught up in the rain. Figured you’d come here until it all cleared up.”
“We were able to occupy ourselves until you got here. I have brought Lady Shaftesbury down to play a round or two with us.”
“I bet you’d like to play around with her!” Fiona snorted indelicately then squealed with embarrassment when Eve rose from the chair by the fire.
Francis frowned at his sister who had the good grace to flush and look away. “My apologies, Lady Shaftesbury, I didn’t see you there.”
“No need, Lady Fiona,” Eve came forward with an extended hand. “The fault is mine for not greeting you immediately. I must have dozed off,” she added in an offhand manner, ignoring the raised brow Francis levied upon her blatant lie. But even he seemed disgruntled by the situation now.
Francis had never been privy to having conclusions drawn so swiftly about his actions and he was indeed displeased that those so quickly drawn disparaged the woman he loved. While this frenzied rush of lust and lovemaking had seemed to overwhelm them the past several days, this was not merely a sexual affair. It went far beyond simple sex. It was a meeting of hearts, not only bodies, and it suddenly infuriated him to think anyone would assume that about what was to him an earth-stopping love. He would have to have words with them, he realized, and set the record straight. Not only his siblings, but the couple he employed to keep the house. He would not have Eve frowned upon or thought of as a mistress.
“We will try for a round… of golf… in the morning if it clears up.” Francis tried to shrug off the awkward moment. “We might as well tidy up and take dinner. I’m sure Lady Shaftesbury would enjoy a rest before then. May I escort you up?”
“Of course.” Eve nodded to Connor and Fiona as she took Francis’ arm and regally ascended the stairs. Only when they had reached his room and shut the door did Eve sag against it and cover her face. “That was utterly mortifying, Francis.”
“I’m sorry, my love,” he apologized. “It never occurred to me that anyone would see our relationship for anything other than the love it is. I will speak to them.”
Eve merely shook her head as she pushed away from the door. “Still.”
“Aye and what of your ‘dozing off’?” he grinned. “Do you think they bought that at all? That you were asleep?”
“Why, yes Francis,” she teased, pushing aside her worries as she sidled closer to him, pointing a playful finger. “And you all interrupted my dream!”
“What were you dreaming about?” Francis caught her hand and drew her finger into his mouth.
Eve stared at him in fascination as his tongue whirled about her digit and suckled it. “A handsome prince.”
He drew her finger out and proceeded to place a kiss on the tip of each remaining digit. “And his beautiful princess?”
“Mmmm, and happily ever after,” she wavered, her eyes closing in rapture.
“Happily ever after?” he frowned. Could he give her that? He would damn well try to even if things didn’t currently seem to be going their way. “What can the prince do to show his remorse for waking the princess?” he asked in a whisper.
“He can kiss her, of course.”
He leaned over until his lips brushed hers. “Kiss her? How? Like this?” He brushed his lips across hers in the merest caress. Already his heart was pounding faster. Unbelievable. “Or like this?”
The kiss was searing. Evelyn's arms came up to wrap around his neck. “Most definitely like that.”
Francis scooped her up and tossed her on the bed while she squealed in surprise. “Now scoot over and let me in. I am out to prove my love!”
“What, no romance?” she laughed as she pulled him down over her.
An hour later when they came down for dinner, an elderly servant met them at the bottom of the stairs. “Ah Martin. My lady, I would like you to meet Martin. A long time retainer of the MacKintosh clan and a very good one, I might add.”
“Thank you, my lord,” the rugged old man answered sincerely and indicated an equally aged woman in the doorway. “My wife, Agnes, my lady. She is the housekeeper for Lord MacKintosh at Glen Cairn.”
Agnes curtsied before the countess with a show of some embarrassment, looking about the room as if she were uncomfortable with the situation. “My lady.”
“Very good to meet you, Agnes.”
“Thank you, milady. I hope ye're ready for a wonderful meal we’ve prepared for ye?”
“Yes, I am very hungry,” Eve admitted lightly, realizing that the woman was uncertain how to treat her, her master’s mistress. “The trip, of course, was very trying.”
Evelyn glared at Francis as he squeezed her side familiarly with a decidedly wicked smile. “I find I am also very hungry as well following our… journey. What say you, m’lady? Shall we go directly into dinner?”
“That would be fine,” she gritted out behind her teeth.
“How could you do that, Francis? You only made it worse for poor Agnes. Couldn’t you see she was already uncomfortable with the entire situation?” Evelyn complained stiffly as she toyed with her fork, after the two servants departed the small dining room. “How embarrassing for both of us!”
