“Because you showed an interest in history, for starters.” Not about to skirt the issue, he gave her a pointed look. “And because I would rather you not think poorly of Lady Campbell when I can assure you, she would never be unfaithful to her husband. Nor would I ever ask it of her if I had designs on her, to begin with.”
He could tell by Prudence’s rosy cheeks that the topic made her uncomfortable. Nevertheless, her assumption that he had brought her here for a secret rendezvous had, by its very nature, opened up a more forthright dialogue between them. One, despite her embarrassment, she took advantage of in a roundabout way.
“Rest assured, I could care less about the nature of your relationship with Lady Campbell,” she bit out. “But I can tell you without question had Lord Campbell come upon you two, he might very well have seen something quite untoward in the intimate way you conversed.”
“Or,” he countered, “he might have seen dear friends enjoying one another’s company rather than flirtation.” He reminded her how easily her perception could be skewed. “For there is such a thing as merely enjoying the company of a friend, even if they are of the opposite sex. Such a thing as enjoying good conversation and smiling at a woman whilst not wanting anything more.” He flinched. “Especially when they are kin.”
He could tell by her dubious look she had trouble believing such. She remained unconvinced he was not like her late husband, and no different than she had thought him years ago.
“Be that as it may, Your Grace—” she straightened and tipped her chin in indignation. chin—“I have come to the conclusion that, while grateful for your company since arriving at MacLauchlin Castle, it might be misinterpreted if we spend too much time together. Therefore, I shall return to Mayfair first thing in the morning.” She curtsied. “Enjoy the rest of the celebrations.”
Stubborn woman. He wanted to tell her he was not a womanizer. Make her understand just how taken he had become with her in such a short time. How to handle this now? How to find his way back to where they had left off the night before? It seemed an impossible feat. Or so he assumed until he realized just how much others wanted them to find their way back there too.
Chapter Seven
While Prudence couldadmit a part of her was relieved when she found out Lady Campbell was the Duke of Argyll’s cousin by marriage, another part feared it would not matter. That, however unfortunate the notion, not being an actual blood relation, could very well make all the difference.
“Ah, there you are, dear sister.” Maude joined her and smiled. “Where did you get off to?” She glanced from where the duke had reappeared to Prudence and offered a knowing grin. “I see.”
“You see nothing.” However ill-timed, this little interlude with her sister gave her the perfect opportunity to see how truthful Jacob had been. “The duke was merely showing me the buildings he is investing in with you and the Campbells.”
“Indeed we are.” Maude slipped her arm into Prudence’s as they made their way down a quaint street full of vendors. “Such a worthy undertaking, is it not?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “It was the duke’s idea in the first place. A means to give back to his country. So we were eager to join him when he asked us.”
Prudence tried to respond but could not get a word in edgewise.
“Personally, I think in some small way, it was a means to help him heal from his late wife’s loss.” Maude sighed sadly. “While he could not stop her from wasting away when illness took her, hecouldbring back Scotland piece by piece. While I do not know if the late duchess enjoyed history, she did love her country fiercely.” She glanced in the Campbells’ direction. “I think our joint project helped Lady Campbell just as much.”
“She was close with the late duchess, then?”
“Very,” Maude said. “I am told they were like sisters. That the Rothesays, as they were known at the time, and the Campbells were very close.”
“Perhaps too close?” Prudence ventured.
Maude looked at her in confusion before her eyebrows shot up and understanding dawned. “Oh, good Lord, no, never like that.” She made the sign of the cross over her chest. “That would be incest not only because they are kin by marriage but because Jacob and Emma very much look at each other like siblings.” Her gaze narrowed between Jacob, who had just joined the Campbells, and Prudence. “Surely, you did not think otherwise?”
“Of course not,” she said a little too quickly, fearing perhaps she had once again seen something that was not there.
“I would hope not.” Yet Maude’s gaze grew all-too-knowing again as it flickered between Jacob and Prudence. “Though itwouldexplain why you avoided him today when I thought you two had hit it off quite nicely yesterday.”
“I was not avoiding him.” Though she very much had been. “There were simply others whose company I wished to enjoy. It would be unseemly had I ignored them and spent all my time with the duke.”
“No doubt.” A little smirk hovered on Maude’s mouth. “Who would want to spend all their time with a duke? Very unseemly, to be sure.”
Rather than respond, Prudence focused on their surroundings and felt more foolish by the moment. Especially given what she had said when Jacob showed her the buildings he intended to resurrect. Buildings he very likely intended to tell her more about, considering how much she enjoyed history.
She could only imagine what he thought when she implied he meant to take her into one of them and have his way with her. If that was not mortifying enough, her blasphemous thoughts kept wandering back to how it might have felt.
How he might touch her.
Naturally, the idea he would want to enjoy her like that after what she had done years ago seemed farfetched. Not only that, but he was a handsome eligible duke in his prime who could have his pick of the litter. To her mind, that most certainly would not include spinsters such as herself. Even so, her skin flushed, and her traitorous thoughts kept wandering.
Suffice it to say she did her best to avoid him, only this time out of embarrassment rather than frustration. She was certain she should apologize but had no idea where to begin. Would she be apologizing for her behavior of years ago or of this very afternoon? Because the more she had thought about it lying in bed last night, the more certain she grew that she might have seen something years ago that was not there. Just as she had seen something that was not there this morning.
As it happened, the celebrations in the quaint Scottish town were lovely. A variety of musicians had come to play and commission work. Some played fiddles. Others, bagpipes. When she stopped and listened, she could admit their sound was soulful. Haunting, almost. As if they told a story only these Scots were privy to.
One she imagined Jacob would tell her if he stood with her now.
In fact, he probably would have educated her a great deal about this town, its inhabitants, and, as he had already tried, the older buildings. She might have spent a pleasant afternoon learning many things from an entertaining companion rather than be alone because she assumed every man she met had rotten intentions.
