“Do tell. A cur?” Amelia purred.
Jamie shook his head. Ian would box his ears for talking about what had happened. Listening to further gossip about Alton would not likely turn up new information. ’Twas a pity the slimy snake had slithered away that day. “The mon is dangerous. If he is still lurking about, you ladies must be careful.”
“We will be safe with a big, strong man like you,” Violetta asserted, brushing his arm with the top of her fan.
Jamie managed to keep from groaning aloud. The girl would do well on the stage. He’d had quite enough idle, mindless chatter. He much preferred listening to Mari, even when she was riled with him.
He looked over to where she had been standing. The man in his fancy clothes was gone, and Mari was nowhere to be seen either.
“Mr. Algernon actually said he wanted to do your portrait?” Maddie asked the next afternoon as she curled up again in the alcove seat of Mari’s room.
“Yes.” Mari hugged herself and spun around the room. “I cannot believe it. Nicholas—he asked me to call him by his Christian name—said I had an air of English sunshine, whatever that means.” She pirouetted once more and then sank onto her bed. “I think I am in love.”
“You only just met him.”
Mari pouted at her friend. “He is everything I have been looking for—refined, cultured, a true gentleman. Not once did he mention fighting or even the war.” She sighed dramatically. “And he is anartiste—quite well known in France, even though he is young.”
Maddie gave her a skeptical look. “Did he tell you this?”
“No. Lady Jersey did. Nicholas is going to do her portrait too and, I think, the other patronesses’ as well.”
“If he so well known, how much is he going to charge?” Maddie asked and then bit her lip when Mari looked hurt. She hadn’t meant to sound so sharp.
“Nicholas told me it would be a gift.”
“Why would—I mean, do you think your aunt will let you accept something worth a considerable amount?” Maddie asked. “A portrait is quite personal. You would have to sit for hours.”
Mari giggled. “I know. Just Nicholas and me—”
“Marissa Barclay. You know very well you would have to be chaperoned.” Maddie glanced out the window to see Jamie crossing the yard to the stables. “I do not think Mr. MacLeod will be pleased with the idea either.”
“Phooey. What does he have to do with anything?”
“He told Jillian he would protect you. Remember how upset he was with you last night when you went out on the veranda?”
“I was just taking the air.”
“With Mr. Algernon.”
Mari frowned. “We were doing nothing wrong. You were with us. Jamie had no right to come stomping over like that. He practically pushed me back into the room.”
“I just think he wants to prevent you from being scandalized again.” Maddie hoped she kept the wistful tone out of her voice.Shewould not have minded if Mr. MacLeod had taken her arm and guided her back to the party. She rather liked the way he took charge of things.
“Jamie MacLeod is an arrogant, bossy, over-bearing andannoyingman. At least Nicholas had the insight not to provoke him to fisticuffs.”
“I do not think Jamie—Mr. MacLeod—would be uncivilized enough to brawl in Lady Jersey’s home.”
Mari stared at her. “I do not think Jamie would even have hesitated had Nicholas put up any resistance to my returning to the party. Luckily for all of us, Nicholas is agentlemanand obviously well-bred.”
“Mr. MacLeod comes from a good family too. His brother is an earl, after all—and Ian did marry your sister. She seems happy.”
Mari drew her brows together. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I think you should give Jamie—Mr. MacLeod—a chance, that is all.” There. Maddie had said it. She might be infatuated with the Highlander, but she sensed he was attracted to Mari and not just as her guardian.
“A chance for what? The man delights in getting me to lose my temper.”
“I think he teases you because he likes you.”
