Calla could saynay, but she couldn't dishonor him with a lie. "Aye, I think so."
"He is so handsome," Elena gushed.
"That he is. So, the fact he is a decade older than you matters not at all now?"
"Nay, he is young compared to some of the men my friends were forced to marry."
"'Tistrue." Calla nodded. Certainly far younger than the man she had been forced to marry years ago.
"I think I could fall in love with him," Elena whispered, her eyes sparkling.
Calla was stunned speechless for a moment. What could she say to that?'Twasobvious it would be easy for any woman to fall in love with Rebbie.
"But you don't seem happy for me." Elena pouted.
Calla forced a bright expression. "I am extremely happy for you, cousin."
"After I'm married, we'll start looking for another laird for you to marry. A much younger one this time."
"Nay, I think not." Calla shook her head, annoyed that Angelique and Elena had the same idea. "One marriage was more than enough for me."
"You are young and beautiful, Calla. You are but twenty-four summers. And I've seen how the men's eyes follow you."
Calla wanted to squirm upon her chair, but rose and paced instead. She knew some men found her attractive—men she wished would never look at her again. Despicable men like Claybourne. Remembering the look of pure lust upon his long face, she cringed.
Calla was doubtful there was a laird in Scotland she would wish to marry. Of course, the financial support would be a godsend. But why would she want to put such a burden as her late husband's debt on any good man? On the other hand, what if her future husband was also a gambler, or ended up treating her worse than Stanbury? Marriage itself was a gamble for no one knew how it would play out.
And now, as Elena's companion, Calla would be forced to face Laird Rebbinglen yet again as they rode through the wood. She prayed he would not reveal to the others how they had met years ago in a most scandalous way.
***
"I'm amazed you've stayed this long, given the circumstances," Lachlan said to Rebbie as the stable lads led their saddled horses into the courtyard.
"Aye, well, I told my father I'd see what happened." Rebbie didn't want to marry Elena. He'd already decided that. And he'd intended to leave today, but after discovering Lady Stanbury at breakfast that morn, he couldn't leave just yet. She intrigued him and he had to find out more about her. Glancing around, he found her standing some distance away, near the castle's entrance. She smiled at something one of the other ladies said, her gray eyes alight with humor, and he found himself stunned by her beauty. And her body… hellfire! Though still slender, she had bloomed into a most curvaceous female—just the sort he fancied.
Speaking low, Rebbie turned to Lachlan and asked, "What is LadyStanbury'sfirst name?"
Lachlan sent him a quick grin. That, along with the mischievous gleam in his eye, told Rebbie his question had revealed too much. "Now, why would you be asking me that?"
Rebbie'sface heated, much to his annoyance. "I'm curious.'Tisall."
"Oh, aye." Lachlan chuckled. "Her name is Calla. She's the widow of the Earl of Stanbury."
Rebbie nodded.Widow.That was good, then. Not that he wished any man dead.
Lachlan stepped away to help Lady Angelique mount. Rebbie was glad to see some of the other men had already assisted Lady Elena and Lady Stanbury into their saddles. Not that he didn't want to help them exactly.'Twasjust a bit awkward. And something told him he really shouldn't touch Calla unless he wanted to have vivid erotic fantasies playing through his head all day.
Hoisting himself into the saddle, he tried not to remember the night they'd spent together, but he could think of naught else at the moment. He'd bedded many ladies over the years, but Lady Stanbury—Calla—had always lingered in his mind. She was one of the few he'd hoped to see again.
Back then, she'd told him she was a widow. If that was true, she'd been widowed a long time. Or had she remarried after that, and lost her second husband? Had the Barclays hired her as a companion for their daughter, or did she simply travel with them for entertainment? He doubted Lachlan knew the answers, and Rebbie certainly didn't want to ask any more questions now. His friend would tease him unmercifully.
Moments later, they rode through the gates and along a trail through the mossy wood. The temperatures here were much warmer than they'd been in the north of Scotland where he'd spent the last several months. Now, he welcomed the cooler shade and moist, humus scent of the black soil the horses kicked up.
Lachlan rode alongside Lady Angelique, leaving Rebbie beside Lady Elena. He sent a glance at Lady Stanbury… Calla, on her other side. Aye, he definitely liked thinking of her as Calla.'Twasa beautiful name that suited her.
She wore the cowl of a light-weight cloak over her head, making it impossible for him to see her face from the side. What could she be hiding from? Him? Surely she knew he wouldn't reveal their intimate encounter of years ago. And, aye, he was certain she remembered him. When he'd been introduced to her that morn, her gray eyes had said as much, as did her blush, but she'd been avoiding his gaze since then. He had to find a way to talk to her.
About an hour later, they rode over the crest of a hill, and before them, the servants had set out a grand spread of food on plaid blankets upon the ground with a beautiful view of the river and the countryside beyond. But Rebbie wasn't hungry. Nay, his curiosity overshadowed his appetite. The men dismounted and tied their horses to saplings, then assisted the women. Since Elena was closest to him and eyeing him hopefully, 'twouldbe the height of rudeness to ignore her. Rebbie helped her dismount.
