Questions for a Highlander

by Angeline Fortin

  “Oh, my lord! How can you do this?” she wept dramatically, her words projected enough to be heard to the farthest ends of the room. “How can you bring such humiliation and scandal down on us? Fighting over another woman, right in front of me?”

  Francis shook her off his arm like an unwanted parasite and pointed a finger right at her face. “Stay away from me, Vanessa, or I might have to take his suggestion on how to control a wife.”

  “He has the right to take her.” Her voice grew low and her eyes seductive as she toyed with his cravat, all weepy drama easily swept aside. “Let him take her away and we can start over.”

  “You knew?” His voice was low and fierce with realization. A quick look at Eve told him she was already aware of the woman’s duplicity. “You were in this together?”

  “Oh, darling.” Her chuckle was sultry. “Don’t make such a fuss.”

  “Get out of my sight before I strangle you right her!” He pushed her roughly away from him and turned back to Shaftesbury. “You, too. Get out!”

  Shaftesbury looked about the room with a satisfied air and nodded regally, tugging at the bottom of his waistcoat. “Very well, I can see that no further progress will be made here, but I will present myself in the morning,” he directed this to Eve, “and I expect to be received.”

  Eve nodded jerkily, realizing everyone’s attention was focused on them. She raised her chin a notch and stared at the crowd unperturbedly, giving the impression to them all that she hadn’t a care in the world. Shaftesbury made an elegant bow to the crowd and sauntered cockily toward the front doors with Vanessa scrambling after him, leaving a fury of questions in his wake. “Who was that?” “Does anyone know him?” “Did you hear Glenrothes threaten him?” “And his wife?” “Fighting over the countess, with his wife right there?” “They divorced, you know.” “Well, the countess is very lovely.”

  “Eden, are you all right?” Francis’ concern was evident in his voice as he took her hands and rubbed them between his.

  Though Eve wanted nothing more than to fling herself into his embrace and weep like a child, she drew her hands away and squared her shoulders, sweeping her serene expression over the assembled crowd. When she spoke, her voice was cool and detached. “Perhaps we should all retire back home and I shall attempt to explain what is going on.” Four other heads nodded, seeing the sense of her words even as Francis ground his teeth in frustration at seeing the properly cool countess come back into play.

  Eve turned to their hostess who now hovered nearby. “Your grace!” Eve offered a curtsy and pleasant smile to the duchess that showed nothing of the turmoil that was threatening to send her reeling. “I must apologize for such a scene. I fear we have quite ruined your lovely ball, though I am quite gratified that Lord Glenrothes was able to rescue me from that strange man. The fisticuffs are, of course, regrettable but the man was most insistent!”

  The Duchess of Roxburghe waved away her apology. “A good scandal always makes everyone who didn’t attend wish they had. However, I agree, that was quite the contretemps. Do you need a place to lie down? Or in the larger scenario, is there anything I can do for you?”

  “I appreciate the offer, your grace, but no, I don’t believe I need assistance. Not at the moment at least.”

  “Well, keep me in mind if you do. Roxburghe pulls quite some weight.” The duchess turned to Francis, raising her hand to him. “I was friends with your mother, my lord, did you know? She would be outwardly appalled by the display you have put on here tonight.”

  Regaining his composure, Francis took her offered hand and kissed it. “I apologize for upsetting you, your grace.”

  “Upsetting me?” the older woman laughed and fanned herself. “Nonsense, I did say outwardly, did I not? Your mother and I always enjoyed a fine knight in shining armor rescue in our day. Inwardly, she would applaud your chivalry in defending Lady Shaftesbury against that man. Who was he anyway? I do not recall inviting him.”

  Glenrothes shrugged as if he had no clue or care, determined not to let Eve’s efforts go to waste. “I haven’t the faintest idea, ma’am, but he was trying to lure the lady outside with him most persistently.”

