“Yes, but I don’t want them to assume I’m going to say yes.”
“Playing hard to get, are we?” Edie winked at her. “I did that with Alec—unintentionally, I must admit—and it had a splendid effect on him.”
“I’m not playing . . . oh, never mind.”
For the last ten days, she and Arnprior had been at a stalemate. He was acting as if they were already betrothed, and she was steadfastly maintaining they weren’t. So far, though, she was convincing no one. In fact, the entire family seemed thrilled, and their enthusiasm made it awfully hard to keep her distance. Of course, her foolish heart urged capitulation as well.
Despite her reluctance, she was falling more in love with her handsome, mysterious laird every day. And yet so many obstacles stood between them.
Edie briefly pressed Victoria’s hand. “I’m teasing. I know how tricky these situations can be. But you shouldn’t doubt that Arnprior is devoted to you. All of us see that.”
Victoria ignored the leap of her heart and made a point of looking about her. “So devoted he has left me entirely in charge of his scapegrace brothers.”
Edie grinned. “The bounder. But the twins are behaving themselves quite nicely. From what Alec had told me, I was expecting a pair of blue-faced, bare-chested Celts bent on terrorizing Glasgow.”
“Yes, they’ve been doing very well so far. I’m rather proud of that.”
The twins were still chatting with their dance partners. Miss Lainie MacBride was the daughter of a vicar, while Miss Anna Peyton was the only child of a wealthy Glasgow businessman. It was rather mind-boggling that Graeme seemed entranced by a vicar’s daughter, but he’d latched onto the charming Miss MacBride from the moment they’d met. As for Grant, he and Miss Peyton had danced on three occasions in the last week alone.
“They’ve been inspired by their elder brother’s example, no doubt,” Edie said with a twinkle.
“Don’t think his lordship hasn’t pointed that out to me,” Victoria said tartly. “Repeatedly.”
“It’s annoying when men are proven correct, isn’t it?”
Victoria let out a reluctant laugh. “Yes, but I shouldn’t be taking my frustrations out on you.”
“Dearest, I understand how disconcerting your situation is. I was caught in a similar position with Alec, while he was betrothed to another woman, no less. You can imagine how embarrassingthatwas.”
“Good Lord. What happened?”
“You mean, what were Alec and I doing when we were caught?”
“No,” Victoria said. “How did you get out of it?”
“We didn’t. And if you and Arnprior were similarly compromised, I’m afraid you must face the consequences of your actions, too.”
“But I was merely comforting the earl when he was, er, distraught.”
“Comforting? Is that what they’re calling it up at Kinglas?” Edie asked politely.
“All right, it wasn’t entirely innocent, but Arnprior is making too great a fuss.”
Edie’s good-humored gaze turned serious. “Victoria, if you truly don’t wish to marry the earl, I’ll support your decision. But you need to know there’s already quite a bit of gossip about you and Arnprior.”
“I know. Everyone seems to take it for granted that we’re already betrothed,” Victoria said gloomily.
Edie hesitated for a few moments. “My sense is that you have strong feelings for the earl. Am I correct about that?”
“I suppose it’s rather obvious, isn’t it?” she said with a sigh.
“Rather, since you look moony-eyed as soon as he walks into the room. It’s also obvious how eager he is to make you his wife, so I’m not sure why you’re holding out.”
Victoria thought there was a distinct possibility Arnprior felt more obligated than eager, but there was an even greater impediment. “I am considering his proposal. It’s just that—”
Distracted by movement to her left, she broke off. Graeme was whispering in Lainie’s ear with alarming intensity, and it looked like one of his hands had disappeared under the table.
Leaning across the chair between them, she jabbed Graeme in the thigh with her fan. He jumped a good two inches, and his hand suddenly reappeared. He grimaced in reply to Victoria’s warning scowl, but sat up straight and started talking to Grant.