Francis set his own silver down with a clatter and leveled her with a fierce look. “I am not ashamed of you, paradise, or of anything we do. I refuse to pretend that I am and would prefer to shout it to the world. I want to make you my wife, if you recall, so that I might show it every moment without any embarrassment for anyone.” He took a deep breath and consciously cleared his brow with a sigh to release his frustration. He reached over and took her hand in his. “I will try to be discreet in town and in public, but this is my home. I refuse to hide from it here with you. I love you, paradise.”
Evelyn blushed and squeezed his hand in return. Just as she was about to speak, she spotted Fiona and Connor entering the room. From their high color, Evelyn guessed that they hadn't missed a word of what was said. She was horrified that Fiona, especially, had heard! What the girl must think of her!
Face aflame, Evelyn stared down at her plate while Fiona and Connor took their places at the table. Agnes bustled in then, setting plat
es before them, before leaving the room in silence.
The clock ticked off the seconds.
“Well?” Fiona finally asked irritably into the silent room a few moments later.
“Well, what, Blossom?” Francis asked, puzzled by the impatient ill-humor his sister was displaying.
“Lady Shaftesbury!” The girl demanded her attention and waited until Eve looked up and met her penetrating stare.
Curiosity overwhelmed Eve in the face of Fiona’s determined look. “Yes, Fiona?”
“My brother just said that he loves you,” she wiggled impatiently. “Have you nothing to say to him in return?”
“Blossom!” Both men at the table choked in astonishment before Francis added, “That is none of your business, lass.”
Fiona’s chin jutted out belligerently. “Well, I think it is!”
“It isn’t,” Francis glowered at his youngest sibling.
“Fiona,” Connor rolled his eyes. “You can’t just ask something like that.”
“Why not?” she insisted, eyeing the younger MacKintosh with a raised brow. “Don’t you want to know?”
“Of course, I do!” he agreed. “But you can’t just demand…”
“I do,” Eve interrupted in a soft voice that caught their attention.
“Beg pardon?” Fiona blinked across the table at her.
Eve turned to find Francis considering her curiously and offered him a tender smile before turning back to their companions. “Of course you want to know. I understand that. You’re worried about your brother, aren’t you?”
“That bitch ruined my brother’s life,” Fiona said bluntly.
“Fiona Heather MacKintosh!” Francis groaned, wondering how he was ever to bring his youngest sibling out into polite society with her penchant for blunt honesty. It simply would not do at all.
“It’s all right, Francis.” Eve laid a comforting hand on top of his, biting back a chuckle. “They worry about you. They want to make certain you are not treated so shabbily again. You’re lucky to have so many people who care.”
“They’re pests,” he grumbled, but turned his hand over to grasp her fingers nonetheless.
“They’re wonderful,” Eve grinned before looking back at the younger MacKintoshs. “So, in answer to your question, Fiona… yes, I love your brother. Very much, in fact.”
Nodding seriously, Fiona just tilted her head to the side and studied them. “He’s happy, you know. I never realized how unhappy he’s been, for pretty much my whole life, until now. Because of you, he’s happy. I don’t want to see it go away. With all the mess that harlot made…”
“That will be enough, Blossom!” Francis cut in abruptly and the girl flushed.
Evelyn eyed him curiously. “Was there anyone who liked her?”
“None that I can think of,” he answered honestly and changed the subject. “We shall play tomorrow, I think. The weather’s clearing up and I think Lady Shaftesbury feels that she’ll give us MacKintoshs a real go…”
“I want to thank you for being so kind to my bratty siblings, Eden,” Francis said later as he walked her slowly up the stairs.
“It isn’t difficult, Francis.” Eve clasped his arm and laid her head against his shoulder, reveling in their uncensored companionship. Thinking that every night with him could be hers if she but embraced his proposal, Eve shook off the urge to agree, saying only, “They are lovely people.”
“You were lovely in the glow of the candles this evening,” he whispered in her ear and was rewarded with a shiver of anticipation from her.
“Only this evening?” she teased breathlessly.
“Every evening.”
“You look very handsome yourself. Every evening as well. In daylight, though…” she trailed off with a grin.
He squeezed her hand and laughed heartily. “I guess you'll just have to keep me in the dark then! Good thing that I have this wonderful place with all these dark rooms, isn't it?”
“Very good thing. And I'll expect to see each and every one of them.”
“Oh, I'll make sure you see them all or at least the ceilings!” His grin was decidedly wolfish.
It took a moment, but a red flush of understanding flooded her cheeks and a high-pitched “OH!” escaped her lips. He laughed deeply leaning over to kiss her cheek warmly and affectionately. Unable to help herself, Evelyn joined him in laughter. “You're awful, my lord!”
“I do my best!”
“Your best to embarrass me? Yes, you do it very well!”
