“Arabella,” Mrs. MacGregor called. “Your uncle has obtained rooms. Come along and get settled in so we can venture out.”
Arabella and Gideon returned to the entrance of the inn. “There are only three rooms but the men will make do.”
“I willna be staying,” Donovan announced. “I’ll be visiting with a friend this evening and remain there.”
“Will there be twattling?” Sheena asked with a grin.
“Wh…what?!” Donovan practically sputtered.
“That’s none of yer concern,” interjected Uncle Aiden with a disapproving frown at his youngest niece.
Gideon quickly realized what kind of friend Donovan was visiting given the men’s reaction, yet they clearly didn’t understand the meaning of the word used by Miss Sheena. “So, your friend isn’t the gossiping kind,” he offered at the look of confusion on Miss Sheena’s face, who he assumed was too young and innocent to understand how MacGregor and Donovan might have misinterpreted her words.
“Gossip?” Donovan stared at him.
“Yes, twattling is gossiping, more or less,” he explained. “Isn’t that correct, Miss Sheena?”
She beamed up at Gideon. “Aye, but I doona understand why my uncle and cousin were so offended.” She cast them an irritated glance.
Mrs. MacGregor put a gloved hand over her mouth but Gideon could still see the smile beneath her fingers as color rose in her cheeks.
Donovan’s face colored. “We doona gossip lass. We leave that to the women.”
“Is this another one of yer words of the day?” MacGregor asked.
“Aye.” She smiled. “It’s fun ta say, doona ye think? Just rolls right off the tongue.”
Gideon nearly snorted as Donovan’s eyes rounded in shock. The man most definitely was not thinking about gossip.
“Yes, well, perhaps ye should inform us of yer words before embarrassin’ mistakes are made,” MacGregor grumbled as he turned and offered his arm to Mrs. MacGregor.
“There is nothin’ embarassin’ about twattlin’, unless yer the one doin’ the twattlin’, of course, I suppose,” Miss Sheena continued as they entered the inn.
“Enough about twattling,” Donovan ground out between clenched teeth before he stormed into the inn.
Gideon was hard pressed not to laugh. If Gideon were correct, Donovan was visiting a mistress tonight. Or, it could be a house of ill-repute, but if that were the case, he’d not be spending the night.
“Does Donovan or any of your brothers travel to Edinburgh often?” he asked Miss Arabella quietly.
“Aye. Donovan comes for business, usually once a week. I’m no’ surprised that he has friends he’d rather stay with.”
Definitely a mistress.
Chapter 16
“Be wise in how ye spend this,” Uncle Aiden pressed the pound notes into Arabella’s hand.
“I will, Uncle Aiden,” Arabella assured him as she added the funds to the pin money she’d been saving, and clamped her reticule shut.
“I ken how ye can be in a bookstore and doona want ye spendin’ it all in one place.”
“I willna,” she assured him as they entered the large building and she fought the humiliation of being censured in the presence of Lord Gideon.
“Sometimes he treats me as a child,” Arabella grumbled once Uncle Aiden and Rose were out of earshot.
“At times like this, I doona mind.” Sheena laughed.
“Why is that?” Lord Gideon asked.
“He gives us pin money every month,” Sheena answered if that explained everything.
“He forgets that we rarely leave Anagburn,” Arabella started to clarify. “Further, there is little we need to purchase in Bonnybridge, but Uncle Aiden has no idea that we’ve spent nothin’ in nearly a year.”
“He’s under the impression that all misses spend the moment they have funds.” Sheena waved and wandered over to a display.
Lord Gideon frowned down at Arabella. “Why would he have that impression?”
“Observance of other misses, I suppose.” She shrugged. “But I doona appreciate being treated as if I canna manage, though.” She blew out a sigh. It was just one more example of her uncle not realizing that she could well take care of herself and make her own decisions.
“Do you have your list?” Lord Gideon asked after a moment.
