He pushed back his chair and stood. “My pleasure.”
Simon stood too. “And I’d like to request the honor of dancing with our guest, Miss MacGregor.”
A fleet of emotions passed over Charlotte’s face so quickly, he couldn’t read any of them. His own face felt like the thunderstorm really was rolling in this time. If his brother interrogated Charlotte, he would…
That thought didn’t get finished because as Fiona stood she managed to press her breast against his arm before she turned. From her knowing smile and the way her tongue darted out at the corner of her mouth, it had been deliberate.
Suddenly, he realized why Fiona had been acting like she did. She was still interested in him. He glanced at Keir, but he was talking to Greer. He hoped his friend was right and that, by the time the night was over, Fiona would have found another man. Or…another man would find her.
He suddenly had a different goal to accomplish tonight.
****
“My pleasure,” he said.It might have been a socially benign response from Niall that had no further meaning. Or did he genuinely mean dancing with Fiona would be truly pleasurable and that he was looking forward to it?
The words echoed through her mind as she watched Fiona press herself against him as she stood.Slitheredwould have been a better word. Charlotte noticed that Niall gave a quick glance toward Keir, but she couldn’t interpret it. Was he hoping Fiona’s brother wouldn’t notice? At least, they wouldn’t be waltzing, since that dance had not yet reached Britain’s shores.
Simon had his arm extended and she remembered now that he had asked her to dance. It was a rather strange request, since he’d remained aloof ever since she’d arrived at Castle Dounie. She placed her hand on his arm and forced a smile. He gave a curt nod in return, which led her to believe that he was trying to divert her attention from Niall and Fiona instead of wanting to dance with her. He probably agreed with his father that the match would be a good one.
Her suspicions were more or less confirmed when they lined up to dance a version of a reel that resembled the country-western square dances of rural Texas.
“Are ye interested in Niall?” he asked on the first pass.
That was certainly blunt enough. Thankfully, she had a spin and step to take before she came close enough to answer him.
“Your brother has been very kind to me.”
“Nae the question I asked, lass,” he replied as they separated again.
The rest of the dance was peppered with similar questions to which she managed to make noncommittal replies, but she was thankful when the dance ended. She turned to go back to the table when he caught her elbow.
“I think a bit of fresh air would be good.”
“It’s February.”
“There’s nae snow on the ground at the moment, so it will be tolerable.” Simon gave her a direct look. “There’s questions I want answered and I doona think ye want me to ask them here.”
Charlotte glanced quickly around. Keir and Greer were at the far end of the room, not looking in her direction. She didn’t see either Niall or Fiona anywhere. She narrowed her eyes slightly. Maybetheywere outside enjoying a “bit of fresh air” and Simon wanted her to run into them. There had been no announcement made of a betrothal at the dinner, but if she saw them embracing or kissing, she would have her answer. Which is probably what Simon wanted. She sighed.
“All right, but I don’t intend to stand out there for long.”
“That will be up to ye.”
He did stop long enough in the foyer to grab two cloaks from pegs and handed one of them to her. As she wrapped it around herself, Niall’s familiar scent of heather soap and leather engulfed her. How ironic—and possibly cruel—that Simon had handed her Naill’s cloak.
She followed him silently as he led the way around the corner of the castle to a hedged area that blocked both wind and view and had a folly. It would be a perfect place for a tryst, come summer, but even now it afforded the privacy for a kiss or two. She braced herself for what she would see once she got closer.
Surprisingly, though, Simon stopped and turned to her.
Was Niall not here? Why would his brother have brought her out here if not to find Niall and Fiona in a compromising situation? Simon had asked endless questions during the dance, so she doubted he had more.
Uneasiness suddenly swept through her as she realized she was alone with a man in a dark, secluded area. She swallowed hard and started to step back, but he stayed her.
“Why…why did you bring me out here?” She tried to pull her arm away, but he held fast. “I’ll scream if you don’t let me go.” Not that it would do any good, with the music going on inside. No matter. She raised her chin and glared at him. “I will scream.”
His eyes widened as comprehension dawned on him. He dropped his hand and shook his head. “Ye can rest easy on that, lass. I am nae planning to hurt ye.”
Well. He hadn’t hurt her. His grip had just been firm. He wasn’t making any move toward her, either. Still, she took a couple of steps back to put space between them so she could run if she needed to. He didn’t move.
