“Tell me what I’m to do.”
“Short of locking yourself in a loo with him and hoping for the best?”
She smiled. “Aye, other than that.”
Ewan clasped his hands behind his back and studied the hall for a bit, perhaps gathering his thoughts. She didn’t want to gather any of her own because they seemed to center around wondering if she were daft to take Oliver at his word. Perhaps he was just slightly fond of her and didn’t want to hurt her feelings—
“May I speak frankly?”
She looked at him and nodded. “I’m prepared.”
He smiled. “If he’s moving slowly, which even I can see he is, I don’t think it’s from a lack of affection for you.”
“You don’t?” she managed.
He shook his head. “I think that he hesitates because it’s one thing to go after a treasure that’s sparkly and valuable but not have your heart invested in it because it’s not going to be yours anyway. It’s another thing entirely go to after something you very much want to have for the rest of your life.”
“Because he fears the loss of it?”
Ewan nodded.
“I should be the one worried,” she said bluntly. “I am not beautiful—”
“You are,” Ewan said with a smile. “And even if you don’t think so, he does. That’s what matters, isn’t it?”
“But I’m not going anywhere,” she murmured. “What I want, if I’m allowed to want it, is over there.”
“I think you’re allowed,” Ewan said. “As for your lad over there, he’s already lost you once, hasn’t he? I think he just doesn’t want to lose you again.”
“And he thinks he will?”
Ewan shrugged. “He can be a bit of a numpty from time to time, so aye, he probably does. I think it’s up to you to help this relationship along.”
“By asking him to wed me?” she asked, aghast. “But that is his manly duty.”
Ewan laughed a little. “I wasn’t suggesting you propose. Just give him a shove in the right direction, then stand back and look beautiful. He’ll figure out the rest eventually.”
She considered. “I could do that.”
“You could make a little sport of him as well,” Ewan suggested. “He really enjoys that.”
She smiled in spite of herself. “I’ve seen what you lads forced him to do. Not even all the horses you promised him are worth that.”
“I think he could have a fairly fancy car with many horses under the bonnet if he did the maths properly.”
She nodded, putting the idea of horses where she’d never imagined them going on her ever-lengthening list of things to investigate.
“He’s a good man,” Ewan said, suddenly looking a bit serious. “But you know that or you wouldn’t love him. He’s also very fortunate to have you. You’ll invite me to the wedding, aye?”
She nodded.
She only hoped she would be asked to be a bride before she was too old to enjoy it.
The rest of the day passed pleasingly with good food and lively conversation. She never managed to sit next to Oliver, but she realized his mates were arranging that, no doubt to vex him. She would concede that he sent her a handful of affectionate smiles and at least one mildly warm look, which she supposed was progress.
Cameron made a generous loan of an automobile to him to use for the rest of his holiday, which Oliver seemed to appreciate. She, however, wasn’t at all certain how she felt about the idea that his holiday would eventually come to an end, leaving them both perhaps wondering what the future held for either of them.
She trotted out her best manners for the farewelling, thanked Emily sincerely for what she understood to be a small trunk full of clothing for her own use, then allowed Oliver to see her securely tucked into a smaller automobile than Jamie’s. It seemed very luxurious, though, and Oliver seemed to have no trouble guiding it away from the keep.