List? Oh, yes, the list. Arabella pulled the parchment from her reticule and unfolded it. “Do you need anythin’?” she asked in the process. “Perhaps somethin’ to read when ye return to Cornwall.” Just mentioning the fact that he’d be gone soon caused her heart and stomach to constrict.
“I’ve plenty to keep me occupied,” he assured her.
At the nearby squeal of Sheena they both turned and she rushed forward. “Arabella, did ye ken G. T. Oliver also wrote novels?” She carried a book as if it were the most valuable discovery on the planet.
“Yes, I did. There are three, I believe.” Arabella glanced back at Lord Gideon for confirmation. What she hadn’t expected was his frown as he studied the book.
“Four now, apparently.”
“Oh, we must get them all,” Sheena insisted. “Or, are they the same stories that appeared in The Gentleman’s Journal?’
“I don’t believe so,” Lord Gideon answered almost absently. “May I?” He held out his hand for the book.
“Of course, I’ll hurry to get my own before they are all snatched up.”
“And the others,” Arabella called to Sheena’s retreating back then glanced up at Lord Gideon. “Is something’ wrong?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I was just unaware that another book was to be published,” he said as he opened the cover and began skimming the pages within.
Gideon would have liked to have taken the time to write the publisher and demand why a book had been published, early, and without his approval? However, he couldn’t very well pull himself away from Miss Arabella without explanation and as he still wished to keep his identity a secret, there was no excuse to offer.
When was the decision made and why hadn’t he been informed?
Or, perhaps he had been. Gideon hadn’t been back in Cornwall for nearly a month. Had his publisher written and when they received no response went ahead with their new schedule? If that were the case, when would the next book be published?
He had intended on visiting his publisher while he’d been in London, but could never seem to find the time with his sister keeping them all busy. Further, he had never stepped foot inside of the offices. Everything had been done by correspondence. They didn’t even know who G. T. Oliver really was.
“Oh, I doona ken which I wish to read first,” Miss Sheena said as her books were wrapped.
He could offer a suggestion but didn’t wish for her to question him further.
In fact, he’d like to step away from everyone for a moment to gather his thoughts, but could come up with no excuse to do so.
Gideon held the door for the Misses Arabella and Sheena as they emerged back outside just as Donovan was exiting a jewelry store just a few doors down and pocketed a small box. Luckily, neither of the Misses Arabella or Sheena seemed to notice, thank goodness, since Gideon assumed it was a gift for Donovan’s friend.
“Where to next?” Miss Sheena asked anxiously.
“Perhaps we should deliver the books to the carriage so we doona need to carry them around.”
“I will,” Donovan offered.
“Where would ye like to go?” Miss Arabella asked Gideon.
He only wished to visit a mercantile, though he didn’t want to explain why. “I will go where you lead.” And hoped they came across a business where he could buy a large amount of parchment without anyone being the wiser.
“Where are Uncle Aiden and Rose?” Miss Sheena asked, glancing down the street one way and then the next.
“I believe Mrs. MacGregor wished to visit the haberdashery,” Gideon offered. At least that is what he had overheard as she and MacGregor left the book
store.
Bentley was the next to exit the jewelry story and Gideon hoped it was a gift for his wife. Gideon was well aware that many gentlemen kept mistresses and it had never set well with him. His father had remained faithful to his wife from the moment they’d met. And, his brother, Tristan, had remained faithful to his wife, even after her death. If and when Gideon ever married, he had every intention of being faithful as well. If one was going to stray then one shouldn’t marry to begin with, and since he was unlikely to suffer an arranged marriage, Gideon was confident when the time came, it would be a marriage of love.
Unwillingly, his attention turned to Miss Arabella. If he followed his gut and the turmoil of emotions instead of using his head, she’d be that wife.
He quickly shook those thoughts away. “Where would you like to go next?”
Miss Arabella turned to Bentley. “Is there a destination ye have in mind?”
