by Diane Gaston
He blinked, but appeared to compose his features into a smile. ‘I thought my intentions were obvious, my dear. I wish to court you, to offer you marriage, but I did not wish to speak of it before the time was right.’ He gave her an earnest look. ‘Is the time right at this moment?’
She ignored that question. ‘Why would you wish to make an offer for me? Marriage to me cannot bring you any advantage.’
He drew her closer, even though anyone could appear in the corridor at any moment. ‘I would be prepared to overlook any...deficiencies in your dowry.’
She pushed him away. ‘You assume my dowry is insufficient?’ Her eyes flashed. ‘Then there can be no advantage to you.’
His gaze flicked over her. ‘You do not think you have other attractions?’
Lucas’s words came back to her—I do not believe you know your worth—the same sentiment, but Lucas’s words had not made her feel sick inside.
‘I will not trifle with you. I do not wish to marry you.’ There. She could not make it more definite.
‘You refuse me?’ His demeanour changed suddenly and he was no longer smiling.
Her fear started to creep back, but she pushed it away. ‘You should look elsewhere. Not to me.’
He glared at her. ‘I cannot believe you. My offer is more than you ought to expect in your situation.’ His gaze narrowed. ‘Who put you up to refusing me?’
‘I beg your pardon?’ She was taken aback.
‘You cannot have come to this conclusion on your own,’ he insisted. ‘Someone must have put you up to it. Not your parents, I am certain. With their debts, I am certain they would be more than eager to see you married to me.’
How insulting. Believing she did not possess her own mind, let alone her own judgement.
‘You purport to know many things—my family’s finances, my parents’ opinions, my ability to judge for myself—’
‘I do know your family has serious debts,’ he insisted. ‘The rest is easily surmised.’
She straightened. ‘You think you know.’ Because those debts would soon be paid and he could not know about that.
In any event, she’d had enough of him. She moved to walk past him.
He blocked her way. ‘Someone has poisoned you against me. It is the only explanation.’
She did not even credit that statement with a response.
‘It was that butler!’ he said, his voice like a growl. ‘The butler. I will wager he told tales about me.’
She took a step back. ‘Lucas?’
Hargreave sputtered, ‘Whatever he told you about me and your sister is not true. He threatened to ruin me in your eyes. You cannot trust that man.’
She gripped his arm, forgetting everything else. ‘What of you and my sister?’
He looked unnerved for a moment, but quickly collected himself. ‘Nothing. Nothing. That is the point. I happened to meet your sister on her walk and saw her safely to your brother, as I thought you would wish me to do. That Sassenach butler threatened to make more of it.’
But she heard only that he’d been alone with Davina. She released him and spoke in a low, trembling voice. ‘Leave my sister alone, do you understand me? Stay away from her!’
He lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘Really, Miss Wallace. You misunderstand. She is a child, after all. I merely made certain she reached your brother safely. No matter what your butler says.’
Lucas had said nothing to her. She would speak to him of that. ‘Leave me alone as well!’
She started to stride off, but he caught her arm. ‘I am not giving up, Miss Wallace. I will renew my proposal and you will say yes.’
She pried his fingers off her. ‘Do not touch me!’
Someone appeared at the far end of the corridor and she took the chance to escape Hargreave. The detestable man!
Never would she marry him! Never! She fled to the stairs and strode directly to the door of her father’s bedchamber.
She opened it and burst into the room. ‘Lucas! Lucas! Are you here?’
The bedroom was empty, so she looked inside the dressing room where he probably slept. He was not there.
‘Lucas, where are you?’ she whispered, stepping back into the bedchamber.
At that moment the door opened and Lucas stood framed in the doorway. ‘Mairi?’
‘Where were you?’ she demanded.
‘Below stairs.’ He entered the room and put his topcoat on a nearby chair. ‘Why? What has happened?’
‘You know what has happened.’ Her anger poured out on to him. ‘What happened between Hargreave and Davina and why did you not tell me?’
