For weeks now, he tried to woo her, only to have her reject him. Visits to tea, daily letters, gifts which came from his heart. Nothing in return from her. If he couldn’t woo her, how could he charm her? Now here he stood once again hoping beyond all hope she would come to dinner. He wondered what she thought of his gift today. It was his last attempt to reach her. He slipped into her room after he inquired to a maid of her whereabouts. When the maid responded she wasn’t in her bedroom, he slipped in secretly. The room smelled of her and he could feel her essence. He didn’t linger though, but he noticed the discarded letter thrown on the floor. While he was thrilled she read his letters, he didn’t grasp what to consider of this one lying on the floor. Did the note upset her or had it made her want to see him? He grabbed the letter and laid it next to the present. On his way back to the parlor, hoping she decided to join them, he overheard her talking to Ivy in the nursery. While he wanted to eavesdrop the presence of housemaids cleaning prevented him. So, he left Hillston House and hoped for her company tonight. As they waited for Thorn to join them, Zane realized his visit was hopeless. She wouldn’t come to dinner or respond to his advances.
The door to the library opened, finally Thorn was joining them. Now they could get this dreaded dinner under way and he could make his excuses. Afterwards a night at the club playing cards and getting smashing drunk appealed to him as the way to end this evening. Thorn was not alone though. He escorted a vision in white through the door. The lady was gorgeous. Her white dress hugged her curves in all the right places while her pale ivory skin glistened in the candlelight. Her breasts were on a teasing display, while not vulgar, they tantalized a man with what they might look unbound. Long red hair graced the top of her head with stray curls sweeping along her neck. Zane searched her face, his gaze locking with hers. Her eyes spoke of her nervousness and something else. His eyes roamed to her mouth where she bit her bottom lip, which enflamed his desire for this lady more. The goddess wasn’t any lady; she was his Skye.
Caught up by the sight of her, he dropped his glass. The whisky splashed across the hardwood floor hitting his pant legs. He swore aloud at his clumsiness and his awkward response to her walking in the room. Zane waited to catch a glimpse of her for weeks and what did he do? He draws attention to himself like a fool and didn’t attempt to greet her. He continued to stand there like a doldrum. Ivy and Raina came to her side to greet her and tell her how elegant she looked tonight. He should compliment her, but he stood gawking at her, as a lad seeing an exquisite lady for the first time. When a sound of laughter came from his side, he glanced over to see Thorn laughing at him. He rolled his eyes and let out a quiet curse at him. Which only caused his friend to laugh harder.
Thorn motioned for a footman to clean the mess while he pulled Maxwell to the side. Ivy then guided Skye over to the group gathered around the settee, introducing her to Thorn’s parents and her father. As Skye visited with them, her gaze kept straying towards him.
“Are you going to keep gawking at her like an untried lad, or are you going to greet her?”
“Umm…” He was unable to speak a single coherent word.
She was here. He only needed to go to her side and strike a conversation with her. About what? Inquire on her health idiot, tell her she was a vision in white. Do anything but stand here ogling her, making her and everybody else uncomfortable. Why did Thorn still laugh at him?
“Bugger off,” he muttered to him.
“With pleasure,” Thorn laughed as he went to join the small group.
Sims arrived in the doorway to announce dinner.
“Papa, please escort Lady MacKinnon into the dining room?”
“With pleasure, my dear.” Duke Kempbell offered his arm to Skye.
Zane heard him compliment Skye as they walked towards the dining room. Skye thanked him and spoke of her pleasure meeting him. Still, Maxwell didn’t move. Ivy walked towards him, with the same smirk on her face. Now he understood the reasoning behind it. She knew Skye was coming to dinner and didn’t warn him. Obviously, she no longer stood on his side but Skye’s. Of all the help he gave her to win over Thorn, this was how he was to be repaid?
“Are you coming into dinner, My Lord?”
“Oh, I am, My Lord now? I see where your loyalties lay.”
“Why they have always laid with you.”
“Traitor.”
“Shall we say I am an ally to both sides?”
“How so?”
