“Ye can say that again,” Alexander said from the door, where he leaned against the frame, his legs crossed at the ankles.
How long had he been there?
“I think ye should give Clarissa the afternoon off from callers, Nicholas. The poor lass just sat through an hour of the louse talking about hunting. As a man who enjoys hunting, e’en I found myself hating it the longer I had to listen to him rambleon. And then that last line? Completely unwarranted and vile.” Alexander pushed away from the door and shook his head. “Heathton will be looking for a wife for a long time to come. Unless he comes across some desperate family that needs to marry their daughter off for whatever reason. And in that case, I feel sorry for the poor girl.”
Clarissa giggled at Alexander’s deduction. He was right. She already pitied the unknown girl.
“True. He didna seem so foul at the ball. But now we ken. If ye want a respite, Clarissa, by all means, take one,” Nicholas offered.
But as she stood, James entered, clearing his throat.
“Your Grace, another caller has arrived for Miss Gordon.”
Alexander sighed, his jaw clenching. It was nice to see that he was not enjoying this charade either.
“Who is it, James?” Nicholas asked.
“Baron Kitt, Your Grace.”
Alexander pushed forward. “Och, hell nay,” he spat. “I willna have him speaking to Clarissa. No’,” he paused, pushing his hand through his dark hair, making the ends stand on edge and the curls to muss. “No’ after what he did.”
Nicholas pulled Alexander away to the other side of the room. Clarissa watched but could not hear what they were discussing in hushed whispers. Alexander fumed. His body tense and he looked like he was ready to burst.
After a few long moments, Alexander stormed out of the room, and Nicholas approached the sofa where she sat.
“I will leave this choice up to ye. Ye ken what he said at the ball.”
She nodded.
“If we didna already have a plan in place, I would beat the bastard to a bloody pulp myself. But I canna. We need to be mindful of our approach.”
Why was he even here? When they had danced, she most certainly did not give him the impression that she was interested in any way whatsoever. But she was thankful Nicholas was giving her the option to decline.
“I dinna wish to see him, brother. I would rather do anything but as a matter of fact.”
Nicholas smiled and nodded. “I guessed as much. I will tell James.”
As he left, he grabbed Gwen’s hand and pulled her along with him. “I havena spent nearly enough time with ye as I have wanted on this trip.” He nipped at her ear, and she swatted at him, her cheeks reddening, but she followed him out the door.
For a moment, Clarissa sat and enjoyed the silence, thankful she did not have to spend time with Kitt. She shuddered. The man made her nervous. The way his small eyes leered at her whenever she caught a glimpse of him.
She finished her tea and set the cup and saucer on the nearby table and stood to look out the window, which overlooked the garden. Not nearly as vast as her brother’s garden at Huntly, but still impressive, nonetheless.
Waiting a few minutes to ensure that Kitt was no longer there, she watched the birds and butterflies flit about, enjoying the nectar from the late season flowers in bloom.
Once she felt she was safe, she left the parlor and was on her way outside when a warm hand circled her wrist and pulled her into an alcove.
She gasped, her heart nearly beating out of her chest as Alexander pulled her close. She clutched at her heart. “Ye nearly frightened me to death.” She smacked his chest, the muscles hard underneath her palm.
He chuckled, low and rumbly. “I would ne’er do such a thing.”
“Ye just did,” she cried out.
“Shhh, ye dinna want to alert your brother to your shenanigans.”
“Mine?” She lifted a brow at him. “I have done naught.”
His hands dropped to her waist, and he pulled her even closer, so her body was flush against his.