His expression told her he knew something. ‘I had no opportunity to tell you.’ He spoke in a low calm voice and his gaze upon her was gentle. ‘I do not think anything happened, but that is not to say nothing could have happened. I do not trust Hargreave. He lied to us when he said he saw Davina with Niven and William. He’d already been with her when she was looking for Niven.’
‘There is more to tell,’ she guessed.
He stood close to her, but being close to him felt nothing like being near Hargreave.
His voice remained composed. ‘Davina said—’
‘Davina said!’ Her anger erupted again. ‘You spoke with Davina?’
‘Yes. Only a moment ago.’
How could he have spoken to Davina about this and not her? She waved that thought away. ‘So what did she say?’
He took a breath. ‘Hargreave apparently flattered and charmed her, but that is all. She thought it a game.’
That sounded like Davina. ‘She has no idea. Everything is a game to her.’ Mairi had tried to warn her. ‘I must try to talk to her again.’
‘I warned Hargreave,’ Lucas said.
She glanced up. That explained why Mr Hargreave had mentioned Lucas.
‘I warned him not to trifle with her,’ Lucas said. ‘I think he will listen, but I also told Davina to stay away.’ He lifted a shoulder. ‘I fear she does not put any credit in what I said. She thinks Hargreave is interested in you, not her.’
She leaned against the bedpost. ‘He wants to marry me.’
His expression stiffened. ‘Did you accept him?’
‘Of course not,’ she snapped. ‘But he says I will marry him anyway.’
She remembered the anger in Hargreave’s eyes, remembered his grip on her arm. So much like before. Her body began to tremble as it had after the soldier had left. She could not calm herself.
Lucas took a step closer and enveloped her in his arms. Instead of panic, his arms comforted her. His chest was warm against her ear and his steady heartbeat calmed her. She savoured the scent of him, the strength of him. Her trembling stopped, the fear dissipated, the memories vanished. She simply felt safe in his arms.
And he held her a long time, but eventually he gently eased her away. ‘You cannot be found in here with me, Mairi,’ he murmured. ‘You need to leave.’
She looked up at him. ‘What am I to do, Lucas? Mama and Papa will want me to marry him. He is wealthy.’
‘When your father’s debts are paid, his wealth will not matter.’ He touched her arm, but gently. ‘You will decide what is best for you.’
Lucas. Such a contrast to Hargreave.
Lucas’s strong arms lent her strength. She moved into them and again he embraced her.
But he also released her. ‘You must go, Mairi.’
She nodded and backed away. She peeked out of the doorway to make certain no one saw her leave.
What would their fellow house guests think if they caught her in the arms of the butler in her father’s bedchamber? She’d already be condemned if they knew what had happened to her five years ago. Ironically, those same people would likely applaud a marriage with Hargreave.
But, as she fled down the hall, she r
ealised that the only place she wished to be was back in Lucas’s arms.
Chapter Eighteen
Lucas stared at the door after she left. Holding her had shaken him down to his boots. She helped ease the ache inside him that never seemed to go away. She’d roused his emotions—and his desire—and he worked hard to tamp them down again. He didn’t want to feel anything. Life was less painful that way.
In the solitude of Dunburn’s bedchamber, there was nothing to do but think, and his thoughts kept drifting back to her. How her face glowed when she’d gazed at the beauty and majesty of the Scottish landscape earlier in the day. How wistful she sounded when she’d whispered to the deer on the mountain. How fiercely she cared about her sister and brother. There was something more, though, a pain she held deep inside her. Her pain seemed to call to his own, like kindred spirits intertwining.
He opened the window and leaned out, gulping in the cold night air. This dead time was making his mind whirl and he guessed he had another two hours before Dunburn would retire for the night. He closed the window and headed below stairs again. Perhaps the servants had managed to pilfer some whisky, not unheard of at a house party such as this. He craved the oblivion of drink. He’d even be willing to pay for a bottle, but what butler did that?