“Escort me to dinner and you shall see.”
Zane offered his arm to Ivy and followed the rest of the party into the dining room. Duke Kempbell placed Skye in her seat and sat across from her. Charles sat on her right with Raina seated next to the Duke. Thorn resided at the head of the table with his parents surrounding him. Maxwell escorted Ivy to the other end of the table and when he glanced, he noticed the only spot not taken was next to Skye. The seat sat open waiting for him to slide into and rest next to her. After all this time he was close enough to touch her, breathe in her scent, and close enough for her soft brogue to soothe his mind when she spoke. When he realized what Ivy meant as an ally, he squeezed her shoulder in thanks. She reached up to pat his hand in response. He took a deep breath as he walked to his seat and slid his chair in next to her. As proper etiquette demanded, she turned to him and made small talk.
“Lord Maxwell how are you this fine evening?”
“I am well, may I say how happy I am that you decided to join us for dinner?”
“You may.”
“It is a pleasure to set my eyes upon you Skye,” he whispered quietly enough where only she heard him.
The servants served them dinner and conversation between them seized. With the rest of the meal spent in open discussion, there wouldn’t be a moment for them to talk. If he wanted to tell her anything, everybody would listen. While it was damn inconvenient, it remained a blessing in disguise, for whatever reason he became tongue tied around her. There were so many things he wanted to tell her for weeks but now that the opportunity presented itself, he couldn’t utter a single sentence which made sense. So, he sat there at dinner, watching her when nobody detected and listened to her as she talked. Her voice soothing his soul. Do not ask him later what she spoke, for he could not recall a word.
Once during dinner, she surprised him. Her fingers briefly touched his hand. When she reached for her napkin, her fingers slid atop his. Her fingers brushing his, the touch was so light he barely felt it. Then as quickly as she caressed him, her touch vanished. He would have thought he imagined it if it weren't for her brief glance at him and her fingers shaking as they pressed the napkin to her lips.
He slid his other hand under the table and touched his fingers to the hand she touched. Her light caress branded him. While it was only fleeting, it held a touch of hope. Hope for them. He smiled throughout the meal. He only spoke when asked a question, his thoughts wrapped up in the very essence of her.
When dinner was finished, he stood up swiftly to pull her chair back. The footman behind her chair getting an undeserved elbow in the side as he helped her from her seat. When his gaze rose, he caught Thorn laughing at him and Ivy smirking. And they called themselves friends.
“Come ladies, we can enjoy tea in the library, while the gentlemen have their port and cigars. Do not be too long dear,” Ivy directed towards Thorn.
Thorn came to Ivy’s side and pressed a small kiss to her lips, “Give us a few moments then we will join you.”
Ivy led the ladies to the library as Thorn directed Sims to pour the port. The men returned to their seats and lit their cigars. Zane was determined to join the ladies. He didn’t light his cigar but drained his port. When he pushed back his chair to rise, Thorn motioned him to return to his seat.
“I know you are eager to grace Lady MacKinnon with your company, but I have news to discuss.”
Zane slumped back in his chair, discouraged he wouldn’t get to see her soon.
“Before we join the ladies, I have ne
ws of Logan MacKinnon. He has been located and dispatched to return from his mission. It is not known if he has succeeded or not. While we wait for him to return, I want none of this intelligence to leave this room. I know Skye is eager to learn news of her brother, but he is privy to top classified information for the Crown. Until he arrives in London I am swearing every one of you here to secrecy. None of our wives or Skye are to be made aware of this news. If he has located the missing heir, his life will be in danger and so will Skye’s life until the heir is in protective custody. Are we all in agreement?”
Every man spoke of their pledge, except Maxwell. He made a promise to Skye to never lie to her again. He struggled with his conscience on deciding if this was a lie or a safety to her. The men waited patiently for his answer, knowing his decision stood the hardest to make. The others were married to women who would understand their secret and forgive them. He held no ties to Skye. His would be an outright lie to protect her. The lie he would utter may cause harm later. He decided not to agree yet on whether he would inform her of her brother. He would give these men the answer they demanded and wait to tell Skye on a need to know basis. He nodded to Thorn.
