Page 33 of Walk on the Wildsyde

“Yes, it means to give authenticity and—”

“I ken what it means, ye wee yin,” he said, shaking his head at her. “I’m nae as daft as I look, aye? Despite what ye may think of me, I had a university education, like a proper gentleman,” he added wryly.

Clara flushed scarlet. “Please, forgive me, Mr Anderson, I never meant to imply that—”

“Dinnae fash,” he said with a smile, reaching out and taking hold of a lock of hair that had finally escaped her ruthless pinning. “I ken ye meant nae insult.”

Clara held her breath as he tucked the errant curl behind her ear and then dropped his hand like she’d scalded him, looking as shocked as she was.

“Well, are ye coming in, or are ye nae?” demanded a tart voice from the kitchen door.

“Mrs Macready,” Mr Anderson said, regaining his wits quicker than Clara, who was feeling ridiculously flustered for reasons she did not care to dwell upon. “Good afternoon to ye. I just walked yer lassie home.”

“Aye, I see that,” Mrs Macready said wryly, looking from Clara’s flushed cheeks to Mr Anderson. “Ye had best come in before the neighbours start flapping their gums. Kettle’s on,” she added, turning away from the door and going back inside.

To her surprise, Mr Anderson looked at Clara, a question in his eyes. “I’ll go if ye prefer,” he said, somewhat gruffly.

Clara looked up at him, and knew she was a fool for wishing him to stay, but she did. “You had best not refuse an invitation from Mrs Macready, you never know when you’ll get another,” she told him sternly.

He grinned, a lopsided smile that did the most peculiar thing to her stomach, making her wonder if perhaps she had eaten too much at lunchtime.

He leaned closer to her, bending his head to her ear and lowering his voice. “Is that the only reason I should stay?”

Clara’s breath caught, and she looked up at him, suddenly caught in the amber of his gaze like some poor, unsuspecting creature trapped for all eternity in a beautiful orange bead.

“I…” she began, only to forget what she’d been about to say as she stared up at him. Heat rose in a wave, surging up her chest, her neck, to her cheeks as she saw his gaze travel from her eyes to her mouth and linger there. His eyes darkened, and he seemed quite unable to look away as she licked her lips.

He’s thinking about kissing me,her dazed brain screamed whilst her heart performed a complicated little dance behind her ribs. The moment stretched out, all her nerves leaping, her skin feeling like it was not her own but too tight and ill fitting. Before she could even wonder if she would allow him such a liberty or not, he put distance between them, straightening and turning a little away from her. He let out a breath, frowning, before glancing back.

“I’d best nae linger,” he said gruffly. “But I thank ye kindly for the invite. Give my apologies to Mrs Macready but… but I have things to attend to. Good day to ye, Miss Halliday.”

With that he strode off, leaving Clara feeling bewildered and foolish and not a little bit cross.