  The duchess winked at Evelyn. “Thankfully then, you had Glenrothes available to come to your rescue. I will be sure to pass that information along to any that might have mistaken the situation for something it was not. However, Glenrothes,” she chided, leveling him a motherly glance, “you should look after your former wife in company. Divorced you may be, but her actions do reflect upon you.”

  “Aye, your grace.” Francis bowed as the others said their good nights, and they made their way outside, where Eve was quickly bombarded with questions which she begged off until they arrived back at the townhouse.

  Chapter 38

  Naturally, her first course of action was to check on Laurie, finding him safe and asleep in the nursery. After putting a pair of footman to guard the door, Eve returned to the adults gathered in the drawing room to recap what had happened. Seating herself on a settee near the fire, she told them about being intercepted by Shaftesbury in the hallway and his threat to Laurie. Noting the glaze coming over her eyes as she recalled those threats, Francis sat next to her and pressed a glass of Scotch whisky into her hand. She sipped gratefully. The burning liquid traced a path down her throat and soothed her nerves.

  “So what are you going to do?” Abby asked when she was finished.

  “I don’t know,” Eve sighed. “I don’t want to go with him.”

  “You won’t go with him,” Francis corrected firmly. “You have no reason to.”

  Richard added his reassurance, “Laurie is safe here and can be guarded against abduction and, therefore, cannot be used to manipulate you.”

  Francis nodded in agreement. He had been appalled and enraged by the man’s threat to young Laurie, not just for Eve’s sake, but because he had become very fond of the young earl these past weeks. Just recalling the evening’s events brought back the overwhelming fury he had experienced when faced with Eve’s husband. Husband! He felt a growl of displeasure forming deep in his throat before he swallowed it back. Never in his life had he felt such a need to unleash his wrath upon a person as he had that vile Shaftesbury. He tamped down the anger consoled with the certainty that he would have his chance and directed his attention to the matter at hand. “And, since most of Edinburgh recognizes your son as Earl Shaftesbury and is aware of his age, I would not think that your… Shaftesbury will be able to claim that status in town or have credit extended to him under that identity. That means no one yet knows, or at least believes, that he is your husband.”

  Eve shuddered in horror. If it became known that she wasn’t actually a widow, the damage to her reputation would be beyond repair! “I don’t want anyone to become aware of that fact either.”

  “If he’s even claiming to be the earl,” Jack drawled as he leaned casually against the mantle. “My guess is that when he was denied by your staff in England, he realized he cannot use his title as he was declared dead. It doesn’t sound as if he’s taken the time to go to London to announce himself to the Queen and be reinstated as earl.”

  The others nodded and agreed that it was unlikely. “So he’s most likely just using his given name sans title,” Francis concluded. “Or an alias.”

  “At least there is that.” Eve took another long sip of the whisky. “I could not bear it if it became widely known that my husband is alive. The scandal…”

  “Damn the bloody scandal, Eden!” Francis burst out and squatted before her, taking her hands in his. “I cannot care about scandal when we have much bigger problems. We need to keep him away from you, from Laurie, and from announcing to everyone who he is until we can find out legally where you stand, not because of the scandal but for your own safety. Are they even legally married anymore?” he questioned the room at large.

  No one knew.

  “You’re right,” Eve conceded, trying to set aside her concerns. “We need to
focus on the bigger issue. What do we do?”

  “First, I’ll visit my solicitor first thing in the morning to figure out the legality of this whole mess.” Francis paced away, his steps as animalistic as a lion on the prowl, and turned to refill his own glass. “If you are still married – legally, that is – you can petition for the divorce as you had planned before.”

  “I say we just find him and dump him in the firth.” Jack raised his glass in a mock toast. “If no one knows who he really is, and the earl is already dead on record, then there should be nothing to it.” He tipped back the glass with a satisfied nod. “Not even a crime, really, as the fellow’s already dead.”