The gentlemen removed themselves from the dining room and joined the ladies in the library. Skye sat alone on the settee. Maxwell worked up his nerve as he made his way over to her, settling himself on the sofa. He kept the proper distance from her, so as not to draw suspicions on what he really wanted to do. She turned towards him, offering him a cup of tea. He declined, becoming frustrated with their polite conversation. He wanted to talk to her, in private if he could manage it. It was not to be, for Charles and Raina stood in front of the fireplace asking for a few moments of everybody’s time. They both smiled tenderly at each other, holding hands.
“Raina and I have exciting news we wish to share,” Charles announced.
“We shall have a little Mallory in seven months’ time,” Raina finished.
The small group exclaimed their excitement. They gathered around the couple basking them in congratulations. The couple beamed their pride and listened to the advice being offered. Zane smiled his happiness for them, they deserved it above everybody else. It also made him ache for the same, the sense of his ache rested but a few inches from him. While they were so close, they were miles apart. He saw the winsome smile spread across her face. She rose and walked towards the doors leading to the garden, she slipped out unnoticed from her hosts. Not wanting to interrupt the family news, Zane followed her. This was the reason she departed, was it not? Did she wish for him to join her?
He followed her outside and found her wandering the pathway lit up by lanterns. He continued behind her as she made her way along the gravel path. She slid on a bench and spread out her skirts, folding her hands in her lap as a proper lady should, waiting patiently for him to join her. He never expected her to behave this way. This wasn’t the Skye he fell in love with. Who was this creature? Was she a part of Skye? Did he completely understand the woman he loved? She patted the seat next to him, waiting. He sat next to her, turning to his side to admire her, for every minute she granted him with her presence he would soak into his memory.
She turned her head at him and bestowed him with a smile which would have knocked him off his toes if he had been standing. When he opened his mouth to tell her how stunning she looked, no sound came forth. She took the very words from his lips with her smile. It spoke of healing, forgiveness, and a hint of desire. Then she laughed. It was the sweetest melody he heard in weeks. Was everybody going to laugh at him this evening? Then he finally realized what everybody noticed in his reactions tonight and he laughed with her. He acted as a bumbling idiot throughout the evening, and he continued to be one now. Well no longer, for a fool wasn't what he set out to become. He wasn’t himself, but that would change. He would soon swoop this woman off her feet, she wouldn’t be laughing at him then, but sighing at his charm. Reaching for her hand he peeled away her white gloves, raising her hand to his lips. He brushed his lips across her fingers, smiling as they trembled, and her laugh subsided.
“You are a vision in white tonight, my dear. There are not enough words to justify your loveliness,” he whispered across her skin.
Then he listened to the first of her many sighs. He lowered her hand back to her lap and slid his palm inside hers. He held her hand as they sat side by side on the bench. Neither of them spoke for a while, just sitting alone in each other’s company was enough for them. Which was short lived, for walking along the path towards them appeared Thorn and Ivy. Damn he wasted his time with her not saying anything of significance.
“A lovely night for a stroll my dear, do you not agree?” Thorn asked Ivy.
“Why yes, a most beautiful evening. I notice we are not alone with those thoughts.”
Zane removed his hands from Skye and she donned her gloves again before the couple came upon them. He helped her from the bench as they waited for the Thorn and Ivy to join them. He would take his leave before his frustrations overtook him. They wouldn’t leave them alone, so he saw no reason to stay any longer tonight.
“I want to thank you for a lovely evening Ivy, as always it was superb. Good night Thornhill.” As he turned to Skye, he bowed and asked her, “Would you like to join me for a ride in Hyde Park tomorrow morning Lady MacKinnon?”
Skye bowed her head in acceptance, “I would enjoy that immensely, Lord Maxwell.”
“Then until tomorrow, My Lady.”