In the servants’ hall, Anderson, the footman who’d been mildly helpful the first day, was lounging in a chair. The footman lifted a bottle. ‘Care for a wee bit?’
Lucas nearly wrenched it from the man’s hand, but instead of the comfort he expected, the drink turned sour in his mouth.
He sank into the chair next to the footman and nodded thanks anyway.
Anderson took another swig from the bottle. ‘Need a wee swallow to make it through the night.’ He inclined his head. ‘They are still at it above stairs.’
‘At it?’ Lucas repeated.
‘Card playing, whisky drinking and gossiping,’ he said. ‘Tuneless playing and even worse singing.’ He groaned. ‘I dislike these house parties. The work never stops.’
‘At the moment I have too much idle time,’ Lucas said. Too much time to think.
‘Some lads have all the luck.’ Anderson rose from his chair and ambled towards the door. Before leaving, though, he turned back to Lucas. ‘Are you bored enough to do some actual work?’
Anything was better than the thoughts whirling through his head. ‘What do you propose?’
‘Well, it would not do for you to be seen serving the guests, but I am supposed to set up the breakfast room, among about a dozen other tasks. No one would see you setting the tables.’
Lucas rose to his feet. ‘Show me what needs to be done.’
He helped Anderson carry up stacks of plates and napkins to set the tables. Had he ever realised all the work that was done behind the scenes? From the breakfast room he could hear the sounds of the entertainment, people talking and laughing, someone playing the pianoforte.
Had Mairi returned to the entertainments? he wondered.
He was thinking about her entirely too much.
At least those thoughts were of the present and future, instead of the past, but it all mixed together and the only clear path he could see to the future led him places he did not wish to go.
He placed the plates and napkins the proper distance apart, using the measuring rod Anderson provided him. It was exacting but mindless work.
Someone stopped in the doorway and Lucas looked up. It was a man in a Scots Greys uniform, an officer Lucas had met once or twice in Brussels before the battle.
‘Captain?’ the man said in a disbelieving tone. ‘Johns-Ives? What the devil are you doing?’
Good God. Who would have ever thought he’d meet someone else he knew in Scotland? First Findlay. Now this fellow.
No use pretending he wasn’t who the man thought he was. ‘I am found out,’ Lucas admitted.
The man entered the room, getting an even closer look. ‘You are a footman? But you are an earl’s son!’
‘A reversal of fortune,’ Lucas said. ‘I’d be obliged if you would not speak of me to anyone.’
‘But a footman?’ the man said incredulously. ‘How can it be? Surely any reversal of fortune could not sink you so low.’
Lucas felt the insult. Footmen did honest work, after all.
But he was not going to debate it. ‘May I count on your discretion?’ he asked instead.
‘Why, yes,’ the man said. ‘I do see why you would desire it.’
Lucas nodded, but glanced away. ‘I should not be seen conversing with guests.’ He picked up the empty tray. ‘If you will excuse me, I must return to the kitchen.’
‘Of course.’ The man stepped away.
Lucas left as quickly as he could. The Wallaces would stay at the castle for a full two weeks. He feared the Scots Grey would not be able to keep a confidence that long.
* * *
Lucas returned the tray to the pantry and went back to Dunburn’s bedchamber. Now he had something new to occupy his mind.
He did not really care if the house guests discovered he was an earl’s son. He need not see any of these people again, but think how his subterfuge would embarrass the Wallaces. They did not deserve to be made fools of on his account.
He could just see the hurt and censure in Mairi’s eyes if he were exposed in front of their friends.
* * *
When Dunburn finally came in, he was staggering with drink.
‘A bonny time!’ Dunburn cried out, too loudly. ‘A bonny time. Played cards mostly.’
‘Cards? For stakes?’ That did not sound good.
‘Keep your head. I win at cards.’ He swayed as Lucas helped him off with his coat.