  “While Merrill’s idea does hold a certain appeal,” Francis snorted (since actually it held a lot of appeal given his current mood), “perhaps that shouldn’t be our first course of action.”

  “It does raise another question though.” Abby tapped her lips thoughtfully. “Where is he staying? Does he even have funds available to him at this point? I mean, he probably cannot draw on the Shaftesbury funds at any of the local banks, given most know Eve here.”

  “Good question,” Francis nodded. “We should check the hotels and find out where he has been staying and what kind of resources he has available here.”

  “There’s something else that is bothering me though,” Eve considered. “Does it not seem, upon reflection, as if he were trying to provoke you into creating a scene? As if he wanted you to attack him? He was set on dragging me out of the room, but once you reacted, he gave in calmly. Too easily.”

  “That’s true and an excellent point. I had noticed it myself. And Vanessa,” Abby added, “she knew who he was, didn’t she? Hadn’t we been thinking this week that she was up to something?”

  Nods of comprehension flowed through the room. “They’re planning something together,” Moira put in. “They are trying to ruin the two of you somehow!”

  “But to what purpose?” Eve asked. “William abhorred the thought of scandal beyond anything. What might he gain by bringing one upon us now? I would think that getting Laurie and I out of here quickly and quietly would be more to his benefit.”

  “So for some reason, they want the attention, the gossip.” Francis rubbed his bottom lip thoughtfully. “It gives us much to consider.”

  Chapter 39

  “A William Ashley-Cooper is here to see you, my lady,” Hobbes announced late the next morning. His voice was skeptical and filled with enough disdain to rouse the ire of the man who entered the parlor behind him.

  “Your job is in jeopardy, man. Learn quickly to respect your betters lest you find yourself on the street.”

  Hobbes bowed formally, saying only, “The streets may hold an alluring appeal in the weeks to come, sir.”

  William gaped at the butler. “That’s it! You are relieved of your duties. Leave!”

  “While one must appreciate your… fervency on the matter, sir,” Hobbes replied with his haughtiest intonation, “I fear that I care little for the words of one with so little… standing.”

  “Why you..!” Ashley-Cooper burst out, only to have Eve’s cool voice cut him off.

  “That will be all for now, Hobbes. You may go.” Eve caught the wink and near smile the butler cast at her before turning smartly.

  “Send the tea cart,” the once earl snapped.

  “Refreshments are reserved for guests, sir.” Hobbes rebutted in a low voice as he left the room and Eve pressed her lips together to stop the smile that threatened.

  Dear Hobbes! Eve had been waiting anxiously in the parlor for two hours now, anticipating William’s arrival. Her nerves were frazzled to near apoplexy by the time the door chime had rung. She must remember to express her thanks to Hobbes for relaxing those nerves so handily before she had to speak with her husband. She felt more powerful facing this dreaded interview knowing she had such staunch allies.

  “Will you sit, William?” she asked in her most cordial voice, determined to allow no trace of fear or nerves to show.

  “I want him dismissed,” he demanded with cool disdain.

  “I assure you, he will never head your household,” was all she offered.

  Ashley-Cooper paced for a moment before he visibly regained his calm and sat flipping the tails of his morning coat dramatically. “Well, wife, what have you to say?”

  Eve folded her hands perfectly in her lap and regarded him evenly. The past year had aged him quite a bit. Though he was in his middle forties, William had always looked much younger with his fair boyish looks, but now he seemed more haggard, his blond hair dulled, if not grayed. But he was colder as well. Evidently more erratic. The William she had known would never have shown anger as he had done with Hobbes. This man was unpredictable. That was enough to scare her. “I have a solicitor this morning examining the law to determine whether we remain legally wed.”

  “We are, of course,” he insisted. “You are my wife.”

  “As I said, that remains to be seen.” The countess took a deep breath. “Beyond that issue, what may I help you with? You said you had wanted to see me. Why?”

  “I have come to fetch you home.”

  “Beyond that issue, I said.”