As Zane took his leave, Thorn left the ladies to themselves following Maxwell to the door. Ivy slid her arm through Skye’s and they wandered back into the library. Skye noticed the other guests left in her absence. She hoped they didn’t consider her behavior to be rude when she left. She only wanted to give them time alone as a family.
“I am sorry for leaving your guests.”
“Oh, posh, think nothing of it. Well how did it go? Did he wrap you in his arms, kiss you and cry out his undying love for you?”
Skye laughed, “You obviously read too many romantic novels.”
“Well did he do any of that?”
Skye settled on the settee and picked up her cup of tea she had not drunk. As she took a sip of the lukewarm brew she didn’t know what to presume of Zane’s actions. He barely uttered any words to her all evening until right before they were interrupted. She even felt brazened enough to touch him during dinner and still nothing happened.
“Maybe I have waited too long, and he has changed his mind towards me.”
Ivy laughed, “Oh, he has not changed his mind.”
Skye rose from the settee and paced across the rug, “How can you be so sure? He hardly spoke this evening and he stared at me through dinner as if I had grown two heads.”
“He is utterly smitten.”
“Smitten?”
“Yes, do you not see? You are a beauty he didn’t expect. When you appeared for dinner, he was unprepared on seeing you. Every day when he visits he prepares himself to see you before he arrives. Tonight, you were a surprise he didn’t understand how to handle. Believe me it was an utter delight to watch.”
“I am glad we provided humor to you and your husband this evening. Do not think for one second, I didn’t notice Thornhill laughing throughout dinner at the expense of Maxwell. Now he will assume I am playing with him.”
“No, my dear, when he comes to his senses at home he will replay this evening in his head and realize what this evening represented. You are opening your heart to him. Oh, how I wish I could join you on your ride tomorrow. He was so much fun to watch, floundering tonight. You took away every word from his lips. I never imagined this would ever happen to him.”
Skye shook her head at Ivy’s humor. Did she really do that to him? Did his emotions overtake his senses like it did hers? There was so much she desired to whisper to him this evening but couldn't. When he held her hand in the garden, she wanted to tell him she was sorry, and how much she missed him. The words wouldn’t come out, his touch and nearness overtoo
k her. She felt he knew, because even though he also didn’t talk, his touch spoke his words for him. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. If tonight ends the way she imagined, he would be here first thing in the morning for their ride. She smiled as she reflected on the surprise she left for him to discover.
Chapter Seventeen
MAXWELL CLIMBED INTO HIS carriage and leaned back against the seat. Before he left, Thorn reminded him to keep silence on Logan MacKinnon, Maxwell brushed him off and left. It was only a short ride home, but his thoughts were consumed by Skye. He decided against the cards and drinking after all. He needed no reason to be late for his ride with Skye in the morning. Tomorrow they could talk, then who knows what else would await them. He closed his eyes as he replayed their time in the garden. He still felt her palm inside his, small and trusting nestled within. Maxwell felt hope in her touch.
When he arrived home, he let himself inside his rambling townhome. He kept his staff at a minimum. He had no need for them when he returned in the evenings, so he always let them have their nights off to themselves. No sooner than he closed the door, there was a knock upon it. When he opened the door, he was caught by surprise to see Thorn’s footman holding out a letter for him. He took the letter, thanking the lad. Zane strode to his study and poured himself a drink. He pulled off his suit jacket, throwing it over his chair and ripped open the letter in excitement. She finally wrote back to him. He folded the letter open and walked over to the fire for better light. Skye replied to his questions he inquired to her over the past few weeks. She told him of how she filled her days with Ivy and the children. Then she preceded to tell him of her time spent healing; that her nightmares have ended. At the end of the letter, she apologized for her absence and expressed her gratitude for his gifts. She also thanked him for his patience and understanding, asking him in return for his forgiveness on her behavior. Skye acknowledged she was in the wrong where the truth laid. In the end she hoped for everything he wished and was willing for him to pay attendance on her. It was the very end which shook him to his core. It gave him the hope he needed. She signed the letter with all my love, Skye. That that wasn’t what shook him, it was the P.S. which made him moan. It read:
Rescued By the Scot Page 17
