Page 14 of A Heart Worth Loving

Chapter Five

Relief washed over Kyla as Mister Mallatratt disappeared down the path. Her father wouldn’t be pleased at the man's forward behavior. She couldn’t wait to see the last of him. She turned back to Ewan and was startled to see that he’d gone pale. He was so brawny and muscular, she couldn’t imagine he had anything to fear from the likes of Mister Mallatratt. Or was his mood due to the suffering so clear in his expressive eyes? Was that why he had been drinking last night?

“Thank you.” She bobbed a curtsey. “Mister Mallatratt has been acting odd.”

He dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Let me know if I can be of further service.”

The memory of his kiss pulled her eyes down to his curved lips above a day’s growth of beard. His was a striking man. What would it be like to capture the attention of such a man—when he wasn’t drunk?

“I spoke to your mother,” he said. His dark eyes sharpened. “I was looking to borrow your sheep dog.”

“Sheep dog?” Her face flooded with heat. “Sheep dog? Why…well.” She knew better than to lie. Some folk could lie the day away and never pay for their untruths. She was never that lucky. “I…”

His mouth twitched in obvious amusement.

Tarnation. Was he playing with her?

He waited.

What could she say? “Why are you in need of a sheep dog?”

“The storm saw fit to drop a tree on our fence,” he answered.

She nodded. “That is most unfortunate.”

“Indeed.”

“Well, I wish you luck.” She began inching sideways. The sooner she escaped his presence, the better.

“Allow me to escort you home.” The gleam of amusement in his eyes had taken on a wicked quality.

Kyla swallowed, torn between her chance to escape and the desire to stay a few moments more in his company. Who could blame her? Never before had a man looked at her so.

“My home isn’t far,” she began.

“Kyla?”

Kyla leaned past Lord Kilbreck. Margaret hurried down the path, her face registering a combination of concern and shock.

“Are you well, Kyla?” Margaret asked when she stopped beside her.

As Ewan nodded a greeting, Kyla queried in turn, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I just spoke with Mister Mallatratt. He mentioned you might be in…” Margaret darted a quick glance at Lord Kilbreck, then cleared her throat. “In…a wee bit of distress.”

Kyla snorted. “He should know. The distress was caused by Mister Mallatratt, himself.”

Margaret’s pretty face relaxed. “I never cared for the man. I wish you wouldn’t even speak with him, Kyla.”

If only she had that choice.

“Why father keeps his acquaintance is a mystery,” Margaret continued.

And I pray you will always wonder, dear little sister. Kyla heaved a sigh, then sent her sister a warm, reassuring smile. “There’s no harm done. Lord Kilbreck was kind enough to see Mister Mallatratt on his way.”

An unexpected stab of jealousy pierced Kyla as Margaret turned her perfect face the viscount’s way. Kyla loved her little sister more than life, but was it wrong that she wanted just one man—this man—to prove impervious to Margaret’s charms?

“Thank you, Lord Kilbreck.” Margaret’s smile transformed her from pretty to beautiful. “We owe you a debt. When father returns, he will thank you properly, I’m sure.”