“Well, I must do my best at something!” he countered.
Chapter 34
It warmed Eve immensely to move her queen in line once again and speak. “Checkmate, my lord.”
“I've never before met a woman whose favorite words seem to be ‘check’ and ‘mate’.” Francis leaned back in defeat and smiled at her across the board. Patting his leg, he invited her to come to him.
“And I do truly love to say them,” Evelyn responded as she curled up in his lap, enjoying the solitude of the evening.
“It's amazing. After that first night at Raven’s Craig, I tried every trick I knew and still I could not beat you! Who taught you to play?” he asked curiously.
“My Da. He was very good.”
“So, it would seem. You take great pride in beating me.”
“It is nice to know I can defeat you in one thing, my lord,” she teased. “You quite bested me on the links today.”
“Ahh, but don't you know, my lady, that you defeat me every night in another way?” he nuzzled her neck.
“In what way?” she asked a bit breathlessly, distracted by the wonderful sensations his mouth was eliciting from her.
“Each time I touch you and I lose control of myself, it is a defeat of my self-control and good sense,” he confessed.
“Then I hope I can continue to defeat you time and again.”
“Conquer me, you mean.” He kissed her lustily. “You do not mind, then, that I seem incapable of showing you some romance and tenderness?”
“You show me tenderness each day, like now,” she whispered in his ear, causing him to shiver and pull her closer. “As for the romance, I think that you are the most romantic man I have ever imagined. I would not have you any other way.” Her lips caught his earlobe and she sucked on it lightly, drawing a deep moan from Francis.
“Do not start, my lady, or you may not make it to your bed tonight.”
Evelyn was strongly tempted, but she sighed and leaned back against his shoulder, staring into the blazing fire. “Must we really go back tomorrow?”
“We can play an early round in the morning before we return.”
“If it were not for Laurie, I'd never go back.”
“You have a fine son, Evelyn,” he said and shifted uncomfortably beneath her.
A messenger had brought word that Vanessa was still in town and refusing to budge. It made no sense that the woman was refusing the exorbitant amount of wealth he was offering, though Jack had wired that Vanessa had been seen in the company of several different men lately. He needed to get back to town and plan his next move.
“Am I getting too heavy for you, my lord?”
Francis started at her teasing comment before pushing aside his uncertainties. "Don't be ridiculous. It has been a delightful few days and I am loathe to have them end.”
“I as well.”
That first night, they snuck out to make wild love on the sand at the beach, with the crashing waves around them. Evelyn did not think she would try that again anytime soon. While the experience did have its element of romance, something Francis tried so hard for, the sand continued to irritate even into the next day when they played golf. Fiona was right. All the siblings were very good and Eve was rusty, at best, from not having played for a long while. They teased her one and all, but Eve had enjoyed the day and their combined company.
It had been wonderful, addictive. Something she could get used to. Something she wanted the opportunity to get used t
o, even if it took the rest of her life. And it could be hers if she was willing to take a chance.
Waiting for the panic and disgust to descend, Eve felt only anticipation. Did she dare? Did she dare to grasp happiness with both hands? To put aside her fears? To embrace her chance for love? And she did love him. So much that it was a constant ache in her heart, a poignant combination of adoration and admiration for this man who had given her friendship, humor and a peek at that wonderful chaos that being a part of his large family might be. He could be hers, it all could be hers, if she dared to be his.
“I was thinking, Francis.”
“‘Bout what, paradise?” he asked as she lay cuddled in his arms.
Eve’s nerves rang and she shivered just a bit. “I was thinking… that I might marry you. Maybe.”
Francis leaned his head back and closed his eyes as relief and joy swept through him. “Is that a ‘yes’ then, finally?” he asked, needing the confirmation.
“I think so. Probably.” She bit her lip anxiously.
“Maybe? Probably? Might?” he tsked to put her at ease. “These are ambiguous words, my love. Hardly an acceptance, definitely a blow to my manhood. Is it to be a yea or nay?” The words were light and undemanding.
There was a twitching deep inside that Eve fought against. Say it, she thought to herself, just say it. You know you want to.
She did. She wanted to spend the rest of her life loving him openly, publically. She wanted a life of days like these. She wanted to be his and wanted him for her own. “Uhhhh, yes.”
Francis leaned back and looked seriously into her eyes. “Thank you, my love. I know that took a lot for you, but I promise you will never regret it. I will make you happy.”
“You already do,” she assured him and rested back in his arms, absorbing the contentment and peace that enveloped them.
“Would you care for tea now?” Martin said loudly from the door. He had taken to calling his arrival from the doors before entering. A warning shot, Francis cheerfully called it.
Questions for a Highlander Page 45