‘Then, Baron, I beg you, walk away while you are ahead.’ Gambling, even friendly games at house parties, always led to losses.
‘Dinnae fear. I’ve been playing with Mr Hargreave.’ Lucas unbuttoned his waistcoat. ‘Grand fellow! You may know he wants to marry Mairi—marry Mairi—’ He broke into a fit of laughter. ‘Ah, me! Whew!’ He caught his breath. ‘As I was saying—’ He lifted a finger, making it hard for Lucas to slip off the man’s waistcoat. ‘He wants to marry my daughter, so he’s trying to butter me up. So I am winning!’ He collapsed into a chair.
Lucas pulled off the man’s boots. ‘Sir, do not play cards. You cannot afford more debt.’
‘Playing for pennies, Lucas, my boy. For the enjoyment of it.’
Lucas managed to get Dunburn into his nightclothes and quickly helped him climb into bed. In moments the man was snoring loudly. How Lucas wished he could find a decent bed to sleep in, one with more privacy...and quiet. But, then, he’d endured far worse on campaign in the Peninsula.
At least it was not Hargreave he was serving. Lucas felt sorry for Hargreave’s valet, having to dress, undress and otherwise clean a man he despised and having no other prospect for work. At least for Lucas this was temporary.
Perhaps when Dunburn hired more servants there would be a position for Hargreave’s valet. Lucas could try to arrange something.
He retreated to the dressing room and the cot that was too small for his six-foot frame.
* * *
For the next three days, Lucas saw only glimpses of Mairi, never enough to speak with her. He had no way of telling whether Hargreave still pursued her. He had as much difficulty keeping watch over Davina, but she seemed mostly in the company of the Oxmonts’ daughter and the daughter seemed well supervised.
His valet duties were not at all demanding and he had quite a bit of free time. He walked the estate and observed the running of it, from the kitchen to the stables to the farm workers and shepherds. As a boy he’d spent a considerable amount of time around the servants and workers on his father’s estate, but he’d not really thought about how an estate ought to be run. His idle time gave him plenty of opportunity to do so here. He even befriende
d the head ghillie, who was quite willing to answer questions. Proud of how well he performed his duties, the ghillie never asked why a butler had such an interest in estate management.
Lucas’s interest was on Dunburn’s behalf. He learned ways Dunburn could make his estate more efficient. The Baron had no interest in discussing estate management while Lucas tended to him here, but when they returned to Dunburn House, Lucas could shed the role of butler and push for his ideas to be discussed.
Perhaps he would stay long enough to see that Dunburn successfully implemented some cost-saving plans. After all, he had no other place he wished to go. He knew he could not stay for ever, but perhaps a few more weeks...
This day was clear and sunny and crisp like only an autumn day could be. A good day for hunting grouse, which was what the gentlemen were doing. Niven and William were included this time, Niven had excitedly told Lucas.
Lucas had gone to the stables to spend time with Findlay, but his former batman was helping with the hunt. Lucas could not abide the idea of going back inside the house, though. The servants of the other guests lingered in the servants’ hall, playing cards or passing the time with each other. Although more of them spoke to him, he was still the Sassenach outsider. Perhaps they sensed somehow he was a true outsider, not a servant at all.
He took a chance there would be no objections to him walking around one of the ponds in the vast walled garden. As he made his way there, he almost turned around. There were others walking there—a man and Davina and the Oxmont daughter.
Lucas stepped on to the path in front of them as they got close.
‘Lucas!’ Davina greeted him with a mixture of pleasure and dismay.
‘Good morning, Miss Davina.’ He bowed to her friend. ‘Lady Elspeth.’
Davina gave a nervous giggle. ‘You remember Lucas, Elspeth. You met him when we played outside the other day.’
‘I remember,’ Lady Elspeth said quietly. This girl did not look at all comfortable.
Lucas directed his steeliest gaze at Hargreave. ‘I would speak with you, sir.’