  “I want to see Lawrence. Bring my son to me, now,” he ordered with an imperious hand that Eve studied even as her heart trembled in fear. William had always been like that. The king of his realm, his every whim to be granted. She had given into it for so long, her strength to rebel quashed by the force of his presence.

  “I fear Laurie is not here at present,” Eve offered, with just enough of a touch of false regret in her voice to bring a frown to his face.

  “You know I have always hated that common nickname,” he told her. “Fine. Where is he then?”

  “His tutor has taken him to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to discuss the history and historical figures of the area.” It was a complete lie, of course. While they had made that trip the previous week, Laurie was currently in the nursery at his lessons with a bevy of footmen guarding him against any attempts by William to steal him away. “After that they will be spending the afternoon at the Central Library.

  “At least you have kept up his lessons,” William said snidely.

  “I thought you cared nothing for your only child, William,” Eve sniffed in disdain, though her insides were churning with fear and uncertainty with what was to come. “I believe you said last night that you could make another just like him.”

  “I was angry, of course,” the once earl brushed away the rebuke as if it had mattered not. “Your behavior these past weeks has quite raised my temper. All about town is abuzz with the gossip of your affair with a married man. The scandal is appalling.”

  “He is not married.”

  “His wife feels that he did her a serious wrong in forcing the divorce,” he said mildly. “Many influential people in town sympathize with her plight.”

  “She is a bitch and a liar!” Eve retorted, raising her voice just slightly.

  William tsked, shaking his head with mock sorrow. “You see? Listen to yourself. Is it my absence or the influence of these rustic Scots that has brought you to this? It seems my constant vigilance is needed to keep you in line.”

  “You don’t scare me anymore, William!” she yelled in a quavering voice, standing with her fists balled at her sides. But he did. He scared her to the core with his glacial eyes and tone that spoke of all the things he might do to control her. “I have friends now, William. Not just the ones that you allowed me but real friends that will never let you hurt me or Laurie.”

  “Who?” he sneered. “That pitiful Scot and his low family?”

  “That pitiful Scot is twice your size and could beat you into the ground if he chose,” she told him with satisfaction.

  William sauntered closer to her and though she wanted to flee in terror, it was all Eve could do to stand her ground. But when he gripped her upper arms and shook her, Eve couldn’t stop the squeal of terror that escaped her. “
Let me go!”

  “Let her go,” a deep voice repeated the order from the doorway and Eve sagged with relief that someone had come to help her, even if it wasn’t the certain someone she needed right now.

  “Who are you?” William scowled at the newcomer, not releasing Eve’s arms.

  “I am one of those friends she just warned you about.” Jack Merrill strolled into the room with his hands tucked casually into his pockets. He was the picture of casual nobility in his dark gray morning suit, his dark hair windblown while his golden eyes held nothing more than condescension.

  “Ha!” William spat out, taking in the unfamiliar intruder with a jaundiced eye, “another lover, more like.” He glared back down at Eve with a disgusted sneer. “Have you whored yourself for every rustic in the area then?” He shook her roughly again and shoved her away. Jack rushed forward to steady her before she fell.

  “Are you alright?” Jack whispered as he led her to a chair and eased her down.

  Eve looked up into Jack’s golden eyes and clearly saw concern and caring in eyes that had never done more than mocked or teased. “I’m fine. Thank you so much,” she said gratefully.

  Jack shrugged off her thanks and the arrogant light returned to his eyes as he turned and faced Ashley-Cooper with his full height and brawny Scots body, crowding out Eve’s view of her husband.

  Haddington was all earl as he glowered at the slighter man before him. “I can’t believe you married this scrawny aristocrat, Evie darlin’,” he drawled as he circled the other man slowly, a mocking grin curling his lips.

  William drew himself up, but then withdrew a bit in the face of Merrill’s unruffled arrogance and burly size. “I was having a discussion with my wife. You have no right to interfere.”