“Like Lord Gideon, I will follow along, though I intend to purchase many gifts for my wife as she was unable to join us.”
Miss Arabella frowned. “Dinna she wish to?”
“She’s rather tired of late.” A smile pulled at his lips, but he quickly schooled his feature. “Though I hope that presents will cheer her up.”
Tired did not equal unhappiness unless she was suffering from a depressive state. Yet, Bentley had smiled, barely. Tristan’s wife, Elaina, had suffered from tiredness and a bit of melancholy in the early stages when she was first increasing. Could Lady Bentley be expecting a potential heir?
Of course, Gideon would never ask, but it would explain the slight pull at the gentleman’s lips and the desire to buy her gifts.
And, that was exactly what Bentley did, in every shop they visited. He purchased far more than the Misses Arabella and Sheena combined. Luckily, they were so busy helping Bentley choose something at the mercantile that they didn’t notice the amount of parchment, pencils, quill tips and ink that Gideon had purchased and then had delivered to the coach waiting at the end of the street.
“I doona believe I can shop anymore,” Arabella finally exclaimed.
“But there are more shops to visit,” Miss Sheena argued.
“I’d prefer to sit and relax,” Arabella insisted.
Her words echoed Gideon’s thoughts. He’d never been one to visit shops idly. If he needed to purchase an item, he went directly to the shop that held that item, purchased it and retuned home.
“We could find a place to sit,” Gideon offered.
“Where?” she asked hopefully. “There are nothing but shops about?”
“Not far. I spied a small park with a square and it appeared very peaceful.”
The relief on her face made him smile. “We will not be far,” he said to Bentley as Donovan returned. He’d disappeared earlier and Gideon had believed he’d gone to visit his friend. MacGregor and his wife had also been absent, though they crossed paths a few times. It was Bentley and Miss Sheena who had been their constant companions.
Bentley barely nodded at their announcement as Miss Sheena headed into another shop. It was a relief to no longer be chaperoned and Gideon offered his arm to Arabella. “Shall we?”
“Please!” She sounded as relieved as he was.
A few moments alone with Arabella was what he wanted in the safest environment possible. As there would be no kissing in public.
Chapter 17
Being in Edinburgh, while exciting, was also draining and Arabella wanted nothing more than to return to her room at the inn and rest. However, as that was impossible, she’d make do relaxing on a bench in this lovely square surrounded by townhouses. “Is London much like Edinburgh?” she asked Gideon.
“There are squares, such as these, where people can relax, and the shopping thoroughfares are quite similar with crowds of people going about their business.
“Ye donna like it, do ye?”
“I appreciate the cities, both of them, but neither are places that I’d want to spend a vast amount of time in,” he offered. “But, as I’ve never visited Edinburgh, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to compare it to London.”
“And ye doona like it any better.”
Lord Gideon chuckled. “I’d be blind not to notice the charms that it does offer.” Except he was looking at her and not around them.
Heat crept into Arabella’s cheeks. Was he speaking of her or Edinburgh?
“I enjoy Edinburgh as it provides an escape from Anagburn on occasion. I wouldna wish to visit as often as Donovan is forced to, but I also forget how busy it is until I return.”
“Ah, so you prefer the quietness of the country as I do.”
“Aye,” she answered, looking up into his kind blue eyes. In fact, she’d be quite content to remain in the country for all time if Lord Gideon was with her.
Arabella blinked and looked away. That was not a way to be thinking. He was leaving and she must not get any more attached to him than she already was. “What is yer home in Cornwall like?” He belonged somewhere else, not here and not to her.
A ghost of a smile came to his lips as his eyes darkened. “Trent Manor is not much different from Anagburn, but it sits along the cliffs overlooking the Celtic Sea. The water is always a brilliant turquoise blue except when a storm is coming in, then it darkens as the waves rise with white foam. Their crash against the cliffs and can be almost deafening, but the energy from the atmosphere is exhilarating. On calm days, we enjoy warm breezes and gulls cry in the distance. Waves still crash, and though it’s constant, it’s familiar and comforting.”
