Chapter Nine
Breakfast the nextmorn was a disaster. Not only were Nicholas and Gwen there, along with Alexander, but so were the rest of their friends.
Clarissa sipped at her tea and pushed around the egg and toast that was on her plate, a fine piece of china with a delicate rose pattern around the outer edge, she noted.
She had no appetite. She could feel Alexander’s stare and refused to meet his eyes. She still couldn’t believe he’d played her for such a fool. That she allowed him to.
Gwen had tried to pry the information from her last night, but she refused to say anything about it. To admit she played right into his hand was even more embarrassing than him abandoning her on the dance floor in front of everyone.
And she was the only one that knew about it.
“Nicholas,” Gwen called, her voice laced with an edge of sweetness to it. “Clarissa and I were thinking about doing some shopping today. Mayhap a trip to the modiste.”
Clarissa’s eyes met Gwen’s stare. They’d discussed no such thing.
Nicholas studied both of them before nodding his head. “A splendid idea, love. We will be here for some time. Ye will want to ensure ye both have enough gowns to get ye through the rest of our stay.”
Clarissa rolled her eyes. She didn’t want to go shopping. She didn’t even want to be here at the table pretending to eat breakfast.
Instead, she would much rather be hiding in her room. Or, even better, in the library where she could lose herself in other people’s problems and forget about her own.
If she could somehow manage it, she would be quite happy returning to Huntly this very minute.
She made the mistake of stealing a glance at Alexander.
He remained silent, watching her, his dark eyes hooded, his overall mood brooding.
She wanted to tell him that it served him right. But if she did that, then he would ken that she was eavesdropping on what was supposed to be a private conversation.
And she would then have to tell everyone else what was going on. She didn’t need or want all of that out in the open.
Nay, she’d keep his conversation to herself. But that didn’t mean she forgave him. Absolutely not.
She pushed away from the table. “If ye’ll excuse me, I shall go get ready for our outing, Gwen.”
The men hurriedly stood as a sign of respect, but she ignored them. She’d thought coming to Argyll would be a fun adventure. Different scenery from Huntly. No responsibilities or cares. A chance to explore.
A chance to see Alexander.
To see if he felt the same way she did.
But all she wanted now was to go home.
The halls were quiet as Clarissa made her way to her room. Millwool really was a beautiful castle. The wood-paneled walls of the corridor gave it a warm feeling. The high ceilings were lit with chandeliers holding dozens of candles. Above each chandelier, the plaster was molded into a wreath of flowers, allowing the light to play off the uneven surface.
The floors were dark wood that matched the walls, and a red carpet runner kept the noise of footsteps to a minimum. Which probably was why she didn’t hear Alexander until he called to her from a short distance away.
“Clarissa,” he called again. “Can we talk?”
“I really dinna have anything to say to ye, Alexander.”
Confusion marred his handsome features. “Please, allow me to apologize.”
She laughed, the sound echoing in the space.
He ignored her laugh and continued. “I shouldna have left so abruptly after the dance. I put ye in an awkward position and that was never my intent.”
She tilted her head to the side as she listened to him. That.Thatwas what he was apologizing for?