The way he spoke, with such love, of his home made Arabella want to visit it above anywhere else. Further, someone who loved his home as much as Lord Gideon would never consider moving to Scotland, and she couldn’t really blame him.
“Once I do return, however, I will be seeking a home of my own,” he added. “I no longer wish to reside with my family, and haven’t for some time, I was just uncertain where I wished to be for me. After staying at Anagburn, I long for a cottage by the sea.”
So it was the sea that drew him and not necessarily Cornwall. “Scotland is also surrounded by water, though I doona believe it would be as pleasant in the north.”
“I’m aware.” He chuckled. “I would prefer a warmer climate.”
“Surely ye doona wish for somethin’ so small as the cottage Uncle Aiden has made ye sleep in?”
He chuckled. “Perhaps a small manor so I won’t need to cook and take my meals in the same room where I sleep.”
“Cook?” He was a gentleman, a lord. She’d be surprised if he ever visited a kitchen, let alone cooked in one.
Again, he chuckled. “Ah, my quiet manor is getting larger. I will need a cook, as well as a housekeeper.”
“Valet?”
“I can dress myself,” he insisted as he scrubbed a hand over his face. “And even shave, when I’ve a mind do so.” He winked and Arabella’s heart gave a little leap.
“I’ve not been in the mind to,” he whispered.
Arabella couldn’t help but grin back at him, but knew it would be improper to tell him that she approved of his not shaving. His beard was darker today, shadowing the lower half of his face, and she quite liked it, very much. For one, his eyes seemed bluer, warmer, and the rest of his face was far more ruggedly handsome. “I’m a firm believer that one should not do anything they do not wish.”
Lord Gideon pulled back and looked down at her. “I do believe I voiced those very thoughts shortly after we met.”
“Indeed ye did.”
Oh, if only he wanted to live in Scotland.
Speaking to Arabella of his home made Gideon long for the coast. The air, water, and sound of waves that were calming and soothing in ways he couldn’t begin to describe or find anywhere else in England. “Have you ever been to the coast?”
“Nay. Only Edinburgh and Bonnybridge.”
It was a shame that misses were sheltered from so much, including travel. He’d bet all that he owned that mos
t of the misses he’d met in London had only known their family estates and London, and perhaps Bath and Brighton, but those were two very small locations in a vast country.
“How far would it be?”
“From here, not verra. Edinburgh sits on the water, and has a busy shipping empire.”
“As does London.” He knew that the North Sea fed into Edinburgh. “Quieter places along the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean or even the Irish Sea or Irish Channel.”
“To get to an outer coast, at least from Bonnybridge, it would be the same distance to the North Sea as it is to Ayr.”
“Ayr?”
“Aye, it sits on the coast, on the Firth of Clyde.”
He’d not heard of the Firth of Clyde either.
“It empties into the Atlantic. It has lovely beaches, or so Cameron has told me. I’ve not visited.”
Men do have much more freedom than misses. “How far away is it?” Perhaps if he could visit the coast of Scotland, and not the overcrowded portions associated with Edinburgh, Gideon might just consider leaving England behind, with the exception of visits home on occasion. It was certainly a better option than his sister, who had chosen to reside in Italy, or his twin brother who was God knew where.
“I believe four hours by carriage, and ye’d be able to visit Glasgow along the way.”
Though he had no desire to visit another large city, there were times such places were necessary.
“Perhaps I should visit this Ayr before leaving Scotland,” he finally said.
“I’m certain that when ye leave here to return, ye could travel all the way down the coast until ye arrived home.”
That was not his intention at all. “I meant, that I’d like to visit Ayr with you, and anyone else in your family who would like to join us.”
Her blue eyes widened with delight. “Ye really mean it?”
Kissing the Lass (Scot to the Heart #2) Page 12
